Clotho's Distaff

The Clotho's Distaff (クロトーアンク, Kurotō anku^?, lit. Clotho Ankh) is an Ankh-class Artifact weapon found in Golden Sun: The Lost Age and Golden Sun: Dark Dawn.

In Golden Sun: The Lost Age

Clotho's Distaff (TLA)
In-Game Description
"Staff: Use to restore 1000 HP" (TLA)
Trade Info
Weapon class	Ankh
Buy value	17200
Sell value	12900
Artifact?	Yes
Sell value when broken	8600
Repair cost	4300
Statistic Boosts
Attack Boost	168
Use effect
Use Effect	Casts Pure Ply on a target party member *
When Usable	Battle or Field
Acquisition
• Random drop from Minos Warrior (TLA)

In The Lost Age, Clotho's Distaff, like all ankhs, was classified as a staff-class weapon, with the only distinction being its in-battle appearance. It is the third strongest Staff, by Attack bonus, available, after Atropos' Rod and Lachesis' Rule. Clotho's Distaff is acquired as a rare drop from a Minos Warrior in Mars Lighthouse, and can be equipped by Ivan, Mia, Jenna, and Sheba. Unusually for an Artifact weapon, it has no Unleash; presumably its ability to heal an ally is meant to compensate.

While the staff does not have a special Unleash in The Lost Age, it had a Use effect that emulates the Pure Ply Psynergy to heal an ally or oneself for around 1,000 Hit Points both in and out of battle. The extra 1,000 Hit Points are an incredible advantage in a close-pitched battle, making it a great ace-in-the-hole. However, despite its usefulness and high Attack rating, many players may regard it as inferior to other weapons due to the lack of an Unleash. Clotho's Distaffs are often given to Sheba, Ivan, and Garet because it does not need to be equipped to activate its effect.

RNG manipulation in The Lost Age

In The Lost Age, Clotho's Distaff can only be received as a rare drop from a Minos Warrior. While the player can increase the chance that they receive Clotho's Distaff by defeating the Minos Warrior with an offensive Jupiter Djinn, this still does not guarantee that Clotho's Distaff will be dropped. However, the player can use certain methods to manipulate the Random Number Generator to ensure that the weapon is dropped. One such method is carried out as follows:

Members: Felix, Jenna, Sheba, & Ivan. All big arrows pointing to the Minos Warrior.

1st Round

• Felix casts Quake
• Jenna casts Aura
• Sheba casts Ray
• Ivan casts Ray

2nd Round

• Felix attacks other monster
• Jenna copies
• Sheba unleashes Whorl
• Ivan casts Ray

In Golden Sun: Dark Dawn

Clotho's Distaff (DD)
The DS model of Clotho's Distaff
In-Game Description
"Weapon: Staff (Use to restore 1,000 HP)" (DD)
Trade Info
Weapon class	Ankh
Buy value	17200
Sell value	12900
Artifact?	Yes
Sell value when broken	8600
Repair cost	4300
Statistic Boosts
Attack Boost	168
First Unleash effect
Effect name	Berserk Rush
Extra damage	x1.6
Side effect	May reduce target's Defense by 25%
Second Unleash effect
Effect name	Life Leech
Extra damage	29
Side effect	May restore user’s HP by the amount of damage dealt
Third Unleash effect
Effect name	Psynergy Leech
Extra damage	22
Side effect	May restore the user’s PP by 10% of the damage dealt
Use effect
Use Effect	Casts Pure Ply on a target party member *
When Usable	Battle or Field
Acquisition
• Chest in Lost Ship (DD)

In Dark Dawn, Staffs and Ankhs were split into two separate classes. As an Ankh-class weapon, it can be equipped by Rief and Himi, and is the strongest Ankh in the game. Only one Clotho's Distaff is available, located in a chest in the Lost Ship. Due to the revisions to the Unleash System, Clotho's Distaff gains three Unleashes: Berserk Rush (こんしんのいちげき, Whole-Body Blow^?), Life Leech (ライフサック, Life Suck^?), and Psynergy Leech (エナジーサック, Energy Suck^?). Berserk Rush is a non-elemental Physical attack that multiplies damage by 1.6. Life Leech is a physical attack that converts all damage to Mercury damage and attacks with an additional 29 points. Life Leech also has a chance to restore HP by an amount equivalent to the damage dealt. Psynergy Leech is a physical attack that converts all damage to Mercury damage and attacks with an additional 22 points. Psynergy Leech also has the ability to restore PP by an amount equivalent to 10% of the damage dealt.

In Dark Dawn, Clotho's Distaff is given a major improvement in the form of three Unleashes. Berserk Rush is a fairly solid attack. While Life Leech and Psynergy Leech are weaker than many of the Unleashes available, their restorative abilities make them both useful. Due to the Mercury-based nature of Psynergy Leech and Life Leech, Rief can do well with this weapon. Attack-wise, it is the highest bonus he can get before the final battle, unless the player receives Atropos' Rod as a rare drop.

If the player prefers to use other weapons, it is still worthwhile to keep the rod on hand, due to its use effect. It can come in handy during the final battle, as it can allow the player to heal their party in between the two halves of the final boss without wasting PP or items.

Etymology

In Greek mythology, Clotho is one of the three Fates, sisters who maintain and shape the flow of each person's future in the form of a great tapestry. Clotho's role is to spin the threads of life with her distaff, bringing beings into existence.

Each of the Fates has a weapon named after it in The Lost Age: Clotho's Distaff, Lachesis' Rule, and Atropos' Rod.

Trivia

• Clotho's Distaff is the first, and currently only, weapon that has both an Unleash and a usable effect.

Gallery of Dark Dawn unleashes

• 

  Berserk Rush

• 

  Life Leech

• 

  Psynergy Leech