Staves are one-handed weapons that are essentially rechargeable scrolls. Anyone can use a staff, regardless of magic skill, and using a staff does not use any of the caster's own Magicka; instead, it depletes the staff's charge. However, the higher the user's skill level in the relevant magic school, the lower the charge cost to use the staff. Using staves does not increase your skills, nor do staves benefit from higher skill levels, with the exception of lowering the cost per use.
Once the staff is completely discharged, it becomes unusable and must be recharged using the same methods as any enchanted weapon, usually via a filled soul gem.
Although staves are listed in your inventory under "Weapons", they are treated differently from other weapons. In particular, staves will not be bought or sold by blacksmiths. Staves can only be bought from spell merchants, who will stock a random, level-dependent selection of staves. These spell merchants, along with general goods merchants, will both buy staves. They can also be found in random loot. Staves cannot be disenchanted.
Staves can also be enchanted using the staff enchanter in Tel Mithryn. Using the table will allow the user to enchant any unenchanted staff that was added with the Dragonborn add-on. The type of unenchanted staff determines what kind of enchantments can be applied to it. For example, an Illusion staff cannot have flames (a Destruction effect) enchanted onto it.
Standard Staves
Alteration
Name (ID) | Weight | Value | Damage | Level | Charge/Cost = Uses | Enchantment | Locations | |
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Staff of Magelight (000be121) |
8 | 239 | 0 | 10 | 1000/14=71 | Ball of light that lasts 60 seconds and sticks where it strikes:
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Staff of Paralysis (00029b73) |
8 | 3965 | 0 | 34 | 3000/450=6 | Targets that fail to resist are paralyzed for 10 seconds:
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Conjuration
Banish
Name (ID) | Weight | Value | Damage | Level | Charge/Cost = Uses | Enchantment | Locations | |
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Staff of Banishing (00029b79) |
8 | 926 | 0 | 22 | 2000/85=23 | Weaker summoned daedra are sent back to Oblivion:
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Staff of Daedric Command (00029b7b) |
8 | 2307 | 0 | 34 | 3000/242=12 | Powerful summoned and raised creatures are put under your control:
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Staff of Expulsion (00029b7e) |
8 | 2092 | 0 | 34 | 3000/215=13 | Powerful summoned daedra creatures are sent back to Oblivion:
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Conjure
Name (ID) | Weight | Value | Damage | Level | Charge/Cost = Uses | Enchantment | Notes | |
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Staff of the Familiar (00029b75) |
8 | 926 | 0 | 1 | 500/107=4 | Summons a Familiar for 60 seconds wherever the caster is pointing:
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Staff of the Flame Atronach (00029b78) (xx011d58)DG |
8 | 727 | 0 | 10 | 1000/75=13 | Summons a Flame Atronach for 60 seconds wherever the caster is pointing:
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Staff of the Frost Atronach (000be120) (xx011d59)DG |
8 | 1106 | 0 | 22 | 2000/107=18 | Summons a Frost Atronach for 60 seconds wherever the caster is pointing:
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Staff of the Storm Atronach (00029b7d) |
8 | 1656 | 0 | 34 | 3000/161=18 | Summons a Storm Atronach for 60 seconds wherever the caster is pointing:
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Reanimate
Name (ID) | Weight | Value | Damage | Level | Charge/Cost = Uses | Enchantment | Locations | |
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Staff of Zombies (00029b74) |
8 | 449 | 0 | 1 | 500/48=10 | Reanimate a weak dead body to fight for you for 60 seconds:
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Staff of Reanimation (00029b76) |
8 | 949 | 0 | 10 | 1000/103=9 | Reanimate a weak dead body to fight for you for 60 seconds:
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Staff of Revenants (00029b7a) |
8 | 824 | 0 | 22 | 2000/72=27 | Reanimate a powerful dead body to fight for you for 60 seconds:
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Staff of Dread Zombies (00029b7c) |
8 | 1248 | 0 | 34 | 3000/110=27 | Reanimate a very powerful dead body to fight for you for 60 seconds:
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Soul Trap
Name (ID) | Weight | Value | Damage | Level | Charge/Cost = Uses | Enchantment | |
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Staff of Soul Trapping (000be122) |
8 | 986 | 0 | 10 | 1000/107=9 | If target dies within 60 seconds, fills a soul gem:
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Destruction
Fire Damage
Name (ID) | Weight | Value | Damage | Level | Charge/Cost = Uses | Enchantment | Notes | |
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Staff of Flames (0004dee0) |
8 | 183 | 0 | 1 | 500/14=35 seconds | A gout of fire that does 8 points per second. Targets on fire take extra damage:
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Staff of Firebolts (0004c6ca) (xx011d5d)DG |
8 | 456 | 0 | 10 | 1000/41=24 | A blast of fire that does 25 points of damage. Targets on fire take extra damage:
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Staff of Fireballs (00029b82) (xx011d57)DG |
8 | 1309 | 0 | 22 | 2000/133=15 | A fiery explosion for 40 points of damage in a 15 foot radius. Targets on fire take extra damage:
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Staff of Incineration (0010fcf2) |
8 | 2750 | 0 | 34 | 3000/298=10 | A blast of fire that does 60 points of damage. Targets on fire take extra damage:
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Staff of the Flame Wall (00029b85) |
8 | 1310 | 0 | 34 | 3000/118=25 seconds | Sprayed on the ground, it creates a wall of fire that does 50 points of fire damage per second:
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Frost Damage
Name (ID) | Weight | Value | Damage | Level | Charge/Cost = Uses | Enchantment | Notes | |
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Staff of Frostbite (0004dee1) |
8 | 198 | 0 | 1 | 500/16=31 seconds | A blast of cold that does 8 points of damage per second to Health and Stamina:
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Staff of Ice Spikes (0004ded8) (xx011d5e)DG |
8 | 511 | 0 | 10 | 1000/48=20 | A spike of ice that does 25 points of frost damage to Health and Stamina:
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Staff of Ice Storms (00029b83) (xx011d5f)DG |
8 | 1401 | 0 | 22 | 2000/144=13 | A freezing whirlwind that does 40 points of frost damage per second to Health and Stamina:
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Staff of Icy Spear (0010fcf7) |
8 | 2931 | 0 | 34 | 3000/320=9 | A spear of ice that does 60 points of frost damage to Health and Stamina:
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Staff of the Frost Wall (00029b86) |
8 | 1468 | 0 | 34 | 3000/137=21 seconds | Sprayed on the ground, it creates a wall of frost that does 50 points of frost damage per second:
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Shock Damage
Name (ID) | Weight | Value | Damage | Level | Charge/Cost = Uses | Enchantment | Notes | |
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Staff of Sparks (0004dee2) |
8 | 218 | 0 | 1 | 500/19=26 seconds | Lightning that does 8 points of shock damage to Health and Magicka per second:
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Staff of Lightning Bolts (0004dee3) (xx011d60)DG |
8 | 538 | 0 | 10 | 1000/51=19 | A bolt of lightning that does 25 points of shock damage to Health and half that to Magicka:
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Staff of Chain Lightning (00029b84) (xx011d56)DG |
8 | 1494 | 0 | 22 | 2000/156=12 | Lightning bolt that does 40 points of shock damage to Health and half to Magicka, then leaps to a new target:
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Staff of Thunderbolts (0010fcf4) |
8 | 778 | 0 | 34 | 3000/51=58 | A bolt of lightning that does 25 points of shock damage to Health and half that to Magicka:
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Staff of the Storm Wall (00029b87) |
8 | 1531 | 0 | 34 | 3000/145=20 seconds | Sprayed on the ground, it creates a wall of lightning that does 50 points of shock damage per second:
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Illusion
Fear
Name (ID) | Weight | Value | Damage | Level | Charge/Cost = Uses | Enchantment | Locations | |
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Staff of Fear (00029b8c) |
8 | 2443 | 0 | 10 | 1000/289=3 | Creatures and people up to level 8 flee from combat for 60 seconds:
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Staff of Vanquishment (00029b92) |
8 | 1807 | 0 | 34 | 3000/180=16 | Creatures and people up to level 12 flee from combat for 30 seconds:
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Frenzy
Name (ID) | Weight | Value | Damage | Level | Charge/Cost = Uses | Enchantment | |
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Staff of Fury (00029b89) |
8 | 803 | 0 | 1 | 500/92=5 | Creatures and people up to level 4 will attack anything nearby for 60 seconds:
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Staff of Frenzy (00029b8f) |
8 | 1149 | 0 | 22 | 2000/113=17 | Creatures and people up to level 8 will attack anyone nearby for 60 seconds:
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Pacify
Name (ID) | Weight | Value | Damage | Level | Charge/Cost = Uses | Enchantment | Locations | |
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Staff of Calm (00029b8b) |
8 | 1153 | 0 | 10 | 1000/128=7 | Creatures and people up to level 8 won't fight for 30 seconds:
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Grand Staff of Charming (00029b91) |
8 | 1393 | 0 | 34 | 3000/128=23 | Creatures and people up to level 8 won't fight for 30 seconds:
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Rally
Name (ID) | Weight | Value | Damage | Level | Charge/Cost = Uses | Enchantment | |
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Staff of Courage (00029b88) |
8 | 79 | 0 | 1 | 500/1=500 | Target won't flee for 60 seconds and gets some extra health and stamina:
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Staff of Inspiration (00029b8e) |
8 | 317 | 0 | 22 | 2000/9=222 | Targets won't flee for 60 seconds and get extra health and stamina:
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Restoration
Restore Health
Name (ID) | Weight | Value | Damage | Level | Charge/Cost = Uses | Enchantment | |
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Staff of the Healing Hand (00029b93) |
8 | 198 | 0 | 10 | 1000/9=111 seconds | Heals the target 4 points per second, but not undead, atronachs or machines:
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Staff of Mending (00029b99) |
8 | 613 | 0 | 22 | 2000/46=43 | Heals the target 45 points, but not undead, atronachs or machines:
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Turn Undead
Name (ID) | Weight | Value | Damage | Level | Charge/Cost = Uses | Enchantment | Locations | |
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Minor Staff of Turning (00029b94) |
8 | 556 | 0 | 10 | 1000/53=18 | Undead up to level 4 flee for 30 seconds:
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Staff of Turning (00029b95) |
8 | 1036 | 0 | 22 | 2000/98=20 | Undead up to level 8 flee for 30 seconds:
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Grand Staff of Turning (00029b97) |
8 | 1520 | 0 | 34 | 3000/144=20 | Undead up to level 12 flee for 30 seconds:
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Staff of Repulsion (00029b9a) |
8 | 675 | 0 | 22 | 2000/53=37 | All affected undead up to level 4 flee for 30 seconds:
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Grand Staff of Repulsion (00029b9b) |
8 | 1289 | 0 | 34 | 3000/115=26 | All affected undead up to level 8 flee for 30 seconds:
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Special Staves
Name (ID) | Weight | Value | Damage | Charge/Cost = Uses (controlling skill) |
Enchantment | Notes | |
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Aetherial Staff DG (xx00575e) |
8 | 1970 | 0 | 1000/75=13 (None) |
Summon a Dwarven Spider or Sphere for 60 seconds wherever the caster is pointing. | See Aetherial Staff for details. | |
Dragon Priest Staff (0007e5bb) |
8 | 1570 | 0 | 5000/118=42 seconds (Destruction) |
Sprayed on the ground, it creates a wall of fire that does 50 points of fire damage per second:
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Wielded by Rahgot | |
Eye of Melka (000b3dfa) |
8 | 1234 | 0 | 1000/133=7 (Destruction) |
A fiery explosion for 40 points of damage in a 15 foot radius. Targets on fire take extra damage:
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Quest reward from The Affairs of Hagravens | |
Gadnor's Staff of Charming (00046e0b) |
8 | 803 | 0 | 500/92=5 (Illusion) |
Creatures and people up to level 4 will attack anything nearby for 60 seconds:
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Found in Crystaldrift Cave | |
Halldir's Staff (000ab704) |
8 | 1874 | 17 | 1000/218=4 (Illusion/Conjuration) |
Calms less powerful opponents for 60 seconds, and traps their souls should they die:
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Found in Halldir's Cairn | |
Hevnoraak's Staff (0010076d) |
8 | 1791 | 0 | 5000/145=34 seconds (Destruction) |
Sprayed on the ground, it creates a wall of lightning that does 50 points of shock damage per second:
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Wielded by Hevnoraak | |
Sanguine Rose (0001cb36) |
10 | 2087 | 0 | 3000/215=13 (Conjuration) |
Summons a Dremora for 60 seconds: | See Sanguine Rose for details. | |
Skull of Corruption (00035066) |
10 | 1680 | 2 | 3000/40=75 (None) |
20 points damage, increases to 50 if powered with dreams collected from sleeping people: | See Skull of Corruption for details. | |
Spider Control Rod (000e57f0) (000c19ff) |
8 | 153 | 1 | 1000/1=1000 (Alteration) |
Directs Aicantar's Spider to the target:
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See Aicantar's Spider for details. | |
Staff of Arcane Authority (000940d8) |
8 | 2443 | 0 | 1000/289=3 (Illusion) |
Creatures and people up to level 8 flee from combat for 60 seconds:
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Found in The Frozen Hearth in Winterhold during Some Light Theft; may respawn | |
Staff of Hag's Wrath (0007a4fb) |
8 | 1310 | 0 | 3000/118=25 (Destruction) |
Sprayed on the ground, it creates a wall of fire that does 50 points of fire damage per second:
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Staff of Jyrik Gauldurson (000e5f43) |
8 | 594 | 0 | 1000/58=17 (None) |
Target takes 25 points of damage, and twice as much Magicka damage:
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Staff of Magnus (00035369) |
8 | 1468 | 0 | 5000/106=47 seconds (Restoration/Alteration) |
Absorb 20 magicka per second. If the target is out of magicka, absorb health instead: | See Staff of Magnus for details. | |
Staff of Ruunvald DG (xx01958c) |
8 | 1393 | 0 | 3000/128=23 (Illusion) |
Creatures and people up to level 8 won't fight for 30 seconds:
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Wielded by Minorne | |
Staff of Tandil (0006a093) |
8 | 2530 | 0 | 10000/165=60 (Illusion) |
Creatures and people up to level 12 won't fight for 60 seconds:
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Wabbajack (0002ac6f) |
10 | 1565 | 27 | 3000/150=20 (Destruction) |
A blast from Wabbajack with an unpredictable effect: | See Wabbajack for details. |
Notes
- The charge costs given are the ones found in the Creation Kit. These are the actual cost values at skill level 0, rounded down. The cost decreases with higher levels of the controlling skill, resulting in more uses before recharging is needed. At skill level 100 this results in about 1.7 times the uses shown here.
- The Enchanting perk Soul Siphon, which traps 5% of a creature's soul when you kill it with a weapon, does not work with staves.
- Followers will not recharge staves.[verification needed]
Bugs
- Summoning staves (e.g. Staff of the Flame Atronach, Staff of the Storm Atronach, Sanguine Rose) may not work if you have the Elemental Potency perk. ?
- Equipping the Staff of Jyrik Gauldurson is also meant to apply Jyrik's Blessing, which increases Magicka and Magicka regeneration. However the script to apply the effect is not actually attached to the item.
- PC Only This bug is fixed by version 2.0.5 of the Unofficial Skyrim Patch.
- Staves that reanimate a corpse will allow for the body to remain intact after the spell wears off allowing the corpse to be reanimated an unlimited number of times. This is unlike reanimation spells, where the body will disintegrate after the spell wears off.
- PC Only This issue has been addressed by version 2.0.9 of the Unofficial Skyrim Patch; reanimated corpses will disintegrate after the spell wears off.
- The Staff of Thunderbolts will cast Lightning Bolt when used, rather than Thunderbolt.
- PC Only This bug is fixed by version 1.1 of the Unofficial Skyrim Patch.