If you're talking about purely a wand or a staff, there is no difference. A wand and staff don't have any inherent differences. The only difference is the individual wands and staves you can get. That being said, there are currently more different, and powerful, types of staves. However, you can change any of them into a wand and they'd still be the same item.
I would only give a slight advantage to Staves because as mentioned above, the most powerful items in these two classes of magic items are Staves, and a magical staff can generally be used as a weapon, whereas a wand cannot.
I'm a wand man...staves are just annoying - always slipping out of my pack when I'm riding a horse, and don't get me started on talking about the number of times I've had one leaning on against a wall and having it fall over in the middle of the night. Plus I don't have a white beard so i just look stupid holding one. Although I will say its nice to have a tall staff when walking through the woods...it keeps the spider webs out of your face.
A wand can be used as a focus, has ( typically) 7 charges and 1 spell it casts ( a few have 2 spells). A Staff can be used as a focus, as a simple, versatile, magic weapon (1d6/1d8), has 10-20+ charges and 3-5+ spells. Yes there are a few that do other things but they are the exceptions. Given these differences if I had to carry just 1 I would always take the staff. Realistically I want both. Ideally I want either a staff of power or the magi and wands of detect magic, secret doors, Swiss army and magic missile all of which don’t require attunement.my other 2 attunement slots would go for a ring of protection and either a cloak of protection or ( if I’m lucky enough) a robe of the arch magi.
All staffs can be used as Quarterstaffs, so if I had to pick one, like at character creation, I’d pick a staff every time, hands down. But as you get higher in level, when you start to collect various staffs and wands you can keep a few of each around if it’s convenient.
Yes, you can hit with a staff, but in practice, would you? If I’m a wizard who finds myself in melee, I’d rather shocking grasp (or misty step, or even just disengage) and get out of there instead of making a str-based melee attack that will probably miss and still be next to the guy.
Yes, you can hit with a staff, but in practice, would you? If I’m a wizard who finds myself in melee, I’d rather shocking grasp (or misty step, or even just disengage) and get out of there instead of making a str-based melee attack that will probably miss and still be next to the guy.
Oh, yay. All those other things are always much better than hitting with a staff. But I’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Namean?
Yes, you can hit with a staff, but in practice, would you? If I’m a wizard who finds myself in melee, I’d rather shocking grasp (or misty step, or even just disengage) and get out of there instead of making a str-based melee attack that will probably miss and still be next to the guy.
Oh, yay. All those other things are always much better than hitting with a staff. But I’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Namean?
Oh, yeah. There’s definitely an argument for it. And mechanically, of course, there’s no spellcasting difference, it just pure flavor. It makes sense. I should have said, though, if you like the flavor of using a wand instead, you might as well go ahead and use it. Since, realistically, you’re going to count on one hand the number of times you actually swing that staff.
Yes, you can hit with a staff, but in practice, would you? If I’m a wizard who finds myself in melee, I’d rather shocking grasp (or misty step, or even just disengage) and get out of there instead of making a str-based melee attack that will probably miss and still be next to the guy.
Oh, yay. All those other things are always much better than hitting with a staff. But I’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Namean?
Oh, yeah. There’s definitely an argument for it. And mechanically, of course, there’s no spellcasting difference, it just pure flavor. It makes sense. I should have said, though, if you like the flavor of using a wand instead, you might as well go ahead and use it. Since, realistically, you’re going to count on one hand the number of times you actually swing that staff.
That’s fair. But I’m also one to create “suboptimal” builds, like these:
Yes, you can hit with a staff, but in practice, would you? If I’m a wizard who finds myself in melee, I’d rather shocking grasp (or misty step, or even just disengage) and get out of there instead of making a str-based melee attack that will probably miss and still be next to the guy.
Oh, yay. All those other things are always much better than hitting with a staff. But I’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Namean?
Oh, yeah. There’s definitely an argument for it. And mechanically, of course, there’s no spellcasting difference, it just pure flavor. It makes sense. I should have said, though, if you like the flavor of using a wand instead, you might as well go ahead and use it. Since, realistically, you’re going to count on one hand the number of times you actually swing that staff.
That’s fair. But I’m also one to create “suboptimal” builds, like these:
Yes, you can hit with a staff, but in practice, would you? If I’m a wizard who finds myself in melee, I’d rather shocking grasp (or misty step, or even just disengage) and get out of there instead of making a str-based melee attack that will probably miss and still be next to the guy.
Oh, yay. All those other things are always much better than hitting with a staff. But I’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Namean?
Oh, yeah. There’s definitely an argument for it. And mechanically, of course, there’s no spellcasting difference, it just pure flavor. It makes sense. I should have said, though, if you like the flavor of using a wand instead, you might as well go ahead and use it. Since, realistically, you’re going to count on one hand the number of times you actually swing that staff.
That’s fair. But I’m also one to create “suboptimal” builds, like these:
So I’ve actually had my arcane spellcasters swing lumber more than once or twice. 🤷♂️
Inspired names for those characters. Evocative.
Lol, those are my example characters I keep on hand for debates about optimization. I think the one used to be Gor’nakk or something I don’t remember, but now they’re perfectly acceptable characters. 😂😂 I have a small handful of them I whip out from time to time.
Yeah you generally don’t want to swing wood at someone as a mage, but if you have to I’d rather swing a broomstick than a pencil. That said the real differences are in the number of charges and spells the items can carry and there, again, the staff wins out in almost every matchup.
Yeah you generally don’t want to swing wood at someone as a mage, but if you have to I’d rather swing a broomstick than a pencil. That said the real differences are in the number of charges and spells the items can carry and there, again, the staff wins out in almost every matchup.
Exactly. If I had the option, I’d choose staff. Especially because in a pinch, you can attach a spearhead or something to it to make it deadlier.
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If I haven’t offended you, don’t worry. I’m sure I’ll get to you eventually.
Yeah you generally don’t want to swing wood at someone as a mage, but if you have to I’d rather swing a broomstick than a pencil. That said the real differences are in the number of charges and spells the items can carry and there, again, the staff wins out in almost every matchup.
Exactly. If I had the option, I’d choose staff. Especially because in a pinch, you can attach a spearhead or something to it to make it deadlier.
Hello, I am a wizard, and I own the staff of withering. I was wondering, is a staff better than a wand or vice versa? Thanks to whoever responds.
If you're talking about purely a wand or a staff, there is no difference. A wand and staff don't have any inherent differences. The only difference is the individual wands and staves you can get. That being said, there are currently more different, and powerful, types of staves. However, you can change any of them into a wand and they'd still be the same item.
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I would only give a slight advantage to Staves because as mentioned above, the most powerful items in these two classes of magic items are Staves, and a magical staff can generally be used as a weapon, whereas a wand cannot.
Staffy go wacky. Wands don’t have that option.
If I haven’t offended you, don’t worry. I’m sure I’ll get to you eventually.
I'm a wand man...staves are just annoying - always slipping out of my pack when I'm riding a horse, and don't get me started on talking about the number of times I've had one leaning on against a wall and having it fall over in the middle of the night. Plus I don't have a white beard so i just look stupid holding one. Although I will say its nice to have a tall staff when walking through the woods...it keeps the spider webs out of your face.
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A wand can be used as a focus, has ( typically) 7 charges and 1 spell it casts ( a few have 2 spells). A Staff can be used as a focus, as a simple, versatile, magic weapon (1d6/1d8), has 10-20+ charges and 3-5+ spells. Yes there are a few that do other things but they are the exceptions. Given these differences if I had to carry just 1 I would always take the staff. Realistically I want both. Ideally I want either a staff of power or the magi and wands of detect magic, secret doors, Swiss army and magic missile all of which don’t require attunement.my other 2 attunement slots would go for a ring of protection and either a cloak of protection or ( if I’m lucky enough) a robe of the arch magi.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
All staffs can be used as Quarterstaffs, so if I had to pick one, like at character creation, I’d pick a staff every time, hands down. But as you get higher in level, when you start to collect various staffs and wands you can keep a few of each around if it’s convenient.
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Yes, you can hit with a staff, but in practice, would you? If I’m a wizard who finds myself in melee, I’d rather shocking grasp (or misty step, or even just disengage) and get out of there instead of making a str-based melee attack that will probably miss and still be next to the guy.
Oh, yay. All those other things are always much better than hitting with a staff. But I’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Namean?
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Oh, yeah. There’s definitely an argument for it. And mechanically, of course, there’s no spellcasting difference, it just pure flavor. It makes sense.
I should have said, though, if you like the flavor of using a wand instead, you might as well go ahead and use it. Since, realistically, you’re going to count on one hand the number of times you actually swing that staff.
That’s fair. But I’m also one to create “suboptimal” builds, like these:
So I’ve actually had my arcane spellcasters swing lumber more than once or twice. 🤷♂️
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Inspired names for those characters. Evocative.
Lol, those are my example characters I keep on hand for debates about optimization. I think the one used to be Gor’nakk or something I don’t remember, but now they’re perfectly acceptable characters. 😂😂 I have a small handful of them I whip out from time to time.
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Yeah you generally don’t want to swing wood at someone as a mage, but if you have to I’d rather swing a broomstick than a pencil. That said the real differences are in the number of charges and spells the items can carry and there, again, the staff wins out in almost every matchup.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
Exactly. If I had the option, I’d choose staff. Especially because in a pinch, you can attach a spearhead or something to it to make it deadlier.
If I haven’t offended you, don’t worry. I’m sure I’ll get to you eventually.
A spear and a quarterstaff both do the same damage.
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I’m talking real life here.
If I haven’t offended you, don’t worry. I’m sure I’ll get to you eventually.
I believe staffs have more to them considering they can melee as well as cast spells. This also gives close combat options when necessary.
THAT’S WHAT I’VE BEEN SAYING!
If I haven’t offended you, don’t worry. I’m sure I’ll get to you eventually.
The greatest minds think alike 👍