Staff of Magnus
A relic that drains spellcasters dry and feeds their magic back into your hands.
The Staff of Magnus is a legendary artifact forged by Arch-Mage Magnus before he departed Mundus for Aetherius—a relic so potent it predates most known magical traditions in Tamriel. Unlike conventional staves, this ancient weapon does not cast spells; instead, it drains magicka from its targets and converts that stolen energy into the wielder's own reserves, turning an opponent's arcane strength against them. Deeply entwined with the College of Winterhold, the staff became central to the college's survival when the Eye of Magnus threatened catastrophe.
- Creator
- Arch-Mage Magnus
- Primary Affiliation
- College of Winterhold
- First Major Appearance
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Key Antagonist Targeted
- Ancano
- Current Status
- In the possession of the Dragonborn (post-Thalmor Embassy quest)
- Magical Property
- Drains Magicka and Health
Lore & Background
The staff's history is bound to the College of Winterhold's darkest hour. When Ancano attempted to channel the unstable Eye of Magnus through the Thalmor, only this artifact could counter its chaotic energy. During the confrontation in Mzulft's ancient observatory, the Dragonborn wielded the Staff against the Arch-Mage—not with fire or frost, but with a silent vacuum that stripped his spells before they could form. The staff acted as both weapon and shield: destabilizing powerful magical entities while simultaneously sustaining its user.
In Their Own Story
The air inside the Mzulft observatory hummed with a dissonant frequency that made teeth ache. Ancano stood before the glowing Eye of Magnus, his robes crackling with golden energy as he attempted to harness its power for the Thalmor. The Dragonborn stepped forward, the weight of the ancient wood heavy in their grip. As they raised the Staff of Magnus, a beam of pale blue light lanced out, striking Ancano not with fire or frost, but with a vacuum that seemed to pull the very color from his aura. His spells faltered, his health drained into the staff, and for the first time, the Arch-Mage looked truly afraid as the artifact he sought to control turned against him.
Reader's Guide
The Staff of Magnus requires no charge crystals—it functions indefinitely by draining magicka from targets on contact. This makes it devastating against spellcasters, particularly those with large mana pools like mages or dragons. Against physically-oriented enemies, however, its effectiveness drops dramatically since there is little magicka to steal. While the staff can be used by any who possess sufficient magical aptitude, its true power shines in sustained confrontations where multiple casters stand between you and your goal.
Did You Know?
- Arch-Mage Magnus created this artifact before ascending to Aetherius—making it one of Tamriel's oldest surviving magical items.
- It is the only known artifact capable of directly countering the Eye of Magnus's unstable energy.
- The staff was sealed in Mzulft for centuries because its creators feared no one could control its draining power without being consumed by it.
- Unlike other staves, this weapon doesn't require charges—it feeds itself by stealing magic from enemies.