The highest item level shoulder armor a level 11–20 character can wear as a Mage start with Magician's Mantle (item level 25, rare). 37 items fit the slot and band; the top 13 are ranked here by item level, then quality, not by simulation.
| # | Name | ILvl | Req. | Armor | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Magician's MantleCHANGED | 25 | 20 | 32 | Cloth | Drops from Eroded Anubisath Warbringer (The Barrens) at 1.9% (+403 more) (vanilla) |
| 2 |  Slime-encrusted PadsCHANGED | 25 | 20 | 32 | Cloth | Drops from Mutanus the Devourer at 33.3% (vanilla) |
| 3 |  Reinforced Woolen ShouldersCHANGED | 24 | 19 | 28 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 4 |  Pagan Mantle | 24 | 19 | 27 | Cloth | Drops from Branch Snapper (Ashenvale) at 1.4% (+148 more) (vanilla) |
| 5 | Shimmering Amice | 24 | 19 | 27 | Cloth | Drops from Swinegart Spearhide (The Barrens) at 6.6% (+184 more) (vanilla) |
| 6 | Ritual Amice | 23 | 18 | 26 | Cloth | Drops from Lady Vespira (Darkshore) at 0.8% (+139 more) (vanilla) |
| 7 | Double-Stitched Woolen ShouldersCHANGED | 22 | 17 | 27 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 8 | Buccaneer's Mantle | 22 | 17 | 26 | Cloth | Found in Large Iron Bound Chest (Gnomeregan) at 1.2% (+151 more) (vanilla) |
| 9 | Mystic's Shoulder Pads | 22 | 17 | 26 | Cloth | Drops from Deepmoss Matriarch at 0.3% (+143 more) (vanilla) |
| 10 | Brocade Shoulderpads | 22 | 17 | 24 | Cloth | Found in Large Iron Bound Chest (Gnomeregan) at 1.2% (+315 more) (vanilla) |
| 11 | Aboriginal Shoulder Pads | 21 | 16 | 25 | Cloth | Drops from Sludge Beast (The Barrens) at 1.5% (+137 more) (vanilla) |
| 12 | Seer's Mantle | 21 | 16 | 25 | Cloth | Found in Large Iron Bound Chest (Gnomeregan) at 1.2% (+157 more) (vanilla) |
| 13 | Canvas Shoulderpads | 20 | 15 | 23 | Cloth | Found in Armor Crate (The Barrens) at 3.3% (+322 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 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: Mage Best in Slot.
Other slots: Head, Back, Chest, Wrist, Hands, Waist, Legs, Feet. Every slot and level.