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Staff

From Fire Emblem Wiki, your source on Fire Emblem information. By fans, for fans.
Revision as of 04:30, 5 May 2021 by Thecornerman (talk | contribs) (→‎Healing staves: Corrected Candy Cane link)
Lena casting a staff's spell in Fire Emblem Cipher.

The staff (Japanese: rod; plural: staves) is a magical weapon category which was introduced in Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light and is present in every game in the Fire Emblem series except Gaiden and Shadows of Valentia, where white magic performs the same role. Staves are unique in that they have no capacity to actively deal damage and cannot be used to initiate an attack, nor in most cases defend an attack. Instead, they deal entirely in support magic to aid their allies or non-violently cripple their enemies.

Among basic classes, there are a handful of staff-wielding classes which can use no other weapon type and are incapable of fighting on their own; classes of this archetype are typically known as healers. On promotion, healer classes usually gain access to offensive magic alongside staves, and the vast majority of other advanced magical classes will usually gain access to staves alongside their initial magic type. In later games, staves are also often found being used by advanced classes who otherwise only wield physical weapons.

In Fire Emblem Fates, their Hoshidan counterpart is the rod (Japanese: 祓串 haraegushi). Rods are almost identical to staves and share a weapon level. The basic hierarchy of rods have an increased range over basic staves, but other types of rods are identical to staves.

In Fire Emblem: Three Houses, staves' normal role is again taken by white magic, like in Gaiden, but staves do appear as a type of equipment.

There are currently 54 different staves in the Fire Emblem series.

Overview

Staves can be loosely divided up into four archetypes:

  • The majority of staves are healing staves which are designed to heal injured allies. Most of these restore hit points to injured units, while the Restore staff cures status conditions. Healing staves of lower weapon level usually heal only a single unit who is adjacent to the user, but the stronger healing staves can often heal distant allies or even multiple allies at once.
  • Transport staves allow staff-users to teleport their allies (or, occasionally, themselves) to other points on a map, usually across very long distances that no unit could otherwise cross by themselves in a single turn.
  • Support staves perform miscellaneous purposes which are beneficial to the staff-user's army, such as peforming tasks over long distances that otherwise require specialized units or items to get close to the task's subject.
  • Offensive staves are staves designed to affect the staff user's enemies, working to put them at a disadvantage in ways that do not involve depleting their HP. This usually comes in the form of afflicting the enemy with status conditions that leave them much more vulnerable to attacks from the staff-user's allies. Unlike most other staves, all of these operate over a long range and do not require the staff user to be adjacent to the enemy. Offensive staves tend to be used fairly widely among late-game enemies, but the player can typically only get them in very limited quantities.

As magical weapons, staves generally rely on their user's magic stat to determine their effectiveness. Most healing staves after Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light restore an amount of HP which is based on the user's magic plus a base healing value assigned to that particular staff. In some games, the range of staves which can be cast over distances, such as Physic and Rescue, is also derived from the user's magic, as is the accuracy of offensive staves. Generally speaking, the higher a unit's magic, then the more effective staves will be in their hands. Conversely, the resistance stat is used to calculate whether a unit can evade an incoming cast of an offensive staff.

While using weapons awards experience based on how strong the enemy is relative to the attacker, staves work differently by awarding experience based on the staff used, with stronger staves usually giving more experience. This only applies from Mystery of the Emblem onward, because in Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light staves do not award experience at all, meaning that the only way for members of the healer class Priest to gain experience in that game is by being attacked.

In the majority of games, non-offensive staves will have perfect accuracy and it is impossible for a staff cast to fail. The exception is Thracia 776, where staves have their accuracy calculated in a similar way to other weapons and have their own hit stats. The maximum possible calculated hit rate in Thracia 776 is 99, so it is possible for staves to miss. Additionally, every staff has a relatively low 60 hit. On the other hand, Thracia 776 also gives three healing staves a chance to be cast twice in an action if the first cast misses or does not fully replenish the target's HP.

In Path of Radiance, the staff weapon level doubles as the weapon level for light magic.

Self-defense in Radiant Dawn

File:Ss fe10 micaiah staff counter-attack.png
Micaiah counter-attacks an attacking Warrior with her Recover staff, dealing a single point of damage.

Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn applied a few unique changes to the workings of staves. First, staves are equipped in exactly the same way as an ordinary weapon, meaning that a unit who casts a staff will automatically equip it instead of any other weapons they may possess. On one hand this is a minor inconvenience for offensive magical units such as the Sage family, as it prevents them from being able to properly respond to enemy-phase attacks with their proper weapons. On the other hand, the game compensates for this with every staff having a bonus effect on their equipper; for instance, most healing staves will restore small amounts of HP to their wielder at the beginning of a turn, while several staves offer minor stat boosts.

As part of this, Radiant Dawn also allows staff-users the ability to counter-attack if, on the enemy's phase, they are attacked at 1 range. The counter-attacks are, by design, fairly weak and insubstantial: all staves have zero might meaning that the counter-attack's damage is determined entirely based on the user's strength, a stat which tends to be very low among staff users. Staves compensate partially for this with their excellent crit stats which give decent chances of inflicting critical hits. Staves of progressively higher weapon levels get progressively higher crit to the point that the game's two SS-rank staves, Matrona and the Ashera Staff, have 100 crit each, the highest by far of any item in the Fire Emblem series.

Staff counter-attacks do not consume the staff's durability, but do provide experience and weapon experience.

Staves are also equipped in Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light but the user cannot counterattack and no benefits are provided to the user.

In-universe role

Staves are usually treated by the series' story materials as being much like light magic in that the ability to use them is rooted in divine faith and service.[1] Most of the primary staff-wielding classes, such as the Priest, Cleric and Bishop, are presented as religious acolytes and almost all members of these classes, as well as other staff users outside of these such as L'Arachel, are servants of religious orders themselves. However, this is not the case for most other classes, with even advanced dark magic-wielding classes usually being able to use staves as well. The magic of healing staves works by supplementing and enhancing the natural ability of living bodies to regenerate when wounded, presumably drastically speeding up this healing process.[2]

Calculations

These are general calculations which apply to multiple or all staves in a game. For the specific formulas for individual staves' amount of HP healed or range, see their individual pages.

Staff experience gain


This section has been marked as a stub. Please help improve the page by adding information.


Offensive staff hit rate

Game Formula Notes
Genealogy of the Holy War If (Magic) > (Target's resistance), then the staff hits. --
Thracia 776 Hit + (Skill × 4) Maximum hit rate is 99%. Cannot be cast on enemy units who occupy thrones or gates.
The Binding Blade 30 + [{(Magic) - (Target's resistance)} × 6] + (Skill) - (distance from target) --
The Blazing Blade 30 + [(Magic) × 5] + (Skill) --
The Sacred Stones 30 + [(Magic) × 5] + (Skill) --
Path of Radiance 30 + [{(Magic) - (Target's resistance)} × 5] + (Skill) - (distance from target × 2) --
Radiant Dawn 30 + [{(Magic) - (Target's resistance)} × 5] + (Skill) - (distance from target × 2) --

Offensive staff avoid

Game Formula Notes
Genealogy of the Holy War If (Target's resistance) > (Magic), then the staff misses. --
Thracia 776 -- --
The Binding Blade -- The usual considerations for an offensive staff missing are already built into the hit rate calculation.
The Blazing Blade [(Target's resistance) × 5] + [(Distance from target) × 2] --
The Sacred Stones [(Target's resistance) × 5] + [(Distance from target) × 2] --
Path of Radiance -- The usual considerations for an offensive staff missing are already built into the hit rate calculation.
Radiant Dawn -- The usual considerations for an offensive staff missing are already built into the hit rate calculation.

Thracia 776 mechanics

Aspect Formula Notes
Staff hit rate Hit + (Skill × 4) --
Staff double-cast rate [(Skill) + (Speed) + (Luck)] / 2 Only applies to Heal, Mend, and Physic. These staves will not double-cast if the first cast fully heals the target.

Staves in the Fire Emblem series

Note: This table lists all appearances of the items in question. Only their special properties relevant to their appearances as staves are listed; if the FE02, FE15 and/or FE16 column is checked with a , it is classified as white magic in Fire Emblem Gaiden, Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia and/or Fire Emblem: Three Houses and is noted.

Healing staves

Weapon Available in: Notes
FE01 FE02 FE03 FE04 FE05 FE06 FE07 FE08 FE09 FE10 FE11 FE12 FE13 FE14 FE15 FE16 FE17
Heal --
Mend --
Recover --
Physic --
Fortify --
Restore --
Ordinary Staff --
Glass Staff --
Kneader --
Balmwood Staff --
Catharsis --
Candy Cane --
Mushroom Staff --
Bouquet Staff --
Bloom Festal --
Sun Festal --
Wane Festal --
Moon Festal --
Great Festal --
Lantern --
Dumpling Rod --
Bamboo Branch --
A means that the weapon is available in that game, while a indicates the contrary.

Transport staves

Weapon Available in: Notes
FE01 FE02 FE03 FE04 FE05 FE06 FE07 FE08 FE09 FE10 FE11 FE12 FE13 FE14 FE15 FE16 FE17
Warp --
Rescue --
Return --
Rewarp --
Entrap --
A means that the weapon is available in that game, while a indicates the contrary.

Support staves

Weapon Available in: Notes
FE01 FE02 FE03 FE04 FE05 FE06 FE07 FE08 FE09 FE10 FE11 FE12 FE13 FE14 FE15 FE16 FE17
Ward --
Hammerne --
Unlock --
Thief --
Watch --
Anew --
Torch --
Magic Up --
Repair --
Strength --
Speed --
Defense --
Bamboo Branch --
A means that the weapon is available in that game, while a indicates the contrary.

Offensive staves

These staves do not deal direct damage, but inflict status conditions against its adversary.

Weapon Available in: Notes
FE01 FE02 FE03 FE04 FE05 FE06 FE07 FE08 FE09 FE10 FE11 FE12 FE13 FE14 FE15 FE16 FE17
Silence --
Sleep --
Berserk --
Nightmare --
Elsilence --
Elsleep --
Freeze --
Enfeeble --
Hexing Rod --
A means that the weapon is available in that game, while a indicates the contrary.

Character's staves

Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade and New Mystery of the Emblem each contain a themed staff named for an individual character, but are not locked specifically to them; two more such staves appear in Fates. The one such staff in New Mystery of the Emblem sells for zero gold. Staves are one of two usable item types in Awakening that do not include character-themed entries (the other being stones).

All of these staves are healing staves.


Weapon Available in: Notes
FE01 FE02 FE03 FE04 FE05 FE06 FE07 FE08 FE09 FE10 FE11 FE12 FE13 FE14 FE15 FE16 FE17
Tina's Staff --
Wrys's Staff --
Elise's Staff --
Lilith's Staff --
Sakura's Rod --
Purification Rod --
A means that the weapon is available in that game, while a indicates the contrary.

Regalia and personal staves

Weapon Available in: Notes
FE01 FE02 FE03 FE04 FE05 FE06 FE07 FE08 FE09 FE10 FE11 FE12 FE13 FE14 FE15 FE16 FE17
Hammerne --
Aum --
Valkyrie --
Repair --
Unlock --
Thief --
Kia --
Saint's Staff --
Latona --
Goddess Staff --
Matrona --
Astral Blessing --
Bifröst --
A means that the weapon is available in that game, while a indicates the contrary.

Staves without an effect

This staff lacks an effect in its current state, and must be repaired in order to regain its original functionality.

Weapon Available in: Notes
FE01 FE02 FE03 FE04 FE05 FE06 FE07 FE08 FE09 FE10 FE11 FE12 FE13 FE14 FE15 FE16 FE17
Broken Staff --
A means that the weapon is available in that game, while a indicates the contrary.

Staves with unknown intended use

This staff is unused content in the only game it is coded into, and its intended effect is unknown.

Weapon Available in: Notes
FE01 FE02 FE03 FE04 FE05 FE06 FE07 FE08 FE09 FE10 FE11 FE12 FE13 FE14 FE15 FE16 FE17
Charm --
A means that the weapon is available in that game, while a indicates the contrary.

Classes capable of using staves

Class Wields staves in: Notes
FE01 FE02 FE03 FE04 FE05 FE06 FE07 FE08 FE09 FE10 FE11 FE12 FE13 FE14 FE15 FE16 FE17
Priest --
Bishop --
Cleric --
Dark Mage --
Princess --
Master Knight --
Troubadour --
Paladin --
Baron --
Emperor --
Falcon Knight --
Mage Fighter --
Shaman --
Sage --
High Priest --
Queen --
Dark Bishop --
Loptr Mage --
Druid --
Valkyrie --
Archsage --
Dark Druid --
Bramimond --
Mage Knight --
Summoner --
Necromancer --
Demon King --
Princess Crimea --
Chancellor --
Light Sage --
Light Priestess --
Saint --
Sorcerer --
Trickster --
War Monk --
War Cleric --
Bride --
Hoshido Noble --
Monk --
Shrine Maiden --
Onmyoji --
Great Master --
Priestess --
Falcon Knight --
Adventurer --
Strategist --
Butler --
Maid --
Astral Dragon --
A means that the class wields staves in that game, while a indicates the contrary.

Etymology and other languages

Names, etymology, and in other regions
Language Name Definition, etymology, and notes
English

Staff

--

Spanish

Bastón

Staff

French

Bâton

Stick

German

Stab

Staff

Italian

• Bacchetta
• Bastone

• Baton; from Fire Emblem until Path of Radiance.
• Cane; from Radiant Dawn onward.

Rod

Names, etymology, and in other regions
Language Name Definition, etymology, and notes
English

Rod

--

Spanish

Vara

Rod

French

Sceptre

Scepter

German

Rute

Rod

Italian

Verga

Rod

Gallery

References

  1. "Lyn: Your staff is a wondrous thing. Healing powers amaze me.
    Serra: Only those in the service of good can wield them.
    " — Lyn and Serra, Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade
  2. "Wrys: I see... Alright. There's a bountiful sea near the monastery. The children often go play there.
    Chris: Sounds fun.
    Wrys: Yes. But since they're so energetic... they injure themselves often.
    Chris: Hmm and that's when you heal them with your staff, right Sir Wrys?
    Wrys: No, I don't do that.
    Chris: Pardon? Why not...?
    Wrys: Why are you befuddled, lass? People are born with the power of healing their own wounds. A staff's power is merely a supplement to that natural healing. And, besides, children need to learn that getting hurt is dangerous... That is what I humbly believe.
    Chris: Yes... I agree with you too.
    Wrys: That's why I only heal them when it's absolutely required.
    " — Wrys and Kris, Fire Emblem: New Mystery of the Emblem

See also

Weapon types
Physical weapons ArtAxeBow (Ballista)CannonballGauntletsDaggerLanceSword
Magical weapons Anima (FireThunderWind)Black magicDarkLightStaffTome (Blue tomeColorless tomeGreen tomeRed tome)White magic
Other weapons BreathCrest StoneSpecialStoneStrike, beast, and monster weapons
Staves
Healing staves Balmwood StaffBouquet StaffCandy CaneCatharsisElise's StaffFortifyGlass StaffHealKneaderLilith's StaffMendMushroom StaffOrdinary StaffPhysicRecoverRestoreTiena's StaffWrys's Staff
Offensive staves BerserkElsilenceElsleepEnfeebleEntrapFreezeNightmareSilenceSleep
Transport staves EntrapRescueReturnRewarpWarp
Regalia and personal staves Astral BlessingAumBifröstGoddess StaffHammerneKiaLatonaMatronaRepairRescueStaff of the SaintThiefUnlockValkyrie
Other staves AnewBroken StaffCharmDefense StaffHammerneMagic UpStrength StaffSpeed StaffThiefTorchUnlockWardWatch
Rods
Healing rods Bloom FestalDumpling RodGreat FestalLanternMoon FestalPurification RodSakura's RodSun FestalWane Festal
Non-healing rods Hexing RodRescueSilence
Hybrid rods Bamboo Branch