Jafar’s Snake Staff

### Purposes

To hypnotize the Sultan into following Jafar's orders (before Jafar becomes powerful)
Magically aid Jafar (after Jafar becomes a powerful sorcerer)
As a weapon (In Jafar's Genie Form)

### Final fate

Destroyed

**Jafar's Snake Staff** is a cobra-headed scepter owned by Jafar, in *Aladdin*. Initially and primarily used as a means of hypnosis, the ruby eyes made those who gazed into them become susceptible to Jafar's suggestions and obey his every order. It was eventually destroyed by Aladdin when he discovered its true function. Once Jafar wishes to become the world's most powerful sorcerer, he gains a new staff that is imbued with various magical abilities.

## Appearances

### *Aladdin*

In the original film, before Jafar becomes a sorcerer, the staff is shown to have the ability to use hypnosis, as shown when Jafar uses the staff to get the Sultan to hand over his mystic blue diamond ring. He claims he needs it to "find the princess a suitor", when he actually needs it to discover the identity of "the diamond in the rough".

In another scene, Jafar attempts to use the staff's power to have the Sultan allow him to marry Jasmine. However, the fanfare caused by the arrival of Prince Ali (Aladdin) distracts the Sultan before he can finish his hypnotized response.

He later brainwashes the Sultan shortly after attempting to have Ali killed, trying to have him state that Jasmine must marry Jafar, and later after Ali reveals himself to have survived and exposes that Jafar had tried to have him killed, to claim that Ali is "obviously lying". However, Ali, deducing how Jafar is able to persuade the Sultan, snatches the staff and smashes it on the floor, exposing Jafar for his villainy as a result.

Later on, Jafar steals Aladdin's lamp, taking over his role as the Genie's master. He uses his second wish to become the most powerful sorcerer in the world. His staff is restored but it now has open fangs and was extremely powerful that uses many skills, including moving people and objects. During the final battle, the staff disappears when Jafar became a giant snake, and then an all-powerful genie.

### *The Return of Jafar*

In the sequel, Jafar is freed from his lamp, and after transforming into his human form, he retains his staff and it is by his side throughout the entire film. Its original purpose is also alluded to by Iago and Aladdin, where the former claimed he had been a victim of the hypnotic properties, and Aladdin also believes it after he is saved by Iago and tries to tell the Sultan this is the case with them not believing him. It had its original look and shot laser bolts from the eyes. He was also shown holding it in his Genie form. It is unknown what happened to the staff after Jafar's death, but it could be assumed that it was destroyed along with or after his lamp.

## Trivia

* Why Jafar never attempts to hypnotize Jasmine with the Snake Staff can be interpreted like this: it's vaguely implied that the Snake Staff only works on weak-willed people (e.g. the Sultan) and the rebellious Princess Jasmine is too strong-minded. Even the Sultan does manage to snap out of the hypnosis on his own at least once. It also only seems to affect the victim while he's actually holding it in their face, making it impractical for long-term work.
* After Genie grants Jafar's wish to become the most powerful sorcerer in the world, the Snake Staff's appearance changes slightly, with the mouth opening to reveal four fangs. It remains that way for the remainder of the film.
* In the concept art of the deleted song "Why Me?", it is shown that Jafar has multiple Snake Staffs. He takes only one Snake Staff to use, and keeps the others in a closet.
* The eyes of the staff are normally red, while in the short episode of *Descendants: Wicked World* they're green.
* In the 2019 remake of *Aladdin*, the staff's appearance is slightly altered with several jade green belly scales above the grip and a diamond on the top of its head. After Jafar becomes a sorcerer, his staff is primarily red and gold, with a gold lotus symbol beneath the mouth. When in use, the staff glows red and the head can move.
	+ The second staff was even a real cobra before taking its staff form.