Item level

The item level is a rather important property of every item. It has two main functions — reflect the item's usefulness and at the same time determine the minimum level a character must have in order to use it (see Minimum level requirements and Item Level). Up until Patch 3.2, the true item level was hidden in the game, and only UI mods can read it via the function GetItemInfo. Now, however, a new option has been added under Display in the Interface Options to show the item level on item tooltips.

As Hyzenthlei (Tauren Shaman 60 on Zul'Jin) first found out, and was later confirmed by a presentation at Blizzcon, Blizzard uses a formula to calculate item level from the item's stats. The following is an attempt to reverse-engineer this formula. This text is based on a forum post by Hyzenthlei (the original author) in the Blizzard forums, but that post has since disappeared.

Item Level Chart

Classic (minLevel = 60)

ilvl	misc	MC	BWL	TAQ	Naxx-40	PVP
63	Classic 5/10-man dungeons	various boss drops
64		various boss drops
65	Dungeon 2 sets ZG set chest/neck/trinket ZG trash rares ZG boss epics RAQ set rings Abyssal Council epics	various boss drops		Friendly Bronze Signets		Battleground items
66	Azuregos/Lord Kazzak Mandokir/Jin'do epics (ZG) Kurinnaxx/Rajaxx epics (RAQ) Darkmoon Cards	Tier 1 set pieces various boss drops				R6 rare gloves/boots
67	Azuregos/Lord Kazzak RAQ set cloaks	various boss drops
68	Azuregos/Lord Kazzak Abyssal Council rares High Priests/Edge of Madness/ Gahz'ranka rares (ZG) Hakkar epics (ZG) Buru/Ayamiss epics (RAQ)	various boss drops				R7 rare chest/legs
69	Azuregos/Lord Kazzak Moam epics (RAQ)	various boss drops
70	Azuregos/Lord Kazzak RAQ set weapons	Majordomo various boss drops	BWL trash drops	Honored Bronze Signets
71	Azuregos/Lord Kazzak Green Dragons Mandokir/Jin'do (ZG) Kurinnaxx/Rajaxx (RAQ) some RAQ trash drops Quel'Serrar	Majordomo various boss drops		TAQ trash drops		R8 rare helm/shoulders R12 epic legs/gloves/boots
72	Ossirian epics (RAQ) Green Dragons
73	Buru/Ayamiss rares (RAQ)	Ragnaros	Razorgore	Skeram
74	Moam rares (RAQ)	Ragnaros	Vaelastrasz			R13 epic helm/shoulders/chest
75		Ragnaros Rhok/Lok Benediction/Anathema	Broodlord Lashlayer Firemaw Ebonroc Flamegor	Revered Bronze Signets Royal Trio (shared) Royal Trio (Vem)
76		Tier 2 pants (Ragnaros)	Tier 2 set pieces	Royal Trio (Yauj) Sartura scepter questline weapons
77		Ragnaros weapons	Chromaggus	Fankriss scepter questline stuff
78		Ragnaros		TAQ set shoulders/boots Royal Trio (Kri) Viscidus Huhuran		R14 weapons
79				Qiraji regalia/armaments
80		[Sulfuras, Hand of Ragnaros] [Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker]		Exalted Bronze Signets	crafted FrR gear
81			Nefarian weapons	TAQ set helm/legs Twin Emperors Ouro	some Naxx weapons
82
83			Nefarian		various Naxx drops
84				C'Thun weapons
85					Naxx wing bosses
86					Tier 3 shoulders/boots Corrupted Ashbringer
87
88				TAQ set chest C'Thun	Tier 3 helm/bracers/gloves/belts/legs Sapphiron weapons
89					Kel'thuzad weapons
90					[Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian] Sapphiron
91
92					Tier 3 chest/ring Kel'thuzad

The Burning Crusade (minLevel = 70)

ilvl	PvE (party)	PvE (raid)	PvP	crafted
81 (uncommon)	req.57 world drop BoEs initial quest rewards
115 (rare)	Heroic dungeons
95 (epic)			Terrokar spirit shard rings	Basic engineering goggles
100	req.70 world drop BoEs Exalted reputation weapons Darkmoon cards Heroic MT event rings (Yor)			BS FrR legs/helm JC caster helms; FrR ring Tailoring Soulcloth set
105	Heroic end-boss weapons Exalted reputation gear Terokk BoE cloaks Ogri'la event rings (Shartuul) Ogri'la Apexis Infusion epics			most crafted BoEs
107				BS T1 weapons
110	Heroic end-boss gear SWMT Kael'thas (normal) Seasonal event boss drops Initial badge loot (jewelry, off-hands, helms)	Violet Signet (Honored)
113			S1 (General's/Marshal's) bracers S1 necklaces
115	SWMT (Heroic) Exalted Shattered Sun FR badge gear	Karazhan [Violet Badge] [Phoenix-Fire Band]	S1 relics	BS FrR chest; NR chest/legs/helm JC NR ring LW set bracers/belts Tailoring [Primal Mooncloth Belt]
120		Tier 4 sets (Karazhan/Gruul/Magtheridon) Violet Signet (Revered) Outdoor raid boss drops		LW set chests LW [Cloak of Darkness] Tailoring [Primal Mooncloth Robe]
123			S1 Arena weapons S1 Arena armor sets S1 (General's/Marshal's) belt/boots S1 (Sergeant's) cloaks	BS T2 weapons
125	SWMT Kael'thas (Heroic)	Karazhan end-boss (Malchezaar) High King Maulgar/Gruul the Dragonkiller Magtheridon		JC T2 figurines
126			S2 (Veteran's) bracers
127				BS T2 armor Eng T1 goggles
128	Zul'Aman badge gear	Zul'Aman gear Serpentshrine Cavern gear Tempest Keep gear Band of Eternity (Friendly)	S2 (Veteran's) rings/necklaces S4 PVP trinket	SSC/TK crafted BoP boots SSC/TK crafted BoE belts
130		Violet Signet (Exalted)		BT crafted SR gear
132		Zul'Aman weapons
133		Tier 5 sets (SSC/TK) Zul'Aman end-bosses (Malacrass/Zul'jin)	Battlemaster trinkets
134		SSC/TK weapons
135	[The 2 Ring]
136		Band of Eternity (Honored)	S2 (Merciless) Arena weapons S2 (Merciless) Arena armor sets S2 (Veteran's) belts/boots S3 cloaks	BS T3 weapons
138		SSC/TK end-boss gear (Vashj/Kael'thas) ZA end-boss weapons
141	Sunwell badge gear	Hyjal/BT gear SSC/TK end-boss weapons	S3 (Vindicator's) bracers/rings/necklaces	Hyjal/BT crafted BoP shoulders Hyjal/BT crafted BoE bracers
144		Band of Eternity (Revered)
146	Sunwell badge weapons	Tier 6 sets (Hyjal/BT)	S3 (Vengeful) Arena weapons S3 (Vengeful) Arena armor sets S3 (Vindicator's) belt/boots	BS T3 armor
151		Hyjal/BT end-boss weapons (Archimonde/Illidan) BT trash rings
152		Band of Eternity (Exalted)
154		Tier 6 bracers/belt/boots Sunwell Plateau gear	S4 (Brutal) Arena weapons S4 (Guardian's) bracers/rings/necklaces
156		[Twin Blades of Azzinoth]
159		Sunwell token-exchange gear	S4 (Brutal) Arena armor sets S4 (Guardian's) belt/boots	Eng T2 goggles SWP crafted BoP chests SWP crafted BoE gloves JC BoE rings; BoP necklaces
164		Sunwell end-boss (Kil'jaeden) [Thori'dal, the Stars' Fury]

Wrath of the Lich King (minLevel = 80)

ilvl	PvE (5-man party)	PvE (10-man raid)	PvE (25-man raid)	PvP	Crafted
130 (uncommon)	req.67 world drop BoEs
138 (uncommon)	req.68 world drop BoEs initial quest rewards
187 (rare)	Normal lv80 instances Honored reputation rewards				Rare craftables
200 (rare)	Heroic instances Revered reputation rewards Argent Tournament armor rewards			S5 Savage set
200 (epic)	Heroic end-boss gear Normal Trial of the Champion [Justice Points] rewards Exalted reputation rewards Most world drop epics Argent Tournament weapon rewards	Tier 7 Heroes' sets Naxxramas Sartharion		S5 Hateful set and accessories S5 Wintergrasp rewards (3.08)	Frozen Orb craftables Darkmoon cards
206					[The 5 Ring] (fishing daily reward)
213	[Justice Points] rewards	Kel'thuzad Malygos Sartharion hard mode	Tier 7.5 Valorous sets Naxxramas Sartharion	S5 Deadly gear S6 Wintergrasp rewards (3.1)
219	Heroic Trial of the Champion Normal Icecrown instances	Tier 8 Valorous sets Ulduar
226	[Justice Points] rewards	Ulduar hard mode / Ulduar Weapons	Kel'thuzad Malygos Sartharion hard mode Tier 8.5 Conqueror's sets Ulduar	S6 Furious honor accessories S7 Wintergrasp rewards (3.2)	Runed Orb craftables
232	Heroic Icecrown instances	Ulduar hard weapons Trial of the Crusader Tier 9 Conqueror's rewards	Ulduar weapons	S6 Furious set pieces S6 T1 Furious weapons
239			Ulduar hard mode	S6 T2 Furious weapons
245	[Justice Points] rewards	Trial of the Grand Crusader	Tier 9 Triumphant sets Trial of the Crusader [Val'anyr, Hammer of Ancient Kings]	S7 Relentless accessories S7 T1 Relentless weapons	Crusader Orb craftables
251	[Quel'Delar] quest rewards Twilight Invasion event bosses	Tier 10 sets Icecrown Ashen Verdict Friendly rings		S7 Relentless set pieces S8 Wintergrasp rewards (3.3)
258		Trial of the Grand Crusader tribute Lich King Halion	Trial of the Grand Crusader	S7 T2 Relentless weapons
259		Ashen Verdict Honored rings
264		Tier 10 Sanctified sets Icecrown hard mode [Justice Points] rewards	Tier 10 Sanctified sets Icecrown	S8 Wrathful accessories S8 T1 Wrathful weapons	Primordial Saronite craftables
268		Ashen Verdict Revered rings
270				S8 Wrathful set pieces S8 Wrathful off-hands, relics and shields
271		Lich King hard mode Halion hard mode	Lich King Halion
272			Trial of the Grand Crusader tribute
277		Ashen Verdict Exalted rings	Tier 10 Heroic Sanctified sets Icecrown hard mode	S8 T2 Wrathful weapons
284			Lich King hard mode Halion hard mode [Shadowmourne]

Cataclysm (minLevel = 80-85)

For Cataclysm items there no longer appears to be any relation between item budget and rarity; that is, an uncommon ilvl300 and a rare ilvl300 will have the same budget. The difference lies in the character level requirement, with rares being equippable one or more levels earlier than uncommon items of the same ilvl. World drop blues appear to be about one character level better than greens of the same ilvl, crafted items two levels, and zone drops up four levels earlier.

Uncommon/green caps out at ilvl 318 for Twilight Highlands quest rewards and world drops requiring character level 85. The highest rare/blue items are ilvl 352 with the exception of the upgraded crafting recipes for the later seasons' entry-level PVP gear. Epic/purple is used to denote all other items of ilvl 353 and higher.

ilvl	PvE (party)	PvE (raid)	PvP	Crafted
272 (uncommon)	req.77 world drop BoEs initial quest rewards
292 (rare)	req.80 world drop BoEs
300	req.81 world drop BoEs
308	req.82 world drop BoEs Blackrock Caverns Throne of the Tides			req.80 crafted BoEs
316	req.83 world drop BoEs Stonecore Vortex Pinnacle			req.81 crafted BoEs
325	req.84 world drop BoEs			req.82 crafted BoEs
333	req.85 world drop BoEs Grim Batol Halls of Origination Lost City of the Tol'vir Honored reputation rewards			req.83 crafted BoEs
339				S9 crafted PVP armor
346	Heroic dungeons 4.0 [Justice Points] rewards Revered reputation rewards			Jewelcrafting rings/necks 4.0  [Chaos Orb] weapons/cloaks
352 (rare)			S9 Bloodthirsty armor
353 (epic)	Zul'Aman Zul'Gurub
358				S10 Bloodthirsty PVP armor (rare)
359	Exalted reputation rewards World boss BoEs	Tier 11 and 4.0 [Valor Points] rewards Normal Blackwing Descent Normal Bastion of Twilight Normal Throne of the Four Winds	S9 Vicious T1 weapons	4.0  [Chaos Orb] chests and belts Archaeology artifacts Darkmoon Card trinkets
365	Holiday event bosses Elemental Bonds cloaks [Mark of the World Tree] vendors		S9 Vicious armor	4.2  [Chaos Orb] weapons
371			S10 Vicious armor
372		Heroic Blackwing Descent, Heroic Bastion of Twilight, Heroic Throne of the Four Winds and T11	S9 Vicious T2 weapons
377				S11 Vicious PVP armor (rare)
378	End Time Well of Eternity Hour of Twilight 4.3 [Justice Points] rewards	Tier 12 and 4.2 [Valor Points] rewards Normal Firelands Avengers of Hyjal rewards	S10 Ruthless T1 weapons	[Living Ember] gloves and boots
379		Heroic Lady Sinestra
384		Normal Ragnaros Raid Finder Dragon Soul and T13	S10 Ruthless armor
390		Raid Finder Deathwing	S11 Ruthless armor
391		Heroic Firelands and T12 Avengers of Hyjal Exalted rings	S10 Ruthless T2 weapons
397		Heroic Ragnaros  [Dragonwrath, Tarecgosa's Rest] Tier 13 and 4.3 [Valor Points] rewards Normal Dragon Soul	S11 Cataclysmic T1 weapons	[Essence of Destruction] legs and bracers
403		Normal Deathwing	S11 Cataclysmic armor
410		Heroic Dragon Soul and T13	S11 Cataclysmic T2 weapons
416		Heroic Deathwing [Fangs of the Father]

Mists of Pandaria (minLevel = 85-90)

Ghostcrawler had previously discussed the possibility of an "item squish", where item stats would be rescaled every expansion, adjusting damage, healing and health along with them. However, beta-test items listed on Wowhead indicate that this will not be happening in Mists of Pandaria. It is not yet known if item levels will continue to use the Cataclysm format of item rarity affecting level requirements rather than ilvl budgets. There is some crossover with both rare and epic items appearing at ilvl 463.

ilvl	PvE (party)	PvE (raid)	PvP	Crafted
372 (uncommon)	initial quest rewards
425 (rare)	Stormstout Brewery Temple of the Jade Serpent
450 (rare)	Gate of the Setting Sun Shado-pan Monastery			S12 Contender's PvP armor
457 (rare)				Engineering helms Engineering and Alchemy trinkets
463 (rare)	Heroic dungeons
463 (epic)	Heroic dungeons Holiday event bosses
464 (epic)			S12 Dreadful armor
476 (epic)		expected T14	S12 Dreadful weapons	Inscription staves and offhands Leatherworking chests and gloves
483 (epic)			S12 Malevolent armor
489 (epic)			S12 Malevolent T1 weapons
502 (epic)			S12 Malevolent T2 weapons

See also

• Combat rating system
• AEP, HAP
• Tanking Points