The highest item level one-handed swords a level 41–50 character can wear start with Hanzo Sword (item level 55, rare). 15 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 |  Hanzo Sword | 55 | 50 | 36.3 | 1.50 | One-Handed Sword | Found in Solid Chest (The Hinterlands) at 0.0% (+427 more) (vanilla) |
| 2 |  Widow Blade | 54 | 49 | 32.3 | 2.00 | One-Handed Sword | Drops from Zaricotl (Badlands) at 1.0% (+629 more) (vanilla) |
| 3 |  Legionnaire's Sword | 53 | 48 | 35.2 | 2.70 | One-Handed Sword | Sold by Kelm Hargunth (Horde) (vanilla) |
| 4 |  Protector's Sword | 53 | 48 | 35.2 | 2.70 | One-Handed Sword | Sold by Illiyana Moonblaze (Alliance) (vanilla) |
| 5 | Fine Longsword | 52 | 47 | 18.4 | 2.20 | One-Handed Sword | Found in Large Solid Chest (Western Plaguelands) at 20.0% (+647 more) (vanilla) |
| 6 | Rune Sword | 51 | 46 | 30.3 | 1.60 | One-Handed Sword | Drops from Ravasaur Matriarch (Un'Goro Crater) at 0.9% (+495 more) (vanilla) |
| 7 |  Phantom BladeCHANGED | 49 | 44 | 32.5 | 1.60 | One-Handed Sword | Crafted: Blacksmithing |
| 8 |  Serpent Slicer | 49 | 44 | 32.8 | 2.50 | One-Handed Sword | Found in Solid Chest (Stranglethorn Vale) at 0.0% (+303 more) (vanilla) |
| 9 |  Dazzling Mithril RapierCHANGED | 48 | 43 | 28.5 | 1.70 | One-Handed Sword | Crafted: Blacksmithing |
| 10 |  Zorbin's Mega-Slicer | 48 | 28.7 | 2.30 | One-Handed Sword | Quest: Zapped Giants (vanilla) | |
| 11 |  Shortsword of Vengeance | 47 | 42 | 31.7 | 2.40 | One-Handed Sword | Drops from Narillasanz (Alterac Mountains) at 0.0% (+321 more) (vanilla) |
| 12 |  Falchion | 46 | 41 | 25.7 | 2.20 | One-Handed Sword | Sold by Brenwyn Wintersteel (+15 more) (vanilla) |
| 13 | Sharp Shortsword | 46 | 41 | 16.4 | 1.80 | One-Handed Sword | Found in Solid Chest (The Hinterlands) at 1.6% (+940 more) (vanilla) |
| 14 |  Dwarf Captain's Sword | 45 | 26.6 | 2.50 | One-Handed Sword | Quest: An Ambassador of Evil (vanilla) | |
| 15 | Sword of Hammerfall | 41 | 23.0 | 2.30 | One-Handed Sword | Quest: The Real Threat (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 50 (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.
Other slots: Dagger, One-Handed Axe, One-Handed Mace, Two-Handed Sword, Two-Handed Axe, Two-Handed Mace, Staff, Bow, Gun. Every slot and level.