This item is acquired in-game. See its sources below.
A Rare Shield, item level 44, binds when picked up.
First seen in build 12.0.7.68887 (Midnight (patch 12.0.7)).
In the Appearances collection, Ardent Defender is listed as Vendor. Appearance ID: 28598.
Read from the World of Warcraft client build files.
In their in-game specialization descriptions, these specs name shields among their preferred weapons:
The 10 items nearest to Ardent Defender (item level 44) in item level among Armor > Shield, Shield slot, from item level 35 to 44.
| Item | Item Level | Requires Level | Stats | Lowest Listed Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ardent Defender (this item) | 44 | +5 Strength, +8 Stamina, +5 Haste, +5 Mastery, +16 Intellect. Vendor | Not listed | |
 Steelforged Shield | 44 | 35 | +5 Strength, +8 Stamina, +16 Intellect. Crafted with Draenor Blacksmithing | 950 gold on 50 realms |
 Steelforged Aegis | 44 | 35 | +5 Strength, +8 Stamina, +16 Intellect. Crafted with Draenor Blacksmithing | 349 gold on 54 realms |
 Shardback Shield | 40 | 36 | +5 Strength, +7 Stamina, +15 Intellect. World Drop | 99 gold on 45 realms |
 Gul'rok Shield | 40 | 37 | +5 Strength, +7 Stamina, +15 Intellect. World Drop | 1,790 gold on 54 realms |
 Crafted Malevolent Gladiator's Barrier | 39 | 35 | +5 Strength, +7 Stamina, +5 Critical Strike, +3 Mastery, +14 Intellect. Crafted with Pandaria Blacksmithing | 700 gold on 49 realms |
 Elementium Earthguard | 37 | 32 | +5 Strength, +7 Stamina, +5 Mastery, +5 Critical Strike, +14 Intellect. Crafted with Cataclysm Blacksmithing | 7,000 gold on 57 realms |
 Elementium Stormshield | 37 | 32 | +5 Strength, +7 Stamina, +5 Haste, +5 Versatility, +14 Intellect. Crafted with Cataclysm Blacksmithing | 4,999 gold on 61 realms |
 Blockade's Lost Shield | 37 | 32 | +5 Strength, +7 Stamina, +4 Parry, +5 Mastery, +14 Intellect. Vendor | 1,000 gold on 60 realms |
 Ward of the Red Widow | 37 | 32 | +5 Strength, +7 Stamina, +5 Versatility, +4 Haste, +14 Intellect. Boss Drop | 300 gold on 59 realms |
 Frozen Shield | 35 | 30 | +4 Strength, +7 Stamina, +13 Intellect. World Drop | 35 gold on 47 realms |
The lowest listed price among them is Frozen Shield at 35 gold in the US Auction House.
Next item levels up from Ardent Defender among Armor > Shield, Shield slot: Sinister Combatant's Shield (item level 60), Notorious Combatant's Shield (item level 60), Plundered Jadefury Shield (item level 60), Uncanny Combatant's Shield (item level 72) and Maddened Adherent's Bulwark (item level 85).
Nearest lower item levels below Ardent Defender among Armor > Shield, Shield slot: Crystal Pulse Shield (item level 32), Shield of the Wayward Footman (item level 31), Zangari Shield (item level 31), Outland Shield (item level 31) and The Face of Doom (item level 30).
Ardent Defender is part of the transmog set Armaments of the Silver Hand (Paladin only). The other 5 pieces:
Built from the World of Warcraft client build files and recorded Auction House snapshots.
Ardent Defender uses icon file 1278391, which 10 other items also use. The 2 closest by item ID:
Gilded Defender ID 141654 · Armor - Shield · item level 44Silver Hand Phalanx ID 139148 · Consumable "A powerful troop which can accompany followers on missions to increase success chance."Blizzard numbers items as they are created, so the named items next to ID 141370 (141364 to 141375) were usually added in the same batch as Ardent Defender: the same quest line, zone, vendor or reward set.
Unholy Ebon Warsword ID 141364 · Weapon - Two-Handed Sword · item level 44
Bloodied Ebon Axe ID 141365 · Weapon - Two-Handed Axe · item level 44
Bloodied Ebon Halberd ID 141366 · Weapon - Polearm · item level 44
Ardent Hammer ID 141367 · Weapon - One-Handed Mace · item level 44
Ardent Warhammer ID 141368 · Weapon - Two-Handed Mace · item level 44Arsenal: Armaments of the Silver Hand ID 141371 · Consumable · item level 40Arsenal: Armaments of the Ebon Blade ID 141372 · Consumable · item level 40
Icy Ebon Halberd ID 141373 · Weapon - Polearm · item level 44
Unholy Ebon Halberd ID 141374 · Weapon - Polearm · item level 44
Bloodied Ebon Warsword ID 141375 · Weapon - Two-Handed Sword · item level 44The raw ItemSparse values for item 141370 in the current client build.
Read from the World of Warcraft client build files: Item, ItemSparse, Lock, Holidays, AreaTable and CollectableSourceVendor.
TheWoWDB