Staff vs Wand?

As an E/N, what are the benefits of using a staff over a wand+artifact; or vice versa? Which weapon is most beneficial in PvE and PvP? Are certain upgrades better for the staff as oppose to wands? Does having the 2nd artifact help more than a 2-handed weapon? So far I'm split because I'm not sure what is overall better to use as a E/N; or any non-tank for that matter.

IMO its really up to personal preference. Look for something with mods that will make the most of your skills. If you are spamming skills a '40/40' set, a wand and focus with 20% Cast and 20% recharge, would be better. If you use a lot of enchantments get something with enchantments +20%.

Technically speaking, staffs are capable of giving the most energy with normal regen. A staff has an inherent +10, and with a +5 insightful head and a +5 'hale and hearty' inscription you can get +20. A wand/focus combo can only give +5 and +12, for +17 total.

In the end, its really up to personal preference so long as you take into consideration what mods will help your build the most. Also consider taking a sword/axe/spear with a +5e inscription and a +30hp mod.

The main difference I see between them is that wand+offhand has many more possible configurations than just a staff. A staff will generally (but not always) have a requirement and mods that deal with one particular class - for example a staff that requires 9 Fire Magic and has mods affecting the casting time and recharge of Fire Magic spells. With various heads, wrappings, and inscriptions you can vary this somewhat, but not as much as if, say, you had a wand that requires Fire Magic and a focus item (offhand) that requires Death Magic.
I'm not sure if a staff has any benefit over wand+focus. I think you can duplicate the power and effects of any staff with a wand+focus, but not the other way around.

As an ele for general PvE, I take a wand and offhand combo. It allows you to attain a 20/20 HSR/HCT modifier on both wand and atifact, allowing you to throw out more spells faster than any other weapon combo. All other modifiers - health, energy etc. - are cute, but nowhere near as awesome as firing off Rodgort's in .75 seconds on a 7.5 second recharge.

PvP's a different kettle of fish, there I take an axe, shields, and a lot of +hp stuff.

Thanks for all replies.

So it seems that staff is best because the upgrades make it the most powerful of the 2 choices. However the Wand/Artifact combo lets you customize more options for various bonuses across all fields. Is that right?

Staves can have "Halves skill recharge of spells 20%", which wands/focuses can't (they can only go up to 10%, need to be linked to an attribute to get 20%). So a staff with 20/20 is better than a wand/focus with 20/20.

Staves have more upgrades, but focuses have more mods and inscriptions. So there are staves that can't be duplicated with a wand/focus, and there are wand/focus combos that can't be duplicated with a staff.

Of course it's easier to buy one staff than to buy both a wand and a focus.

When talking about PvE almost anything goes - as a caster you'll be reasonably effective without any equipment at all (and that's why casters are usually the preferred option to lug bundles around). For me it's a matter of inventory space so one staff per each element is my primary choice. Then there are specific builds that greatly benefit from some other set, so if you use those often it's reasonable to get that extra edge. Like a +42 energy fire wand+focus set if you're playing a Mind Blast spammer, or a Totem Axe + shield/offhand for various farming builds.

For PvP it really depends on what you're doing, and most likely you'll have to fill all the four weapon slots with different kinds of equipment.

Make use with what you find lying on the ground till you know which you prefer the look of. Then go use that.

Me, I use staves.

I use a staff because I want the 20% enchantment mod, which is not available for wands or offhands.

Well, that's what Totem Axes are for

I also agree that it's a matter of personal preference.
From my POV wand+focus > staff for the following reasons:

40/40 option for spamming skills
15/-1 energy focus alternative for instant highest nrg pool in the heat of battle

same here and alot of other options:

like negative energy sets for pvp
wand/melee weapon + focus/shield swaps

I do run staves too, but not as often like I use a one handed weapon and an offhand

best items imho to make combos:

for wands:
* an HSR/HCT 20/20
* an HSR or HCT and +5 while above 50 or while enchanted
* an +15E / -1 energy regen wand

for offhands:
* HSR/HCT 20/20
* attribute +1 (chance 20%) + 30hp
* HSR + attribute +1 (chance 20%)
* +15E/-1 energy regen offhands
* a negative energy offhand

shields:
* vs fire, lightning, slashing, piercing and blunt

one handed weapons:
* Sword/axe with +5 energy and 20% longer enchants
* Sword/axe/spear with +5 energy and +30hp
* Sword/axe/spear with -5 energy/+15% more dmg and +30hp

Staves:
* mostly I have +20 energy staves for certain build for the rest a run the above combo's possibilities


and most can be found at collectors/weaponsmiths if you like, but you can go for other skins too, but you'll have to fork out the gold for those.

cheers

High End PvP will always use caster swords/spears and offhands because of the +60 health +17 energy all the time (which can be easily exchanged for a +30 20% enchanting +17 energy set).

Anyway, it is kinda personal preference. Also keep in mind that staffs are useful in that you will ALWAYS get the energy bonus from them even if you don't meet the requirement (ie, you can use a fire staff while playing as a water ele and still get the +15 energy from it). This also makes staves useful for rangers/sins and others who don't have caster weapons for certain builds that don't require a weapon (trappers etc.)

That also makes staves superior on heros (since you can then change around their build without changing out their weapon set).

I prefer a wand and offhand when playing Ele as it gives me more energy for those high cost spells.I will switch to a staff to regain my energy back just like when I Monk.I would of picked E/Mes or E/Mo as that is the more preferred combos.This is unless you are using E/N for unlocks.