History Main / TelescopingStaff

* Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse: The Justice League Unlimited version of Big Barda (seen in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' and ''[[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Justice League Unlimited]]'') wields her Mega Rod in combat. Its length can change to suit her needs. Also doubles as a BoomStick.

* Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse: The Justice League Unlimited version of Big Barda (seen in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' and ''[[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Justice League Unlimited]]'') wields her Mega Rod in combat. Its length can change to suit her needs.

* Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse: The Justice League Unlimited version of Big Barda (seen in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' and ''[[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Justice League Unlimited]]'') wields her Mega Rod in combat, and its length can change to suit her needs.

* ''Series/BabylonFive'': The Rangers use a form of these although they go from the size of your palm to standard length. [[BlatantLies Also works as a medical scanner]] [[SchmuckBait if you look at the end of it]] [[TapOnTheHead and give it a firm shake.]]

This weapon is an expandable Staff (stick fighting weapon), able to change its length and/or girth (paging Dr. Freud!); possibly [[JustForPun extending]] into TelephonePolearm proportions. The ability of the staff to become smaller is more often used for portability's sake, though it can still have practical purposes.

%%** Stephanie Brown also uses one once she becomes ComicBook/{{Batgirl|2009}}.

%%* As with Wukong "The Monkey King" himself, the staff was featured in ''Film/TheForbiddenKingdom''.

%%* Donatello's bō is given this treatment in ''Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2014''.

%%* Jade in ''Franchise/MortalKombat'' has this as a part of her arsenal.
%%** In ''VideoGame/MortalKombatX'', Kitana uses Jade's staff (as well as her shuriken) as one of her variant fighting styles, aptly titled "Mourning".

* Nanase from ''VideoGame/StreetFighterEX'' uses a bō staff of this nature. Her Meteor Combo involves her using the weapon to launch out of orbit, then utilizing her gain in speed and momentum to pummel her foe during atmospheric re-entry.

%%* Cheetara in both ''WesternAnimation/ThunderCats'' series uses one.

* In ''Film/HellboyIITheGoldenArmy'', Nuada's weapon of choice is a [[BladeOnAStick spear]] which can extend and retract, apparently by magic.

* Saberstaffs in the Franchise/StarWars universe. Introduced with Darth Maul in the films, but more common in the games. [[VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords Atton Rand]] comments about how they're known for "more slaughter per swing" and are favored by Dark Jedi and Sith, with the Jedi of the era seeing them as a sign the wielder is showing signs of falling. [[spoiler: And in the first KOTOR game, that's certainly the case with Bastila.]] But come the VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic era, they're the favored weapons of Sith assassins and Jedi Shadows (a sub-set of Consulars who focus on some of the less-pleasant missions of the Order). Oddly enough, they also work ''very'' well for Form Three/Soresu lightsaber combat, a form that is primarily defensive. (Shadows and Assassins can be tank-specced and Darth Zannah used the form to compensate for her petite build.) Which makes some sense, because two blades theoretically allow you to block twice as many attacks at a time.

%%** As does Series/KamenRiderDouble's Metal Shaft.

This WeaponOfChoice is an expandable Staff (stick fighting weapon), able to change its length and/or girth (paging Dr. Freud!); possibly [[JustForPun extending]] into TelephonePolearm proportions. The ability of the staff to become smaller is more often used for portability's sake, though it can still have practical purposes.

* By proxy, in ''Manga/{{Saiyuki}}'', another Sun Wukong/Son Goku interpretation has the same type of Nyoibou as well, which in chapters not seen in the anime explains that it was from a sealed jar as a cursed weapon which can repair itself in fine condition whenever its summoned. It can also turn into a sansetsukon (three-section staff) as well.
* [[Franchise/SailorMoon Tuxedo Mask]] has a cane that can do this. Sometimes it also has a [[SwordCane sword]] in it too.
* ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'': [[AnimeChineseGirl Ku Fei]]'s pactio artifact, Shintetsu Jizaikon, is a replica of the one used in ''Literature/JourneyToTheWest''. It even supposedly shares the same name. Notably, its width can increase in proportion to its length, meaning that it can be used as a ''artillery'' because being stuck by the end of it when it's expanding is comparable to being hit by a train.
* ''Manga/LoveHina'': When Naru played Son Goku in the play of ''Journey to the West'', she made the staff extend in an {{Omake}}; however when [[ButtMonkey Keitaro]] played the part and uses the staff, it does not do this for him.
* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'': The Third Hokage's monkey summon Enma can transform into one of these made out of Adamantine. Again, another Wukong/Goku reference.
* ''Anime/ReadOrDie'': A clone of [[Literature/JourneyToTheWest Tripataka]] uses Sun Wukong's staff.

** Stephanie Brown also uses one once she becomes ComicBook/{{Batgirl|2009}}.

* A telescoping staff was one of the original weapons of ComicBook/CaptainBritain.

* As with Wukong "The Monkey King" himself, the staff was featured in ''Film/TheForbiddenKingdom''.

* Donatello's bō is given this treatment in ''Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2014''.
* Saberstaffs in the Franchise/StarWars universe. Introduced with Darth Maul in the films, but more common in the games. [[KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords Atton Rand]] comments about how they're known for "more slaughter per swing" and are favored by Dark Jedi and Sith, with the Jedi of the era seeing them as a sign the wielder is showing signs of falling. [[spoiler: And in the first KOTOR game, that's certainly the case with Bastila.]] But come the VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic era, they're the favored weapons of Sith assassins and Jedi Shadows (a sub-set of Consulars who focus on some of the less-pleasant missions of the Order). Oddly enough, they also work ''very'' well for Form Three/Soresu lightsaber combat, a form that is primarily defensive. (Shadows and Assassins can be tank-specced and Darth Zannah used the form to compensate for her petite build.) Which makes some sense, because two blades theoretically allow you to block twice as many attacks at a time.

* In ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}},'' Loki transforms his Chitauri scepter into a longer, bladed staff. He likely employs illusions to achieve this effect.

** Another less-known example from ''Journey to the West'': Even if it is not brought up as often, [[TheBigGuy Sha Wujing]]'s weapon in the novel is a special club made of mahogany wood and gold. According to him, it can stretch and enlarge at will just like Sun Wukong's staff, but since he doesn't fight as much as him, this fact is often overlooked.

* A technological, rather than magical, telescoping staff appears as a weapon in ''Literature/GrandCentralArena''. It's explicitly mentioned that the designer was inspired by Sun Wukong's staff.
* The neo-Zulu in Neal Stephenson's ''Literature/TheDiamondAge'' wear telescoping spears.
* In the third book of ''Literature/RuneBreaker'', Pele gets a SteamPunk version of this. In the final book, she jams it into a monster's mouth and activates it.

* ''Series/BabylonFive'': The Rangers use a form of these although they go from the size of your palm to standard length. [[BlatantLies Also works as a medical scanner]] [[SchmuckBait if you look at the end of it]] [[TapOnTheHead and give it a firm shake.]]

* Series/KamenRiderKuuga's Dragon Rod would start as a short staff which would lengthen when deployed in battle.
** As does Series/KamenRiderDouble's Metal Shaft.
* ''Series/KamenRiderSaber'' has the Riyu Jingu Bang itself as part of the Saiyuu Journey Ride Wonder Book as a arm-mounted weapon, which is part of Saber's Crimson Dragon combo form.

* Raijin, a [[GoldfishPoopGang recurring enemy]] from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'', wields one of those.

* Jade in ''Franchise/MortalKombat'' has this as a part of her arsenal.
** In ''VideoGame/MortalKombatX'', Kitana uses Jade's staff (as well as her shuriken) as one of her variant fighting styles, aptly titled "Mourning".

* ''VideoGame/KirbyStarAllies'' introduces the Staff ability to the series, which gives Kirby a staff that can extend itself. It's yet another shout-out to Sun Wukong's staff, as the Staff ability's hat includes Sun's golden fillet.

* ''Webcomic/TheCyantianChronicles'': Darius is [[http://cyantian.net/blog/2010/06/18/06182010/ given one]] for his [[http://cyantian.net/blog/2010/06/16/06162010/ birthday]].
* Danzig from ''Webcomic/{{Flipside}}'' uses one of these.

* Cheetara in both ''WesternAnimation/ThunderCats'' series uses one.
* Prince Pyrus from ''WesternAnimation/ShadowRaiders'' uses one in combat situations.

* The Serpent of ''WesternAnimation/{{Detentionaire}}'' uses one with [[DoubleWeapon dual blades]].
* Robin on ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'' has a telescoping bo staff in his tool belt.

Subtrope to RetractableWeapon, MorphWeapon, and SimpleStaff. Note that the default state is still a ''staff'' or polearm, not a baton or other size-changing weapon.

* ''Franchise/DragonBall'': Goku's Nyoibou (dub-translated as Power Pole) is his principal weapon for most of the first series but largely disappears in ''Anime/DragonBallZ''. The said first saga at this point was loosely based on ''Literature/JourneyToTheWest'', hence Son Goku's adventures. Adding into this is the fact that Goku's name and his staff (and cloud) have the exact name renderings as Sun Wukong himself, only in the Japanese on'yomi reading.

* ComicBook/{{Robin}} uses one across media, especially in the ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' animated series and the ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity'' video game. In the comics proper, it was given to [[Comicbook/RobinSeries Tim Drake]] by ComicBook/LadyShiva. She offered to train him to perfection in the weapon of his choice, and Tim picked the staff because it's non-lethal potential while the other Robins have different iconic weapons.
* Stephanie Brown also uses one once she becomes [[ComicBook/Batgirl2009 Batgirl.]]
* ComicBook/{{Gambit}} from ''ComicBook/XMen'' uses one, often made out of Adamantium, which he can channel his explosive power through as it will survive the blasts.

* Robin on ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' has a telescoping bo staff in his tool belt.

* Saberstaffs in the Franchise/StarWars universe. Introduced with Darth Maul in the films, but more common in the games. [[KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords Atton Rand]] comments about how they're known for "more slaughter per swing" and are favored by Dark Jedi and Sith, with the Jedi of the era seeing them as a sign the wielder is showing signs of falling. [[spoiler: And in the first KOTOR game, that's certainly the case with Bastila.]] But come the VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic era, they're the favored weapons of Sith assassins and Jedi Shadows (a sub-set of Consulars who focus on some of the less-pleasant missions of the Order). Oddly enough, they also work ''very'' well for Form Three/Soresu lightsaber combat, a form that is primarily defensive. (Shadows and Assassins can be tank-specced and Darth Zannah used the form to compensate for her petite build.) Which makes some sense, because two blades theoretically allow you to block twice as many attacks at a time (

* Saberstaffs in the StarWars universe. Introduced with Darth Maul in the films, but more common in the games. [[KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords Atton Rand]] comments about how they're known for "more slaughter per swing" and are favored by Dark Jedi and Sith, with the Jedi of the era seeing them as a sign the wielder is showing signs of falling. [[spoiler: And in the first KOTOR game, that's certainly the case with Bastila.]] But come the VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic era, they're the favored weapons of Sith assassins and Jedi Shadows (a sub-set of Consulars who focus on some of the less-pleasant missions of the Order). Oddly enough, they also work ''very'' well for Form Three/Soresu lightsaber combat, a form that is primarily defensive. (Shadows and Assassins can be tank-specced and Darth Zannah used the form to compensate for her petite build.) Which makes some sense, because two blades theoretically allow you to block twice as many attacks at a time (

* Nanase from ''VideoGame/StreetFighterEX'' uses a bō staff of this nature. Her Meteor Combo involves her using the weapon to launch out of orbit, then utilizing her gain in speed and momentum to pummel her foe during atmospheric re-entry.
* Hualin, a bonus character in ''[[VideoGame/SoulSeries Soulcalibur III]]'', fights using the Create-A-Soul staff discipline. Some of her moves (namely her unblockables) involve it growing to mammoth proportions, using changes to throw the opponent from a range.

* In ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaCurseOfDarkness'' you can build the Nyoi-Bo staff using {{Orichalcum}}, five bamboo spears, and five bamboo swords. It's quite weak, but has the greatest reach and is perfect against multiple, weak opponents.
* In ''VideoGame/MegamanZero'', Zero has access to the Triple rod, basically a spear that can be extended up to three times or can be used to bounce over enemies.
* Raijin, a [[GoldfishPoopGang recurring enemy]] from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'', wields one of those.

* Wukong and his weapon from ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' - appropriate, being a largely inspired by Sun Wukong/Son Goku.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/DungeonsAndDragons'' cartoon, Diana has one of these as her magic item. Another ability it has is an easy way to repair it if it breaks -- she can do so simply by holding the pieces together, as she did in one episode.

This WeaponOfChoice is an expandable Staff (stick fighting weapon), able to change its length and/or girth (paging Dr. Freud!); possibly [[{{JustForPun}} extending]] into TelephonePolearm proportions. The ability of the staff to become smaller is more often used for portability's sake, though it can still have practical purposes.

* ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'': [[AnimeChineseGirl Ku Fei]]'s pactio artifact, Shintetsu Jizaikon, is a replica of the one used in ''Literature/JourneyToTheWest''. It even supposedly shares the same name. Notably, its width can increase in proportion to its length, meaning that it can be used as a ''artillery'' because being stuck by the end of it when it's expanding is comparable to being hit by a train.

* Comicbook/{{Robin}} uses one across media, especially in the ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' animated series and the ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity'' video game. In the comics proper, it was given to [[Comicbook/RobinSeries Tim Drake]] by ComicBook/LadyShiva. She offered to train him to perfection in the weapon of his choice, and Tim picked the staff because it's non-lethal potential while the other Robins have different iconic weapons.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* In ''VideoGame/Persona5'', Ryuji’s penultimate weapon is the Ruyi Jingu Bang itself, the ''original'' telescoping staff, furthering his MonkeyKingLite traits, which is made from itemizing Hanuman. In ''Royal'', it gets a stronger variant called the Fine Ruyi Jingu Bang, which is made from itemizing Hanuman while itemizing Hanuman while a Fusion Alarm is sounding.

Some may likely be an {{Expy}} or reference to [[OlderThanDirt Sun Wukong's (a.k.a. Son Goku)]] Expanding Bo-Staff from ''Literature/JourneyToTheWest'', especially in Eastern works.