Are staffs are inferior to wands? - Page 5 - Guild Wars Forums

ManadartheHealer · Jun 18, 2005, 09:02 PM // 21:02

Earlier on, wands are better than staves. You have a wand and a focus, and can "mix-and-match", and switch them out separately. With a staff, you have to completely replace it and the mods if you want to change something.

However, for later on, staves are generally better (unless you cannot find a good staff and can find excellent wand+focus), especially when you have all the mods, etc. you want

Mygo · Jun 18, 2005, 09:54 PM // 21:54

Think there's a site list with all possible mods somewhere, though it's a little inaccurate because I think the site also states that you can get two mods on the wands. Anyhow that aside, what you can't get from a wand/focus combination is 60 life that you can get on a staff with two perfect hale/fortitude mods. Considering you can get the perfect staff from collector rewards this is truly something to look forward to as you can put on more of those superior runes without pulling your maximum health down too much.

ManadartheHealer · Jun 18, 2005, 10:35 PM // 22:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mygo

Think there's a site list with all possible mods somewhere, though it's a little inaccurate because I think the site also states that you can get two mods on the wands.

It is possible to get 2 mods on staves, and no mods on wands (I think

)

Mygo · Jun 18, 2005, 10:53 PM // 22:53

Ah I meant the inherent mods. One inherent mod on the wands and two on the staves with two upgradable parts (head/wrapping).

rocinantae · Jun 19, 2005, 12:53 AM // 00:53

Got this with the first 2 mods, I added the last. For a N/M its nice to have the extra life.

Nanami · Jun 27, 2005, 01:01 AM // 01:01

Just my opion...I have +5 Energy >50%hp and 10% Improve cast in all school wand + a Collector 27/-1/30hp Divine Focus..Which makes my Healing Monk 62 Energy with Fissure armor...I dont think with Staff you can get to that amount...since i only heal i dont really attack much..so i use peace and harmony to make up for the -1..even if you upgrade the staff..you still cant seem to get to the same stats as a wand/focus..

Ancalagon06 · Jun 27, 2005, 01:04 AM // 01:04

staff: can be upgraded, most have energy bonuses

wands: let you use focuses.

it all depends on what you are looking for.

JPong · Jun 27, 2005, 02:43 AM // 02:43

As a monk I play with a wand and focus with +20 something energy and +25 HP and I found that when I used the staff I just ran out of energy to quick and couldn't spam Orison and Word long enough, but the extra energy tends to last me through the battle and if not then the -1 pip means that I have 5 energy to cast Word when it recharges. And I can see the need for the increased recharge and casting speed on healing spells because they never recharge/hit fast enough when important. Also the extra energy means I do not use half of my energy to cast a bit of protection at the beginning of a battle.

DrSLUGFly · Jun 27, 2005, 03:16 AM // 03:16

for the first 90% of the game I always used wand and focus since no staff could equal it. Now in Ring of Fire, there are no wands or focus and the staves that drop are awesome.

Weezer_Blue · Jun 27, 2005, 04:28 AM // 04:28

In my oppinion Staves > Wands.

A max damage staff has the same damage as a max damage wand, and only 2 less energy than a max energy focus. The main difference that makes them better is that you can upgrade them. Using an insightful mod, I can easily match your energy and still have room to spare for a defensive staff head/wrap.

Pocune · Jun 27, 2005, 07:31 AM // 07:31

I use a staff at the moment myself. I currently have a staff with 20% faster cast and 20% faster recharge as the inherent bonus, as well as a +9% faster cast time. I added in the +29hp Hale Staff head and the +19% enchantment duration. Can you believe it is still only blue?

LockerLoad · Jul 03, 2005, 12:58 AM // 00:58

There is no way any staff can compete with a simple collector wand/focus combo.

I play amongst other character classes a Necro/Monk who wields a Max Dmg Truncheon(collector) with +20% skill recharge and 2 alternate focii. Both focii are grim cestas one with energy+27!!! and health +30 energy regen-1, the other has 20/20 stats(cast/recharge). I switch between the two to suit my needs for energy vs. cast/recharge speed.

A perfect 20/20 staff is available from collectors and whaddaya know I happen to have one(which I seldom find use for). With an insightful head+5energy(max) and a wrap of fortitude +30health(max) it still falls 12 energy short of my one focus and 20%recharge short of the other. To top it off you will pay a lot of plats for max staff upgrades while not approaching the performance of simple collector wand/focii combos.

It would be nice if this imbalance were corrected by the ppl who code this game but I wouldnt hold my breath

as there is still no storage agent at my guild hall and no 1v1 pvp. It seems they have their hands full nerfing farming O_o

Just my $.02

Zerian Black · Jul 04, 2005, 10:22 AM // 10:22

i <3 my staff

Carinae · Jul 04, 2005, 08:45 PM // 20:45

@LockerLoad: I agree completely. I have the same setup, collectors blood wand (20% recharge, max dmg) and a Grim Cesta with +27 Energy! *and* +30 Health!

No staff can touch that, and there is still room to get a new wand with one more mod!!!

Anyone ever seen a max dmg truncheon with +15 energy, 20% recharge? or maybe a 20/20 fast cast/recharge for Blood Magic?

Bash · Jul 04, 2005, 08:49 PM // 20:49

Well...wands can have +energy mods also. My necro has a gold truncheon, and it gives +13 energy. Combined with a +12 Grim Cesta, thats +25 energy to work with. I don't know of any staff that can do that

free4all · Jul 04, 2005, 09:00 PM // 21:00

Bash: Is that wand +energy but also -energy regen?

Brizi · Jul 04, 2005, 09:47 PM // 21:47

I have a Max Damage Hale Crule Staff of Fort. I get 6o health and 20/20 for blood magic so they are out there. I dont care to much for the +energy mods for one simple reason... Soul Reaping. I love that skill. Everytime something dies, I get energy. A little harder to use in PvP, but when u have +4 nrg regen it doesnt really matter. All I use is Blood and Curses, I have everything else in Soul Reaping.

I love the 20/20% too.You would be so suprised how often that comes in handy when using Well Of Blood and other spells that take a few seconds longer to recharge. For me to use 10 spells in one battle is nothing and if I can get 2 of them to cast fast and 2 of them to recharge fast then that is alot of time saved on waiting for skills. I currently have 40 nrg and 590hp so keeping myself alive with blood is no prob for me. I am usually the last person standing in the group.

O, and to answer the question which is better, I definatly have to go with staffs. With the upgrade posibilities and how cool they look, they are the only weapon that I will ever use with my necro. IMO.=)

Xue Yi Liang · Jul 04, 2005, 10:08 PM // 22:08

Here's my equipment:

the staff is for smiting

the rod/icon is for protection

Spike · Jul 05, 2005, 01:42 AM // 01:42

Unless there is a staff that gives +38 energy. I will stick with my +15 energy wand and +22 Energy flame artifact.

Since i don't use enchantments the 20% longer enchantments is worthless and 20% faster skill recharge is not worth the loss of energy.

Lynnrose · Jul 05, 2005, 07:14 PM // 19:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spike

Unless there is a staff that gives +38 energy. I will stick with my +15 energy wand and +22 Energy flame artifact.

Since i don't use enchantments the 20% longer enchantments is worthless and 20% faster skill recharge is not worth the loss of energy.

Unless there is a rod/off-hand (non-shield) combo that gives +10 to defense (+5 each from head and wrap), I'm not apt to switch from my max collector's staff when smiting. That's one of the beauties of this game -- everyone has different strategies.

Jun 27, 2005, 01:01 AM // 01:01	#86
Nanami Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Jun 2005 Profession: W/Mo	Wand/Focus > Staff! Just my opion...I have +5 Energy >50%hp and 10% Improve cast in all school wand + a Collector 27/-1/30hp Divine Focus..Which makes my Healing Monk 62 Energy with Fissure armor...I dont think with Staff you can get to that amount...since i only heal i dont really attack much..so i use peace and harmony to make up for the -1..even if you upgrade the staff..you still cant seem to get to the same stats as a wand/focus..

Jun 27, 2005, 04:28 AM // 04:28	#90
Weezer_Blue Elite Guru Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Just a Box in a Cage Guild: Hurry Up The Cakes [Oven]	In my oppinion Staves > Wands. A max damage staff has the same damage as a max damage wand, and only 2 less energy than a max energy focus. The main difference that makes them better is that you can upgrade them. Using an insightful mod, I can easily match your energy and still have room to spare for a defensive staff head/wrap. __________________

Jun 18, 2005, 09:02 PM // 21:02	#81
ManadartheHealer Desert Nomad Join Date: May 2005 Location: Awaiting GW2 Profession: W/	Earlier on, wands are better than staves. You have a wand and a focus, and can "mix-and-match", and switch them out separately. With a staff, you have to completely replace it and the mods if you want to change something. However, for later on, staves are generally better (unless you cannot find a good staff and can find excellent wand+focus), especially when you have all the mods, etc. you want

Jun 18, 2005, 09:54 PM // 21:54	#82
Mygo Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Jun 2005	Think there's a site list with all possible mods somewhere, though it's a little inaccurate because I think the site also states that you can get two mods on the wands. Anyhow that aside, what you can't get from a wand/focus combination is 60 life that you can get on a staff with two perfect hale/fortitude mods. Considering you can get the perfect staff from collector rewards this is truly something to look forward to as you can put on more of those superior runes without pulling your maximum health down too much.

Jun 18, 2005, 10:53 PM // 22:53	#84
Mygo Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Jun 2005	Ah I meant the inherent mods. One inherent mod on the wands and two on the staves with two upgradable parts (head/wrapping).

Jun 19, 2005, 12:53 AM // 00:53	#85
rocinantae Ascalonian Squire Join Date: May 2005	Got this with the first 2 mods, I added the last. For a N/M its nice to have the extra life.

Jun 27, 2005, 01:04 AM // 01:04	#87
Ancalagon06 Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: May 2005 Location: In my pants of "superior strength" Guild: Royal Orrian Foreign Legion Profession: W/N	staff: can be upgraded, most have energy bonuses wands: let you use focuses. it all depends on what you are looking for.

Jun 27, 2005, 02:43 AM // 02:43	#88
JPong Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Canada Guild: Death Pod Profession: Mo/Me	As a monk I play with a wand and focus with +20 something energy and +25 HP and I found that when I used the staff I just ran out of energy to quick and couldn't spam Orison and Word long enough, but the extra energy tends to last me through the battle and if not then the -1 pip means that I have 5 energy to cast Word when it recharges. And I can see the need for the increased recharge and casting speed on healing spells because they never recharge/hit fast enough when important. Also the extra energy means I do not use half of my energy to cast a bit of protection at the beginning of a battle.

Jun 27, 2005, 03:16 AM // 03:16	#89
DrSLUGFly Desert Nomad Join Date: May 2005 Location: European Server or International	for the first 90% of the game I always used wand and focus since no staff could equal it. Now in Ring of Fire, there are no wands or focus and the staves that drop are awesome.

Jun 27, 2005, 07:31 AM // 07:31	#91
Pocune Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Apr 2005	I use a staff at the moment myself. I currently have a staff with 20% faster cast and 20% faster recharge as the inherent bonus, as well as a +9% faster cast time. I added in the +29hp Hale Staff head and the +19% enchantment duration. Can you believe it is still only blue?

Jul 03, 2005, 12:58 AM // 00:58	#92
LockerLoad Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Jul 2005 Profession: R/E	There is no way any staff can compete with a simple collector wand/focus combo. I play amongst other character classes a Necro/Monk who wields a Max Dmg Truncheon(collector) with +20% skill recharge and 2 alternate focii. Both focii are grim cestas one with energy+27!!! and health +30 energy regen-1, the other has 20/20 stats(cast/recharge). I switch between the two to suit my needs for energy vs. cast/recharge speed. A perfect 20/20 staff is available from collectors and whaddaya know I happen to have one(which I seldom find use for). With an insightful head+5energy(max) and a wrap of fortitude +30health(max) it still falls 12 energy short of my one focus and 20%recharge short of the other. To top it off you will pay a lot of plats for max staff upgrades while not approaching the performance of simple collector wand/focii combos. It would be nice if this imbalance were corrected by the ppl who code this game but I wouldnt hold my breath as there is still no storage agent at my guild hall and no 1v1 pvp. It seems they have their hands full nerfing farming O_o Just my $.02

Jul 04, 2005, 10:22 AM // 10:22	#93
Zerian Black Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Jun 2005 Guild: Holy Cowz Profession: E/Mo	i <3 my staff

Jul 04, 2005, 08:45 PM // 20:45	#94
Carinae Forge Runner Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Inside Guild: Fifteen Over Fifty [Rare]	@LockerLoad: I agree completely. I have the same setup, collectors blood wand (20% recharge, max dmg) and a Grim Cesta with +27 Energy! and +30 Health! No staff can touch that, and there is still room to get a new wand with one more mod!!! Anyone ever seen a max dmg truncheon with +15 energy, 20% recharge? or maybe a 20/20 fast cast/recharge for Blood Magic?

Jul 04, 2005, 08:49 PM // 20:49	#95
Bash Academy Page Join Date: May 2005 Profession: N/E	Well...wands can have +energy mods also. My necro has a gold truncheon, and it gives +13 energy. Combined with a +12 Grim Cesta, thats +25 energy to work with. I don't know of any staff that can do that

Jul 04, 2005, 09:00 PM // 21:00	#96
free4all Krytan Explorer Join Date: May 2005	Bash: Is that wand +energy but also -energy regen?

Jul 04, 2005, 09:47 PM // 21:47	#97
Brizi Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Jun 2005 Guild: Tha Punishers Profession: N/Me	I have a Max Damage Hale Crule Staff of Fort. I get 6o health and 20/20 for blood magic so they are out there. I dont care to much for the +energy mods for one simple reason... Soul Reaping. I love that skill. Everytime something dies, I get energy. A little harder to use in PvP, but when u have +4 nrg regen it doesnt really matter. All I use is Blood and Curses, I have everything else in Soul Reaping. I love the 20/20% too.You would be so suprised how often that comes in handy when using Well Of Blood and other spells that take a few seconds longer to recharge. For me to use 10 spells in one battle is nothing and if I can get 2 of them to cast fast and 2 of them to recharge fast then that is alot of time saved on waiting for skills. I currently have 40 nrg and 590hp so keeping myself alive with blood is no prob for me. I am usually the last person standing in the group. O, and to answer the question which is better, I definatly have to go with staffs. With the upgrade posibilities and how cool they look, they are the only weapon that I will ever use with my necro. IMO.=)

Jul 04, 2005, 10:08 PM // 22:08	#98
Xue Yi Liang Jungle Guide Join Date: May 2005 Location: Northern CA Guild: Outlaws of the Water Margin Profession: Mo/Me	Here's my equipment: the staff is for smiting the rod/icon is for protection

Jul 05, 2005, 01:42 AM // 01:42	#99
Spike Jungle Guide Join Date: May 2005 Location: In front of my PC Guild: Kai Profession: E/Mo	Unless there is a staff that gives +38 energy. I will stick with my +15 energy wand and +22 Energy flame artifact. Since i don't use enchantments the 20% longer enchantments is worthless and 20% faster skill recharge is not worth the loss of energy.