How to Make Your Weapon Awesome in 4.3

Feral staves used to have a reputation of being awesome. We had ugly cat and bear forms, so they had to give us something pretty to look at, right? Even if it was just for running around Shattrath.

Then we started sharing staves with hunters, and our options were suddenly less cool. Well, now that the ability to change the appearance of your gear is coming in 4.3, we can go back to the way things were!

Here are, in my opinion, the best options to pick from.

Staves

Pillar of Ferocity

Obtained from: Anetheron, The Battle for Mount Hyjal
This staff will be the first thing I change. It is huge, bright, and looks very much like it belongs in the hands of a druid. It was my favorite item in The Burning Crusade, even if it wasn’t that great for tanking. Sadly, I’m going to have a bit of farming to do before I can transmogrify to this beautiful weapon.

Wildfury Greatstaff

Obtained from: Trash in Serpentshrine Cavern
Not quite the looker, but the majority of bear tanks used this staff all throughout their career in the Burning Crusade. Sometimes you need a simple weapon, whether it’s to complement your complex gear or to indicate a natural druidic lifestyle. If you want to go back to the times where we didn’t get true weapon upgrades for many raids, this is your staff.

Terestian’s Stranglestaff

Obtained from: Terestian Illhoof, Karazhan
Famous for it’s wriggling tentacles and the often inappropriate connotations, this staff is great for anyone who wants remember the Karazhan days and creep out their guildmates at the same time. Karazhan is also easy to solo at 85, so if you don’t have it you can get it easily. Traditionally, this weapon was paired with Tier 4. Although the dark colors of the Stranglestaff contrast nicely with Malorne’s Harness, I don’t believe octopi and stags play together nicely.

Stanchion of Primal Instinct

Obtained from: Eredar Twins, Sunwell
The first staff that dropped in a 25 man raid that was actually an upgrade for feral damage (though again, not tanking). It’s not as striking as some other designs, but it is beautiful. I got mine on the last day before 3.0 (the patch that upgraded everything to Wrath of the Lich King), so it has a special place in my heart.

Zhar’doom, Greatstaff of the Devourer

Obtained from: Illidan Stormrage, Black Temple
Not a feral staff, but definitely iconic. Since it is still a staff, we can use it to customize our gear. There’s a wriggling fel-puppy on the top, creepy! Blizzard had a fascination with near-living staff toppers during the Burning Crusade.

Staff of Immaculate Recovery

Obtained from: Gurtogg Bloodboil, Black Temple
Ah, the “priest on a stick”. Another non-feral staff, but it will bring a lovely purity to your tanking ensemble. Or maybe you want it because it will be a physical representation of the tank-healer bond.

Draenic Wildstaff

Obtained from: Avatar of the Martyred, Auchenai Crypts
The only non-epic on this list, but it is a beautiful staff nevertheless. The flowers bud and bloom, and it is covered with green foliage. A very druid staff.

Origin of Nightmares

Obtained from: Grobbulus, New Naxxaramas
A totem-like bird staff. It actually matches druid T6 quite well, even though it came an expansion late. Unknown to us at the time, it was the last true bear weapon we’d ever see.

Twin’s Pact

Obtained from: Twin Val’kyr, Horde only

This staff was a brief reminder of the old-fashioned feral designs. Unfortunately, it is Horde only (and the Alliance equivalent is super boring). It’s made out of a shoveltusk horn and it’s probably one of the biggest staves out there.

Frostscythe of Lord Ahune

Obtained from: Frozen Core (daily satchel from killing Lord Ahune), only available during Fire Festival
Largely useless to most classes, it sure does strike an imposing figure.

Sulfur Stave

Obtained from: Normal 10 man Lotheb
I don’t really like creepy skeleton bats, but to each his own. At least it’s interesting.

Shadow Wing Focus Staff / Conifer Cone Staff

Obtained from: Various bosses in Blackwing Lair / Random Northrend drop
It’s got this funny pinecone or dragon tail tip on the end, what’s more to want? Some models look like they have an eyeball.

Charmed Cierge

Obtained from: Normal Naxxaramas 10
Three candles and bright-eyed skulls. It’s basically your own flashlight.

Devotion

Obtained from: Normal Yogg Saron 10
A reader recommended this one to me, and I happen to agree that there is a subtle elegance to this weapon. It also won’t hurt to add a few true WotLK weapons to this list.

Dreambinder / Rapture / Spire of Withering Dreams / The Lifebinder

Obtained from: various places in Ulduar
I’ve always loved the dangly, metallic leaves on this staff. Dreambinder is the only one with a blue orb, the rest have red ones.

Grand Marshal’s Stave

Obtained from: 290 Honor Points, Alliance Only
Even though these weapons are easily obtainable, they cannot be transmogrified. Here’s hoping Blizz changes its mind eventually, or adds lookalike items.

High Warlord’s War Staff

Obtained from: 290 Honor Points, Horde and vanilla High Warlord only
Even though these weapons are easily obtainable, they cannot be transmogrified. Here’s hoping Blizz changes its mind eventually, or adds lookalike items.

Merciless Gladiator’s War Staff

Obtained from: Obtained from: Kezzik the Striker in Netherstorm for 1500 Honor

Vengeful Gladiator’s Battle Staff / Vengeful Gladiator’s War Staff

Obtained from: Kezzik the Striker in Netherstorm for 1500 Honor
It has these cool little runestone things suspended in red light.

Vengeful Gladiator’s Staff

Obtained from: Kezzik the Striker in Netherstorm for 1500 Honor
Okay so it’s just a recolor of Pillar of Ferocity, but I love that model so much that I’m posting it again.

Brutal Gladiator’s Staff

Obtained from: 350 Honor Points
It’s a blue reskin of Stanchion of Primal Instinct, but much easier to obtain.

Hateful Gladiator’s Staff / Deadly Gladiator’s Staff / Furious Gladiator’s Staff / Furious Gladiator’s Greatstaff

Obtained from: No longer obtainable, and Blizzard has not explicitly mentioned bringing it back, but we can always hope.
It has an interesting little cat face on it.

Staff of the Shadow Flame

Obtained from: Nefarian in Blackwing Lair
Not too flashy, but it has a dragon face.

Polearms

Now, staves are obviously the best option, but sometimes we have to use polearms. Blizzard stated that only bows, guns, and crossbows are interchangeable, so we can infer that you can’t make your polearm look like a staff. Sad news, but maybe there are some good looking pokey stick alternatives.

Black Ice

Obtained from: Malygos, Normal 10
A big, bright, blue polearm! It honestly looks more like a staff or axe from BC, but that’s what makes it awesome.

Shivering Felspine

Obtained from: Sunwell trash
Ok, it’s not that awesome looking. But it has a distinct Sunwell flavor, and is more prestigious than most of the other options.

Halberd of Desolation

Obtained from: High Warlord Naj’entus, Black Temple
It’s got some interesting spikes, right? More than the usual single spike.

Lantresor’s Warblade (Alliance) / Lantresor’s Warblade (Horde)

Obtained from: Questing in Nagrand
It’s a simple design, but a rare opportunity as druids to look like we’re wielding a giant sword. Also potentially rare because most people would have finished the quests and vendored the item by now.

Pictures from Wowhead.com