Hi, i have all the DLC's but im still really struggling to decide what follower to use, ideally i'd like a mage with me being a melee templar/paladin so a powerful mage who will use staves/staffs i give them, anybody got any suggestions on good candidates?

J'zargo or Marcurio.

Yep them two or that vampire woman

Belrand plays like a paladin as well, using flesh, healing, and ward spells. If you give him a staff, he fights like Gandalf. Sword/Ward in right hand, staff in the other.

erandur no good?

Oh he will do well just keep an eye on him in combat or give him health potions seems to get hurt a lot or it could have been my play style with the character I was using him with.

If you've completed the Azura's Star quest, Aranea makes an excellent magic-using follower.

Read about Aranea http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Aranea_Ienith.

Shiro she seems cool! uses staves too?

thanks everybody