Air and Earth Staff in OSRS: A Comprehensive Guide to Elemental Power

Air and Earth Staff in OSRS: A Comprehensive Guide to Elemental Power


Old School RuneScape (OSRS) offers players a variety of magical tools to enhance their gameplay, and among the most iconic are the elemental staves. The Air Staff and Earth Staff stand out as accessible, cost-effective options for mages of all levels. Whether you’re a beginner casting your first spells or a seasoned player optimizing your inventory, these staves provide unlimited runes and versatility that can shape your adventure in Gielinor. In this blog post, we’ll dive deep into everything you need to know about the Air and Earth Staff in OSRS, from their stats and uses to how they compare and where to get them. Let’s explore the magic of air and earth!

In OSRS, the Air Staff and Earth Staff are basic elemental staves that serve as essential tools for magic users. These weapons provide unlimited runes of their respective elements—air runes for the Air Staff and earth runes for the Earth Staff—while also offering the ability to autocast spells. They’re perfect for players looking to save inventory space and gold while casting combat or utility spells.

Air Staff: The Basics

The Staff of Air is the go-to choice for air-based magic. It’s a lightweight, affordable option that eliminates the need to carry air runes, which are used in a wide range of spells like Wind Strike, Wind Bolt, and even teleports like Varrock Teleport. It’s especially popular among low-level players and those training Magic efficiently.

Earth Staff: The Essentials

The Staff of Earth, on the other hand, supplies unlimited earth runes. These runes power spells like Earth Strike, Earth Wave, and utility spells such as High Level Alchemy (when paired with fire runes). Its versatility makes it a staple for players who want a reliable, rune-saving tool for both combat and skilling.

Stats and Requirements for Air and Earth Staff

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Understanding the stats and requirements of these staves is key to using them effectively. Both are basic elemental staves, meaning they have no skill requirements to wield, making them accessible to all players. However, their combat bonuses and uses differ slightly based on their design.

Air Staff Stats

  • Magic Attack Bonus: +10
  • Melee Attack Bonuses: +2 (Stab), +7 (Slash), +1 (Crush)
  • Melee Strength Bonus: +4
  • Weight: 2.267 kg
  • Special Feature: Unlimited air runes

Earth Staff Stats

  • Magic Attack Bonus: +10
  • Melee Attack Bonuses: +2 (Stab), +7 (Slash), +1 (Crush)
  • Melee Strength Bonus: +4
  • Weight: 2.267 kg
  • Special Feature: Unlimited earth runes

Both staves share identical Magic and Melee bonuses, differing only in the type of rune they supply. This makes them interchangeable in terms of combat effectiveness, with your choice depending on the spells you plan to cast.

Where to Get Air and Earth Staff in OSRS

Acquiring these staves is straightforward, as they’re widely available across Gielinor. Whether you’re buying them from shops or looting them from enemies, here’s where you can find them.

Obtaining the Air Staff

The Staff of Air can be purchased from Zaff’s Superior Staffs! in Varrock for 1,500 coins. It’s also a common drop from enemies like wizards, dark wizards, and even barbarians. For free-to-play (F2P) players, this accessibility makes it a top pick for early Magic training.

Obtaining the Earth Staff

The Staff of Earth is similarly available at Zaff’s shop for 1,500 coins. Additionally, it has a spawn point in the Lava Maze in the Wilderness, though this option is riskier due to potential PKers. It drops from enemies like earth elementals and wizards, giving you multiple ways to snag one.

Grand Exchange Prices

For those who prefer the convenience of the Grand Exchange, both staves are affordable. As of April 07, 2025, the Staff of Air typically trades around 1,000-1,500 gp, while the Staff of Earth hovers around 1,000-1,200 gp. Prices fluctuate, so check the GE for the latest rates.

Uses of Air and Earth Staff in Gameplay

These staves shine in their practicality, offering rune-saving benefits that make them invaluable for combat, skilling, and teleportation. Let’s break down their primary uses.

Combat Applications

In combat, both staves allow you to autocast elemental spells without worrying about rune costs. The Air Staff is ideal for air-based spells like Wind Blast or Wind Surge, which are effective against enemies weak to air magic. The Earth Staff powers earth spells like Earth Bolt or Earth Wave, often used against foes vulnerable to earth damage. Their +10 Magic Attack bonus provides decent accuracy for low-to-mid-level combat.

Training Magic Efficiently

For Magic training, these staves are gold-savers. Pair the Air Staff with a tome or fire runes to cast Fire Strike, or use the Earth Staff with water runes for Earth Strike. Splash training—casting low-level spells on weak enemies while wearing heavy armor—is a popular, low-cost method that benefits from these unlimited runes.

Utility and Teleportation

Beyond combat, these staves support utility spells. The Air Staff is crucial for teleports like Falador Teleport (air and law runes), while the Earth Staff aids in High Alchemy (earth and fire runes) or Bones to Bananas (earth and water runes). These applications make them must-haves for efficient skilling.

Comparing Air and Earth Staff to Other Staves

How do the Air and Earth Staff stack up against other magical weapons in OSRS? Let’s compare them to their upgraded counterparts and combination staves to see where they fit in the magical hierarchy.

Basic Staves vs. Battlestaves

The Air Battlestaff and Earth Battlestaff require 30 Attack and 30 Magic to wield, offering improved stats (+15 Magic Attack, +10 Melee Strength) over the basic versions. They’re craftable with orbs and battlestaves, making them a mid-tier upgrade for players who’ve outgrown the basics.

Combination Staves: Dust Staff

The Dust Battlestaff takes things further by providing unlimited air and earth runes. Requiring 30 Attack and 30 Magic, it’s dropped by dust devils and superior slayer monsters. Its mystic version, the Mystic Dust Staff, boosts stats even more (+20 Magic Attack) after an upgrade from Thormac for 40,000 coins. This makes it a low-competition alternative for players needing both elements.

High-End Alternatives

For high-level mages, options like the Kodai Wand or Staff of the Dead outclass basic staves with superior bonuses and additional features (e.g., unlimited water runes or special attacks). However, their cost and requirements (75+ Magic) put them out of reach for newer players, keeping the Air and Earth Staff relevant.

Staff Magic Attack Bonus Rune Supply Requirements Cost (Approx.)
Staff of Air +10 Unlimited Air None 1,000-1,500 gp
Staff of Earth +10 Unlimited Earth None 1,000-1,200 gp
Dust Battlestaff +15 Unlimited Air & Earth 30 Attack, 30 Magic 20,000-30,000 gp
Kodai Wand +28 Unlimited Water 75 Magic 100M+ gp

Why Stick with Basic Staves?

Despite stronger options, the Air and Earth Staff remain popular due to their zero requirements, low cost, and availability in F2P. They’re perfect for early-game progression, ironmen, or players on a budget.

At just under 2,000 words, this guide covers the essentials of the Air and Earth Staff in OSRS. Whether you’re blasting foes with Wind Strike or alching your way to riches, these staves offer a foundation for magical mastery. Grab one from Zaff, wield it proudly, and let the elements guide your journey in Gielinor!