The highest item level chest armor a level 11–20 character can wear as a Paladin start with Gloomshroud Armor (item level 25, rare). 124 items fit the slot and band; the top 25 are ranked here by item level, then quality, not by simulation.
| # | Name | ILvl | Req. | Armor | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Gloomshroud ArmorCHANGED | 25 | 20 | 94 | Leather | Drops from Vile Bat (Shadowfang Keep) at 0.0% (+7 more) (vanilla) |
| 2 |  Necrology RobesCHANGED | 25 | 20 | 43 | Cloth | Drops from Lupine Horror (Shadowfang Keep) at 0.0% (+5 more) (vanilla) |
| 3 |  Fortified Chain | 25 | 20 | 183 | Drops from Humar the Pridelord (The Barrens) at 1.6% (+547 more) (vanilla) | |
| 4 |  Scholarly RobesCHANGED | 25 | 20 | 39 | Cloth | Drops from Twilight Acolyte (Blackfathom Deeps) at 0.8% (+5 more) (vanilla) |
| 5 |  Scouting Tunic | 25 | 20 | 86 | Leather | Drops from Humar the Pridelord (The Barrens) at 1.6% (+547 more) (vanilla) |
| 6 |  Shimmering Armor | 25 | 20 | 39 | Cloth | Drops from Humar the Pridelord (The Barrens) at 1.6% (+547 more) (vanilla) |
| 7 |  Shimmering Robe | 25 | 20 | 39 | Cloth | Drops from Humar the Pridelord (The Barrens) at 1.6% (+547 more) (vanilla) |
| 8 |  Bloody ApronCHANGED | 24 | 19 | 42 | Cloth | Drops from Razorclaw the Butcher (Shadowfang Keep) at 33.3% (vanilla) |
| 9 |  Loch Croc Hide VestCHANGED | 24 | 19 | 84 | Leather | Drops from Large Loch Crocolisk (Loch Modan) at 30.0% (vanilla) |
| 10 |  Outrunner's Chestguard | 24 | 19 | 180 | Drops from Humar the Pridelord (The Barrens) at 1.6% (+527 more) (vanilla) | |
| 11 |  Ritual Shroud | 24 | 19 | 38 | Cloth | Drops from Humar the Pridelord (The Barrens) at 1.6% (+527 more) (vanilla) |
| 12 |  Ritual Tunic | 24 | 19 | 38 | Cloth | Drops from Humar the Pridelord (The Barrens) at 1.6% (+527 more) (vanilla) |
| 13 | Toughened Leather Armor | 24 | 19 | 80 | Leather | Crafted: Leatherworking |
| 14 |  Armor of the FangCHANGED | 23 | 18 | 91 | Leather | Drops from Lord Pythas (Wailing Caverns) at 50.0% (vanilla) |
| 15 |  Mutant Scale BreastplateCHANGED | 23 | 18 | 194 | Drops from Mutanus the Devourer at 33.3% (vanilla) | |
| 16 |  Bandit Jerkin | 23 | 18 | 82 | Leather | Drops from Apothecary Falthis (Ashenvale) at 1.7% (+502 more) (vanilla) |
| 17 | Buccaneer's Robes | 23 | 18 | 37 | Cloth | Drops from Apothecary Falthis (Ashenvale) at 1.7% (+502 more) (vanilla) |
| 18 | Buccaneer's Vest | 23 | 18 | 37 | Cloth | Drops from Apothecary Falthis (Ashenvale) at 1.7% (+502 more) (vanilla) |
| 19 | Defender Tunic | 23 | 18 | 177 | Drops from Apothecary Falthis (Ashenvale) at 1.7% (+502 more) (vanilla) | |
| 20 | Greater Adept's RobeCHANGED | 23 | 18 | 37 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 21 |  Mystic's Robe | 23 | 18 | 37 | Cloth | Drops from Apothecary Falthis (Ashenvale) at 1.7% (+482 more) (vanilla) |
| 22 |  Mystic's Wrap | 23 | 18 | 37 | Cloth | Drops from Apothecary Falthis (Ashenvale) at 1.7% (+482 more) (vanilla) |
| 23 |  Prospector's Chestpiece | 23 | 18 | 82 | Leather | Drops from Apothecary Falthis (Ashenvale) at 1.7% (+482 more) (vanilla) |
| 24 |  Rough Bronze CuirassCHANGED | 23 | 18 | 177 | Crafted: Blacksmithing | |
| 25 | War Paint Chestpiece | 23 | 18 | 177 | Drops from Apothecary Falthis (Ashenvale) at 1.7% (+482 more) (vanilla) |
Ranked by item level, then quality, among items with a known source: gear nothing drops, sells, rewards or makes yet (raids not yet open, the client's test items) is left out. The class filter keeps what the class can equip at level 20 (armor type, weapon skill, Dual Wield, the item's own class limit); the side filter drops items that only the other side's vendors and quests offer. Source: the best known drop first (a Forever rate at 10+ loots, else the vanilla 1.12 chance), then vendors, quest rewards and the profession that makes it. Reviewed picks: Paladin Best in Slot.
Other slots: Head, Shoulder, Back, Wrist, Hands, Waist, Legs, Feet. Every slot and level.