The highest item level head armor a level 51–60 character can wear as a Paladin start with Bonescythe Helmet (item level 88, epic). 139 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 |  Bonescythe HelmetCHANGED | 88 | 60 | 205 | Leather | Quest: Bonescythe Helmet (vanilla) |
| 2 |  Circlet of FaithCHANGED | 88 | 60 | 108 | Cloth | Quest: Circlet of Faith (vanilla) |
| 3 |  Cryptstalker HeadpieceCHANGED | 88 | 60 | 449 | Quest: Cryptstalker Headpiece (vanilla) | |
| 4 | Dreadnaught HelmetCHANGED | 88 | 60 | 800 | Plate | Quest: Dreadnaught Helmet (vanilla) |
| 5 | Dreamwalker HeadpieceCHANGED | 88 | 60 | 205 | Leather | Quest: Dreamwalker Headpiece (vanilla) |
| 6 | Earthshatter HeadpieceCHANGED | 88 | 60 | 449 | Quest: Earthshatter Headpiece (vanilla) | |
| 7 | Frostfire CircletCHANGED | 88 | 60 | 108 | Cloth | Quest: Frostfire Circlet (vanilla) |
| 8 | Plagueheart CircletCHANGED | 88 | 60 | 108 | Cloth | Quest: Plagueheart Circlet (vanilla) |
| 9 | Redemption HeadpieceCHANGED | 88 | 60 | 800 | Plate | Quest: Redemption Headpiece (vanilla) |
| 10 |  Glacial HeaddressCHANGED | 83 | 60 | 102 | Cloth | Drops from Gothik the Harvester (Naxxramas) at 20.0% (vanilla) |
| 11 |  Icebane HelmetCHANGED | 83 | 60 | 757 | Plate | Drops from Heigan the Unclean (Naxxramas) at 20.0% (vanilla) |
| 12 |  Icy Scale CoifCHANGED | 83 | 60 | 425 | Drops from Heigan the Unclean (Naxxramas) at 20.0% (vanilla) | |
| 13 |  Polar HelmetCHANGED | 83 | 60 | 196 | Leather | Drops from Gothik the Harvester (Naxxramas) at 20.0% (vanilla) |
| 14 |  Avenger's CrownCHANGED | 81 | 60 | 739 | Plate | Quest: Avenger's Crown (vanilla) |
| 15 |  Don Rigoberto's Lost HatCHANGED | 81 | 60 | 100 | Cloth | Drops from Ouro at 16.7% (vanilla) |
| 16 |  Creeping Vine HelmCHANGED | 76 | 60 | 183 | Leather | Drops from Battleguard Sartura (Ahn'Qiraj) at 15.0% (vanilla) |
| 17 |  Gnomish Turban of Psychic MightCHANGED | 75 | 60 | 93 | Cloth | Quest: The Only Prescription (vanilla) |
| 18 | Guise of the DevourerCHANGED | 75 | 60 | 180 | Leather | Drops from Lord Kri (Ahn'Qiraj) at 16.7% (+2 more) (vanilla) |
| 19 | Bramblewood HelmCHANGED | 70 | 60 | 156 | Leather | Crafted: Leatherworking |
| 20 | Sylvan CrownCHANGED | 70 | 60 | 80 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 21 |  Dark Iron HelmCHANGED | 66 | 60 | 608 | Plate | Crafted: Blacksmithing |
| 22 |  Sanctified Leather HelmCHANGED | 66 | 149 | Leather | Quest: Superior Armaments of Battle - Exalted Amongst the Dawn (+3 more) (vanilla) | |
| 23 |  Outlaw's CollarFOREVER | 65 | 60 | 160 | Leather | Crafted: Leatherworking |
| 24 |  Bloodvine GogglesCHANGED | 65 | 60 | 75 | Cloth | Crafted: Engineering |
| 25 |  Bloodvine LensCHANGED | 65 | 60 | 147 | Leather | Crafted: Engineering |
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 60 (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: Shoulder, Back, Chest, Wrist, Hands, Waist, Legs, Feet. Every slot and level.