Earthen Staff, is it worth it?

[Fisttie]

Was wondering what the higher level paladins thought about using this staff. It seems very good at a first glance but im not sure if it is worth losing the ability to use a shield and use our A+ weapon the 1 handed sword. This staff costs about 1 Million on my server so i wanted to get some opinions before I spend that kind of cash!

Stats:

Weapon Skill: Staff
Damage: 30 Delay: 366
Slot: Weapon
VIT: +4 VS. Lightning: +15
Additional Effect: Earth Damage, Physical Damage Taken: -20%
Jobs: ALL
Races: ALL
Level to Use: 51

[XerO-CooL]

means no shield, but the stats are hard to resist....so i'd say maybe it could work out... and get higher leveled (and more rich :D) paladins to test it

[ZQM]

It really depends on how much you get hit for.

If you get hit for 100 damage with no shield equip, you'll be hit for 80 with the staff. I doubt a shield is the difference in 20 damage (the highest DEF you get at 51 is a 14 def one. Highest in game is 27). However, if you're being hit for 10 damage, you'll be hit for 8 with the staff and I'm sure less with the shield.

So I'd personally use the staff when fighting a BCNM, and a shield when EXPing.

[Temeras]

You won't get hit for 10 in an exp party, higher up you'll start get knocked for around the upper 70s maybe with criticals ranging in the 120+. It would far lower your dmg then a shield most likely. The only two aspect for me is that your probably not going to be doing much dmg, and dmg does help with aggro. I'm not 100% sure but I've heard the emnity on our AF armor kicks in when we land hits or perform actions like casting spells. Though I have only about 8 combines emnity from my armor I can still keep aggro off a warrior who has about 14 emnity total in his armor. The reason for this is although I have less emnity, sword hits faster then Great axe and overall in a certain time period I think I am gaining more emnity then him, though I may be wrong. My second issue would be losing shield bash, I like having all my aggro tools at my disposal ^^.

I think its a very possible weapon choice though maybe not for exp parties as exp parties its better to be doing dmg then take a few points less dmg, but for HNM fights in which its an endurance test between you and the mob. I was going to garliage to help with coffer keys and I saw a serket fight raging, he was being tanked by a taru pld with earth staff, looked like he was doing just great.

[daigoro]

I don’t know think I would use a staff in an exp party, but a staff + 215 ws "Spirit Taker" will let you easily solo stuff that would be very difficult without.

Spirit Taker returns whatever damage it does as MP. So basically, fighting easy prey and some decent challenge you have an endless amount of MP...although sometimes the ws will miss at the most inopportune time :sweat:

Kinda funny that the last weapon i chose to skill-up is the one I use most these days

-daigoro

[BrotherRaven]

Lucky for me, money isnt too much of a concern and I nearly bought the staff. But I talked to 2 high level PLDs (74 & 75) who did buy the staff. They were both kind enough to reply and both said:

HNM --> Staff
PT -----> Sword & Shield

Since I am only 60, I am not in much of a hurry to get the staff anymore, especially that it is coming down in price and I am hoping that somebuilds it big brother +1 version.

It will be so nice to eventually have a jelly ring, defender ring, and the earth staff... 35% physical dmg reduction!!

Aribeth @ Bismark
60PLD/30WAR/18RDM/15THF