List of Staffs and Ankhs

This is a list of every weapon in the Golden Sun series that the games categorize as "Staffs" and "Ankhs". Mechanically, in Golden Sun and The Lost Age, the only distinction these weapons have from other types of weapons is that the only Adepts who can equip them are the four "caster-style" Adepts across the two games: Ivan and Mia in the first game, alongside Jenna and Sheba in the second game. They also have no functional difference from each other despite qualifying as separate weapon classes, with the only cosmetic difference being the weapon sprites depicted as being held by the equipped character in battle.

Many of the weapons in this list can randomly produce an exclusive Unleash effect when you issue an Attack command to the Adept wielding it. In the GBA series, these are always Artifact weapons that will return to vendors' Artifact menus when it is either sold or dropped, whereas "common" weapons sold at vendors never feature Unleashes.

In Golden Sun: Dark Dawn, where character roles are less defined, Staffs and Ankhs receive new layers of distinction. Staffs can be equipped by all "caster-like" Adepts – Karis, Rief, Amiti, and Himi – but only Rief and Himi can additionally equip the very limited number of Ankhs in the game. The game's "Weapon Skill" system causes every attack dealt using a weapon to generate "weapon experience" for that individual weapon on that Adept, which slightly spills over into other weapons of the same category the Adept has not yet mastered. This means that if an Adept sticks with Staffs, future Staffs will start out with some weapon experience already filled out, thus making them able to be mastered in a shorter amount of time. (Ankhs occupy a separate "experience track" and will not receive spillover experience from fighting with Staffs.)

Practically every weapon in Dark Dawn now has anywhere between two and four Unleashes it can randomly choose between whenever it attempts to perform an Unleash. A given Adept must build up a weapon's experience in order to unlock each Unleash for its personal list. Once the weapon skill bar is filled to full, the weapon is considered "mastered" and will receive a slight Attack bonus while wielded by that Adept, and the last Unleash in its list will be chosen with a slightly higher probability as well.

Weapons in the following lists are ordered by their sell values.

Introduced in Golden Sun

Shaman's Rod: Adds 10 Attack. A plot-critical item that is part of Ivan's inventory when he formally joins the party at Goma Cave in Golden Sun, and it disappears from the inventory during the cutscenes that take place at the aerie of Venus Lighthouse. It is part of Felix's inventory when he joins the party shortly after the prologue sequence in The Lost Age, and it disappears from the inventory when used in front of Moapa at Shaman Village. Cannot be sold or dropped.

Wooden Stick: Adds 4 Attack. A common weapon that is part of Jenna and Ivan's starting equipment and can be purchased for 40 coins at Vale in Golden Sun. It is also part of Jenna and Sheba's starting equipment in The Lost Age and can be purchased at Daila. Sells for 30 coins.
• In Dark Dawn, it can now produce Critical Strike (x1.5) as its only possible Unleash. It is part of Karis and Rief's starting equipment and can be purchased at Patcher's Place, making it permanently unavailable once you follow the path through Konpa Cave's south exit.

Magic Rod: Adds 16 Attack. Unleashes Murk (+10, may inflict Sleep). An Artifact weapon purchased for 380 coins at Vault in Golden Sun, and also purchased at Madra in The Lost Age. Sells for 285 coins.
• In Dark Dawn, it instead produces the following Unleashes at random: Gale Force (x1.3) and Murk (+10). It is purchased at Carver's Camp, making it permanently unavailable once you follow the path through Konpa Cave's south exit.

Witch's Wand: Adds 32 Attack. Unleashes Stun Voltage (+12, may inflict Stun). An Artifact weapon purchased for 860 coins at Bilibin in Golden Sun, and is part of Mia's starting equipment. Also purchased at Garoh in The Lost Age. Sells for 645 coins.
• In Dark Dawn, it instead produces the following Unleashes at random: Critical Strike (x1.5) and Stun Voltage (+12, may inflict Stun, hits each adjacent foe). It is purchased at Harapa, making it permanently unavailable once you take off for the Clouds of Passaj.

Blessed Ankh: Adds 46 Attack. Unleashes Psyphon Seal (+14, may Seal the target's Psynergy). An Ankh-class Artifact weapon purchased for 1,600 coins at Imil following Mercury Lighthouse in Golden Sun, and also purchased at Mikasalla in The Lost Age. Sells for 1,200 coins.
• In Dark Dawn, it instead produces the following Unleashes at random: Berserk Rush (x1.6, may reduce Defense by 25%) and Psyphon Seal (+14, may Seal the target's Psynergy). It is purchased at Kaocho, making it permanently unavailable once you take off for the Clouds of Passaj.

Psynergy Rod: Adds 64 Attack. Unleashes Psy Leech (+22, may restore PP by 10% of damage dealt). An Artifact weapon purchased for 3,800 coins at Altin in Golden Sun, and also purchased at Naribwe in The Lost Age. Sells for 2,850 coins.
• In Dark Dawn, it instead produces the following Unleashes at random: Critical Strike (x1.5) and Psynergy Leech (+22, may restore PP by 10% of damage dealt). It is purchased at Passaj after the Alchemy Forge is revived, making it permanently unavailable once you take off for the Clouds of Passaj. It is also part of Himi's starting equipment.

Frost Wand: Adds 76 Attack and automatically aligns all basic attacks with Mercury. Unleashes Frost Bite (+28, may inflict Stun). An Artifact weapon purchased for 5,400 coins at Kalay in Golden Sun, and also purchased at Kibombo in The Lost Age. Sells for 4,050 coins.
• In Dark Dawn, it instead produces the following Unleashes at random: Critical Strike (x1.5) and Frost Bite (+28, may inflict Stun, hits each adjacent foe). It is purchased at Te Rya Village, making it permanently unavailable once you approach the Alchemy Dynamo's pedestal in Belinsk Ruins.

Angelic Ankh: Adds 83 Attack. Unleashes Life Leech (+29, may heal user by the damage dealt). An Ankh-class Artifact weapon purchased for 6,400 coins at Tolbi in Golden Sun, and also purchased at Apojii Islands in The Lost Age. Sells for 4,800 coins.
• In Dark Dawn, it instead produces the following Unleashes at random: Berserk Rush (x1.6, may reduce Defense by 25%) and Life Leech (+29, may heal user by the damage dealt). It is purchased at Port Rago, making it permanently unavailable once you approach the Alchemy Dynamo's pedestal in Belinsk Ruins.

Demonic Staff: Adds 92 Attack. Unleashes Bad Omen (+43, may inflict Haunt). A Cursed Artifact weapon purchased for 10,000 coins at Lunpa in Golden Sun, and also purchased at Champa in The Lost Age. Sells for 7,500 coins.
• In Dark Dawn, it instead produces the following Unleashes at random: Gale Force (x1.3), Critical Strike (x1.5), and Bad Omen (+43, may inflict Haunt). It is purchased at Harun Village.

Zodiac Wand: Adds 102 Attack. Unleashes Shining Star (+57, may inflict Delusion). An Artifact weapon that drops from Grand Golems in Venus Lighthouse at a 1/128 chance (or 1/32 if slain using an offensive Jupiter Djinni). Sells for 8,550 coins.
• In Dark Dawn, it instead produces the following Unleashes at random: Psyphon Seal (+14, may Seal the target's Psynergy) and Shining Star (+57, may inflict Delusion). It is found in a chest inside the ship at Port Rago in an area that opens only after defeating the Mountain Roc at Talon Peak, making it permanently unavailable once you approach the Alchemy Dynamo's pedestal in Belinsk Ruins.

Crystal Rod: Adds 106 Attack. Unleashes Drown (+47, may instantly fell the target). An Artifact weapon purchased for 13,400 coins at Lalivero in Golden Sun, and also purchased at Shaman Village in The Lost Age. Sells for 10,050 coins.
• In Dark Dawn, it instead produces the following Unleashes at random: Gale Force (x1.3), Spiral Assault (x1.3, hits each adjacent foe), and Drown (+47, may instantly fell the target). It is sold in Champa Camp.

Introduced in The Lost Age

Staff of Anubis: Adds 83 Attack. Unleashes Sarcophagus (+30, may inflict Haunt). An Artifact weapon that drops from Red Demons in Gabomba Statue at a 1/64 chance (or 1/16 if slain using an offensive Jupiter Djinni). Sells for 4,125 coins.

Cloud Wand: Adds 98 Attack. Unleashes Stun Cloud (+31, may inflict Stun). An Artifact weapon that is one of the random outcomes (with 25% probability) of bringing a Tear Stone to the Blacksmith in Yallam, which costs 7,000 coins to then buy. Sells for 5,250 coins.

Fireman's Pole: Adds 130 Attack, and can be Used during battle to increase the party's Resistances by 20 each. An Artifact weapon that is one of the prizes randomly won by tossing a Lucky Medal into the Lucky Medal Fountain in Lemuria. Sells for 6,150 coins; if its Use function is broken, it will cost 2,050 coins to repair, and the item will sell for 4,100 coins until then.

Goblin's Rod: Adds 134 Attack. Unleashes Sargasso (+39, may instantly fell the target). An Artifact weapon that is dredged up as a Rusty Staff from a shallow spot in the Western Sea north of Hesperia's horizontal stretch of desert. It can then be reforged at the Blacksmith in Yallam for 9,800 coins. Sells for 7,350 coins.

Glower Staff: Adds 126 Attack. Unleashes Flash Force (+44, may Seal the target's Psynergy). An Artifact weapon that is found as a Rusty Staff in a chest in the post-Frost areas of Shrine of the Sea God, which can then be reforged at the Blacksmith in Yallam for 10,100 coins. Sells for 7,575 coins.

Dracomace: Adds 128 Attack. Unleashes Aging Gas (+45, may heal the user by the damage dealt). An Artifact weapon that is found as a Rusty Staff in a chest in the earlier portion of Islet Cave, which can then be reforged at the Blacksmith in Yallam for 10,700 coins. Sells for 8,025 coins.

Meditation Rod: Adds 150 Attack. Unleashes Nirvana (+50, may restore PP by 10% of the damage dealt). An Artifact weapon that is found in a chest in the center tower of Jupiter Lighthouse. Sells for 10,050 coins.

Salamander Rod: Adds 156 Attack. Unleashes Fire Dance (+51, may reduce Attack by 25%). An Artifact weapon that is one of the random outcomes (with 25% probability) of bringing a Salamander Tail to the Blacksmith in Yallam, which costs 14,300 coins to then buy. Sells for 10,725 coins.

Nebula Wand: Adds 165 Attack. Unleashes Reverse Star (+58, may restore PP by 10% of the damage dealt). An Artifact weapon that is one of the random outcomes (with 15% probability) of bringing an Orihalcon to the Blacksmith in Yallam, which costs 15,200 coins to then buy. Sells for 11,400 coins.

Clotho's Distaff: Adds 168 Attack, and can be Used anytime to restore 1000 HP to an ally. An Ankh-class Artifact weapon that drops from Minos Warriors in Mars Lighthouse at a 1/64 chance (or 1/16 if slain using an offensive Jupiter Djinni). Sells for 12,900 coins; if its Use function is broken, it will cost 4,300 coins to repair, and the item will sell for 8,600 coins until then.
• In Dark Dawn, it can now produce the following Unleashes at random: Berserk Rush (x1.6, may reduce Defense by 25%), Life Leech (+29, may heal the user by the damage dealt), and Psynergy Leech (+22, may restore PP by 10% of damage dealt). It is found in a chest in the Lost Ship.

Atropos' Rod: Adds 169 Attack. Unleashes Life Shear (+114, may instantly fell the target, is 5% more likely to Unleash). An Artifact weapon that drops from Fire Dragons in Yampi Desert Cave at a 1/128 chance (or 1/32 if slain using an offensive Mercury Djinni). Sells for 14,175 coins.
• In Dark Dawn, it can now produce the following Unleashes at random: Critical Strike (x1.5), Fearless Attack (x1.7, may reduce HP to 1), and Life Shear (+114, may instantly fell each target, hits each adjacent foe). It drops from Fenrirs on the Endless Wall and in Apollo Ascent at a 1/128 chance (or 1/32 if slain using an offensive Mars Djinni).

Lachesis' Rule: Adds 177 Attack. Unleashes Apocalypse (+125, may inflict Death Curse, is 5% more likely to Unleash). An Artifact weapon that drops from Mad Demons in Anemos Inner Sanctum at a 1/256 chance (or 1/64 if slain using an offensive Jupiter Djinni). Sells for 16,275 coins.
• In Dark Dawn, it can now produce the following Unleashes at random: Critical Move (x1.4, may reduce HP to 1), Double Attack (x1.6), Spiral Assault (x1.3, hits each adjacent target), and Apocalypse (+125, may inflict Death Curse). It drops from Red Wyverns in Crossbone Isle at a 1/128 chance (or 1/32 if slain using an offensive Jupiter Djinni).