Difference between revisions of "Staves"

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The '''Staves''' skill denotes how proficient your character is wielding all manner of staves. Most of these weapons can deal moderate damage when wielded with two hands, and are easy enough to use that even [[spriggan]]s can wield them. Casters may find this skill especially appealing as it improves the usefulness of their magical staves. It [[crosstrain]]s with the [[Polearms]] skill and the [[Maces & Flails]] skill.  
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The '''Staves''' skill denotes how proficient your character is wielding all manner of staves. Most of these weapons can deal moderate damage when wielded with two hands, and are easy enough to use that even [[spriggan]]s can wield them. Casters may find this skill especially appealing, as it improves the usefulness of their magical staves. It [[crosstrain]]s with the [[Polearms]] skill and the [[Maces & Flails]] skill.  
  
 
Note that [[magical staves]] fight like +0 [[staff|staves]], though some offer extra damage or other effects.
 
Note that [[magical staves]] fight like +0 [[staff|staves]], though some offer extra damage or other effects.
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==Strategy==
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Both quarterstaves and lajatangs are "skill-friendly"; they offer high damage relative to their base [[attack delay]]. For example, a lajatang requires 14 skill to reach mindelay, while a [[battleaxe]] or [[great mace]] would require 20 skill. However, these staves are two-handed.
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Physical staves have other issues. Once your character does reach high skill, these staves become relatively weak. In addition, lajatangs are rare - you may be stuck with a quarterstaff for a long time. On the flip side, staves are one of the few weapons that can spawn with the [[spectral]] or [[speed brand]]s, and as mentioned, work well at low skill. If a melee or hybrid character finds a particularly good lajatang, you may want to switch to staves.
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[[Magical staves]] are in a completely different ballpark. As melee weapons, they rely on three skills: Staves, Magical skill, and Evocations. They boost the power of spell magic, and some staves give a resistance.
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
 
*[[weapon#Staves|List of staves]]
 
*[[weapon#Staves|List of staves]]
 
*[[Species#Melee_.26_Ranged_Combat|Table of species aptitudes]]
 
*[[Species#Melee_.26_Ranged_Combat|Table of species aptitudes]]
*[[Weapon_selection#Staves|Staff selection strategy]]
 
  
 
{{Skills}}
 
{{Skills}}

Revision as of 10:46, 16 June 2023

Version 0.30: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

The Staves skill denotes how proficient your character is wielding all manner of staves. Most of these weapons can deal moderate damage when wielded with two hands, and are easy enough to use that even spriggans can wield them. Casters may find this skill especially appealing, as it improves the usefulness of their magical staves. It crosstrains with the Polearms skill and the Maces & Flails skill.

Note that magical staves fight like +0 staves, though some offer extra damage or other effects.

Aptitudes

At Ba Co DE Dg Ds Dj Dr Fe Fo Gr Gh Gn Hu Ko Mf Mi MD Mu Na Op On Sp Te Tr Vp VS
-1 1 -1 0 -1 -1 -1 0 N/A 0 0 -1 8 0 -1 -2 2 1 -2 0 0 0 -3 1 -2 -2 -1

List of Staves

Name Dam Hit Speed Hands Size Dam Type Prob
Magical staff 5 + Special 5 12 One Large Crushing 10
Quarterstaff 10 3 13 Two Large Crushing 10
Lajatang 16 -3 14 Two Large Slicing 2

Strategy

Both quarterstaves and lajatangs are "skill-friendly"; they offer high damage relative to their base attack delay. For example, a lajatang requires 14 skill to reach mindelay, while a battleaxe or great mace would require 20 skill. However, these staves are two-handed.

Physical staves have other issues. Once your character does reach high skill, these staves become relatively weak. In addition, lajatangs are rare - you may be stuck with a quarterstaff for a long time. On the flip side, staves are one of the few weapons that can spawn with the spectral or speed brands, and as mentioned, work well at low skill. If a melee or hybrid character finds a particularly good lajatang, you may want to switch to staves.

Magical staves are in a completely different ballpark. As melee weapons, they rely on three skills: Staves, Magical skill, and Evocations. They boost the power of spell magic, and some staves give a resistance.

See Also

Skills
Weapons Short BladesLong BladesRanged Weapons

AxesMaces & FlailsPolearmsStavesUnarmed CombatThrowing

Physical FightingArmourDodgingStealthShields
Magical SpellcastingInvocationsEvocationsShapeshifting
Spell Schools AirAlchemyConjurationsEarthFireHexesIceNecromancySummoningTranslocations