This item is acquired in-game. See its sources below.
A Rare One-Handed Sword, item level 12, requires level 7, binds when picked up. Drops from Edwin VanCleef in Deadmines and 1 other encounter.
The game's collection data lists Cruel Barb as sold by a vendor NPC in Dalaran.
| Vendor | Zone | Map | Waypoint | Other items it sells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NPC #35498 | Dalaran | - | - | 174 |
Vendor NPC, zone and position come from the client's collection source tables (CollectableSourceInfo and CollectableSourceVendorSparse); coordinates are the in-game map readout.
First seen in build 1.15.9.68940 (Classic).
In Classic Era it is item level 24, requires level 19 and sells to vendors for 29s 64c. In The Burning Crusade it is item level 24, requires level 19 and sells to vendors for 29s 64c. In Wrath of the Lich King it is item level 24, requires level 19 and sells to vendors for 29s 64c. In MoP Classic it is item level 20, requires level 15 and sells to vendors for 17s 55c.
| Version | Item level | Required level | Quality | Binding | Sells for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail (Midnight) | 12 | 7 | Rare | Binds when picked up | 20s 18c |
| Classic Era | 24 | 19 | Rare | Binds when picked up | 29s 64c |
| The Burning Crusade | 24 | 19 | Rare | Binds when picked up | 29s 64c |
| Wrath of the Lich King | 24 | 19 | Rare | Binds when picked up | 29s 64c |
| MoP Classic | 20 | 15 | Rare | Binds when picked up | 17s 55c |
In the Appearances collection, Cruel Barb is listed as Boss Drop. Appearance ID: 720. 3 other items wear the same appearance:
Read from the World of Warcraft client build files.
The in-game Adventure Guide lists Cruel Barb in the loot of 3 encounters.
Also drops from this encounter (5 other items):
Cape of the Brotherhood
Corsair's Overshirt
Blackened Defias Armor
Guildmaster's Leggings
Defias KnifeguardsHelix Gearbreaker, Lumbering Oaf in Deadmines
Also drops from this encounter (12 other items):
Smelting Pants
Impaling Harpoon
Gold-Plated Buckler
Cloak of Thredd
Gear-Marked Gauntlets
Old Friend's Gloves
Gearbreaker's BindingsCruel BarbSee all 13 items in the Helix Gearbreaker loot table
Helix Gearbreaker, Lumbering Oaf in Deadmines
Also drops from this encounter (12 other items):
Read from the World of Warcraft client build files (JournalEncounterItem, JournalEncounterCreature, Achievement) and the Blizzard Game Data quest API.
In their in-game specialization descriptions, these specs name swords among their preferred weapons:
The 10 items nearest to Cruel Barb (item level 12) in item level among Weapon > Sword, from item level 4 to 20.
| Item | Item Level | Requires Level | Stats | Lowest Listed Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cruel Barb (this item) | 12 | 7 | 1.7 DPS, +2 Agility or Strength, +2 Stamina, +2 Critical Strike, +1 Haste. Boss Drop | Not listed |
 Defias Rapier | 12 | 7 | 1.7 DPS, +2 Agility, +3 Critical Strike. World Drop | Not listed |
| Blackwater Cutlass | 12 | 7 | 1.7 DPS, +2 Agility, +2 Critical Strike. World Drop | Not listed |
 Scimitar | 11 | 7 | 1.5 DPS. Vendor | Not listed |
 Fangblade | 15 | 2.1 DPS, +3 Agility, +1 Stamina. World Drop | Not listed | |
 Bronze Shortsword | 15 | 9 | 2.1 DPS, +4 Agility. Crafted with Classic Blacksmithing | Not listed |
 Fighter Broadsword | 17 | 10 | 2.7 DPS, +3 Agility, +4 Stamina. World Drop | Not listed |
 The Butcher | 19 | 12 | 3.1 DPS, +4 Agility, +3 Stamina | Not listed |
 The Black Knight | 19 | 12 | 3.1 DPS. World Drop | Not listed |
 Zealot Blade | 20 | 13 | 1.5 DPS, +3 Intellect, +5 Stamina, +7 Versatility. World Drop | Not listed |
 Copper Shortsword | 4 | 2 | 0.6 DPS. Crafted with Classic Blacksmithing | Not listed |
Zealot Blade has the highest item level here (20).
Next item levels up from Cruel Barb among Weapon > Sword: Ebon Scimitar (item level 23), Wicked Mithril Blade (item level 24), Furious Falchion (item level 24), Shortsword of Vengeance (item level 25) and Phantom Blade (item level 25).
Nearest lower item levels below Cruel Barb among Weapon > Sword: Distinguished Blade of Cartel Al (item level 1), Lost Blade of Spacial Descent (item level 1), Drakonid Striker's Cutlass (item level 1), Wingcrest Scimitar (item level 1) and Primal Revenant's Frostblade (item level 1).
Built from the World of Warcraft client build files and recorded Auction House snapshots.
Cruel Barb is listed at 1 vendor placement. NPC 35498 stands in Dalaran.
1 other item in the current build is also called Cruel Barb. Same-name entries are usually a different rank, faction, quest stage or reward track of the same object.
Cruel Barb ID 65164 · Weapon - One-Handed Sword · item level 37Cruel Barb uses icon file 135325, which 55 other items also use. The 7 closest by item ID:
Thief's Blade ID 5192 · Weapon - One-Handed Sword · item level 12Feral Blade ID 4766 · Weapon - One-Handed Sword · item level 6Pale Skinner ID 5744 · Weapon - One-Handed Sword · item level 6Fine Scimitar ID 4560 · Weapon - One-Handed Sword · item level 3Smotts' Cutlass ID 3935 · Weapon - One-Handed Sword · item level 16Light Scimitar ID 3783 · Weapon - One-Handed Sword · item level 21Short Sabre ID 3319 · Weapon - One-Handed Sword · item level 4Blizzard numbers items as they are created, so the named items next to ID 5191 (5186 to 5196) were usually added in the same batch as Cruel Barb: the same quest line, zone, vendor or reward set.
Partially Filled Vessel ID 5186 · Quest
Foe Reaper ID 5187 · Weapon - Two-Handed Mace · item level 12Filled Vessel ID 5188 · Quest
Glowing Fruit ID 5189 · Quest
Shimmering Frond ID 5190 · QuestThief's Blade ID 5192 · Weapon - One-Handed Sword · item level 12Cape of the Brotherhood ID 5193 · Armor - Cloth · item level 12
Taskmaster Axe ID 5194 · Weapon - Two-Handed Axe · item level 12
Gold-Flecked Gloves ID 5195 · Armor - Cloth · item level 12
Smite's Reaver ID 5196 · Weapon - One-Handed Axe · item level 12The raw ItemSparse values for item 5191 in the current client build.
Read from the World of Warcraft client build files: Item, ItemSparse, Lock, Holidays, AreaTable and CollectableSourceVendor.
Cruel Barb is in the Classic Era game data, the era World of Warcraft: Forever is built on. Blizzard describes Forever as vanilla World of Warcraft plussed up: its story sits in year one, characters level to 60 and stay there, and it launches November 4, 2026. Blizzard has not said which vanilla items appear in Forever, so nothing here is a Forever claim; it is the Classic Era record for Cruel Barb next to the live retail market on this page.
Read next: World of Warcraft: Forever is Classic+, launching November 4 · Forever's class revamps and new race and class combinations · Classic Era page for Cruel Barb
A sighting in the beta client is a fact from our own database; the launch roster is Blizzard’s to finalize. World of Warcraft: Forever launches November 4, 2026. World of Warcraft: Forever is Classic+, launching November 4
First-party render from the game files. Model © Blizzard Entertainment.
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