The highest item level shoulder armor a level 51–60 character can wear as a Hunter on the Alliance side start with Bonescythe Pauldrons (item level 86, epic). 161 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 |  Cryptstalker Spaulders | 86 | 60 | 406 | Quest: Cryptstalker Spaulders (vanilla) | |
| 4 | Earthshatter Spaulders | 86 | 60 | 406 | Quest: Earthshatter Spaulders (vanilla) | |
| 1 |  Bonescythe Pauldrons | 86 | 60 | 186 | Leather | Quest: Bonescythe Pauldrons (vanilla) |
| 3 | Dreamwalker Spaulders | 86 | 60 | 186 | Leather | Quest: Dreamwalker Spaulders (vanilla) |
| 5 |  Frostfire Shoulderpads | 86 | 60 | 97 | Cloth | Quest: Frostfire Shoulderpads (vanilla) |
| 6 | Plagueheart Shoulderpads | 86 | 60 | 97 | Cloth | Quest: Plagueheart Shoulderpads (vanilla) |
| 7 | Shoulderpads of Faith | 86 | 60 | 97 | Cloth | Quest: Shoulderpads of Faith (vanilla) |
| 10 |  Polar Shoulder Pads | 83 | 60 | 181 | Leather | Drops from Grand Widow Faerlina (Naxxramas) at 20.0% (vanilla) |
| 9 | Icy Scale Spaulders | 83 | 393 | Drops from Grobbulus (Naxxramas) at 20.0% (vanilla) | ||
| 8 | Glacial Mantle | 83 | 94 | Cloth | Drops from Grobbulus (Naxxramas) at 20.0% (vanilla) | |
| 11 |  Striker's Pauldrons | 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 Mantle | 75 | 60 | 86 | Cloth | Drops from Lord Kri (Ahn'Qiraj) at 16.7% (+2 more) (vanilla) |
| 14 |  Sylvan Shoulders | 70 | 60 | 74 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 15 |  Zandalar Predator's Mantle | 68 | 326 | Quest: Paragons of Power: The Predator's Mantle (vanilla) | ||
| 22 |  Blood Tiger Shoulders | 65 | 60 | 136 | Leather | Crafted: Leatherworking |
| 23 |  Bloodsoul Shoulders | 65 | 60 | 286 | Crafted: Blacksmithing | |
| 17 |  Highlander's Chain Pauldrons | 65 | 60 | 312 | Sold by Samuel Hawke (Alliance) (vanilla) | |
| 19 |  Highlander's Leather Shoulders | 65 | 60 | 148 | Leather | Sold by Samuel Hawke (Alliance) (vanilla) |
| 20 | Highlander's Lizardhide Shoulders | 65 | 60 | 148 | Leather | Sold by Samuel Hawke (Alliance) (vanilla) |
| 18 | Highlander's Epaulets | 65 | 60 | 75 | Cloth | Sold by Samuel Hawke (Alliance) (vanilla) |
| 24 | Darkmantle Spaulders | 65 | 136 | Leather | Quest: Anthion's Parting Words (+1 more) (vanilla) | |
| 21 |  Beastmaster's Mantle | 65 | 286 | Quest: Anthion's Parting Words (+1 more) (vanilla) | ||
| 25 |  Deathmist Mantle | 65 | 69 | Cloth | Quest: Anthion's Parting Words (+1 more) (vanilla) | |
| 16 | Eternity PauldronsFOREVER | 65 | 60 | 312 | Crafted: Leatherworking |
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.