Staves

Staves is a Common Martial skill. It is not modified by an attribute.

The Staves skill is a measure of your skill using a blunted stick. The Staff is more than just a weapon; it is a versatile tool of survival, power, and balance. Carrying a bigger stick does not matter if you do not know how to use it, and a master of Staves can turn the smallest twig into the biggest pain. Each rank in the Staves skill increases your Accuracy bonus with a Staff weapon by 1, increases your damage with a Staff weapon by 1/5th, and increases your chance to score a Critical Hit with a staff by 1/10th. You can see the complete list of Staves weapons on the Weapons by Type page.

As your skill in Staves grows, you will gain additional benefits from it.

Improved Affinity (All Ranks)
Your growing expertise with a staff allows you to develop a deeper connection to its use. Upon attaining a new rank title (Initiate, Apprentice, Journeyman, Adept, Master, Grandmaster), you gain a 25% affinity bonus in one of the following skills: Dual Wielding, Improved Trip, Multi-Hit, Shaft Defense, Staves, or Two-Handed Wielding. While affinity in any skill cannot exceed 100%, you may select a skill even if you have no prior experience with it.

Initiate (Ranks 10–19)
At the Initiate level, you begin to explore the unique versatility of a staff’s weight. When using a skill to push or trip an opponent, you gain a bonus equal to your ranks in this skill. Additionally, you receive a bonus to any check related to maintaining Balance, as you can use your staff as a stabilizing counterweight. Both bonuses require the staff to be in your hands.

Apprentice (Ranks 20–34)
As an Apprentice, the staff becomes an intuitive extension of your movements. When making a Jumping check, you gain a bonus equal to your ranks in this skill if you are wielding a staff without the “light” quality. Alternatively, you receive a bonus to Grapple checks equal to your ranks in this skill when using a “light” staff. Furthermore, when enchanting a staff, you may apply one additional enchantment beyond the standard Enchantment Limit (see Crafting Process for details).

Journeyman (Ranks 35–59)
As a Journeyman, your reflexes and defensive capabilities with a staff reach new heights. You gain access to the “Staff Deflection” ability:

Staff Deflection: As a reaction, while wielding a staff, you can add a bonus to your Armor Value equal to your ranks in the Staves skill against a single incoming attack.

Adept (Ranks 60–79)
At the Adept level, your mastery of the staff elevates your combat prowess. The weapon feels like a natural extension of your body, allowing for astonishing feats. On the last attack of your turn, you can throw your staff 5 feet beyond its normal range; whether it hits or misses, the staff rebounds back into your hand. This counts as a melee attack, and once used this way, the staff cannot be used again for the remainder of your turn. Additionally, you cannot be disarmed while wielding a staff.

Master (Ranks 80–99)
At Master rank, your skill with the staff is unparalleled, blending finesse and power seamlessly. The “Staff Deflection” ability now applies to Dodge Value instead of Armor Value. Additionally, whenever you score a Critical Hit with a staff, the target must make an Endurance check exceeding the damage dealt or be Stunned until the end of your next turn. Finally, any staff you modify can hold one additional enchantment above its enhanced limit, allowing for a total of two extra enchantments.

All of these bonuses are cumulative.

Add your Staves Special Abilities to your Roll20 Character sheet. Insert your ranks in this skill and click Create Special Abilities Text:

*Grand Masters (Rank 100+) gain unique advantages. Crafting and Affinity bonus are not included in the Special Abilities generation.

Click for more information understanding how Character Subskills work, or Click to learn How to Add Subskills to D&D Beyond, to place them on your Character Sheet.