The rogue chains are a three-act induction: join the organization, learn your poisons, and level lockpicking on the way. Poisons are the rogue's lifeblood — without Crippling Poison you cannot stick to targets, and casters hit back half as hard. This edition is rearranged as a step-by-step walkthrough: every line is broken into "what level, where to go, who to see, what to do, where next" — follow the numbers. Quest ids and objective text come from the QuestieDB pinned reference set (cac1eff8); all 89 class quests were cross-checked against the Forever quest database and every one is present. All eight maps carry numbered markers — coordinates come from the same pinned source's NPC/object spawn data (classicNpcDB/classicObjectDB). Chain structure follows classic consensus; Forever values are governed by the game.

Level 10: joining the organization — find your people first

Horde · Orc/Troll line

  1. Check in at Sen'jin Village (level 10): Durotar has two rogue trainers — Rwag (Valley of Trials, 41.28,68.00) and Kaplak (Sen'jin Village, 51.98,43.69) — but per the pinned source the induction lead-in Therzok (1859) sits only with Kaplak (Rwag only trains skills). The task is one line: go to the Cleft of Shadow in Orgrimmar and find Therzok. Troll players, note: 1859's race mask lists orcs only — a level-10 troll can head straight into the Cleft of Shadow and take the induction trial from Therzok directly (1858/1963's mask = orc + troll).
  2. Induction in the Cleft of Shadow: Therzok (42.73,53.55) gives you the trial The Shattered Hand (quest level 13): obtain Tazan's satchel.
  3. Get the satchel, south of Ratchet: the target, Tazan, is on the road south of Ratchet in the Barrens (63.11,44.29, level 13). The pinned source keeps two versions of the objective: the pickpocket variant 1858 (Pick Pocket his key, then open the satchel) and the assassination variant 1963 (kill Tazan and take the satchel). Whichever you are given, do that one — the trial tests exactly the craft of quietly taking things.
  4. Turn in: bring the satchel back to Therzok — induction complete. You start at 10 and finish around 13; leveling fills the gaps while you drill Stealth and Sprint.

Horde · Undead line (Undercity)

  1. Start in the Trade Quarter (level 10): find Marion Call (inner Trade Quarter ring, 61.75,52.00) for Mennet Carkad (1885): report to the Rogues' Quarter.
  2. The main ring, four legs in a row: Mennet Carkad (83.51,69.11) then hands you four legs of The Deathstalkers. Walk them in order:
  3. ① 1886: leave the city for Silverpine Forest, get Astor Hadren's (49.71,32.22, level 13) Letter of Introduction, and bring it back to Mennet. ② 1898: go see Andron Gant (54.81,76.33) by the alchemy area. ③ 1899: carry Andron's Ledger back to Mennet in the Rogues' Quarter. ④ 1978: the last leg takes the ledger into the Royal Quarter, delivered to Varimathras (56.25,92.20) in person.
  4. Once 1978 is in, you are one of the Deathstalkers. At 16, Mennet will call on you again for one extra line (next section).

Alliance · Human line (Stormwind SI:7)

  1. Check in at Goldshire (level 10): Keryn Sylvius (43.87,65.94) gives you Seek out SI: 7 (2205): deliver her package to the Stormwind barracks.
  2. Report in, pick up a second job on the spot: the package goes to SI:7's Mathias Shaw (Old Town, 75.78,59.84), who immediately assigns Snatch and Grab (2206): find the Defias Dockmaster at the southwestern Elwynn coast docks (48.06,86.96) and recover the Defias Shipping Schedule.
  3. Turn in: bring the schedule back to Shaw — SI:7 has seen your craft. At 16, go back to Keryn in Goldshire (next section).

Alliance · Night elf line (Darnassus)

  1. Start in Teldrassil (level 10): Jannok Breezesong (56.38,60.14) gives you The Apple Falls (2241): take his rose to Syurna (36.99,21.91) in Darnassus.
  2. Destiny Calls (2242): Syurna sends you to Sethir the Ancient (Teldrassil, 37.11,22.83); bring back Sethir's Journal.
  3. At 16, continue from Erion Shadewhisper in Darnassus (next section).

Alliance · Dwarf/Gnome line (Ironforge)

  1. Start in Dun Morogh (level 10): Hogral Bakkan (47.56,52.61) gives you Road to Salvation (2218): go to Ironforge and find Hulfdan Blackbeard.
  2. Simple Subterfugin' (2238): Hulfdan (51.96,14.84) sends you to find Onin MacHammar near the old gnomish homelands (Dun Morogh, 25.16,44.45).
  3. Onin's Report (2239): carry Onin's report back to Hulfdan in Ironforge — the dwarf/gnome line closes. At 16, return to Hogral in Dun Morogh (next section).
Durotar — where Horde rogue chains start, levels 10 and 16 (site client map render with site-made numbered annotations)

Durotar — ① Rwag in the Valley of Trials, ② Kaplak in Sen'jin Village: the level-10 organization chain starts with these trainers, and the level-16 To Orgrimmar! (2380) leg sets off here too. Markers = QuestieDB spawn coordinates (pinned cac1eff8), not in-game verified.

Orgrimmar — the Cleft of Shadow rogue trio (site client map render with site-made numbered annotations)

Orgrimmar — one Cleft of Shadow cluster holds Therzok (42.7,53.6), Shenthul (43.1,53.7) and Zando'zan (42.7,53.0): The Shattered Hand turns in to Therzok at 10, and both the level-16 Zando'zan chain and the level-20 Deep Cover chain start with Shenthul. Markers = QuestieDB spawn coordinates, not in-game verified.

Undercity — the undead rogue induction line (site client map render with site-made numbered annotations)

Undercity — ① Marion Call in the inner Trade Quarter ring starts 1885, ② Mennet Carkad (83.5,69.1) in the Rogues' Quarter runs the Deathstalkers main ring, ③ Andron Gant (54.8,76.3) by the alchemy area closes out a leg. Markers = QuestieDB spawn coordinates, not in-game verified.

Stormwind — the Old Town SI:7 block (site client map render with site-made numbered annotations)

Stormwind — one Old Town barracks cluster holds Mathias Shaw (75.8,59.8), Renzik "The Shiv" (75.8,60.4) and poison vendor Doc Mixilpixil (78.0,58.8): the Alliance level-10 induction, level-16 convergence and level-20 poison finish all run through this block. Markers = QuestieDB spawn coordinates, not in-game verified.

All of level 10 is errands plus stealth showmanship; the quest levels (10-13) slot straight into your leveling rhythm. The four lines end in different places — the Cleft of Shadow, the Undercity Royal Quarter, the Stormwind barracks, Ironforge — but they all test the same thing: whether you can sneak in and lift things quietly.

Level 16: the poison precursor chain — Ratchet for Horde, Lakeshire for Alliance

At 16 everyone returns to their own city to pick up the first task, and the lines converge on two places: all Horde (undead included) run through Ratchet in the Barrens, all Alliance converge on Lakeshire in Redridge. This is the level-16 trainer chain described in the Rogue Lockpicking 1-300 guide — finishing it teaches Pick Lock and grants your tools; the Horde "box" sits off the coast south of Ratchet, the Alliance box is the lockbox north of Lakeshire.

Horde (orcs/trolls/undead, everyone)

  1. Back to Durotar: at 16, return to Kaplak (51.98,43.69) for To Orgrimmar! (2380): back to the Cleft of Shadow.
  2. Two hand-offs in the Cleft: Shenthul (43.05,53.74) takes over and gives you Zando'zan (2379); Zando'zan (42.7,53.0), also in the Cleft, hands you Wrenix of Ratchet (2382) — objective text verbatim: Travel to Ratchet and speak with Wrenix the Wretched.
  3. Report to Ratchet: find Wrenix the Wretched (63.07,36.32) in Ratchet, the Barrens, for Plundering the Plunderers (2381, quest level 18).
  4. Get your gear before you go: the objective text makes a point of it — collect both the E.C.A.C. and your Thieves' Tools from Wrenix's Gizmotronic Apparatus (63.12,36.32) first; you need both. Then bring back the Southsea Treasure from the Southsea pirates.
  5. The undead extra line: undead rogues also get an exclusive add-on from Mennet in the Undercity (race mask: undead only): Fenwick Thatros (1998) — kill Fenwick Thatros in Silverpine Forest (59.58,33.94, level 16) and bring back his head; Tools of the Trade (1999, quest level 20) — around Ambermill, lift the Dalaran Status Report out of the Ambermill Strongbox (63.71,65.24) and return it to Mennet. This line doubles as undead lockpicking practice.
  6. Side trip: Deathstalkers in Shadowfang (1098, available at 18): not class-restricted — the race mask covers the whole Horde and any class can take it, but it is the Deathstalker organization's Shadowfang Keep leg, so grab it while running SFK (the classic Horde levelling dungeon): High Executor Hadrec outside the keep in Silverpine (43.42,40.86, pinned npc 1952) sends you in to find Deathstalker Adamant and Deathstalker Vincent (the pinned turn-in is Vincent).

Alliance (human/night elf/dwarf-gnome, each starts at home)

  1. Human: return to Keryn Sylvius (43.87,65.94) in Goldshire for SI:7 (2300) — note this one comes from Keryn, not Shaw; the goal: find Renzik "The Shiv" (Old Town, 75.76,60.36) in Stormwind.
  2. Night elf: see Erion Shadewhisper (34.52,25.93) in Darnassus for Erion's Behest (2260): likewise find Renzik in Stormwind.
  3. Dwarf/gnome: Hogral Bakkan (47.56,52.61) in Dun Morogh gives To Hulfdan! (2299): turn in to Hulfdan (51.96,14.84) in Ironforge and take Kingly Shakedown (2298): again, find Renzik in Stormwind.
  4. Renzik hands out the work: the three lines converge in Old Town; Renzik gives everyone Redridge Rendezvous (2281): go to Lakeshire, Redridge Mountains, and find Lucius (28.06,52.04).
  5. Lockpicking stop one (Alther's Mill, 2282, quest level 20): in the mill north of Lakeshire sits Lucius's Lockbox (object 121264, 52.04,44.69) — Pick Lock it, recover the Token of Thievery, and return to Lucius in Lakeshire.
Elwynn Forest — the Alliance chain's starting station (site client map render with site-made numbered annotations)

Elwynn Forest — Goldshire's Keryn Sylvius (43.9,65.9): both the level-10 induction chain and the level-16 SI:7 chain (2300) set off here. Markers = QuestieDB spawn coordinates, not in-game verified.

Redridge — Alliance lockpicking and the level-16 main ring (site client map render with site-made numbered annotations)

Redridge Mountains — ① Lakeshire's Lucius Arantir (around 28.1,52.0): Redridge Rendezvous turns in to Lucius; ② Lucius's Lockbox (52.0,44.7, object 121264) at Alther's Mill north of town is lockpicking stop one. Markers = QuestieDB spawn/object coordinates, not in-game verified.

The Barrens — the poison precursor chain's home ground (site client map render with site-made numbered annotations)

The Barrens — ① Ratchet's Wrenix the Wretched (63.1,36.3): come back here at 16 for the poison precursor and again at 20 to finish; ② Taskmaster Fizzule (55.4,5.6) at the Venture Co. tower north of the Sludge Fen is the Horde level-20 Deep Cover contact. Markers = QuestieDB spawn coordinates, not in-game verified.

The Horde leg of this chain runs through the Barrens: Ratchet and the area around the Sludge Fen; the Alliance counterpart runs through Lakeshire in Redridge.

Level 20: poisons and lockpicking, officially yours

Horde

  1. The Shattered Salute (2460): at 20, return to Shenthul (43.05,53.74) in the Cleft of Shadow and perform the Shattered Salute on him as the task requires.
  2. Deep Cover (2458): go to the Venture Co. tower north of the Sludge Fen in the Barrens — fire the signal first (classic run: two flares) so Taskmaster Fizzule (55.44,5.56), hidden at the tower, will show himself.
  3. The main heist (Mission: Possible But Not Probable, 2478, quest level 24): Pick Pocket the tower key from Foreman Silixiz (54.80,5.97, level 22), then take out two Mutated Venture Co. Drones, two Venture Co. Patrollers and two Venture Co. Lookouts. Turn in to Shenthul — Crippling Poison and Instant Poison recipes are yours.
  4. The follow-up (Hinott's Assistance, 2479, quest level 26): Shenthul sends you one more leg — deliver the Sample of Zanzil's Mixture to Serge Hinott (61.63,19.19) in Tarren Mill, Hillsbrad Foothills, and wait out his cure (2480) to close the chain.
Hillsbrad Foothills — the Tarren Mill poison-chain terminus (site client map render with site-made numbered annotations)

Hillsbrad Foothills — Tarren Mill's Serge Hinott (61.63,19.19, pinned spawn npc 2391): the terminus of Hinott's Assistance (2479 delivers the sample, 2480 waits out the cure). Markers = QuestieDB spawn coordinates, not in-game verified.

Alliance

  1. Take the orders (Mathias and the Defias, 2360): mind the order — first return to Mathias Shaw (75.78,59.84) in Stormwind for the assignment; he sends you to Agent Kearnen in Westfall for your briefing.
  2. Meet in Westfall: Agent Kearnen (68.49,70.08) gives you the real job, Klaven's Tower (2359, quest level 24): read Kearnen's Journal first and learn the tower before you move.
  3. Steal the key, enter, loot: Pick Pocket the Defias Tower Key from the Malformed Defias Drone (levels 23-24) patrolling outside the tower (around 69.47,73.99); then Pick Lock your way in and open the Duskwood Chest (object 123214, 70.41,73.93) for Klaven Mortwake's Journal.
  4. Turn in — poisons are yours: carry the information back to Shaw at the barracks — poisons are officially yours. There is a follow-up while you are at it: report to poison vendor Doc Mixilpixil in the barracks cellar (78.04,58.76) for The Touch of Zanzil (2607); 2608/2609 ask for one bundle of Simple Wildflowers, one Leaded Vial, one Bronze Tube and one Spool of Light Chartreuse Silk Thread.
  5. Lockpicking can earn wages from the leveling days on — practice "boxes" come from pickpocketed junkboxes (openable from level 1) and fixed spawns like the pirates' strongboxes in the Barrens; the Alliance version drills on Alther's Mill first in the level-16 chain.
Westfall — the Alliance poison mission proper (site client map render with site-made numbered annotations)

Westfall — Agent Kearnen (68.5,70.1): Klaven's Tower (2359) delivers at the Defias tower beside her; after looting the Duskwood Chest you return to Mathias Shaw in Stormwind. Markers = QuestieDB spawn coordinates, not in-game verified.

Video walkthroughs

Community runs complement this written guide — videos show pacing and movement, this post owns verified quest ids and coordinates:

Note: community routes follow classic-consensus conventions and cross-reference the quest ids checked in this post; Forever values are governed by the game.

Quick reference links

  • Class quests at a glance · Deadmines profession gear (profession gear in one stop) · per-level sheets
  • Scope note: NPC/object marker coordinates come from QuestieDB spawn data (pinned cac1eff8, classicNpcDB/classicObjectDB), not in-game verification; chain structure and objective text follow the pinned source; quest names follow the English client, and Forever values are governed by the game.