Are Cantrips sufficient to operate a Staff?

[Luke Styer]

The various multiclass dedications provide cantrips, which scale and a spell list. So a 13th level Multiclass Sorcerer can Cantrips that heighten to 7th level, but has no spell slots of any level. Can that character use a Staff that requires the ability to cast spells of 7th level, assuming the tradition matches?

[WatersLethe]

So, the pertinent rule you're asking about is the following, correct?:

"During your daily preparations, you can prepare a staff to add charges to it for free. When you do so, that staff gains a number of charges equal to the highest-level spell slot you have. You don’t need to expend any spells to add charges in this way."

I don't think it works. Let's consult the Cantrip rules:

"A cantrip is a special type of spell that’s weaker than other spells but can be used with greater freedom and flexibility. The title of a cantrip’s stat block says “Cantrip” instead of “Spell.” Casting a cantrip doesn’t use up your spell slots; you can cast a cantrip at will, any number of times per day. If you’re a prepared caster, you have a number of cantrip spell slots that you use to prepare your cantrips. You can’t prepare a cantrip in any other slot.

A cantrip is always automatically heightened to half your level, rounded up. For a typical spellcaster, this means its level is equal to the highest level of spell slot you have."

Cantrip spell slots are separate from the normal 1-10 level spell slots, they technically don't have a level. Cantrips are just special spells that inherit half your level for determining their power.

[HumbleGamer]

Fortunately they are not considered spells ( in terms of spell slots ).

[tivadar27]

Also note that the wording was changed with the errata I believe. It used to say "highest level spell", now it's spell slot.

[Laran]

Remember that a staff does not have a tradition. It has a collection of spells.

Basics of staves (as I understand it)

A Staff uses charges to allow the wielder to cast spells contained in the staff.

Spells refer to level 1-10 spells which take up spell slots. Cantrips, while in the spell section, are not spells but a different type of magic

If the staff does not have charges, it cannot be used to cast spells. It can cast the cantrip even uncharged since that is not a spell (technically the rules say you cast without using charges which could be construed as requiring the staff to be charged but that is another question)

A staff is charged automatically during daily prep and gains a number of charges equal to the preparers/wielders highest level spell. Since the rules state specifically that contrips are NOT spells, they are irrelevant to the charging question

A wielder can use the charges to cast a staff spell that appears on their spell list (regardless of tradition)

Thus

If your 13th level character has NO spell slots, they cannot charge the staff and the staff cannot be used to cast non-cantrip spells. They can use the cantrip freely if it is on their spell list.

[Luke Styer]

tivadar27 wrote:

Also note that the wording was changed with the errata I believe. It used to say "highest level spell", now it's spell slot.

I didn’t catch that. We were working from the hardcover. That change pretty much answers the question.