Saruman's staff is metallic and black in the films, although depending on the lighting angle, it can appear white. During the epilogue scenes at the Grey Havens, Gandalf is somehow holding a staff that resembles the previous one in shape and color, although this one is significantly longer. Eventually, Gandalf’s white staff breaks when he fights the Witch-king on top of Minas Tirith’s ramparts as he deflected a streak of fire from the Nazgûl Lord’s sword. Gandalf's new staff possesses high strength, although very little is evident in the film adaptation. Galadriel gave him the new staff in Lothlorien, enhancing his powers when he returned. It sports Elvish arches and a pyramid-like structure that forms a hollow looking very much like Gandalf’s earliest staff. The new staff of Gandalf the White appears white and smooth, hewn from ash wood. Gandalf and Radagast with original staves. However, the staff gets lost as Gandalf falls into the abyss, pulled by the fallen creature. In contrast to the book, Gandalf's staff is still intact when he strikes the Bridge of Khazad-dûm with it, during his duel with the Balrog. That staff presumably had a removable illuminating crystal that can adjust its luminosity at Gandalf’s wish. Elrond provides him with another plain wooden staff during one visit to Rivendell. Gandalf uses this specific version of his staff all throughout “The Fellowship of the Ring” and ends when Saruman sequesters it during their Orthanc battle. Subsequently, that staff acquired some damage during the Battle of the Five Armies, with the structure (resembling a root) atop the staff withered, thus approximating Gandalf's staff in 'The Fellowship of the Ring.' Although not visible in 'The Fellowship of the Ring,' Gandalf's staff has a particular place to keep his weed pipe. Much like the way he attacked Saruman during their epic duel inside Orthanc, Gandalf then channels Radagast's staff without the crystal's help. Gandalf evades the troll's assaults and tries to strike back using the staff but to no avail. While trying to use the staff in fighting a troll, Gandalf experiences some trouble as the embedded crystal at the staff’s crown does not respond to the magical incantations he was making. Upon losing his staff to Sauron, Gandalf receives Radagast's staff, which he then uses in the Battle of the Five Armies. Gandalf’s staff in “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” has a crown similar to that of Gandalf, the White's staff. The Necromancer destroys the staff in Dol Guldur as Gandalf tries to fend off Sauron's dark magic. Gandalf uses magic in igniting the crown to light acorns and pinecones and brighten the Fells of Rhudaur. The Weta Workshop group describes Gandalf's staff in 'The Hobbit' trilogies as a flower in bloom and of an elvish motif. Throughout the two trilogies, Gandalf has been shown with five staff variants, with three during his time being Gandalf the Grey.

Gandalf the White bore an everyday staff, white in appearance, and of ash wood constitution. Furthermore, Saruman forfeited his rights as White Wizard the moment he embraced the dark powers of Sauron. Gandalf’s return as one denotes the fact that at that point, Saruman no longer had the authority as a White Wizard. It is interesting to note that only one White Wizard can exist in a lifetime. Furthermore, he was able to condemn and cast Saruman out of the Order of Wizards and, subsequently, the White Council. Having the “ Flame of Anor” available to him, he could then help his friends once again. Gandalf's rebirth significantly increased his wisdom and power, thus enabling him to aid Middle-earth, during its dire need, in a more direct and personal capacity. Having been resuscitated in Lothlorien after his duel with Durin's Bane ( Balrog of Morgoth), Gandalf reappeared as a White Wizard (hereafter referred to as 'Gandalf the White') and became the new leader of the Order of Wizards. Some say that Gandalf also uses it as a weed tamper for his pipe. However, the books indicate that Gandalf uses the tool to etch inscriptions and runes on objects such as stones and the door of Bilbo’s small domicile.

Gandalf's staff has a protruding nail at its bottom end, the purpose of which is not very clear. Gandalf the Grey carried a wooden staff all through the events of “The Fellowship of the Ring.” Gandalf lost that staff when he fell from the Bridge of Khazad-dûm into the abyss underneath Moria's mines.

Gandalf pipe noble collection