Difference between revisions of "Staves"

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(Updated for 0.12. I'm removing the staff and replacing it with the magical staff, as there's no point in including obsolete weapons on this page.)
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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.  
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Note that [[magical staves]] fight like +0 [[staff|staves]], though they enhance a certain school of [[spell]]s and deal bonus damage based on Evocations and the relevant skill. Some also offer a resistance.
  
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Note that [[magical staves]] fight like +0, +0 staves, though some offer extra damage or other effects.
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{{skill_aptitudes}}
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{| class="wikitable"
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! Name || Dam || Hit || Speed || Mass || Str weight || Skill || Hands || Size || Missile || Throw || Dam Type || Prob
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==List of Staves==
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{| class="wikitable sortable"
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! Name || Dam || Hit || Delay || Min delay || Hands || Size || Cuts Hydras?
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[Magical staff]] || 5 + Special || 5 || 12 || 130 || 60% || Staves || One || Large || None || No || Crushing || 10
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| [[Magical staff]] || 5 + Special || +5 || 12 || 6 (12 skill) || One || Medium+ for 1H || No
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[Quarterstaff]] || 10 || 3 || 13 || 180 || 70% || Staves || Two || Large || None || No || Crushing || 10
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| [[Quarterstaff]] || 10 || +3 || 13 || 6 (14 skill) || Two || Any || No
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[Lajatang]] || 16 || -3 || 14 || 200 || 30% || Staves || Two || Large || None || No || Slicing || 2
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| [[Lajatang]] || 16 || -3 || 14 || 7 (14 skill) || Two || Any || Yes
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
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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]]. A lajatang requires 14 skill to reach mindelay, but a similar damage [[battleaxe]] or [[great mace]] would require 20 skill. However, they have several downsides:
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*They are two-handed, preventing use of a shield.
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*Once your character obtains a high skill level, the fact that staves are "skill-friendly" doesn't matter. I.e. if you have 20 weapon skill, you'll do more damage with a great mace than with lajatang.
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*Lajatangs are rare. You may be stuck with a quarterstaff for a long time.
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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 you find a particularly good lajatang early on, it may be worthwhile to switch to it.
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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. Thus, they are impractical as "main" weapons, but casters can use them to defeat weak enemies. They also boost the power of spell magic, and most staves give an elemental 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]]
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*[[Weapon_selection#Staves|Staff selection strategy]]
 
  
 
{{Skills}}
 
{{Skills}}

Latest revision as of 02:37, 20 April 2024

Version 0.31: 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 they enhance a certain school of spells and deal bonus damage based on Evocations and the relevant skill. Some also offer a resistance.

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 Delay Min delay Hands Size Cuts Hydras?
Magical staff 5 + Special +5 12 6 (12 skill) One Medium+ for 1H No
Quarterstaff 10 +3 13 6 (14 skill) Two Any No
Lajatang 16 -3 14 7 (14 skill) Two Any Yes

Strategy

Both quarterstaves and lajatangs are "skill-friendly"; they offer high damage relative to their base attack delay. A lajatang requires 14 skill to reach mindelay, but a similar damage battleaxe or great mace would require 20 skill. However, they have several downsides:

  • They are two-handed, preventing use of a shield.
  • Once your character obtains a high skill level, the fact that staves are "skill-friendly" doesn't matter. I.e. if you have 20 weapon skill, you'll do more damage with a great mace than with lajatang.
  • 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 you find a particularly good lajatang early on, it may be worthwhile to switch to it.

Magical staves are in a completely different ballpark. As melee weapons, they rely on three skills: Staves, Magical skill, and Evocations. Thus, they are impractical as "main" weapons, but casters can use them to defeat weak enemies. They also boost the power of spell magic, and most staves give an elemental resistance.

See Also

Skills
Weapons Short Blades • Long Blades • Ranged Weapons

Axes • Maces & Flails • Polearms • Staves • Unarmed Combat • Throwing

Physical Fighting • Armour • Dodging • Stealth • Shields
Magical Spellcasting • Invocations • Evocations • Shapeshifting
Spell Schools Air • Alchemy • Conjurations • Earth • Fire • Hexes • Ice • Necromancy • Summoning • Translocations
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