The highest item level main hand weapons a level 51–60 character can wear as a Mage start with Sharpened Silithid Femur (item level 78, epic). 36 items fit the slot and band; the top 15 are ranked here by item level, then quality, not by simulation.
| # | Name | ILvl | Req. | DPS | Speed | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Sharpened Silithid FemurCHANGED | 78 | 60 | 59.3 | 2.30 | One-Handed Sword | Drops from Viscidus (Ahn'Qiraj) at 14.3% (vanilla) |
| 2 |  Fang of KorialstraszCHANGED | 76 | 60 | 57.5 | 1.80 | Dagger | Quest: Treasure of the Timeless One (vanilla) |
| 3 |  Runesword of the RedCHANGED | 76 | 60 | 57.3 | 2.20 | One-Handed Sword | Quest: Treasure of the Timeless One (vanilla) |
| 4 |  Blade of Vaulted SecretsCHANGED | 70 | 60 | 51.5 | 2.30 | One-Handed Sword | Quest: Blade of Vaulted Secrets (vanilla) |
| 5 |  Verimonde's Last ResortCHANGED | 66 | 43.2 | 1.40 | Dagger | Quest: Superior Armaments of Battle - Exalted Amongst the Dawn (+3 more) (vanilla) | |
| 6 |  MindfangCHANGED | 65 | 60 | 47.4 | 1.70 | Dagger | Sold by Rutherford Twing (Horde) (vanilla) |
| 7 | SageclawCHANGED | 65 | 60 | 47.4 | 1.70 | Dagger | Sold by Samuel Hawke (Alliance) (vanilla) |
| 8 |  Shivsprocket's ShivCHANGED | 65 | 42.7 | 1.50 | Dagger | Quest: The Perfect Poison (vanilla) | |
| 9 | SagebladeCHANGED | 64 | 59 | 46.4 | 1.80 | One-Handed Sword | Crafted: Blacksmithing |
| 10 |  Sword of Zeal | 63 | 58 | 41.4 | 2.80 | One-Handed Sword | Drops from Colossus of Zora (Silithus) at 10.0% (+252 more) (vanilla) |
| 11 |  Battlefell Sabre | 62 | 57 | 37.0 | 2.20 | One-Handed Sword | Drops from Foreman Jerris (Western Plaguelands) at 1.1% (+451 more) (vanilla) |
| 12 |  Enchanted Azsharite Felbane Sword | 60 | 35.8 | 2.00 | One-Handed Sword | Quest: Enchanted Azsharite Fel Weaponry (vanilla) | |
| 13 |  Black Crystal Dagger | 59 | 35.3 | 1.80 | Dagger | Quest: Wanted - Deathclasp, Terror of the Sands (vanilla) | |
| 14 |  Valiant ShortswordCHANGED | 58 | 34.5 | 2.10 | One-Handed Sword | Quest: Mission Accomplished! (+1 more) (vanilla) | |
| 15 | Linken's Sword of MasteryCHANGED | 56 | 36.9 | 1.80 | One-Handed Sword | Quest: It's Dangerous to Go Alone (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 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: Mage Best in Slot.
Other slots: One-Hand, Two-Hand. Every slot and level.