List of Staffs and Ankhs

Weapons in the Golden Sun series belong to multiple classes which distinguish themselves by which individual Adepts can equip them and how the weapons appear in the hands of Adepts during battle sequences. The weapons listed here belong to the Staff and Ankh classes of weapons. Although they are technically separate weapon types, Staffs and Ankhs are closely related; in fact, all Ankhs are referred to as Staffs in-game, likely due to how few in number they are.

Prior to the third installment in the series, Golden Sun: Dark Dawn, the only noticeable difference between Staffs and Ankhs were their appearance in battle, making them effectively identical. During this era, Staffs and Ankhs could only be equipped by "mage-style" Adepts: Ivan and Mia in the first game, plus Jenna and Sheba in the second game. Dark Dawn helps differentiate between Staffs and Ankhs by 1) giving them separate "Unleash experience gauges", and 2) making Ankhs exclusive to the less combat-oriented mage Adepts. As a result, Karis and Amiti can only equip Staffs, while Rief and Himi can wield both Staffs and Ankhs. Despite this newfound differentiation, there are still enough similarities between the two that Ankhs are treated more as a sub-set of Staffs rather than their own type of weapon.

All weapons that are counted as "common weapons" are weapons that can be bought in unlimited quantities in a weapon vendor's Buy menu and are sold without event. All weapons that are counted as Artifacts are special, stronger weapons that do not appear in the Buy menu. These are bought and sold individually and usually are unique, and if one appears in the Artifacts menu of a town's vendor that one weapon can be bought by itself and then be sold by itself anytime afterward to reappear in the Artifacts menu. The vendor shopkeeper will specifically remark about how rare a find your Artifact is whenever you specifically sell one.

The prices the games assign to each weapon are quite reliable indicators of how good each weapon is as they measure against each other in actual battle, in most cases. A weapon that is priced higher than another is generally superior to that other weapon even if the other weapon has a higher physical attack rating than the more expensive weapon. Therefore, the following weapons are all arranged by price. Also, they are divided into groups based on what game they first appear in. Keep in mind that many of these weapons continue to be used in later games, even if they are not listed under that game's list of Staffs.

Staffs and Ankhs introduced in Golden Sun
The following staffs have been around since the original Golden Sun:

Shaman's Rod: A Staff-class key item that increases base Attack by 10. It is a central plot point in both Golden Sun and The Lost Age, and as such it cannot be sold or dropped. It enters and leaves the party's inventory in response to storyline events in the first two games.

Wooden Stick: A common Staff that increases base Attack by 4. It is sold in weapon vendors at Vale in Golden Sun, at Daila in The Lost Age, and at Patcher's Place in Dark Dawn. It can be bought for 40 coins and sold for 30 coins. It is the initial equipment of Jenna and Ivan in Golden Sun, Jenna and Sheba in The Lost Age, and Karis in Dark Dawn.

Magic Rod: A Staff Artifact that increases base Attack by 16. Its Unleash effect, Murk, is an attack that adds 10 damage points, is based on the Jupiter element, and may inflict the target with Sleep. It is sold as an artifact in the weapon vendor at Vault in Golden Sun, at Madra in The Lost Age, and at Carver's Camp in Dark Dawn. It can be bought for 380 coins and sold for 285.

Witch's Wand: A Staff Artifact that increases base Attack by 32. Its Unleash effect, Stun Voltage, is an attack that adds 12 damage points, is based on the Jupiter element, and may inflict the target with Stun. It is sold as an artifact in the weapon vendor at Bilibin in Golden Sun, at Garoh in The Lost Age, and at Harapa in Dark Dawn. It can be bought for 860 coins and sold for 645 coins. It is among Mia's initial equipment in Golden Sun.

Blessed Ankh: An Ankh Artifact that increases base Attack by 46. Its Unleash effect, Psyphon Seal, is an attack that adds 14 damage points, is based on the Jupiter element, and may seal the target's Psynergy. It is sold as an artifact in the weapon vendor at Imil in Golden Sun, at Mikasalla in The Lost Age, and at Kaocho in Dark Dawn. It can be bought for 1600 coins and sold for 1200 coins.

Psynergy Rod: A Staff Artifact that increases base Attack by 64. Its Unleash effect, Psy Leech, is an attack that adds 22 damage points, is based on the Mercury element, and 10% of the damage done is added to the user's own PP meter. It is sold as an artifact in the weapon vendor at Altin in Golden Sun, at Naribwe in The Lost Age, and at Passaj in Dark Dawn. It can be bought for 3800 coins and sold for 2850 coins. It is among Himi's initial equipment in Dark Dawn.

Frost Wand: A Staff Artifact that increases base Attack by 76, and it is a pure-element weapon in that standard attacks with this weapon are based on the Mercury element. Its Unleash effect, Frost Bite, is an attack that adds 28 damage points, is based on the Mercury element, and may Stun the target. It is sold as an artifact in the weapon vendor at Kalay in Golden Sun, at Kibombo in The Lost Age, and at Te Rya Village in Dark Dawn. It can be bought for 5400 coins and sold for 4050 coins.

Angelic Ankh: An Ankh Artifact that increases base Attack by 83. Its Unleash effect, Life Leech, is an attack that adds 29 damage points, is based on the Mercury element, and may add all damage done by the attack to the user's own HP meter. It is sold as an artifact in the weapon vendor at Tolbi in Golden Sun, at Apojii Islands in The Lost Age, and at Port Rago in Dark Dawn. It can be bought for 6400 coins and sold for 4800 coins.

Demonic Staff: A Cursed Staff Artifact that increases base Attack by 92. Its Unleash effect, Bad Omen, is an attack that adds 43 damage points, is based on the Venus element, and may inflict Haunt on the target. It is sold as an artifact in the weapon vendor at Lunpa in Golden Sun, at Champa in The Lost Age, and at Harun Village in Dark Dawn. It can be bought for 10000 coins and sold for 7500 coins.

Zodiac Wand: A Staff Artifact that increases base Attack by 102. Its Unleash effect, Shining Star, is an attack that adds 57 damage points, is based on the Jupiter element, and may inflict Delusion on the target. In Golden Sun, it is obtained as a rare item drop from Grand Golem enemies in the later portion of Venus Lighthouse. In Dark Dawn, it is found in a treasure chest in Briggs' ship in Port Rago. It can be bought for 11400 coins and sold for 8550 coins.

Crystal Rod: A Staff Artifact that increases base Attack by 106. Its Unleash effect, Drown, is an attack that adds 47 damage points, is based on the Mercury element, and may instantly fell the target. It is sold as an artifact in the weapon vendor at Lalivero in Golden Sun, at Shaman Village in The Lost Age, and at Champa Camp in Dark Dawn. It can be bought for 13400 coins and sold for 10050 coins.

Staffs and Ankhs introduced in The Lost Age
The following staffs first appeared in the second game, Golden Sun: The Lost Age:

Staff of Anubis: A Staff Artifact that increases base Attack by 83. Its Unleash effect, Sarcophagus, is an attack that adds 30 damage, is based on the Venus element, and may inflict Haunt on the target. It is obtained as a rare item drop from Red Demon enemies in Gabomba Statue. It can be bought for 5500 coins and sold for 4125 coins.

Cloud Wand: A Staff Artifact that increases base Attack by 98. Its Unleash effect, Stun Cloud, is an attack that adds 31 damage, is based on the Mercury element, and may Stun the target. It is only bought randomly by bringing a Tear Stone forgeable material to the blacksmith in Yallam so that he may create one of several possible randomly determined items from it, including this one. Its buy value is 7000 and its sell value is 5250.

Fireman's Pole: A Staff Artifact that increases base Attack by 130. It does not have an Unleash effect; rather, it can be used as an item while in the inventory of an Adept that is able to equip it (even if it is not equipped) to increase all Adepts' resistances by 20 in battle, though there is a chance its functionality as a Usable item will break and it will have to be repaired to reuse its Use effect. It is obtained randomly as a prize in Lemuria Spring won with Lucky Medals. It can be bought for 8200 coins, sold while intact for 6150 coins, sold while broken for 4100 coins, and repaired for 2050 coins.

Goblin's Rod: A Staff Artifact that increases base Attack by 134. Its Unleash effect, Sargasso, is an attack that adds 39 damage, is based on the Mercury element, and may instantly fell the target. It is found as a Rusty Staff at a shallow spot in the Great Western Sea, north of Hesperia, and must be reforged at the blacksmith in Yallam. It can be bought for 9800 coins and sold for 7350 coins.

Glower Staff: A Staff Artifact that increases base Attack by 126. Its Unleash effect, Flash Force, is an attack that adds 44 damage, is based on the Mercury element, and may seal the target's Psynergy. It is found as a rusty staff in the Shrine of the Sea God dungeon, in the portion accessible with the Frost Psynergy, and must be reforged at the blacksmith in Yallam. It can be bought for 10100 coins and sold for 7575 coins.

Dracomace: A Staff Artifact that increases base Attack by 128. Its Unleash effect, Aging Gas, is an attack that adds 45 damage, is based on the Jupiter element, and may add all damage done by the attack to the user's own HP meter. It is found as a rusty staff in the earlier portion of Islet Cave that does not require using the Teleport psynergy to fully explore, and must be reforged at the blacksmith in Yallam. It can be bought for 10700 coins and sold for 8025 coins.

Meditation Rod: A Staff Artifact that increases base Attack by 150. Its Unleash effect, Nirvana, is an attack that adds 50 damage, is based on the Jupiter element, and may add 10% damage done by the attack to the user's own PP meter. It is found in a chest in Jupiter Lighthouse, in a room with many platforms/pillars to hop across. It can be bought for 13400 coins and sold for 10050 coins.

Salamander Rod: A Staff Artifact that increases base Attack by 156. Its Unleash effect, Fire Dance, is an attack that adds 51 damage, is based on the Mars element, and may lower the target's Attack rating by 25%. It is only bought randomly by bringing a Salamander Tail forgeable material to the blacksmith in Yallam so that he may create one of several possible randomly determined items from it, including this one. It can be bought for 14300 coins and sold for 10725 coins.

Nebula Wand: A Staff Artifact that increases base Attack by 165. Its Unleash effect, Reverse Star, is an attack that adds 58 damage, is based on the Mercury element, and may add 10% damage done by the attack to the user's own PP meter. It is only bought randomly by bringing an Orihalcon forgeable material to the blacksmith in Yallam so that he may create one of several possible randomly determined items from it, including this one. It can be bought for 15200 coins and sold for 11400 coins.

Clotho's Distaff: An Ankh Artifact that increases base Attack by 168. It does not have an Unleash effect; rather, it can be used as an item while in the inventory of an Adept that is able to equip it (even if it is not equipped) to cure an Adept's HP meter by around 1000 points both in and out of battle, though there is a chance its functionality as a Usable item will break and it will have to be repaired to reuse its Use effect. In The Lost Age, it is obtained as a rare drop from Minos Warrior enemies in Mars Lighthouse. In Dark Dawn, it is found in a treasure chest in the Lost Ship. It can be bought for 17200 coins and sold while intact for 12900 coins, sold while intact for 8600 coins, and repaired for 4300 coins.

Atropos' Rod: A Staff Artifact that increases base Attack by 169. Its Unleash effect, Life Shear, which has a higher-than-usual base Unleash rate of 40% (most weapons unleash 35% of the time), is an attack that adds 114 damage points, is based on the Mars element, and may instantly fell the target. It is obtained as a rare drop from Fire Dragon enemies in Yampi Desert Cave in The Lost Age and from Fenrir enemies in the Endless Wall section of the world map in Dark Dawn. It can be bought for 18900 coins and sold for 14175 coins.

Lachesis' Rule: A Staff Artifact that increases base Attack by 177. Its Unleash effect, Apocalypse, which has a higher-than-usual base Unleash rate of 40% (most weapons unleash 35% of the time), is an attack that adds 125 damage points, is based on the Jupiter element, and may inflict Death Curse on the target. It is obtained as a rare drop from Mad Demon enemies in Anemos Inner Sanctum in The Lost Age and from Red Wyvern enemies in Crossbone Isle enemies in Dark Dawn. It can be bought for 21700 coins and sold for 16275 coins.

Dark Dawn - Staffs Vs. Ankhs
Although no new Staffs or Ankhs are introduced in Golden Sun: Dark Dawn, the differences between Staffs and Ankhs is made more notable. Staffs still vastly outnumber Ankhs, so for the sake of convenience, the Ankhs in Dark Dawn are listed again below. Any other returning weapons on this page are Staffs.

Ankhs in Dark Dawn:

Blessed Ankh Angelic Ankh Clotho's Distaff