The highest item level one-handed axes a level 11–20 character can wear as a Paladin on the Alliance side start with Butcher's Cleaver (item level 25, rare). 29 items fit the slot and band; the top 24 are ranked here by item level, then quality, not by simulation.
| # | Name | ILvl | Req. | DPS | Speed | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Butcher's Cleaver | 25 | 20 | 16.2 | 1.70 | One-Handed Axe | Drops from Razorclaw the Butcher (Shadowfang Keep) at 33.3% (vanilla) |
| 3 |  Ridge Cleaver | 25 | 20 | 12.7 | 2.20 | One-Handed Axe | Drops from Humar the Pridelord (The Barrens) at 1.6% (+547 more) (vanilla) |
| 2 |  Flesh CarverCHANGED | 25 | 20 | 12.8 | 2.30 | One-Handed Axe | Drops from Snarlmane (Silverpine Forest) at 25.0% (vanilla) |
| 5 |  Shadowhide Scalper | 24 | 19 | 12.4 | 2.90 | One-Handed Axe | Drops from Shadowhide Assassin (Redridge Mountains) at 1.5% (vanilla) |
| 4 |  Black Metal Axe | 24 | 19 | 12.4 | 2.10 | One-Handed Axe | Drops from Flesh Eater (Duskwood) at 1.0% (vanilla) |
| 6 | Double Axe | 24 | 19 | 11.0 | 2.50 | One-Handed Axe | Sold by Ariyell Skyshadow (+11 more) (vanilla) |
| 8 |  Razor's Edge | 23 | 18 | 15.2 | 2.40 | One-Handed Axe | Drops from Eroded Anubisath Warbringer (The Barrens) at 1.9% (+330 more) (vanilla) |
| 7 |  Guillotine Axe | 23 | 18 | 15.0 | 2.70 | One-Handed Axe | Drops from Shadow Charger (Shadowfang Keep) at 0.1% (+12 more) (vanilla) |
| 9 |  Bronze AxeCHANGED | 23 | 18 | 11.6 | 2.50 | One-Handed Axe | Crafted: Blacksmithing |
| 10 | Forester's Axe | 23 | 18 | 11.6 | 2.50 | One-Handed Axe | Drops from Apothecary Falthis (Ashenvale) at 1.7% (+502 more) (vanilla) |
| 11 |  Gouging Pick | 22 | 17 | 6.7 | 1.80 | One-Handed Axe | Found in Large Iron Bound Chest (Gnomeregan) at 1.2% (+315 more) (vanilla) |
| 14 |  Grunt Axe | 21 | 16 | 10.7 | 2.30 | One-Handed Axe | Drops from Strider Clutchmother (Darkshore) at 1.7% (+476 more) (vanilla) |
| 15 |  Orcish Cleaver | 21 | 16 | 10.6 | 1.80 | One-Handed Axe | Drops from Thragomm (Loch Modan) at 100.0% (vanilla) |
| 13 |  Smite's ReaverCHANGED | 21 | 17 | 13.9 | 1.90 | One-Handed Axe | Drops from Mr. Smite (The Deadmines) at 40.0% (vanilla) |
| 12 | Serpent's KissCHANGED | 21 | 16 | 14.0 | 2.50 | One-Handed Axe | Drops from Trigore the Lasher (The Barrens) at 50.0% (vanilla) |
| 16 | Cleaver | 20 | 15 | 9.1 | 2.20 | One-Handed Axe | Sold by Ariyell Skyshadow (+12 more) (vanilla) |
| 17 | Unbalanced Axe | 19 | 14 | 5.6 | 2.40 | One-Handed Axe | Found in Weapon Crate (The Barrens) at 10.0% (+316 more) (vanilla) |
| 18 |  Durgen's Crescent AxeFOREVER | 18 | 13 | 12.3 | 2.40 | One-Handed Axe | Sold by #12782 (+1 more) |
| 19 |  Thelsamar Axe | 18 | 9.0 | 2.10 | One-Handed Axe | Quest: Gathering Idols (vanilla) | |
| 20 |  Thick War AxeCHANGED | 17 | 12 | 8.6 | 2.50 | One-Handed Axe | Crafted: Blacksmithing |
| 21 | Hatchet | 16 | 11 | 7.2 | 2.50 | One-Handed Axe | Sold by Ariyell Skyshadow (+15 more) (vanilla) |
| 22 | Pointed Axe | 14 | 7.1 | 1.90 | One-Handed Axe | Quest: Centaur Bracers (vanilla) | |
| 23 |  Defender Axe | 13 | 7.0 | 2.30 | One-Handed Axe | Quest: Ursal the Mauler (vanilla) | |
| 24 | Striking Hatchet | 12 | 5.3 | 1.70 | One-Handed Axe | Quest: At War With The Scarlet Crusade (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 20 (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: Dagger, One-Handed Sword, One-Handed Mace, Two-Handed Sword, Two-Handed Axe, Two-Handed Mace, Polearm, Staff, Bow, Gun. Every slot and level.