{{Short description|Drinking game}} {{About|the drinking game|the magical object|Wand}} {{Additional citations|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox game | name = Wizard staff | image = 509 Vatos Wizard Staff.jpg | caption = | other_names = Wizard staff, wizarding diploma | players = 2+ | setup_time = none | playing_time = variable | blank_label = Alcohol(s) used | blank_data = [[Beer]] (cans), [[Hard liquor]] }}
'''Wizard staff''' (also known as '''wisest wizard''' or '''wizard sticks''' or '''wizard''') is a [[drinking game]] in which players play individually in an attempt to consume more beer than their opponents. As a player drinks, their current can of beer is taped to the top of their previous cans before being opened. The beer is then opened and consumed from the top of the staff, making the task more difficult as more beers are consumed, not only because of increased inebriation, but also because it simply becomes more physically challenging as the staff becomes taller.
Once a staff is taller than its owner, that person gains "wizard status".<ref name=BATB1>{{cite web|url= http://skately.com/library/videos/girl-skateboards-beauty-and-the-beast|title= BATB1|publisher= Anti Hero + Girl Skateboards|date= May 25, 2008|accessdate= September 13, 2015}}</ref> At the end of the game, the player with the longest staff is declared the "wisest wizard".<ref name=NoCapCollege>{{cite web|url= https://nocapcollege.com/wizard-staff-drinking-game-tips-and-ideas/|title= Wizard Staff Drinking Game|publisher= NoCapCollege|date= May 27, 2021|access-date= April 8, 2021}}</ref>
==Gameplay== After consuming a can, the player levels up and another can is duct taped on top of the first one. Each can consumed counts as one level, so upon finishing the first beer, the player becomes a Level 1 wizard (although, until the staff reaches their height, they are still classified as a "wizard in training").
At the beginning of the game, players decide on an interval to fight [[Boss (video gaming)|bosses]], usually every five levels. These "bosses" are [[shot (drink)|shots]] named after the hard liquor they contain. For example, Boss Daniel's would be a shot of [[Jack Daniel's|Jack Daniel's whiskey]].<ref name=collegetips>{{cite web|url= http://www.collegetips.com/college-parties/wisest-wizard-staff.php|title= Скачать бесплатно bet winner|website= College Tips|accessdate= February 2, 2011}}</ref> Taking these shots is required to advance to the next level. The idea is to have multiple brands of hard liquor so that a different boss can be fought at each interval.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.sloshspot.com/blog/08-26-2008/Drinking-Game-of-the-Week-Wizards-Staff-48|title= Drinking Game of the Week: Wizard's Staff|publisher= Slosh Spot|date= August 26, 2008|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121231085454/http://www.sloshspot.com/blog/08-26-2008/Drinking-Game-of-the-Week-Wizards-Staff-48|archivedate=December 31, 2012|accessdate= September 14, 2014}}</ref>{{unreliable inline|date=December 2025}}
===Variations=== [[File:Dueling.jpg|thumb|Dueling wizards]] ;White wizard: Once a player reaches level 10, they become a white wizard. When another player becomes a white wizard, they fight each other with their staffs. The wizard who breaks his opponent's staff becomes the new white wizard.<ref name="collegetips" /> ;"Feeling wise": Players may not state that they are drunk, but must instead call it "feeling wise". If a player does say "drunk", "intoxicated" or some similar term, they must chug a beer and are not allowed to add it to their staff.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.northbynorthwestern.com/story/drinking-game/|title=Drinking game of the week: Wisest Wizard|last=Francisco|first=Andre|publisher=[[North by Northwestern]]|date=April 23, 2008|accessdate=September 12, 2014}}</ref> ;Battle wizards: After completion of the 10 levels, all wizards remaining standing have a 'staff fight'. The wisest wizard (first to 10) will typically win, as their staff is the largest and strongest.{{cn|date=July 2022}}
===Origin=== Games of wizard staff were recorded during [[Anti Hero + Girl Skateboards]] "Beauty and the Beast" Tour in May 2008,<ref name="BATB1" /> although the game is thought to have originated closer to the early 2000s.{{cn|date=July 2025}}
==See also== {{portal|Drink}} {{commons cat|Wizard Sticks}} * [[List of drinking games]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{YouTube|9RFV_hG97K8|Wizard Staff Drinking Game - How to play Wizard Staff}} * {{YouTube|dapWb-drfpk|Wizard's Staff}} * {{YouTube|39j6gazeWKo|Born To Lose (Lyric Video) - Striker}}, a music video depicting the game being played
{{Drinking games}}
[[Category:Drinking games]]