The highest item level gloves a level 1–10 character can wear as a Mage start with Barbaric Cloth Gloves (item level 15, uncommon). 86 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 |  Barbaric Cloth Gloves | 15 | 10 | 17 | Cloth | Drops from Licillin (Darkshore) at 2.4% (+391 more) (vanilla) |
| 2 |  Coppercloth Gloves | 15 | 10 | 17 | Cloth | Drops from Dalaran Miner (Silverpine Forest) at 2.5% (vanilla) |
| 3 | Calico Gloves | 15 | 10 | 16 | Cloth | Found in Battered Chest (Darkshore) at 0.5% (+228 more) (vanilla) |
| 4 |  Spellbinder Gloves | 14 | 9 | 16 | Cloth | Drops from Felweaver Scornn (Durotar) at 14.3% (+141 more) (vanilla) |
| 5 | Fingerless GlovesCHANGED | 13 | 8 | 15 | Cloth | Drops from Thuros Lightfingers (Elwynn Forest) at 70.0% (vanilla) |
| 6 | Native Handwraps | 13 | 8 | 15 | Cloth | Drops from Savannah Highmane (The Barrens) at 0.7% (+122 more) (vanilla) |
| 7 | Simple Gloves | 13 | 8 | 15 | Cloth | Drops from Muad (Tirisfal Glades) at 3.4% (+164 more) (vanilla) |
| 8 | Ancestral Gloves | 12 | 7 | 13 | Cloth | Drops from Galak Outrunner (Mulgore) at 0.6% (+130 more) (vanilla) |
| 9 |  Azure Stormsewn HandwrapsFOREVER | 11 | 6 | 13 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 10 | Cloudy Stormsewn HandwrapsFOREVER | 11 | 6 | 13 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 11 | Disciple's Gloves | 11 | 6 | 12 | Cloth | Drops from Death Flayer (Durotar) at 8.8% (+134 more) (vanilla) |
| 12 | Heavy Linen GlovesCHANGED | 10 | 5 | 12 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 13 | Beaded Gloves | 10 | 5 | 11 | Cloth | Drops from Sister Hatelash (Mulgore) at 1.2% (+86 more) (vanilla) |
| 14 | Knitted Gloves | 10 | 5 | 11 | Cloth | Drops from Hillsbrad Tailor (Hillsbrad Foothills) at 25.0% (vanilla) Sold by Aeolynn (+13 more) |
| 15 |  Woven Gloves | 10 | 5 | 11 | Cloth | Sold by Constance Brisboise (+4 more) (Horde) (vanilla) |
| 16 | Gardening Gloves | 9 | 10 | Cloth | Quest: Timberling Sprouts (vanilla) | |
| 17 | Journeyman's Gloves | 9 | 4 | 10 | Cloth | Drops from Snagglespear (Mulgore) at 4.2% (+78 more) (vanilla) |
| 18 | Netted Gloves | 8 | 9 | Cloth | Quest: Proof of Demise (vanilla) | |
| 19 | Patchwork Gloves | 7 | 2 | 8 | Cloth | Found in Battered Chest (Elwynn Forest) at 1.3% (+220 more) (vanilla) |
| 20 | Flax Gloves | 5 | 6 | Cloth | Quest: The Mindless Ones (vanilla) | |
| 21 | Outfitter Gloves | 5 | 6 | Cloth | Quest: Skirmish at Echo Ridge | |
| 22 |  Rabbit Handler Gloves | 5 | 6 | Cloth | Quest: Dwarven Outfitters (vanilla) | |
| 23 |  Tattered Cloth Gloves | 5 | 6 | Cloth | Sold by Archibald Kava (+2 more) (Horde) (vanilla) | |
| 24 | Thin Cloth Gloves | 5 | 6 | Cloth | Sold by Dermot Johns (+5 more) (Alliance) (vanilla) | |
| 25 | Viny Gloves | 5 | 6 | Cloth | Quest: The Woodland Protector (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 10 (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: Mage Best in Slot.
Other slots: Head, Shoulder, Back, Chest, Wrist, Waist, Legs, Feet. Every slot and level.