Best Mage's Staff

[Captain Skinny]

So I'd like to make the most out of my Mage's Staff, the one you get when entering the Arcane University.
First thing is I'm still a relatively low level, as I am playing a mage and so naturally the MG quests came first. What level should I be to have my staff remain useful for a good amount of time?
Second, the last time I got the staff (non mage playthrough) I picked Paralyze, as it seemed my best option and frankly it did work pretty well, if not moderately cheaply.
Are any other types of staff even worth the trouble?

[WingedKagouti]

Paralyze, Silence and Shock are IMO the three useful options. The staff caps out at level 15, but the level 10-14 version of each of the above is reasonable as well. Regardless of the level you get them at, these three staves will have 40 casts in them on a full charge.

Paralyze is overall a solid option, even if it's expensive to fully recharge at 5 Grand souls to fully recharge the level 15 version.

Silence can help a lot against enemy Necromancers (and other mages). It usually won't work against creatures with spell like abilities and it will take 4 Grand souls to fully recharge the level 15 version.

Shock Resistance is somewhat rare and most Daedra are vulnerable to it (obviously not Storm Atronachs). Only 2 Grand souls are needed to fully recharge the level 15 version of this staff.

[Captain Skinny]

I've been maining shock dmg, so that's good to know. I don't worry about recharge THAT much because I've decided to actually use varla stones for the first time ever.
Sometimes I swear a paralyze staff is OP. I used my at the great gate in Bruma and we just slaughtered 'em
Course Barus still goes and dies

[Heimdall313]

Paralyze is generally best, your staff is kind of a panic weapon when you're out of magicka and Paralyze is extremely powerful to get a good escape in a tough fight or simply to beat something to death when you don't deserve to win lol. Its one of the most OP effects in Oblivion when your foe isn't immune.

Silence doesn't stop Lesser Powers, which is what most creatures, undead, and Daedra use to inflict spells like Silence of the Grave, Wrack, etc. but is good against Conjurers and Necromancers, mainly to block their summons. Works great on Liches, but is often absorbed or reflected.

Destruction, they are all stomped by most staffs you can get off a dead Lich, or Apotheosis for sale in Rindir's Staffs (Imperial Market District).

[Captain Skinny]

Originally posted by Heimdall313:

Paralyze is generally best, your staff is kind of a panic weapon when you're out of magicka and Paralyze is extremely powerful to get a good escape in a tough fight or simply to beat something to death when you don't deserve to win lol. Its one of the most OP effects in Oblivion when your foe isn't immune.

Silence doesn't stop Lesser Powers, which is what most creatures, undead, and Daedra use to inflict spells like Silence of the Grave, Wrack, etc. but is good against Conjurers and Necromancers, mainly to block their summons. Works great on Liches, but is often absorbed or reflected.

Destruction, they are all stomped by most staffs you can get off a dead Lich, or Apotheosis for sale in Rindir's Staffs (Imperial Market District).

Apotheosis was my first big purchase and it had me one shotting everyone at lvl 5