The highest item level off-hand items a level 1–10 character can wear as a Mage start with Native Branch (item level 15, uncommon). 15 items fit the slot and band; the top 15 are ranked here by item level, then quality, not by simulation.
| # | Name | ILvl | Req. | Armor | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 |  Simple Branch | 15 | 10 | Miscellaneous | Drops from Licillin (Darkshore) at 2.4% (+396 more) (vanilla) | |
| 1 |  Native Branch | 15 | 10 | Miscellaneous | Drops from Licillin (Darkshore) at 2.4% (+391 more) (vanilla) | |
| 4 |  Disciple's Stein | 12 | 7 | Miscellaneous | Drops from Shadowclaw (Darkshore) at 3.8% (+432 more) (vanilla) | |
| 3 |  Ancestral Orb | 12 | 7 | Miscellaneous | Drops from Shadowclaw (Darkshore) at 3.8% (+427 more) (vanilla) | |
| 7 |  Journeyman's Stave | 10 | 5 | Miscellaneous | Found in Battered Chest (Elwynn Forest) at 14.3% (+381 more) (vanilla) | |
| 6 |  Beaded Orb | 10 | 5 | Miscellaneous | Found in Hidden Strongbox (Alterac Mountains) at 0.1% (+375 more) (vanilla) | |
| 11 |  Simple Wildflowers | 10 | Miscellaneous | Pickpocketed from Forest Ooze (Azshara) at 4.2% (vanilla) Sold by Bernard Gump (+3 more) (vanilla) | ||
| 5 |  Arcane Orb | 10 | Miscellaneous | Quest: Mage-tastic Gizmonitor (+1 more) (vanilla) | ||
| 8 | Ley Orb | 10 | Miscellaneous | Quest: Ju-Ju Heaps (+1 more) | ||
| 10 |  Red Sparkler | 10 | Miscellaneous | Sold by Jaxxil Sparks (+3 more) (vanilla) | ||
| 12 |  White Sparkler | 10 | Miscellaneous | Sold by Jaxxil Sparks (+3 more) (vanilla) | ||
| 9 |  Blue Sparkler | 10 | Miscellaneous | Sold by Jaxxil Sparks (+3 more) (vanilla) | ||
| 13 |  Bouquet of Red Roses | 1 | Miscellaneous | Drops from Princess Moira Bronzebeard (Blackrock Depths) at 100.0% (+4 more) (vanilla) | ||
| 14 |  Rejected RosesFOREVER | 1 | Miscellaneous | Sold by #12777 | ||
| 15 |  Torch of the Eternal Flame | 1 | Quest | Quest: Call of Fire (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: Shield. Every slot and level.