Highlights
- The quarterstaff is a simple, two-handed melee weapon commonly used by non-martial weapon classes in Dungeons & Dragons and Baldur's Gate 3.
- Baldur's Gate 3 offers a wide variety of staves for players to find and equip, with some of the best staves being acquired through unconventional means like assembling found pieces or using special materials.
- Staves in Baldur's Gate 3 are not limited to spellcasters, as their versatility makes them effective for other classes as well, making them one of the best weapon types in the game.
The quarterstaff in Dungeons & Dragons is described as a simple, two-handed melee weapon, often used by classes that aren't trained in martial weapons like swords. As it is in D&D, so it is in Baldur's Gate 3, which uses the famous TTRPG's rules and lore in its design and gameplay.
Baldur's Gate 3 also has the typical RPG feature of including a lot of nice loot for players to find and equip, and that includes several staves. Most of them are looted from fallen enemies, found in locked chests, or rewarded for completing quests. Some of the best staves in BG3 are acquired through less conventional means, such as assembling the found pieces or making them from special materials.
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Updated April 11, 2024, by Kristy Ambrose: Everyone has come to understand why Baldur's Gate 3 needed years to develop and a great deal of time in Early Access. Larian CEO Sven Vicke needs a new shelf for all of the awards the game won in 2023, and the hits just keep coming in 2024 with the title receiving Game of the Year from DICE and GLAAD Awards. The detail in the game is exquisite, and that includes the generous options players have to choose from when it comes to gear and weapons. Although the staff is often regarded as a spellcaster's weapon, other classes like Druids or Monks can use it just as effectively.
12 Ritual Staff
How To Get: Drops From Any Goblin Booyahg
- Damage: 1d8 + Strength
- Topple
As far as stats go, the Ritual Staff has nothing other than the Topple ability that comes with every staff, and it's of common quality. However, it's one of the first staves that the player finds in Act 1, and the design of skulls and bones makes it fun for a spellcaster just starting at level 1 anyway.
The Ritual Staff usually drops from a Goblin Booyagh, which is a character similar to a Druid or Shaman. Plenty will attack the party anyway, and the player can easily pick one up after the fight outside the Druid Grove if they wish.
11 The Spellsparkler
How To Get: Rescue Counsellor Florrick From Waukeen's Rest
- Damage: 1d8 + Strength
- Topple
- Electric Veins: Gives the spellcaster 2 Lightning charges every time they do damage with a cantrip
Save Councillor Florrick from the Burning Inn and players can choose a trident, a sword, or a staff as the reward. Each has a lightning-themed damage ability. Those who choose the staff will receive the Spellsparkler, a Rare staff that gives the wielder lightning charges every time they do spell damage.
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Spellcasters don't usually get within melee range (with some exceptions), so it's better to carry a weapon that grants a casting buff than a fighting one. For those looking to make the most out of their magic-users, the Spellsparkler is one of the best options available.
10 Corellon's Grace
How To Get: Bought From Ethel In The Druid Grove
- Damage: 1d6 + Strength
- Natural Pugilist: +1 to Unarmed Attack Rolls and Damage
- Unhampered Resistance: The wearer receives a +2 bonus to Saving Throws provided they aren't wearing armor.
- Topple
Not everyone finds Auntie Ethel in the Emerald Grove, but for those who do, she can sell this Uncommon-quality staff. Baldur's Gate 3 players can also meet her and Mayrina's brothers near the edge of the swamp or simply walk to her tea house, but that might be too late to buy anything from her depending on the options chosen.
Corellon's Grace grants the wielder two abilities, Natural Pugilist and Unhampered Resistance, which only apply if they aren't wearing armor. It's best for classes that are limited to clothing with an AC of 10, such as Monks, Sorcerers, and Wizards.
9 Pale Oak
How To Get: A Reward For Completing "Investigate Kagha"
- Damage: 1d6 + Strength
- Topple
- Faithwarden's Strides: Makes the wielder immune to Druidic spells that change the terrain
- Faithwarden's Vines: Use of the level one Conjuration spell that causes the Entangled condition
The Pale Oak is a staff for Druids. Not only does it have effects that are specific to the abilities of this class, but it's the reward from a quest that's only open to Druids. After arriving in the Druid Grove in Act 1, the main character takes on the quest to Investigate Kagha, and after confronting her and sparing her, she gives up one of the best staves in BG3.
Just carrying the staff gives the wielder Faithwarden's Stride, which makes them immune to Druidic spells that change the terrain. It also grants the use of the spell Faithwarden's Vines, a level one Conjuration spell that entangles anyone standing in it or walking through it.
8 Mourning Frost
How To Get: Assembled From Three Pieces Found In The Underdark
- Damage: 1d6 + Strength
- Topple
- Heart of Ice: +1 damage to any cold-based spell
- Insidious Cold: A chance to put Chill on the spell's target
- Ray of Frost: An Evocation cantrip that does 1d8 cold damage and reduces the target's speed
One of the few weapons in the game that is assembled from various pieces as opposed to being found or crafted, Mourning Frost is an essential tool for a frost-based caster along with being a Very Rare quarterstaff. All three pieces are found in various locations in the Underdark in Act 1.
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It's one of the best options for staves in BG3 due to the extra casting power it provides. Mourning Frost gives the wielder the ability to cast the Ray of Frost cantrip, of course, but it also grants two other handy damage-dealing buffs. Heart of Ice adds +1 cold damage to any cold-based spell the caster uses, and Insidious Cold gives players the chance to apply Chill to their target.
7 Staff Of Spellpower
How To Get: Found In A Vault In The Boudoir Of The House Of Hope
- Damage: 1d6 + 2 + Strength
- Topple
- Arcane Enchantment: A Passive ability that provides +1 to spell saves and attack rolls
- Arcane Battery: Activate once a day to cast a spell without using a spell slot
The main reason most players go to the House of Hope is to get the Orphic Hammer, but there are several other treasures to be found there. The Staff of Spellpower is one of them. It's one of the best staves in BG3 when it comes to a balance between power and quality, and it gives players yet another reason to visit Raphael and take all his stuff.
Arcane Enchantment is a passive ability that gives the wielder +1 to their spell saves and attack rolls. Arcane Battery is an ability that the caster can activate once a day to cast a spell without using a precious slot. Both are excellent for any kind of caster.
6 Staff Of The Emperor
How To Get: Disarm The Emperor, Pick It Up, & Reach The Helm
- Damage: 1d6 + 2 + Strength
- Topple
- Arcane Enchantment: +1 to Spell Save DC and spell attack rolls
- Imperial Retaliation: A chance to stun an attacker after an attempted hit with a successful saving throw
The name of this staff betrays where the player gets it. When they pick it up, it resonates with the memory of the former owner. It can be obtained by disarming the Emperor while in combat and then picking it up from where it falls.
Carrying the staff gives the wielder the Arcane Enchantment ability, which provides +1 to Spell Save DC and spell attack rolls, and another passive ability called Imperial Retaliation. The latter has a chance of stunning the attacker provided the holder of the staff succeeds in a saving throw.
5 Markoheshkir
How To Get: Hidden In Ramazith's Tower
- Damage: 1d6 + 2 + Strength
- Topple
- Arcane Enchantment: +1 to Spell Save DC and spell attack rolls
- Arcane Battery: Grants the wielder an extra spell slot
- Kereska's Favour: A level 4 Evocation spell that gives the caster access to a choice of elemental spells and other related powers and resistances
This Legendary staff takes some legendary moves to obtain. It's hidden in Ramazith's Tower in Baldur's Gate, and the only way to find it is by jumping to what would normally be an inaccessible balcony and seeing through an invisibility spell.
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Any caster can use the two passive buffs granted by equipping the staff. Arcane Enchantment grants a +1 to Spell Save DC and spell attack rolls, and Arcane Battery grants the use of an extra spell slot. Last but not least, the wielder gains the ability to cast Kereska's Favour, a level 4 Evocation spell that imbues them with the elemental power of the dragon god, Kereska.
4 Incandescent Staff
How To Get: Purchased From Quartermaster Talli At The Last Light Inn
- Damage: 1d6 + Strength
- Topple
- Resistance to fire damage
- Fire Bolt: A handy Evocation cantrip that can be used once per Short Rest
- Fireball: A level 3 Evocation spell that can be used once per Long Rest
This Very Rare staff is one of the nicest weapons in the early game of Baldur's Gate 3, and players don't even have to kill a tough boss or dig through a long underground tunnel to get it. The real challenge is collecting enough gold to buy it. Even a character with a high Charisma can expect to pay around 700g.
For Wizards or Sorcerers who specialize in fire damage, the Incandescent Staff is a worthy investment. It's one of the best staves in BG3 for any class, even those that aren't casters, partly because of the fire resistance and the casting abilities it grants. Two spells are generous for any item. What's more, it gives those spells a bonus, so the Ranger or the Monk can use them, too.
3 Staff Of Cherished Necromancy
How To Get: Drops From Mystic Carrion In Lower City
- Damage: 1d6 + Strength
- Extra 1d4 Necrotic damage
- Topple
- Heightened Necromancy: Disadvantage on saving throws against the wielder's Necromancy spells
- Life Essence Harvest: Kill a creature and gain its Life Essence
There isn't a Necromancer class in Baldur's Gate 3, but it's possible to build one with almost any casting class thanks to the variety of spells, gear, and weapons available. One example is the Staff Of Cherished Necromancy, which players can find in the Lower City via a character called Mystic Carrion.
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This mysterious character can be found by exploring the Lower City, but the Save The Artist quest can also lead the party here. One way to get the staff is to kill him, but players can also do a few small tasks for him, including helping him solve the problem of the wayward artist and recover some undead minions. Once players prove themselves, he might be willing to do some trading. Those fond of using Necrotic abilities to tear through their foes will find this staff to be a great addition to a party member's arsenal. This is especially thanks to the disadvantage it gives enemies when they are hit with Necrotic spells and the Life Essence Harvest ability, which allows the user to absorb a target's life essense.
2 Bigboy's Chew Toy
How To Get: Purchased From Lann Tarv In Moonrise Towers
- Damage: 1d6 + 1 + Strength
- Whossa Large Fellow?: Allows the wielder to cast Enlarge on themselves once per Long Rest
- Topple
Moonrise Towers is an area in the Shadow-Cursed Lands that players will eventually have to visit, but there are a lot of good reasons to go there before a fight breaks out, especially for those using a Dark Urge character. Lann Tarv is a vendor on the first floor, and he has a regular stock along with a special inventory only available to those who have earned Z'rell's favor.
One of the nicer items he sells is this Rare staff, Bigby's Chew Toy, which belonged to the beloved pet of a powerful Wizard. Formerly a chew toy, just like the name implies, it allows the wielder to cast the handy transmutation spell Enlarge on themselves once a day. This spell makes the target bigger and improves their Strength saving throws.
1 Woe
How To Get: Reward For Defeating Cazador Szarr
- Damage: 1d6 + Strength
- Topple
- Arcane Vampirism: Restores health to the caster when their target fails a saving throw
- Blight: A level 4 Necromancy spell that does 8d8 damage
- Bound Weapon: Can't be dropped (returns automatically to the wielder's hand when thrown)
Woe is not only a powerful staff that drops from an intimidating vampire lord; it's also got an equally chilling and elegant design. Any caster would be proud to carry this distinctive weapon around the classiest neighborhood of Baldur's Gate. The only catch is that Cazador, Astarion's former master and a powerful undead being, has to be slain to drop it.
A Very Rare quarterstaff, Woe has some unique features that directly reference vampiric powers. Arcane Vampirism, for example, restores hit points to the caster every time their target fails any spell-related saving throws.
Baldur's Gate 3
- Platform(s)
- PC , macOS , PS5 , Xbox Series X
- Released
- August 3, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Genre(s)
- RPG
