Then we started sharing staves with hunters, and our options were suddenly less cool. Well, now that the ability to change the appearance of your gear is coming in 4.3, we can go back to the way things were!
Here are, in my opinion, the best options to pick from.
Staves
Pillar of Ferocity
Obtained from: Anetheron, The Battle for Mount Hyjal
This staff will be the first thing I change. It is huge, bright, and looks very much like it belongs in the hands of a druid. It was my favorite item in The Burning Crusade, even if it wasn't that great for tanking. Sadly, I'm going to have a bit of farming to do before I can transmogrify to this beautiful weapon.
Wildfury Greatstaff
Obtained from: Trash in Serpentshrine Cavern
Not quite the looker, but the majority of bear tanks used this staff all throughout their career in the Burning Crusade. Sometimes you need a simple weapon, whether it's to complement your complex gear or to indicate a natural druidic lifestyle. If you want to go back to the times where we didn't get true weapon upgrades for many raids, this is your staff.
Terestian's Stranglestaff
Obtained from: Terestian Illhoof, Karazhan
Famous for it's wriggling tentacles and the often inappropriate connotations, this staff is great for anyone who wants remember the Karazhan days and creep out their guildmates at the same time. Karazhan is also easy to solo at 85, so if you don't have it you can get it easily. Traditionally, this weapon was paired with Tier 4. Although the dark colors of the Stranglestaff contrast nicely with Malorne's Harness, I don't believe octopi and stags play together nicely.
Stanchion of Primal Instinct
Obtained from: Eredar Twins, Sunwell
The first staff that dropped in a 25 man raid that was actually an upgrade for feral damage (though again, not tanking). It's not as striking as some other designs, but it is beautiful. I got mine on the last day before 3.0 (the patch that upgraded everything to Wrath of the Lich King), so it has a special place in my heart.
Zhar'doom, Greatstaff of the Devourer
Obtained from: Illidan Stormrage, Black Temple
Not a feral staff, but definitely iconic. Since it is still a staff, we can use it to customize our gear. There's a wriggling fel-puppy on the top, creepy! Blizzard had a fascination with near-living staff toppers during the Burning Crusade.
Staff of Immaculate Recovery
Obtained from: Gurtogg Bloodboil, Black Temple
Ah, the "priest on a stick". Another non-feral staff, but it will bring a lovely purity to your tanking ensemble. Or maybe you want it because it will be a physical representation of the tank-healer bond.
Draenic Wildstaff
Obtained from: Avatar of the Martyred, Auchenai Crypts
The only non-epic on this list, but it is a beautiful staff nevertheless. The flowers bud and bloom, and it is covered with green foliage. A very druid staff.
Origin of Nightmares
Obtained from: Grobbulus, New Naxxaramas
A totem-like bird staff. It actually matches druid T6 quite well, even though it came an expansion late. Unknown to us at the time, it was the last true bear weapon we'd ever see.
Twin's Pact
Obtained from: Twin Val'kyr, Horde only
This staff was a brief reminder of the old-fashioned feral designs. Unfortunately, it is Horde only (and the Alliance equivalent is super boring). It's made out of a shoveltusk horn and it's probably one of the biggest staves out there.
Frostscythe of Lord Ahune
Obtained from: Frozen Core (daily satchel from killing Lord Ahune), only available during Fire Festival
Largely useless to most classes, it sure does strike an imposing figure.
Sulfur Stave
Obtained from: Normal 10 man Lotheb
I don't really like creepy skeleton bats, but to each his own. At least it's interesting.
Shadow Wing Focus Staff / Conifer Cone Staff
Obtained from: Various bosses in Blackwing Lair / Random Northrend drop
It's got this funny pinecone or dragon tail tip on the end, what's more to want? Some models look like they have an eyeball.
Charmed Cierge
Obtained from: Normal Naxxaramas 10
Three candles and bright-eyed skulls. It's basically your own flashlight.
Devotion
Obtained from: Normal Yogg Saron 10
A reader recommended this one to me, and I happen to agree that there is a subtle elegance to this weapon. It also won't hurt to add a few true WotLK weapons to this list.
Dreambinder / Rapture / Spire of Withering Dreams / The Lifebinder
Obtained from: various places in Ulduar
I've always loved the dangly, metallic leaves on this staff. Dreambinder is the only one with a blue orb, the rest have red ones.
Obtained from: 290 Honor Points, Alliance Only
Even though these weapons are easily obtainable, they cannot be transmogrified. Here's hoping Blizz changes its mind eventually, or adds lookalike items.
Obtained from: 290 Honor Points, Horde and vanilla High Warlord only
Even though these weapons are easily obtainable, they cannot be transmogrified. Here's hoping Blizz changes its mind eventually, or adds lookalike items.
Merciless Gladiator's War Staff
Obtained from: No longer obtainable, and Blizzard has not explicitly mentioned bringing it back, but we can always hope.
Vengeful Gladiator's Battle Staff / Vengeful Gladiator's War Staff
Obtained from: Not currently obtainable, but Blizzard promised it would be purchasable with honor points soon.
It has these cool little runestone things suspended in red light.
Vengeful Gladiator's Staff
Obtained from: Not currently obtainable, but Blizzard promised it would be purchasable with honor points soon.
Okay so it's just a recolor of Pillar of Ferocity, but I love that model so much that I'm posting it again.
Brutal Gladiator's Staff
Obtained from: 350 Honor Points
It's a blue reskin of Stanchion of Primal Instinct, but much easier to obtain.
Hateful Gladiator's Staff / Deadly Gladiator's Staff / Furious Gladiator's Staff / Furious Gladiator's Greatstaff
Obtained from: No longer obtainable, and Blizzard has not explicitly mentioned bringing it back, but we can always hope.
It has an interesting little cat face on it.
Staff of the Shadow Flame
Obtained from: Nefarian in Blackwing Lair
Not too flashy, but it has a dragon face.
Polearms
Now, staves are obviously the best option, but sometimes we have to use polearms. Blizzard stated that only bows, guns, and crossbows are interchangeable, so we can infer that you can't make your polearm look like a staff. Sad news, but maybe there are some good looking pokey stick alternatives.
Black Ice
Obtained from: Malygos, Normal 10
A big, bright, blue polearm! It honestly looks more like a staff or axe from BC, but that's what makes it awesome.
Shivering Felspine
Obtained from: Sunwell trash
Ok, it's not that awesome looking. But it has a distinct Sunwell flavor, and is more prestigious than most of the other options.
Halberd of Desolation
Obtained from: High Warlord Naj'entus, Black Temple
It's got some interesting spikes, right? More than the usual single spike.
Lantresor's Warblade (Alliance) / Lantresor's Warblade (Horde)
Obtained from: Questing in Nagrand
It's a simple design, but a rare opportunity as druids to look like we're wielding a giant sword. Also potentially rare because most people would have finished the quests and vendored the item by now.
Hellreaver
Obtained from: Hellfire Ramparts
Famous for being the baby DK weapon of choice once they venture out into the real world, this polearm also benefits from the giant two-hand sword appearance.
Grand Marshal's Glaive
Obtained from: 290 Honor Points, Alliance Only
This polearm looks especially lovely with an enchant on it. Since it's white, it probably won't clash with your favorite gear, either.
High Warlord's Pig Sticker
Obtained from: 290 Honor Points, Horde Only
This weapon is as intimidating as the Grand Marshal's Glaive is elegant. It even dwarfs this tauren.
Gladiator's Painsaw / Merciless Gladiator's Painsaw / Vengeful Gladiator's Painsaw
Obtained from: Not currently obtainable, but Blizzard promised it would be purchasable with honor points soon.
I never realized that the first three arena seasons featured the same exact polearm model. Boring.
Brutal Gladiator's Painsaw
Obtained from: 350 Honor Points
Relentless Gladiator's Pike
Obtained from: No longer obtainable, and Blizzard has not explicitly mentioned bringing it back, but we can always hope.
A little more emo than your average druid weapon, but it actually looks like a real life pike might.
Battle Scythe / Soul Harvester / Telaari Polearm / Grim Scythe / Monte's Scythe
Obtained from: Various places, check wowhead links
These weapons share the same simple and effective model. Want to look like the dealer of death? Go find one of these.
Any other ideas for staff and polearm customization?
Pictures from Wowhead.com
I came to your site for the Heroic Alysrazor vid, but this post caught my eye too.
ReplyDeletePillar is definitely THE druid staff, and don't forget that it matches T5 (Nordrassil set). The flowers bloom on both the weapon and the shoulders. I'm already decided that T5 (one of the worst bear sets ever in terms of stats) is going to be my transmogrificationary look.
And I felt a twinge for Journey's End because even though all the hunters took it as their weapon, it was based on the druid from the WoW comic's staff.
Another cool option would be Nat Pagle's Fish Terminator, which is a staff that's not in the game anymore. I think I had it at one point, but I may have DE'd it. It's basically a big st
I spent way too much time wearing Journey's End (dropped the second week after the expansion was released, wore it for the next six months until Ulduar), so I didn't consider it while making this list. Though it is a pretty staff. I remember Nat Pagle's Fish Terminator. I never raided in vanilla, but when I ran ZG later I treasured that staff simply because it was the only feral weapon I'd ever seen in a non-TBC raid. :)
ReplyDeleteJust found a level 20 druid quest that provides a staff that uses the same model as the Draenic Wildstaff.See the quest ' the circle's future' - http://www.wowhead.com/quest=27404
ReplyDelete:)
I always loved the look of Twin's Pact. Great model.
ReplyDeleteAnd I unfortunately played alliance.
Pitchfork was from the level 60 ZG. I think I still have it on either my druid (if so, yay) or my warrior (if so, bah, that class likely won't be using polearms, especially not as Fury...)
ReplyDeletePitchfork of Madness - one of the summon guys in old ZG. :) I still have one in my bank. ^^
ReplyDeleteThe big problem is, most of these are staffs and druids today are generally using polearms to mesh better with hunters.
ReplyDeleteEarthwarden.
ReplyDeleteAny bear tank in BC will know and remember the never-ending runs in SSC to get that dang thing!
Don't forget the Staff of Trickery from H Violet Hold, the Staff of Feral Furies (Horde only) from the Argent Tournament vendors (good for kitty cows!), and worgen get the Staff of Earned Tranquility from a quest in Gilneas; it has a visual match in the Chillwind Staff from EPL, so nelves can get it too.
ReplyDeleteLantressor's Warblade also has a visual match in the Blackhand Doomsaw, which drops off Rend in BRS - so if you've already done the quest it's not out of reach!
Tahotai: actually, these days it's half staves, half polearms, Firelands are a perfect example, one staff (Fandral) and one polearm (trash)
ReplyDeleteEarthwarden rules!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.wowhead.com/item=29171
I must say I do like the look of the Shivering Felspine.
I thought of that too, but then I realized it's a nonstarter because of the weapon type restriction on Transmogrification. Sadly, unless they give hunters the ability to use maces, we're probably never going to see a 2H Agility mace again. I miss my hammers!
ReplyDeleteWhere's the Will of Arlokk??
ReplyDeleteI am trying to change my staff to High Warlord's War Staff, but it says "This item's appearance cannot be used", what is going on?
ReplyDeleteBlizzard decided at the last minute that only people who were High Warlords/Grand Marshals during vanilla WoW are allowed to use those weapons. It's an attempt to give those people who worked very hard some prestige, which is understandable, but it's the only instance in the game where items are limited based on prestige from long ago even though the items are still obtainable by anyone.
ReplyDeletei am so glad i deleted all my old pvp gear trololololol i can cry
ReplyDeleteIf you got it back in the days, you can re-buy it and use it for transmogrification.
ReplyDeleteI've actually come to love the Splinterspear Spear. Going with an all-purple look that matches my hair and Sporagar tabard, the Spear has an excellent purple grip and simpler head design that goes well with the old school armor.
ReplyDeletehttp://us.battle.net/wow/en/character/azuremyst/Bigbearbutt/simple
Wow you are indeed very purple! I'll add that weapon to the list.
ReplyDelete