The Genius Guide to Rune Staves and Wyrd Wands – Magic Implements for Pathfinder 1e

Both rune staves and wyrd wands are examples of a new kind of magic item: the magic implement. Defined broadly, magic implements are handheld devices that assist spellcasters with their casting in much the same way magic weapons assist characters in combat.

Wyrd wands give casters enhancement bonuses to caster level checks, attack rolls, damage rolls, and possibly one other area, while rune staves can grant bonuses to a wide range of spell-related effects. Both are assumed to have arcane writing built into them that allows them to enhance every spell cast by their wielders — rather than being spells-in-a-can that take over when a spellcaster is out of other options.