Focus/Wand or Staff? - Guild Wars Forums

Gafgarion · Feb 01, 2010, 04:46 PM // 16:46

Hiya.

I was wondering, when do people generally use staves, and when do they use focus + wand?

I went to the gwwiki unique items listing, and the only appeal for a staff seemed to be for the +20% enchantment duration, otherwise the 40/40 set could be preferred.

Also, do 10% HSR/HCT only come in gold items?

Thanks in advance!

MagmaRed · Feb 01, 2010, 04:51 PM // 16:51

Typically you use a staff for the +20% enchant mod as you noted, but at the same time you can use a sword/axe/spear for that and still get the focus mods. The staff allows for more health (+30 staff head and +30/45 staff wrapping) and a 20% recharge to ALL spells, not just 1 attribute (nice for builds with several attributes or no-attribute spells). For PvE it doesn't matter too much, as you can get by with a staff OR wand/focus for the entire game, but in PvP the weapon swapping and specific weapons/mods are crucial. It depends a lot on what class and build you are playing.

Pleikki · Feb 01, 2010, 04:52 PM // 16:52

Staff for 20% ench mostly, offhand adn wand for high energy and 40/40 orso

Yasmine · Feb 01, 2010, 05:37 PM // 17:37

The staff also can give up to 20energy (if insc condition is met, +15e overwise), focus+melee weapon +17energy (only if you meet the focus req and +11 overwise).

Chthon · Feb 01, 2010, 05:59 PM // 17:59

Generally, the wand+focus combo is going to have better mods available.

The exceptions when you'd want a staff are:

You need the 20% HRT for ALL spells.
You need 20% ench AND dual 20% HCT. (Monks want this for their Aegis swap)
You need 15e + 5e conditional. (Can't imagine why though...)
You don't want to invest 9 points in a caster attribute (runners, trappers, etc.)
A few oddball circumstances where you can get the mods you desire with 15e on a staff, but you can only get it with wand+focus or wand+martial weapon by dropping to 12e, or 12e + 5e conditional, or by giving up a mod.

[edit: added Yasmine's excellent point]

Yasmine · Feb 01, 2010, 06:08 PM // 18:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chthon

[*] You need 15e + 5e conditional. (Can't imagine why though...)

Some runner builds require high energy but no attribute points invested in any focus req attribute.

Dzjudz · Feb 01, 2010, 07:41 PM // 19:41

Yep 20e earth staff of enchanting is nice for sliver permas

.

Quaker · Feb 01, 2010, 09:27 PM // 21:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gafgarion

I was wondering, when do people generally use staves, and when do they use focus + wand?

People seem to generally like staves more than wand/focus, for whatever reason. In most cases it's just personal choice. It's only when you get to a mod set that can only be done by one or the other, that it matters.
Many spellcasters like to use a 40/40 set, which can only be done with a wand/focus. A 40/40 set isn't always the best choice for you though.

Feb 01, 2010, 04:46 PM // 16:46	#1
Gafgarion Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brazil Guild: Scars Meadows [SMS] Profession: W/	Focus/Wand or Staff? Hiya. I was wondering, when do people generally use staves, and when do they use focus + wand? I went to the gwwiki unique items listing, and the only appeal for a staff seemed to be for the +20% enchantment duration, otherwise the 40/40 set could be preferred. Also, do 10% HSR/HCT only come in gold items? Thanks in advance!

Feb 01, 2010, 04:52 PM // 16:52	#3
Pleikki WTB q8 15^50 Weapons! Join Date: Nov 2006 Guild: ???oo ???ugs ???lan [?????????]	Staff for 20% ench mostly, offhand adn wand for high energy and 40/40 orso __________________ -->My Buy Thread!<--

Feb 01, 2010, 05:59 PM // 17:59	#5
Chthon Grotto Attendant Join Date: Apr 2007	Generally, the wand+focus combo is going to have better mods available. The exceptions when you'd want a staff are: You need the 20% HRT for ALL spells. You need 20% ench AND dual 20% HCT. (Monks want this for their Aegis swap) You need 15e + 5e conditional. (Can't imagine why though...) You don't want to invest 9 points in a caster attribute (runners, trappers, etc.) A few oddball circumstances where you can get the mods you desire with 15e on a staff, but you can only get it with wand+focus or wand+martial weapon by dropping to 12e, or 12e + 5e conditional, or by giving up a mod. [edit: added Yasmine's excellent point] Last edited by Chthon; Feb 01, 2010 at 07:54 PM // 19:54..

Feb 01, 2010, 04:51 PM // 16:51	#2
MagmaRed Furnace Stoker Join Date: Mar 2007 Guild: Our Crabs Know True [LOVE] Profession: R/	Typically you use a staff for the +20% enchant mod as you noted, but at the same time you can use a sword/axe/spear for that and still get the focus mods. The staff allows for more health (+30 staff head and +30/45 staff wrapping) and a 20% recharge to ALL spells, not just 1 attribute (nice for builds with several attributes or no-attribute spells). For PvE it doesn't matter too much, as you can get by with a staff OR wand/focus for the entire game, but in PvP the weapon swapping and specific weapons/mods are crucial. It depends a lot on what class and build you are playing.

Feb 01, 2010, 05:37 PM // 17:37	#4
Yasmine Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Nov 2007 Guild: The Lost Souls Of Jugdement [KJCD]	The staff also can give up to 20energy (if insc condition is met, +15e overwise), focus+melee weapon +17energy (only if you meet the focus req and +11 overwise).

Feb 01, 2010, 07:41 PM // 19:41	#7
Dzjudz Furnace Stoker Join Date: Jun 2005 Guild: gwpvx.com/user:dzjudz	Yep 20e earth staff of enchanting is nice for sliver permas .