The highest item level shoulder armor a level 51–60 character can wear as a Rogue 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Bonescythe Pauldrons | 86 | 60 | 186 | Leather | Quest: Bonescythe Pauldrons (vanilla) |
| 2 |  Dreamwalker Spaulders | 86 | 60 | 186 | Leather | Quest: Dreamwalker Spaulders (vanilla) |
| 3 |  Frostfire Shoulderpads | 86 | 60 | 97 | Cloth | Quest: Frostfire Shoulderpads (vanilla) |
| 4 | Plagueheart Shoulderpads | 86 | 60 | 97 | Cloth | Quest: Plagueheart Shoulderpads (vanilla) |
| 5 | Shoulderpads of Faith | 86 | 60 | 97 | Cloth | Quest: Shoulderpads of Faith (vanilla) |
| 6 | Glacial Mantle | 83 | 94 | Cloth | Drops from Grobbulus (Naxxramas) at 20.0% (vanilla) | |
| 7 |  Polar Shoulder Pads | 83 | 60 | 181 | Leather | Drops from Grand Widow Faerlina (Naxxramas) at 20.0% (vanilla) |
| 8 |  Deathdealer's Spaulders | 78 | 60 | 172 | Leather | Quest: Deathdealer's Spaulders (vanilla) |
| 9 |  Mantle of Wicked Revenge | 77 | 60 | 170 | Leather | Drops from Fankriss the Unyielding (Ahn'Qiraj) at 18.0% (vanilla) |
| 10 |  Ternary Mantle | 75 | 60 | 86 | Cloth | Drops from Lord Kri (Ahn'Qiraj) at 16.7% (+2 more) (vanilla) |
| 11 |  Sylvan Shoulders | 70 | 60 | 74 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 12 |  Defiler's Epaulets | 65 | 60 | 75 | Cloth | Sold by Rutherford Twing (Horde) (vanilla) |
| 13 | Defiler's Leather Shoulders | 65 | 60 | 148 | Leather | Sold by Rutherford Twing (Horde) (vanilla) |
| 14 | Defiler's Lizardhide Shoulders | 65 | 60 | 148 | Leather | Sold by Rutherford Twing (Horde) (vanilla) |
| 15 | Highlander's Epaulets | 65 | 60 | 75 | Cloth | Sold by Samuel Hawke (Alliance) (vanilla) |
| 16 | Highlander's Leather Shoulders | 65 | 60 | 148 | Leather | Sold by Samuel Hawke (Alliance) (vanilla) |
| 17 | Highlander's Lizardhide Shoulders | 65 | 60 | 148 | Leather | Sold by Samuel Hawke (Alliance) (vanilla) |
| 18 |  Blood Tiger Shoulders | 65 | 60 | 136 | Leather | Crafted: Leatherworking |
| 19 | Darkmantle Spaulders | 65 | 136 | Leather | Quest: Anthion's Parting Words (+1 more) (vanilla) | |
| 20 |  Deathmist Mantle | 65 | 69 | Cloth | Quest: Anthion's Parting Words (+1 more) (vanilla) | |
| 21 |  Feralheart Spaulders | 65 | 136 | Leather | Quest: Anthion's Parting Words (+1 more) (vanilla) | |
| 22 | Sorcerer's Mantle | 65 | 69 | Cloth | Quest: Anthion's Parting Words (+1 more) (vanilla) | |
| 23 |  Virtuous Mantle | 65 | 69 | Cloth | Quest: Anthion's Parting Words (+1 more) (vanilla) | |
| 24 |  Adventurer's Shoulders | 63 | 58 | 120 | Leather | Drops from Ysondre (The Hinterlands) at 1.9% (+459 more) (vanilla) |
| 25 | Eternal Spaulders | 63 | 58 | 61 | Cloth | Drops from Ysondre (The Hinterlands) at 1.9% (+459 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 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: Rogue Best in Slot.
Other slots: Head, Back, Chest, Wrist, Hands, Waist, Legs, Feet. Every slot and level.