The highest item level two-handed axes a level 51–60 character can wear as a Paladin on the Alliance side start with Dark Edge of Insanity (item level 84, epic). 14 items fit the slot and band; the top 14 are ranked here by item level, then quality, not by simulation.
| # | Name | ILvl | Req. | DPS | Speed | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Dark Edge of Insanity | 84 | 60 | 86.6 | 3.50 | Two-Handed Axe | Drops from C'Thun (Ahn'Qiraj) at 8.0% (vanilla) |
| 2 |  Nightfall | 70 | 60 | 67.0 | 3.50 | Two-Handed Axe | Crafted: Blacksmithing |
| 3 |  Forest Defender's AxeFOREVER | 65 | 60 | 61.5 | 3.30 | Two-Handed Axe | Crafted: Blacksmithing |
| 4 |  Arcanite Reaper | 63 | 58 | 53.8 | 3.80 | Two-Handed Axe | Crafted: Blacksmithing |
| 6 |  Death Striker | 63 | 58 | 48.9 | 2.80 | Two-Handed Axe | Drops from Ysondre (The Hinterlands) at 1.9% (+459 more) (vanilla) |
| 5 |  StormcarverFOREVER | 63 | 58 | 53.9 | 3.60 | Two-Handed Axe | Crafted: Blacksmithing |
| 8 |  Balanced War Axe | 59 | 54 | 27.6 | 2.50 | Two-Handed Axe | Found in Supply Crate (Stratholme) at 2.3% (+642 more) (vanilla) |
| 7 |  Razor Axe | 59 | 54 | 45.8 | 2.50 | Two-Handed Axe | Found in Dark Coffer (Blackrock Depths) at 1.6% (+649 more) (vanilla) |
| 9 |  Dark Iron Sunderer | 57 | 52 | 48.8 | 2.60 | Two-Handed Axe | Crafted: Blacksmithing |
| 12 |  Huge Thorium BattleaxeCHANGED | 56 | 51 | 43.4 | 3.50 | Two-Handed Axe | Crafted: Blacksmithing |
| 10 | Lord Alexander's Battle Axe | 56 | 51 | 48.1 | 3.20 | Two-Handed Axe | Drops from Colossus of Zora (Silithus) at 9.1% (+475 more) (vanilla) |
| 11 | Colossal Great Axe | 56 | 51 | 43.4 | 3.80 | Two-Handed Axe | Drops from Lord Maldazzar (Western Plaguelands) at 1.0% (+633 more) (vanilla) |
| 13 |  Beastslayer | 55 | 42.6 | 3.30 | Two-Handed Axe | Quest: The Mighty U'cha (vanilla) | |
| 14 |  Will of the Mountain Giant | 51 | 39.5 | 2.80 | Two-Handed Axe | Quest: Weapons of Spirit (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: Paladin Best in Slot.
Other slots: Dagger, One-Handed Sword, One-Handed Axe, One-Handed Mace, Two-Handed Sword, Two-Handed Mace, Polearm, Staff, Bow, Gun. Every slot and level.