Staff Fighting

Overview

Staff Fighting is a primary power set for Brutes, Scrappers and Stalkers, and a secondary power set for Tankers.

"You have mastered the art of staff fighting, allowing you to strike at your foes in great sweeping arcs. Staff Fighting provides a good amount of control effects as well as some self buffs. By selecting the Staff Mastery power, you will gain access to techniques that further empower your Staff Fighting techniques and grant you useful augmentations that build up as you fight."

Possible Staff Weapon Customizations.

Power Tables

Brute

The Staff Fighting power set is available as a primary set for Brutes. The following table shows the level at which each power is available:

Power	Level	Effect
Mercurial Blow	1	Melee, Light DMG(Smash), Foe -Def
Precise Strike	1	Melee, Moderate DMG(Smash), Foe Disorient
Guarded Spin	2	Melee (Cone), Moderate DMG (Smash), Self +Def(Melee, Lethal)
Eye of the Storm	6	PBAoE Melee, Moderate DMG(Smash), Foe Knockdown, Consumes Perfection
Staff Mastery	8	Change Stances/Special
Taunt	12	Ranged (Targeted AoE), Foe Taunt
Serpent's Reach	18	Ranged, High Dmg(Smash), Foe Knockdown
Innocuous Strikes	26	Melee (Cone), High DMG(Smash), Foe Immob, -SPD
Sky Splitter	32	Melee, Extreme DMG(Smash), Foe Knock Up, Disorient, -Fly, Consumes Perfection

Scrapper

The Staff Fighting power set is available as a primary set for Scrappers. The following table shows the level at which each power is available:

Power	Level	Effect
Mercurial Blow	1	Melee, Light DMG(Smash), Foe -Def
Precise Strike	1	Melee, Moderate DMG(Smash), Foe Disorient
Guarded Spin	2	Melee (Cone), Moderate DMG (Smash), Self +Def(Melee, Lethal)
Eye of the Storm	6	PBAoE, Moderate DMG(Smash), Foe Knockdown, Consumes Perfection
Staff Mastery	8	Change Stances/Special
Confront	12	Ranged, Foe Taunt
Serpent's Reach	18	Ranged, High DMG(Smash), Foe Knockdown
Innocuous Strikes	26	Melee (Cone), High DMG(Smash), Foe Immob, -SPD
Sky Splitter	32	Melee, Extreme DMG(Smash), Foe Knock Up, Disorient, -Fly, Consumes Perfection

Stalker

The Staff Fighting power set is available as a primary set for Stalkers. The following table shows the level at which each power is available:

Power	Level	Effect
Mercurial Blow	1	Melee, Light DMG(Smash), Foe -Def
Precise Strike	1	Melee, Moderate DMG(Smash), Foe Disorient
Guarded Spin	2	Melee (Cone), Moderate DMG (Smash), Self +Def(Melee, Lethal)
Assassin's Staff	6	Melee, Special DMG(Smash)
Build Up	8	Self +DMG, +To Hit
Placate	12	Ranged, Foe Placate, Self Stealth/Hide
Eye of the Storm	18	PBAoE Melee, Moderate DMG(Smash), Foe Knockdown, Consumes Perfection
Serpent's Reach	26	Ranged, High Dmg(Smash), Foe Knockdown
Sky Splitter	32	Melee, Extreme DMG(Smash), Foe Knock Up, Disorient, -Fly, Consumes Perfection

Tanker

The Staff Fighting power set is available as a secondary set for Tankers. The following table shows the level at which each power is available:

Power	Level	Effect
Mercurial Blow	1	Melee, Light DMG(Smash), Foe -Def
Precise Strike	2	Melee, Moderate DMG(Smash), Foe Disorient
Guarded Spin	4	Melee (Cone), Moderate DMG(Smash), Self +Def(Melee, Lethal)
Taunt	10	Ranged (Targeted AoE), Foe Taunt
Eye of the Storm	16	PBAoE, Moderate DMG(Smash), Foe Knockdown, Consumes Perfection
Staff Mastery	20	Change Stances/Special
Serpent's Reach	28	Ranged, High DMG(Smash), Foe Knockdown
Innocuous Strikes	35	Melee (Cone), High DMG(Smash), Foe Immob, -SPD
Sky Splitter	38	Melee, Extreme DMG(Smash), Foe Knock Up, Disorient, -Fly, Consumes Perfection

Powers

Assassin's Staff

A signature Stalker attack. This attack does superior smashing damage on its own as a frontal attack and cannot be interrupted. However, if it is executed while you are Hidden, this attack will do tremendous damage, as you waylay your unsuspecting foe. This attack may be interrupted if you move or are attacked while executing this power and are hidden. Using this power while not hidden has a chance to critically hit equal to 33.3% times the number of stacks of Assassin's Focus. This power grants one stack of Perfection of Body. Using Assassin's Staff when not hidden will remove all stacks of Assassin's Focus regardless if you critically hit or not.

Damage Special(Smashing) Recharge Slow Minimum Level 6 (Stalker) Effects Melee Enhancements Enhance Accuracy Enhance Damage Reduce Endurance Cost Increase Attack Rate Set Categories Melee Damage Universal Damage

Build Up

Greatly increases the amount of damage you deal for a few seconds, as well as slightly increasing your chance to hit.

Recharge Long Minimum Level 8 (Stalker) Effects Self +Damage, +To Hit Enhancements Reduce Endurance Cost Increase Attack Rate Enhance ToHit Buff Set Categories To Hit Buff

Confront

Challenges a foe to attack you. Useful to pull a villain off an ally who finds themselves in over their head. A To Hit check required to Taunt enemy players, but is not needed against critter targets.

Recharge Fast Minimum Level 12 (Scrapper) Effects Ranged, Foe Taunt Enhancements Enhance Accuracy Enhance Range Increase Attack Rate Enhance Taunt Effectiveness Set Categories Taunt

Eye of the Storm

With a lightning fast series of spins of your staff you strike at all nearby foes dealing moderate damage with a chance of knocking foes down. While a form is active, this power will build one level of Perfection if the user has two or less levels, if the user has three levels of Perfection it will consume them and gain some benefit. 3 Levels of Perfection of Body will cause additional smashing damage and reduce damage resistance slightly for a short time. 3 Levels of Perfection of Mind will cause additional psionic damage and reduce attack and movement speed for a short time. 3 Levels of Perfection of Soul will cause additional energy damage and reduce defense for a short time.

Damage Moderate(Smashing) Recharge Long Minimum Level 6 (Brute) 6 (Scrapper) 18 (Stalker) 16 (Tanker) Effects Point Blank Area of Effect Foe Knockdown Consumes Perfection Enhancements Enhance Accuracy Enhance Damage Reduce Endurance Cost Enhance Knockback Distance Increase Attack Rate Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (Brute/Tanker only) Set Categories Melee AoE Damage Knockback Taunt (Brute/Tanker only) Universal Damage

Guarded Spin

You spin your staff like a propeller in front of you dealing Light Smashing damage to enemies in your frontal arc and deflecting any incoming attacks, thus boosting your Melee and Lethal damage briefly. While a form is active, this power will build one level of Perfection.

Damage Moderate(Smashing) Recharge Moderate Minimum Level 2 (Brute) 2 (Scrapper) 2 (Stalker) 4 (Tanker) Effects Melee (Cone) Self +Defense(Melee, Lethal) Enhancements Enhance Accuracy Enhance Damage Enhance Defense Buffs Reduce Endurance Cost Increase Attack Rate Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (Brute/Tanker only) Set Categories Melee AoE Damage Defense Taunt (Brute/Tanker only) Universal Damage

Innocuous Strikes

You repeatedly batter your foes' feet and legs with a flurry of sweeps of your staff. This attack deals Moderate Smashing damage to all foes within its cone. All affected targets will have their movement speed reduced, with a chance of being immobilized briefly. While a form is active, this power will build one level of Perfection.

Damage High(Smashing) Recharge Long Minimum Level 26 (Brute) 26 (Scrapper) 35 (Tanker) Effects Melee (Cone) Foe Immobilize, -Speed Enhancements Enhance Accuracy Enhance Damage Reduce Endurance Cost Enhance Immobilization Duration Increase Attack Rate Enhance Slow Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (except Scrapper) Set Categories Melee AoE Damage Immobilize Slow Movement Taunt (except Scrapper) Universal Damage

Mercurial Blow

You strike your foe with a lightning fast blow from your staff dealing Light Smashing damage. The attack is so unexpected that the target's defenses are reduced slightly for a short time. While a form is active, this power will build one level of Perfection.

Damage Light(Smashing) Recharge Fast Minimum Level 1 (Brute) 1 (Scrapper) 1 (Stalker) 1 (Tanker) Effects Melee Foe -Defense Enhancements Enhance Accuracy Enhance Damage Enhance Defense Debuff Reduce Endurance Cost Increase Attack Rate Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (Brute/Tanker only) Set Categories Melee Damage Accurate Defense Debuff Defense Debuff Taunt (Brute/Tanker only) Universal Damage

Placate

Allows you to trick a foe to no longer attack you. A Successful Placate will also Hide you. This Hide is very brief, and offers no Defense bonus, but it will allow you to deliver a Critical Hit or an Assassin's Staff. However, if you attack a Placated Foe, he will be able to attack you back.

Recharge Long Minimum Level 12 (Stalker) Effects Ranged Foe Placate Self Stealth/Hide Enhancements Enhance Range Increase Attack Rate Enhance Taunt Effectiveness Set Categories Taunt

Precise Strike

You attempt to daze your foe with a heavy staff blow to their head. Precise Strike has a higher chance to hit than normal, deals Moderate Smashing damage, and has a small chance to disorient the target briefly. While a form is active, this power will build one level of Perfection.

Damage Moderate(Smashing) Recharge Fast Minimum Level 1 (Brute) 1 (Scrapper) 1 (Stalker) 2 (Tanker) Effects Melee Foe Disorient Enhancements Enhance Accuracy Enhance Damage Reduce Endurance Cost Increase Attack Rate Enhance Disorient Duration Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (Brute/Tanker only) Set Categories Melee Damage Stuns Taunt (Brute/Tanker only) Universal Damage

Serpent's Reach

You fully extend your staff and release a burst of energy to lash out at a distant target and deal High Smashing damage with a good chance to knock your target down. While a form is active, this power will build one level of Perfection.

Damage High(Smashing) Recharge Long Minimum Level 18 (Brute) 18 (Scrapper) 26 (Stalker) 28 (Tanker) Effects Ranged Foe Knockdown Enhancements Enhance Accuracy Enhance Damage Reduce Endurance Cost Enhance Knockback Distance Enhance Range Increase Attack Rate Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (Brute/Tanker only) Set Categories Ranged Damage Knockback Taunt (Brute/Tanker only) Universal Damage

Sky Splitter

You leap into the air and hammer your foe with an overhead bash from your staff. Sky Splitter deals Extreme Smashing damage, will knock the target into the air and will briefly disorient your target. While a form is active, this power will build one level of Perfection if the user has two or less levels, if the user has three levels of Perfection it will consume them and gain some benefit. 3 Levels of Perfection of Body will cause additional smashing damage and grant the user a bonus to damage resistance a short time. 3 Levels of Perfection of Mind will cause additional psionic damage and boost the user's chance to hit for a short time. 3 Levels of Perfection of Soul will cause additional energy damage and increase the user's regeneration and recovery rate briefly.

Damage Extreme(Smashing) Recharge Slow Minimum Level 32 (Brute) 32 (Scrapper) 32 (Stalker) 38 (Tanker) Effects Melee Foe Knock Up, Disorient, -Fly Consumes Perfection Enhancements Enhance Accuracy Enhance Damage Reduce Endurance Cost Enhance Knockback Distance Increase Attack Rate Enhance Disorient Duration Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (Brute/Tanker only) Set Categories Melee Damage Knockback Stuns Taunt (Brute/Tanker only) Universal Damage

Staff Mastery

By Purchasing this power, you will gain access to the following powers: Form of the Body, Form of the Mind and Form of the Soul. Each of these toggle powers will allow the user to build up levels of Perfection, which grant the user a stacking short duration buff. Each buff is unique to the active form, and only one form can be active at a time. Perfection can be released by executing Eye of the Storm or Sky Splitter. When either of these attacks are empowered with Perfection they will have additional effects that are unique to each form. See Forms for additional details.

Minimum Level 8 (Brute) 8 (Scrapper) 20 (Tanker) Effects Change Stances/Special Enhancements None Set Categories None

Editor's Note:

Although Stalkers do not receive Staff Mastery as a power choice, they do inherently receive all benefits of Form of the Body.

Form Types

Form of the Body

Grants Perfection of Body levels

This power is obtained by purchasing Staff Mastery. All Staff Fighting attacks will build a level of Perfection of Body while this toggle is active. Each level will boost the user's damage output slightly. Once the user has built up 3 levels of Perfection of Body and they execute Eye of the Storm, the attack will reduce the target's damage resistance and will deal additional smashing damage. Executing Sky Splitter with three levels of Perfection of Body will deal additional smashing damage and grant the user a moderate resistance buff for a short time.

Form of the Mind

Grants Perfection of the Mind levels

This power is obtained by purchasing Staff Mastery. All Staff Fighting attacks will build a level of Perfection of Mind while this toggle is active. Each level will boost the user's recharge rate slightly. Once the user has built up 3 levels of Perfection of Mind and they execute Eye of the Storm, the attack will slow the target slightly and will deal additional psychic damage. Executing Sky Splitter with three levels of Perfection of Mind will deal additional psychic damage and grant the user a moderate to hit buff for a short time.

Form of the Soul

Grants Perfection of Soul levels

This power is obtained by purchasing Staff Mastery. All Staff Fighting attacks will build a level of Perfection of Soul while this toggle is active. Each level will grant the user an Endurance Discount. Once the user has built up 3 levels of Perfection of Soul and they execute Eye of the Storm, the attack will target's defense slightly and will deal additional energy damage. Executing Sky Splitter with three levels of Perfection of Soul will deal additional energy damage and grant the user a moderate regeneration and recovery buff for a short time.

Taunt

Taunt foes to attack you. Useful to pull enemies off allies and keep them attacking you to raise your Fury. A To Hit check is required to Taunt enemy players, but is not needed against critter targets.

Recharge Fast Minimum Level 12 (Brute) 10 (Tanker) Effects Ranged (Targeted Area of Effect) Foe Taunt Enhancements Enhance Accuracy Enhance Range Increase Attack Rate Enhance Taunt Effectiveness Set Categories Taunt

Historical

This section contains information about changes that took place in City of Heroes/Villains. It is provided for historical purposes.

• In late July 2011, a hacked video (linked below) was distributed showing the different attacks of Staff Fighting. Some days later, players found out they could already pull up the power descriptions of several powers by linking the Power Names in general chat in-game.
• Staff Fighting was officially announced at the Player Summit on November 19th, 2011; the announcement used the hacked video.
• This set was added to the game for Brutes, Scrappers, Stalkers, and Tankers on April 17, 2012, as an update to Issue 22.

External Links

• Staff Fighting Teaser on YouTube.com
• Intrepid Informer #20
• Added to Paragon Market

• Staff Fighting for Brutes at City of Data v2.0
• Staff Fighting for Scrappers at City of Data v2.0
• Staff Fighting for Stalkers at City of Data v2.0
• Staff Fighting for Tankers at City of Data v2.0