Staff ( weapon type ) Staves , also known as Canes , are a recurring set of weapons from the " Final Fantasy " series . They are usually wielded by White Mage s , while Black Mages tend to wield rods instead , though this relationship has been reversed in recent games like " Final Fantasy IX " and " Final Fantasy XI " . Recurring staffs are Rune Staff , Power Staff ( which is more suited for improving Attack power ) , Healing Staff , and the Sage Staff , which is usually the ultimate of this weapon type . The staff usually increases the user ' s Magic Power . Profile . In many traditional RPGs , staves find themselves as the trademark weapon of magic using classes , said to help draw and amplify the user ' s own magical power through its own means and workings . In " Final Fantasy " , staves differ from the variation of rods , its kind aligned majority wise with the White Mage and healing based classes . Design wise , staves commonly feature a cane head or other sort of adornment naturally born of the material itself , with some featuring humbler details like crystals , tip ornaments , and sheathings of various materials . Appearances . " Final Fantasy " . Staves can be equipped by the White Mage and Black Mage classes . The Warrior and Monk classes can also equip some staves . List of staves : " Final Fantasy II " . Staves , also known as canes , can be equipped by everyone in the party , though Minwu is the only character that comes with one equipped by default . In earlier versions , staves had the lowest penalty to intelligence and spirit at only five percent . This made staves the best option for magic users in these versions . This factor was removed in the " Dawn of Souls " release and all later versions . List of staves : " Final Fantasy III " . Staves can be equipped by magic - based jobs . Holy Wand can only be equipped by Devouts while Sage Staff can only be equipped by Sages . List of staves : " Final Fantasy IV " . Staves can be equipped by Tellah , Porom , Rydia ( child ) , Rosa , Paladin Cecil , and Fusoya , though the 3D remake removed Cecil ' s ability to wield them . In the 3D versions , Golbez can equip staves , if hacked into the party . List of staves : " Final Fantasy IV - Interlude - " . Staves can be equipped by Cecil , Rosa , and Porom . List of staves : List of staves : " Final Fantasy V " . Staves can be equipped by the Freelancer , White Mage , Time Mage , Red Mage , Chemist , Oracle , and Mime . Different staves use different damage formulae . The Light Staff , Staff of Judgment and Sage Staff deal damage based on the attacker ' s Magic stat and the target ' s Resistance / Magic Defense . The Staff , Axe , Flail and Mace of Zeus use the same damage formula as axes and hammers , and benefit from Double Grip . List of staves : " Final Fantasy VII " . Staves can be equipped by Aerith Gainsborough . List of staves : " Final Fantasy IX " . Vivi can equip staves . He is the first Black Mage that wields staves in the series . List of staves : " Final Fantasy X " . Yuna uses a mixture of staves and rods and is the only playable character who wields them , but Seymour and Braska also wield them . " Final Fantasy X - 2 " . Yuna , Rikku and Paine wield staves from " Final Fantasy X " in their White Mage and Black Mage dressphere s . While in the White Mage dressphere , Yuna uses her default Staff , Rikku uses the Spiked Rod , and Paine uses the Malleable Staff . While in the Black Mage dressphere , Yuna uses Nirvana , Rikku uses the El Dorado and Paine uses the Enchanted Rod . " Final Fantasy XI " . The White Mage , Black Mage , Summoner , Scholar , Monk , Dragoon , and Paladin jobs are proficient on the use of staves . The Staff skill encompasses not only standard mages ' staves , but also pole s and quarterstaff melee weapons . However , quarterstaves are restricted to White Mages , Paladins , Dragoons , and Monks , as they are designed for heavy melee damage . " Final Fantasy XII " . Every party member can equip staves , as long as they have acquired the right license . Staves boost Magick power and elemental damage , but have less Attack Power than rods . Staves depend on both Strength and Magic . The higher the character level , the more weight is put on Strength , and less on Magic , though . In the " International Zodiac Job System " , staves are Black Mage ' s primary weapon . The damage formula for staves is : Due to the weight put on user ' s Strength and Magick Power , but also user ' s level , recommended staff user is Vaan . List of staves : " " . Staves can only be equipped by Penelo . Their Attack power is usually half that of their Magick attack . List of staves : " Final Fantasy XIII " . Staves and rods are used by Oerba Dia Vanille . Her unique rod is called a Binding Rod . The Binding Rod has a pair of antlers that release hooks connected to lines . This allows her to physically attack from a distance . It can be assumed that the Dia clan used staves to " fish " wyverns as seen in Chapter Nine , presumably as means of transport through Gran Pulse . List of staves : Staves are a weapon type available to Lightning . They specialize in boosting Magic , which makes them suited for Schema focused on spellcasting . While equipped with a staff , Lightning ' s casting animation will change to a more swift one reducing the delay produced by other weapon types . List of staves : " Final Fantasy XIV " . Staves and scepters are used by the Thaumaturge class . Wands and canes are used by the Conjurer class . Arcanists were originally planned to wield a " mechanical " variant of a staff in version 1 . 0 . " Final Fantasy Tactics " . Staves can be equipped by the White Mage , Mystic , Time Mage , and Summoner classes . List of staves : " Final Fantasy Tactics Advance " . The White Mage , Bishop , and Summoner jobs can equip staves . Staves are more expensive at the moogle town of Baguba Port . List of staves : Staves can be equipped by the White Mage , Bishop , and Summoner jobs , and most maintain the abilities taught in " Final Fantasy Tactics Advance " , though most names were changed . List of staves : " Vagrant Story " . There are six different types of staves . List of staves : Yukes use staves as weapons . List of staves : " Final Fantasy Legend II " . Staves appears as one type of weapons . List of staves : " Final Fantasy Legend III " . Staves can be equipped by all four main characters . List of staves : Staves can be equipped by all jobs , but are best suited for the Black Mage and Sage . Staves increase the magic attack of the wearer . List of staves : " Bravely Default " . List of staves : " Final Fantasy Dimensions " . Staves are a class of weapons . List of staves : " Dissidia Final Fantasy " . Staves can equipped by Firion , The Emperor , Onion Knight , Cloud of Darkness , Bartz , Exdeath , Terra , Kefka , Ultimecia , Kuja , and Shantotto . Staves specialize in increasing the duration of the character ' s EX Mode . Firion , Onion Knight , Shantotto , and The Emperor utilize staves in combat . List of staves : " Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy " . Staves return and can also be equipped on Tifa , Yuna , and Vaan . Staves still specialize in increasing the duration of the character ' s EX Mode . In addition to the returning staves users , Yuna and Vaan use staves in combat . List of staves : " Final Fantasy All the Bravest " . Staves can be equipped by the White Mage , Devout , Sage , Rydia , Krile , Eiko , and Yuna . List of staves :