The highest item level staves a level 21–30 character can wear as a Mage start with Wind Spirit Staff (item level 34, rare). 26 items fit the slot and band; the top 25 are ranked here by item level, then quality, not by simulation.
| # | Name | ILvl | Req. | DPS | Speed | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Wind Spirit StaffCHANGED | 34 | 29 | 28.9 | 3.30 | Staff | Drops from Earthcaller Halmgar (Razorfen Kraul) at 50.0% (vanilla) |
| 2 |  Acrobatic Staff | 34 | 29 | 23.0 | 2.20 | Staff | Drops from Vile Sting (Thousand Needles) at 1.1% (+418 more) (vanilla) |
| 3 |  Advisor's Gnarled StaffCHANGED | 33 | 28 | 27.8 | 2.90 | Staff | Sold by Kelm Hargunth (Horde) (vanilla) |
| 4 |  Lorekeeper's StaffCHANGED | 33 | 28 | 27.8 | 2.90 | Staff | Sold by Illiyana Moonblaze (Alliance) (vanilla) |
| 5 |  HydrocaneCHANGED | 32 | 27 | 26.6 | 2.80 | Staff | Drops from Viscous Fallout (Gnomeregan) at 33.3% (vanilla) |
| 6 |  Gnarled Ash Staff | 31 | 26 | 25.6 | 3.20 | Staff | Drops from Minor Anubisath Warbringer (The Barrens) at 5.6% (+302 more) (vanilla) |
| 7 |  Glimmering StaffFOREVER | 30 | 25 | 24.5 | 2.20 | Staff | Crafted: Enchanting |
| 8 |  SoulstaffFOREVER | 30 | 25 | 24.4 | 1.80 | Staff | Crafted: Enchanting |
| 9 |  Kam's Walking StickCHANGED | 29 | 24 | 23.8 | 2.80 | Staff | Drops from Kam Deepfury (The Stockade) at 1.0% (vanilla) |
| 10 | Rod of the SleepwalkerCHANGED | 29 | 24 | 23.8 | 2.80 | Staff | Drops from Twilight Lord Kelris (Blackfathom Deeps) at 50.0% (vanilla) |
| 11 |  Magician Staff | 29 | 24 | 19.7 | 3.00 | Staff | Drops from Brontus (The Barrens) at 1.3% (+449 more) (vanilla) |
| 12 |  Oaken War Staff | 28 | 23 | 11.4 | 3.70 | Staff | Found in Weapon Crate (Scarlet Monastery) at 6.7% (+680 more) (vanilla) |
| 13 | Staff of the ShadeCHANGED | 27 | 22 | 22.3 | 2.60 | Staff | Drops from Rotting Agam'ar (Razorfen Kraul) at 0.1% (+25 more) (vanilla) |
| 14 |  Dwarven Magestaff | 27 | 22 | 18.4 | 2.80 | Staff | Drops from Akkrilus (Ashenvale) at 1.3% (+489 more) (vanilla) |
| 15 | Ogremage Staff | 27 | 22 | 18.2 | 3.40 | Staff | Drops from Splinter Fist Fire Weaver (Duskwood) at 0.5% (+1 more) (vanilla) |
| 16 |  Odo's Ley Staff | 26 | 21 | 21.7 | 2.90 | Staff | Drops from Odo the Blindwatcher (Shadowfang Keep) at 50.0% (vanilla) |
| 17 |  Staff of the FriarCHANGED | 26 | 21 | 21.7 | 2.60 | Staff | Drops from Blackfathom Myrmidon (Blackfathom Deeps) at 0.1% (+24 more) (vanilla) |
| 18 |  Cryptbone Staff | 26 | 21 | 17.4 | 2.90 | Staff | Drops from Skeletal Healer (Duskwood) at 1.0% (vanilla) |
| 19 | Icicle RodCHANGED | 25 | 16.8 | 3.80 | Staff | Quest: Return the Statuette (vanilla) | |
| 20 | Crescent StaffCHANGED | 24 | 20.3 | 2.90 | Staff | Quest: Leaders of the Fang (vanilla) | |
| 21 | Staff of WestfallCHANGED | 24 | 20.5 | 3.00 | Staff | Quest: The Defias Brotherhood (vanilla) | |
| 22 |  Polished Walking Staff | 24 | 16.0 | 2.60 | Staff | Quest: Torek's Assault (vanilla) | |
| 23 |  Staff of the Purifier | 23 | 15.3 | 3.70 | Staff | Quest: The Tower of Althalaxx (vanilla) | |
| 24 |  Ceranium Rod | 22 | 14.4 | 2.70 | Staff | Quest: The Weaver (vanilla) | |
| 25 |  Clear Crystal Rod | 21 | 13.7 | 3.10 | Staff | Quest: Arachnophobia (Horde) (vanilla) |
Ranked by item level, then quality, among items with a known source: gear nothing drops, sells, rewards or makes yet (raids not yet open, the client's test items) is left out. The class filter keeps what the class can equip at level 30 (armor type, weapon skill, Dual Wield, the item's own class limit); the side filter drops items that only the other side's vendors and quests offer. Source: the best known drop first (a Forever rate at 10+ loots, else the vanilla 1.12 chance), then vendors, quest rewards and the profession that makes it. Reviewed picks: Mage Best in Slot.
Other slots: Dagger, One-Handed Sword, One-Handed Axe, One-Handed Mace, Fist Weapon, Two-Handed Sword, Two-Handed Axe, Two-Handed Mace, Bow, Gun. Every slot and level.