In the words of the great Mr. Ollivander, “the wand chooses the wizard”. Since we can’t just walk into Ollivander’s shop, we have put together a Harry Potter wand quiz to help you find out what yours would be. This quiz focuses on the three wand cores that Ollivander considers to be best: Phoenix feather, Unicorn tail hair, and Dragon heartstring. Each of these cores is different and posses different types of magic.
What Is Your Wand Core?
Instructions: All you have to do is answer the questions about yourself and we will let you know the wand core that you would have. We have also included some more details at the end of this page on each different type of cores. This will give you some insight into what your core says about you. It will also let you know some of the famous Witches and Wizards that you share a core with.
- Want more? Check out the full list of our personality quizzes.
Harry Potter Wand Quiz: More Details About Each Core
Here are the potential wand cores that you could have gotten on our quiz. We also provide some additional context about the core and which wizards and witches share it with you.
Dragon Heartstring
As the name suggests, the wands are made from the heartstring of a dragon. According to Pottermore, the wands made from this core are typically the ones with the most power. They are capable of the flashiest spells and can be the most temperamental. These wands tend to bond strongly with their current owner but can also change allegiance if won from the original holder. Dragon Heartstring wands are also the easiest to turn to the dark arts and are prone to accidents.
List Of Notable Dragon Heartstring Wand Users:
Hermione Granger, Viktor Krum, Gilderoy Lockhart, and Professor McGonagall all had wands that used Dragon Heartstring. So did Bellatrix Lestrange, Peter Pettigrew, Lucius Malfoy, and Dolores Umbridge. It is also worth noting that Garrick Ollivander used this core for his own and he is widely considered as the best wandmaker in the world.
Phoenix Feather
As the name suggests, these wands are made from a Pheonix feather. According to Pottermore, the wands made from this core tend to be the most unique. They are the most independent of wands and tend to be very picky in their selection of wizard and witch. Phoenix feather wands are the toughest to control and personalize. These wands also sometimes act on their own accord.
List Of Notable Phoenix Feather Wand Users:
Harry Potter and Voldemort both had wands that used Pheonix feathers as their core. The feathers come from Fawkes, who is Albus Dumbledore’s Phoenix.
During an interview, JK Rowling noted that she would want her wand to have a core of Phoenix feather and says that is why she gave it to Harry.
Unicorn Tail Hair
As the name suggests, these wands are made from the tail hair of a Unicorn. According to Pottermore, the wands made from this core are typically extremely loyal to their Wizard. They are said to show great loyalty to their original owner, even if they aren’t an accomplished wizard. They are not the most powerful but they tend to be the most consistent. Unicorn Tail hair wands are said to be the toughest to turn to the dark arts. They are also wands that often need to be replaced the most.
List Of Notable Unicorn Tail Hair Wand Users:
All of Ron Weasley’s wands were made of Unicorn Tail hair. Draco Malfoy, Cedric Diggory, Neville Longbottom, and also Remus Lupin had wands that used Unicorn tail hair.
List Of Other Known Wand Cores
Here are some other wand cores that we didn’t include on our quiz but exist in the Wizarding world.
Veela Hair
Fleur Delacour’s wand was made from a single strand of Veela hair. According to Pottermore, Fleur is part-Veela and this hair was from her Grandmother. After looking into it, Fleur is the only known wizard or witch from the series to use Veela hair as their wand core.
Thestral Tail Hair
The Elder Wand is made from Thestral tail hair. Thestral’s are the creatures that can only be seen if the person looking has witnessed death. JK Rowling has described the tail hair as a “powerful and tricky substance”. She also says that it can only be mastered by someone (witch or wizard) who is able to face death. The Elder Wand is the only wand in the series that is known to use Thestral Tail Hair as the core.
Basilisk Horn
According to Pottermore, Salazar Slytherin’s wand was made from the horn of a Basilisk. Salazar is the founder of Slytherin house and was also the first recorded parselmouth. Fans of the Potter series should be very familiar with what a basilisk is.
Wampus Cat Hair
Johannes Jonker was known to use Wampus cat hair for the core of the wands that he made. According to Pottermore, he was a muggle-born wizard and his wands were said to heavily desired. A Wampus is a magical cat. It is also the animal that inspired one of the houses at the Ilvernmorny school of magic.
White River Monster Spine
Thiago Quintana was said to make wands out of the spines of White River Monsters. These wands were said to produce spells of “force and elegance”. After Quintana’s death, wands using this core stopped being produced. A White River Monster is a type of magical fish.
Thunderbird Tail Feather
Shikoba Wolfe was known to use Thunderbird tail feathers as the core of his wands that he produced. These wands were said to be difficult to master but were extremely powerful if you were able to do so. A Thunderbird is a magical creature that is similar to a Phoenix. It is also one of the houses at Ilvernmorny.
Rougarou Hair
Violetta Beauvais was known to use the hair of Rougarou as the core of the wands that she produced. These wands were rumored to adapt really well to dark magic but non-dark wizards and witches were also able to use them. Rougarou are dog-headed monsters that lived in the swamps of Louisiana
Snallygaster Heartstring
According to Pottermore, Snallygaster Heartstring has been used as a core but no users have been revealed. A Snallygaster is a magical creature that looks like a dragon.
Jackalope Antlers
According to Pottermore, Jackalope antlers has been used as a core but no users have been revealed. A Jackalope is a Jack Rabbit that has antlers.
Kelpie Hair
On Pottermore, it is noted that Ollivander’s father used to use kelpie hair to make wands. No wand users have been revealed. A Kelpie is a water demon.
List Of Wand Woods
Another key aspect of any wand is the type of wood that is used. In this section, we highlight all of the different types of wand woods that have been revealed and the notable characters that they belong to. This section will also help you pair the core you got on our quiz with a type of wood:
Acacia
Acacia is said to create wands that are “tricky” and they only produce for their owners. It also saves their most power for the most talented wizards and witches that use them.
Alder
Alder is a wood that is best used by someone that is likable, helpful and not stubborn. This is the wood that is used by Quirinus Quirrell for his wand, paired with Unicorn tail hair.
Apple
Apple is a rare wood that is best used by someone that is loved by a lot of people and someone with a long life expectancy. This was the wood that is used by Dylan Marwood, who is the author of Merpeople: A Comprehensive Guide to Their Language and Customs.
Ash
Ash is a wood that is best used if it remains with the same owner. It loses all of its power if passed down to someone else. This is the same core that is used by Charlie Weasley, Ron Weasley, and Cedric Diggory, who all paired it with Unicorn tail hair.
Aspen
Aspen is a wood that has a close resemblance to Ivory and are known for Charms. This core is used by members of The Silver Spears, who were a secret Wizarding dueling group.
Beech
Beech is a wood that performs poorly for those who are intolerant and narrow-minded.
Birch
Birch is a wood that was used by Dolores Umbridge, paired with dragon heartstring as the core.
Blackthorn
Blackthorn is a wood that is best used by someone that is considered to be a warrior. This is said to be used by Sir Cadogan, who paired it with troll whisker.
Black Walnut
Black Walnut is a wood that favors those with good insight.
Cedar
Cedar is a wood for someone that is perceptive. It was used by Horace Slughorn, who paired it with dragon heartstring.
Cherry
Cheery is a wood that is rare and highly sought after. It is used by Mary Cattermole (paired with Unicorn Tail Hair), Neville Longbottom (paired with Unicorn Tail Hair) and Gilderoy Lockhart (paired with Dragon Heartstring).
Chestnut
Chestnut is a wood that was used by Peter Pettigrew (paired with dragon heartstring) and Silvanus Kettleburn (paired with Phoenix Feather).
Cypress
Cypress is a wood that is best paired with someone willing to die a heroic death. This wood was used by Remus Lupin, who paired it with unicorn tail hair.
Dogwood
Dogwood is a wood that is said to be mischievous.
Ebony
Ebony is a wood that is best used by someone that isn’t afraid to be themselves.
Elder
Elder is a wood that is the most rare of all and very tricky to master. This is used by anyone who possessed the Elder Wand.
Elm
Elm is a wood that is said to produce very few accidents. It is the wood that was used by Lucius Malfoy for his wand, paired with Dragon heartstring.
English oak
English Oak is said to be an extremely loyal type of wood. This type of wood was used by Hagrid.
Fir
Fir is a wood that is said to pair well with strong-minded and intimidating users. It is the type of wood that is used by Minerva McGonagall, paired with dragon heartstring.
Hawthorn
Hawthorn is a wood that pairs well with those who are conflicted. It is the type of wood that is used by Draco Malfoy, paired with Unicorn tail hair.
Hazel
Hazel is a wood that pairs well with someone who can manage their own feelings. It is said to be used by Sybill Trelawney, who paired it with Unicorn tail hair.
Holly
Holly is a wood that pairs well with someone who is going to be going through something dangerous. It is the wood that was used by Harry Potter, which was paired with Phoenix feather.
Hornbeam
Hornbeam is a wood that pairs well with a talented person who is determined to accomplish their goals. It is the wood that was used by Viktor Krum and Garrick Ollivander, who both paired it with Dragon Heartstring.
Ivy
Ivy is a wood that not much is known about.
Larch
Larch is a wood that pairs well with someone who needs some extra courage. This is the wood that is used by Celestina Warbeck, who paired it with Phoenix feather.
Laurel
Laurel is a wood that can perform powerful spells.
Mahogany
Mahogany is the wood that was used by James Potter for his wand.
Maple
Maple is the wood that is best suited for someone that loves nature and to explore.
Pear
Pear is a wood that best pairs with someone that is popular.
Pine
Pine is a wood that best pairs with someone who likes to be by themselves.
Poplar
Poplar is a wood that best pairs with someone who has strong morals. It is the wood that is used by Eldritch Diggory and Evangeline Orpington.
Prickly ash
Prickly ash is the wood that was used by Chadwick Boot, paired with a Horned Serpent core.
Red oak
Red oak is a type of wood that is used by duelers.
Redwood
Redwood is a type of wood that is used by someone who makes the right choices.
Reed
Reed is a type of wood that not much is known about.
Rosewood
Rosewood is a type of wood that used by Fleur Delacour, paired with a Veela hair core.
Rowan
Rowan is a type of wood that is best used for defensive spells.
Silver Lime
Silver Lime is a type of wood that is best used by those who are skilled at Legilimency.
Spruce
Spruce is a type of wood that is best used by someone that is not nervous.
Sugar Maple
Sugar Maple is a type of wood that not much is known about.
Swamp mayhaw
Swamp mayhaw is a type of wood that was used for Seraphina Picquery’s wand, paired with a Rougarou hair core.
Sycamore
Sycamore is a type of wood that is best paired with someone that is curious and adventurous.
Tamarack
Tamarack is a wood that not much is known about.
Vine
Vine is a type of wood that is best paired with someone who fights for a higher purpose. It is used by Hermione Granger, who paired it with a dragon heartstring core.
Walnut
Walnut is a type of wood that can be lethal in the hands of the right owner. It is used by Bellatrix Lestrange, who paired it with Dragon Heartstring.
Willow
Willow is a type of wood that is best paired with someone that is insecure. It was used by Ron Weasley and Lily Potter.
Yew
Yew is a type of wood that is best paired with someone who is unusual. It is the type of wood that is used by Lord Voldemort and Ginny Weasley.
What did you get on our Harry Potter wand quiz? Let us know in the comment section below and also share it with your friends to compare! Personally, I ended up with Unicorn tail hair as my core and I think that it fits me pretty well.
Make sure to also take our most popular quiz, which Hogwarts House would you be sorted into?