Drop

A drop is any item obtained from the environment, such as an item looted or "dropped" off an enemy mobs or found in chests. A drop is also known as Loot.

Quest drop

A drop of a quest item. Some quest items only drop if the player currently has the associated quest in their Quest Log.

World drop

A world drop is a drop of uncommon quality (green) or better that has a random chance to drop off any mob or chest (within a certain level range) anywhere in the world. World drops are largely impossible to farm for because no specific mob or group of mobs have a more than a minuscule chance of dropping the item.

Example: [Recipe: Swiftness Potion] can drop off almost any mob between around level 12-20. However, it drops very rarely.

Many sought-after bind on equip rare (blue) and even rarer epic (purple) weapons and armor are world drops. Because of their rarity, some world drops can fetch high prices at the auction house.

There are also area drops, or drops that occur in a specific continent or zone.

Continent drop

Not a very widely used term, but some uncommon or better random drops are actually restricted by continent.

Example: All "Bristlebark" named set items (Bristlebark Boots, Bristlebark Bindings, etc.) can drop off any mob within a certain level range in Kalimdor (including instances) but not in the Eastern Kingdoms. On the other hand, all "Silver-thread" armor (like Silver-thread Gloves) only drop in Eastern Kingdom.

Zone drop

Zone drops are like partial world drops. They have a small chance to drop off any enemy, but only within a specific zone, instance or area.

Each instanced dungeon has its own unique selection of rare zone drops. Like world drops, they have an extremely low drop rate, can drop from any mob in the zone, and are usually bind on equip.

Example:  [Necrology Robes] is a rare drop off any enemy in Shadowfang Keep.

Static drop

A drop that only comes from a specific mob or group of mobs.

Example: The  [Spellforce Rod] only drops from Venture Co. Surveyors in a certain area of Stranglethorn Vale.

Boss drop

A type of static drop that only comes from a boss mob in an instance. The best ones are usually Bind on Pickup.

Epic drop

A drop of an epic quality purple item inside or outside an instance. Most drop inside instances, but there are a few that drop outside.

Legendary drop

A drop of an legendary quality orange item inside or outside an instance. Most drop from the highest level raid instance bosses and then only occasionally.

Artifact drop

A drop of an artifact quality (red) item. There have been no artifact drops yet. The only artifacts that currently are in game are GM items.