The highest item level shoulder armor a level 51–60 character can wear as a Hunter start with Bonescythe Pauldrons (item level 86, epic). 158 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 |  Bonescythe PauldronsCHANGED | 86 | 60 | 186 | Leather | Quest: Bonescythe Pauldrons (vanilla) |
| 2 |  Cryptstalker SpauldersCHANGED | 86 | 60 | 406 | Quest: Cryptstalker Spaulders (vanilla) | |
| 3 | Dreamwalker SpauldersCHANGED | 86 | 60 | 186 | Leather | Quest: Dreamwalker Spaulders (vanilla) |
| 4 | Earthshatter SpauldersCHANGED | 86 | 60 | 406 | Quest: Earthshatter Spaulders (vanilla) | |
| 5 |  Frostfire ShoulderpadsCHANGED | 86 | 60 | 97 | Cloth | Quest: Frostfire Shoulderpads (vanilla) |
| 6 | Plagueheart ShoulderpadsCHANGED | 86 | 60 | 97 | Cloth | Quest: Plagueheart Shoulderpads (vanilla) |
| 7 | Shoulderpads of FaithCHANGED | 86 | 60 | 97 | Cloth | Quest: Shoulderpads of Faith (vanilla) |
| 8 | Glacial MantleCHANGED | 83 | 94 | Cloth | Drops from Grobbulus (Naxxramas) at 20.0% (vanilla) | |
| 9 | Icy Scale SpauldersCHANGED | 83 | 393 | Drops from Grobbulus (Naxxramas) at 20.0% (vanilla) | ||
| 10 |  Polar Shoulder PadsCHANGED | 83 | 60 | 181 | Leather | Drops from Grand Widow Faerlina (Naxxramas) at 20.0% (vanilla) |
| 11 |  Striker's PauldronsCHANGED | 81 | 60 | 384 | Quest: Striker's Pauldrons (vanilla) | |
| 12 |  Mantle of Wicked Revenge | 77 | 60 | 170 | Leather | Drops from Fankriss the Unyielding (Ahn'Qiraj) at 18.0% (vanilla) |
| 13 |  Ternary MantleCHANGED | 75 | 60 | 86 | Cloth | Drops from Lord Kri (Ahn'Qiraj) at 16.7% (+2 more) (vanilla) |
| 14 |  Sylvan ShouldersCHANGED | 70 | 60 | 74 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 15 |  Zandalar Predator's MantleCHANGED | 68 | 326 | Quest: Paragons of Power: The Predator's Mantle (vanilla) | ||
| 16 |  Defiler's Chain Pauldrons | 65 | 60 | 312 | Sold by Rutherford Twing (Horde) (vanilla) | |
| 17 |  Defiler's EpauletsCHANGED | 65 | 60 | 75 | Cloth | Sold by Rutherford Twing (Horde) (vanilla) |
| 18 | Defiler's Leather ShouldersCHANGED | 65 | 60 | 148 | Leather | Sold by Rutherford Twing (Horde) (vanilla) |
| 19 | Defiler's Lizardhide ShouldersCHANGED | 65 | 60 | 148 | Leather | Sold by Rutherford Twing (Horde) (vanilla) |
| 20 |  Defiler's Mail PauldronsCHANGED | 65 | 60 | 312 | Sold by Rutherford Twing (Horde) (vanilla) | |
| 21 |  Eternity PauldronsFOREVER | 65 | 60 | 312 | Crafted: Leatherworking | |
| 22 | Highlander's Chain Pauldrons | 65 | 60 | 312 | Sold by Samuel Hawke (Alliance) (vanilla) | |
| 23 | Highlander's EpauletsCHANGED | 65 | 60 | 75 | Cloth | Sold by Samuel Hawke (Alliance) (vanilla) |
| 24 | Highlander's Leather ShouldersCHANGED | 65 | 60 | 148 | Leather | Sold by Samuel Hawke (Alliance) (vanilla) |
| 25 | Highlander's Lizardhide ShouldersCHANGED | 65 | 60 | 148 | Leather | Sold by Samuel Hawke (Alliance) (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: Hunter Best in Slot.
Other slots: Head, Back, Chest, Wrist, Hands, Waist, Legs, Feet. Every slot and level.