This blog was originally posted on roguedpsguide.com by Akshay Dev

Legion Patch 7.1.5 has just been deployed across all regions. We have created the optimal preliminary talent builds for single target DPS. This gear set includes pre-Nighthold gear.

These are the talent builds that you will use for Nighthold progression. We expect the builds to change once set bonuses come in to play.

More detailed information can be found in the guides.

Assassination (Poison)

For Single Target, Master Poisoner is now the more optimal level 15 tier talent to choose. This is due to a nerf to Elaborate Planning from 15% to 12%. Mastery will also be more valued with the scaling of this build. Although EP buff maintenance is no longer a part of the play-style with this build, the artifact trait Surge of Toxins has the same duration and plays roughly the same, it is triggered by envenom; its duration is a static 5 seconds like EP, however its effect’s strength scales with the number of Combo Points spent on the envenom.
Gear build used for sims

Assassination (Bleed)

For Single Target, the change from the live standard Exsanguinate build is the selection of Vigor over Deeper Stratagem. This is primarily due to the Deeper Stratagem nerf from 10% additional finisher damage to 5%, as well as the change in Rupture’s scaling design; the DoT value of Rupture has been standardized and no longer scales with CP, hence negating the additional potency of a 6cp Rupture from live over a lower-cp funded one. Increased combo point expenditure on Rupture now only makes it last longer, with the average damage done over it’s duration remaining unchanged.
Gear build used for sims

Outlaw

For Single Target, the standard build still applies, with Ghostly Strike still being the best level 15 tier talent, however Quick Draw is still the optimal tier talent over Ghostly Strike for Greenskin’s Waterlogged Wristcuffs wearers.
Gear build used for sims

Subtlety

The talents for subtlety remain largely unchanged for single target. For the level 15 tier of talents, however, Weaponmaster is now the go-to. The reason for this being a DPS gain over Master of Subtlety is due to the extra energy regen from WM procs counteracting the Master of Shadows nerf from 30 to 25 energy.
Gear build used for sims

Note: The 60 talent tier is just personal preference. None of the talents provide any DPS increase

DISCLAIMER: The geared is not 100% optimal

All of these results are derived from Aethys’ simulations on his spreadsheet and are updated for patch 7.1.5.

Simulations provide a good example of how a spec plays over the course of a patchwerk fight, however in-game experience has additional factors such as mechanics affecting uptime, and ability RNG (Especially with abilities like Roll The Bones) may vary from the ideal situations that sims present.

A range of data from in-game testing as well as logs on various fights on Warcraft Logs can reflect the realistic execution of the ideal situation that simulations present.