The highest item level leg armor a level 21–30 character can wear as a Mage start with Necromancer Leggings (item level 35, rare). 92 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 |  Necromancer LeggingsCHANGED | 35 | 30 | 45 | Cloth | Found in Solid Chest (Duskwood) at 0.0% (+280 more) (vanilla) |
| 2 |  Earthen LeggingsFOREVER | 35 | 30 | 41 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 3 |  Thistlefur Pants | 35 | 30 | 41 | Cloth | Drops from Vile Sting (Thousand Needles) at 1.1% (+404 more) (vanilla) |
| 4 | Tuxedo Pants | 35 | 30 | 39 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 5 |  Elder's Pants | 34 | 29 | 40 | Cloth | Drops from Vile Sting (Thousand Needles) at 1.1% (+418 more) (vanilla) |
| 6 | Durable Pants | 33 | 28 | 39 | Cloth | Drops from Heartrazor (Thousand Needles) at 1.1% (+385 more) (vanilla) |
| 7 |  Resilient Leggings | 33 | 28 | 39 | Cloth | Drops from Heartrazor (Thousand Needles) at 1.1% (+371 more) (vanilla) |
| 8 | Sage's Pants | 32 | 27 | 39 | Cloth | Drops from Heartrazor (Thousand Needles) at 1.1% (+385 more) (vanilla) |
| 9 |  Raincaller Pants | 31 | 26 | 38 | Cloth | Drops from Dragonmaw Battlemaster (Wetlands) at 1.1% (+470 more) (vanilla) |
| 10 | Flame LeggingsFOREVER | 30 | 25 | 41 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 11 |  Pearly LeggingsFOREVER | 30 | 25 | 41 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 12 | Pristine LeggingsFOREVER | 30 | 25 | 41 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 13 |  Shadow LeggingsFOREVER | 30 | 25 | 41 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 14 |  Shining LeggingsFOREVER | 30 | 25 | 41 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 15 | Silky LeggingsFOREVER | 30 | 25 | 41 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 16 | Silver-thread PantsCHANGED | 30 | 25 | 38 | Cloth | Drops from Dragonmaw Battlemaster (Wetlands) at 1.1% (+492 more) (vanilla) |
| 17 | Watcher's LeggingsCHANGED | 30 | 25 | 38 | Cloth | Drops from Dragonmaw Battlemaster (Wetlands) at 1.1% (+470 more) (vanilla) |
| 18 |  Leech PantsCHANGED | 29 | 24 | 41 | Cloth | Drops from Aku'mai (Blackfathom Deeps) at 33.3% (vanilla) |
| 19 |  Humbert's Pants | 29 | 24 | 37 | Cloth | Drops from Dun Garok Priest (Hillsbrad Foothills) at 1.3% (vanilla) |
| 20 | Sanguine Trousers | 29 | 24 | 37 | Cloth | Drops from Brontus (The Barrens) at 1.3% (+430 more) (vanilla) |
| 21 | Gaze Dreamer PantsCHANGED | 28 | 23 | 40 | Cloth | Drops from Twilight Lord Kelris (Blackfathom Deeps) at 50.0% (vanilla) |
| 22 | Azure Silk PantsCHANGED | 28 | 23 | 36 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 23 | Ivycloth Pants | 28 | 23 | 36 | Cloth | Drops from Brontus (The Barrens) at 1.3% (+449 more) (vanilla) |
| 24 | Greenweave Leggings | 27 | 22 | 36 | Cloth | Drops from Qiraji Officer (The Barrens) at 4.5% (+470 more) (vanilla) |
| 25 |  Padded Pants | 27 | 22 | 34 | Cloth | Sold by Aeolynn (+9 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 30 (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, Hands, Waist, Feet. Every slot and level.