I discovered using an elemental staff also increases your level of protection. This is in addition to the Barspell, but is only vaild while you are equiping the staff. I saw a 20 point increase when using the HQ staff over no staff. (I was testing at level 75.)
NOTE: You need to use the staff with the element "opposite"/stronger to the bar spell - because you're asking for protection from <xxxx>.
Edited, Sat Jun 24 20:04:30 2006