Pole

The Oak Pole.

Poles (棒, Bou?), also called stick, are a recurring weapon type from the Final Fantasy series, shown mostly in the Ivalice Alliance. It is not wielded by the same job in two games, but it is often used by light melee and mage jobs. Most poles are recurring, and the Whale Whisker is usually the strongest of the type.

Profile

Poles in the series that are primarily rods and shafts of various degrees that a wielder may use to perform blunt and slamming attacks. Their design consists of simple long rods of various makes and materials, and bear simple designs compared to other weapons, with some exceptions, such as the Whale Whisker and Eight-Fluted Pole, which bear one-ended adornments similar to spears and staves, and are said to have a bladed end.

These weapons are designed for agile physical use, unlike other shafted weapons, such as the spear, the rod, and the staff. While mages and magic users can also sometimes use the weapon, Monks and Far Eastern inspired jobs, such as the Oracle, are commonly associated with it through its association with eastern martial arts as an extension of one's own body.

Appearances

Final Fantasy VII

Some of Aeris's weapons resemble poles, including the Guard Stick, Mythril Rod, Full Metal Staff, Striking Staff, and Aurora Rod.

Final Fantasy XI

Poles are governed by the staff skill, and usually have fair melee damage but limited stat bonuses. Unlike quarterstaves, poles can be wielded by most mage classes.

Notable combat-oriented poles:

• Kirin's Pole
• Eight-Sided Pole
• Thyrsusstab
• Perdu Staff
• Steel-splitter
• Kinkobo
• Wyvern Perch
• Mekki Shakki
• Capricorn Staff

Final Fantasy XII

The Eight-fluted Pole.

Poles are weapons with great chance of performing combos. The damage the weapon can deal is based on the target's Magick Resist. In the Zodiac versions, only the Monk can equip them, and they can hit flying targets.

The damage formula for poles is:

$DMG=[ATK*RANDOM(1..1.125)-MDEF]*[1+STR*(Lv+STR)/256]$

Poles use the pole damage formula, which is the same as the Strength formula except damage is modified by Magick defense. Damage depends on the weapon, the user's Strength and character level. The characters' stats vary. Vitality varies the most, by 30%, and Strength varies 10%. Basch, Vaan and Balthier have the highest Strength. Inflicting Shear on a target can increase poles' damage output and it stacks.

List of poles:

• Oaken Pole
• Cypress Pole
• Battle Bamboo
• Musk Stick
• Iron Pole
• Six-fluted Pole
• Gokuu Pole
• Zephyr Pole
• Ivory Pole
• Sweep
• Eight-fluted Pole
• Whale Whisker
• Kanya (Zodiac versions only)

Final Fantasy XIV

A mythrite pugil stick.

Though rare, poles have appeared among the lancer's arms used by lancers and dragoons. The available poles include the Mythrite Pugil Stick and the Eastern Journey Battle Staff. The character Tansui wields the latter.

Final Fantasy Tactics

Poles can be equipped by the Arithmetician and Mystic jobs.

List of poles:

• Cypress Pole
• Battle Bamboo
• Musk Pole
• Iron Fan
• Gokuu Pole
• Ivory Pole
• Eight-fluted Pole
• Whale Whisker

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift

Poles can be equipped by the Master Monk, Geomancer, Dancer, and Heritor jobs.

List of poles: Tonfa Cypress Pole Battle Bamboo Sanjiegun Zephyr Pole Iron Pole Esztam Baton Gokuu Pole Fanatic

Ivory Pole Eight-fluted Pole Whale Whisker

Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy

Pole weapons are one of the types of weapons normally only available to Firion, The Emperor, Cloud of Darkness, Bartz, Kefka, Tifa, Zidane, Kuja, Yuna, Shantotto, Prishe and Vaan. Several specialize in boosting the initial Assist Gauge charge at the start of battle.

List of poles:

• Oaken Pole
• Cypress Pole
• Iron Pole
• Six-fluted Pole
• Battle Bamboo
• Musk Stick
• Zephyr Pole
• Iron Fan
• Triple Staff
• Gokuu Pole
• Ivory Pole
• Eight-fluted Pole
• Dragon's Tail
• Battle Pole
• Mjollnir
• Berserker's Staff
• Supreme Pole
• Lufenian Pole