Purging staff

“Fire and lightning sizzle in the brazier.”

The purging staff is a one-handed demonbane magic weapon requiring 77 Magic and 50 Attack. It autocasts Standard and Arceuus spells and has the highest Magic attack (+37) and Magic defence (+25) bonuses of any weapon in the game — ahead of even the Kodai wand and Tumeken's shadow — making it the top choice for demonbane magic.

Equipment bonuses

With +37 Magic attack, +25 Magic defence and +10% magic damage, the purging staff has the best raw magic-attack bonus in the game. Its real strength, though, is how it supercharges demonbane spells (see below).

Attack bonuses
+10
−5
+83
+37
0
Defence bonuses
+1
+1
0
+25
0
Other bonuses
+62
+0
+10%
+0
Slot
Weapon

Requires 77 Magic and 50 Attack · one-handed staff · autocasts Standard and Arceuus spells · demonbane.

Purging staff and demonbane spells

The staff's passive doubles the accuracy bonus of demonbane spells from 20% to 40%. Cast Mark of Darkness first and that doubles again, to an 80% accuracy and 50% damage bonus — and the staff also stretches Mark of Darkness to five times its normal duration. Combined with its highest-in-game magic bonuses, this makes it the best weapon in the game for killing demons with magic. Compare it in the OSRS DPS calculator.

Special attack — Scatter ashes

Scatter ashes costs 25% special energy and requires the Arceuus spellbook. It casts your best available demonbane spell, and if the demon dies to it your special energy is refunded and your next attack lands three ticks sooner — in practice dropping your effective attack speed from 5 to 3 on a kill, which speeds up demon farming considerably.

How to get the purging staff

The purging staff is made, not dropped. With a tormented synapse (a Tormented Demons drop), a battlestaff, an iron bar and a hammer, use the synapse on an anvil with 74 Crafting and 55 Smithing, after reading Duradel's notes (available once you've completed While Guthix Sleeps). It is untradeable but can be reverted for the synapse.

Purging staff FAQ

What level do you need for the purging staff?
You need 77 Magic and 50 Attack to wield it, and 74 Crafting + 55 Smithing to make one.
How do you make the purging staff?
Use a tormented synapse on an anvil with a battlestaff, an iron bar and a hammer, at 74 Crafting and 55 Smithing, after reading Duradel's notes from While Guthix Sleeps.
Is the purging staff the best magic weapon?
It has the highest Magic attack (+37) and Magic defence bonuses in the game and is the best weapon for demonbane magic. For general magic, Tumeken's shadow still hits harder overall.
What does the purging staff do against demons?
It doubles demonbane-spell accuracy (to 40%), and with Mark of Darkness reaches 80% accuracy and 50% damage — plus it extends Mark of Darkness to 5× its normal duration.
Is the purging staff tradeable?
No. It's untradeable, but you can revert it to recover the tormented synapse.

Update history

12 March 2025The Crafting experience for making your first purging staff was raised from 73 to 730.
24 July 2024The purging staff now increases the duration of Mark of Darkness by 5 times.

Source: OSRS Wiki — Purging staff (Changes).