Clotho's Distaff

From Golden Sun Universe

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

Clothos Distaff.gif 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

Clothos Distaff DD.gif Clotho's Distaff (DD)
ClothosDistaffDDModel.png
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 Star mercury.gif 29
Side effect May restore user’s HP by the amount of damage dealt
Third Unleash effect
Effect name Psynergy Leech
Extra damage Star mercury.gif 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
Staffs and Ankhs (All Equipment)
Staffs and Ankhs featured in Golden Sun
Shaman's RodWooden StickMagic RodWitch's WandBlessed AnkhPsynergy RodFrost WandAngelic AnkhDemonic StaffZodiac WandCrystal Rod
Staffs and Ankhs featured in Golden Sun: The Lost Age
Shaman's RodWooden StickMagic RodWitch's WandBlessed AnkhPsynergy RodFrost WandStaff of AnubisAngelic AnkhCloud WandFireman's PoleGoblin's RodDemonic StaffGlower StaffDracomaceCrystal RodMeditation RodSalamander RodNebula WandClotho's DistaffAtropos' RodLachesis' Rule
Staffs and Ankhs featured in Golden Sun: Dark Dawn
Wooden StickMagic RodWitch's WandBlessed AnkhPsynergy RodFrost WandAngelic AnkhDemonic StaffZodiac WandCrystal RodClotho's DistaffAtropos' RodLachesis' Rule
Usable Equipment
Weapons Armor Other Equipment
Golden Sun Blessed Mace Aura GlovesChina DressEarth ShieldGuardian ArmletMirrored ShieldProphet's HatSpirit ArmletVirtuous Armlet Adept RingFairy RingHealing RingSleep RingUnicorn RingWar Ring
The Lost Age Captain's AxeClotho's DistaffFireman's Pole Alastor's HoodBone ArmletFaery VestFloral DressHiotoko MaskNurse's CapOtafuku MaskPhantasmal Mail Aroma RingGolden RingHerbed ShirtRainbow RingSoul RingSpirit RingStardust RingTrident of Ankohl
Dark Dawn Clotho's Distaff Alastor's HoodAura GlovesBone ArmletFaery VestMirrored ShieldNurse's CapProphet's HatSanan DressSpirit ArmletVirtuous Armlet Heirloom Ring
See also Broken items