Spire of Lazarus

Spire of Lazarus is a normal unique Gnarled Staff designed for Lightning Sorceresses, offering the only source of +1 to Chain Lightning in the game. Despite this unique modifier, the staff struggles to compete with better alternatives available at similar levels.

Lightning Skills and Mana

Spire of Lazarus provides +1 to Chain Lightning, +2 to Lightning, and +3 to Static Field for Sorceresses. It also grants substantial mana support with +15 to Energy, Regenerate Mana 43%, and +75% Lightning Resistance. The combination helps Lightning Sorceresses manage their heavy mana consumption while providing decent resistances. However, the staff lacks Faster Cast Rate—a critical stat for effective spellcasting.

Early Game Only

This staff works adequately for Lightning Sorceresses from levels 18-25, but it's quickly replaced by the Insight runeword in a polearm for your mercenary (providing Meditation aura for mana regeneration) combined with Spirit in a shield for yourself. The lack of FCR means you'll cast slower than competitors using proper gear, and the single skill bonuses are inferior to broader +skills items. The lightning resistance is useful in Nightmare but doesn't justify using a two-handed weapon over a shield.

Collector's Curiosity

Spire of Lazarus is notable for being the only item with +Chain Lightning, making it interesting for completionists. However, practical players should skip it entirely in favor of the Leaf runeword for fire builds or simply use a spirit combination for any caster. The staff isn't worth farming, upgrading, or keeping beyond its brief usefulness during mid-Normal difficulty. It's a historical curiosity that demonstrates why runewords dominate the meta—they're simply better than most unique staves.