staves or wands?Follow

you can use both

You can equip both at the same time. In fact, as a mage, you should always have a wand, because it's the only item that can fit in your ranged slot.

You can also switch between attacking with them whenever. However, even with a maxed staff skill, you will do almost no melee damage. Equip both, use your wand when you're not casting. Meleeing mages just get laughed at.

Unless the mob is immune to the type of damage your wand does, I suggest you stick to wanding. More DPS, autoshoot, etc. Of course, the wand is good for either taking down a near-dead mob or as a last resort. Just stick to the wand. I can't recall the last time I used my staff.

As Billy mentioned - only use your staff (or one hand weapon) if the mob is immune to your wand.

I have to admit that I always smile when I get to whack a mob for its last few bits of health. It's kinda funny...but totally useless.

The primary purpose of my staff is stats. I could care less about the damage.

I don't wand unless I'm OOM. Last time I wanded was because I was arcane spec in Kara vs Nightbane, so I don't waste another bag slot with a wand. If they're immune to my wand, then... oh well. I will run up and hit him with my uber dagger striking capabilities.

I usually actually yell: "I WANNA TANK!!!! Look out, MAGE Melee DPS coming through!"

I generally do that with those magic immune mana worm things in kara. ;-) Though KaPow might be even better when I hit them!

To ktangent:

Of course you don't wand at your level. The OP though is clearly of a lower level, at which you WILL use wands quite some, simply to decrease downtime.

Besides it was a comparison of wand vs staff (silly yes it is) and it was mentioned that you should only use a staff when your enemy is immune to your wand. The best advice in that scenario: get two wands of different damage.

Just to be utttttterly clear to the OP:

Spells >>>>> Wands >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Staves
In other words: do not use your staff other than for the stat improvements on it.

I used to use my Emerald Ripper. Now I say ***** it and just go pull something that's not magic immune while the rogues are dealing with the worms.