creating a wand

Here at RUTH, you can create a wand that is truly unique for your character. Using various resources, including Pottermore, HP wiki, xEmily of RPG-D and our own creations*: we have built up an extensive guide that will help you make that decision. We will go through the woods, the cores, the lengths and flexibility. You do not have to use this guide to create your wand (you can use Pottermore if you prefer).

Wand woods

Alder

Alder is extremely rare, as many wandmakers will refuse to take wood from an alder. The ‘bleeding’, turning from white to red, is considered to be inauspicious. The few wands made of alder are often those with strongly opposing cores (such as doxy wings and phoenix feather), as the wood imposes balance.

Apple

Apple is a gentle, outdoorsy wood that would find favor with a student skilled in Herbology or Care of Magical Creatures. It tends to get overwhelmed easily, and is thus rarely used with powerful cores (multiple dragon heartstrings or phoenix feathers, for example).

Ash

Ash is slightly associated with the Dark Arts, as the ash tree is said to ‘strangle’ the plants around it. It does excel at Dark magic, but is also good for Transfiguration. They also tend to bond to good Diviners.

Aspen

Those with aspen wands tend to be defiant and talkative. This wand boosts power in Charms, but detracts from Healing magic.

Beech

Beech is a strong, neutral wood that has no particular strengths or weaknesses, with the exception of one small quirk- it tends to function less effectively underwater.

Birch

Although it has a reputation for weakness, in actuality birch is one of the finest light wandwoods in existence. It is associated with both driving out evil spirits (and thus will produce a strong Patronus) and with healing magic.

Black ironwood

An African import, remarkable in that it will sink rather than float in water. Although its strength might imply a powerful wandwood, it is rarely used, even in African wandcraft- its weight, particularly in longer wands, impedes spellcasting, and it is next-to-useless underwater.

Black Walnut

A beautiful dark wood, this wand is more decorative than Dark, and is actually a strong Light wood- black walnuts produce a chemical that kills poisonous plants of the Nightshade family.

Blue Spruce

Like spruce, a strong wood that excels in everything except the Dark Arts. However, a witch or wizard with a strong personality can coax more out of a blue spruce wand than a spruce one.

cedar

Cedar is a rather docile wandwood with particular skill in protective spells. Cedar wand wielders often become potent Occlumens.

Cherry

A “happy”, willing wandwood, which will give consistent results at all magic save the Dark Arts. Cherry with phoenix feather is a particularly agreeable combination for a Light wizard without particularly prodigious magical talents.

Chestnut

Chestnut is quite good at Transfiguration, although it tends to sputter at Charms and DADA.

Copper Beech*

Unlike the common Beech wood, the copper beech is far more impressive and dramatic than its relative. Wand makers of Britain have experimented with this wood to produce wands of spectacular magic, but few have accomplished the feat. An owner of the copper beech would be foolhardy, and often spontaneous in his or her magic. Their spells come in great power once the wielder has definite purpose, but is often fickle in everyday spells. It's a 'touch and go' wand that surprises the spellcaster as well as the witness to their magic.

Cypress

Cypresses have long been associated with the Greek god of the underworld, Hades. This wand has subtle power, and is good at Transfiguration and Dark Arts.

Dogwood

Dogwood is extremely hard and strong, and the wands made from it will have this resilience. It was once used for making daggers, and hence has a slight violent streak.

Ebony

Ebony is the most famous of the Dark woods, although not the most powerful. However, for visual impact and power, it is amongst the best.

Elder

Although it is rumoured that the most powerful wand in existence was made of elder, it is not a particularly common wandwood, if only because when elder wands backfire, they often kills the wandmaker or wielder.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus trees grow quickly, so these wands channel that liveliness to be both willing and powerful. However, they are rather rare, and are most commonly Australian imports.

Fir

Fir is not a common wandwood because of its undesirable physical properties, but is occasionally seen in outdoorsy wands.

Gingko

This is a highly unusual wandwood, and is rarely seen in the West. For over a millennium, it competed with plum as the most popular Chinese wandwood, however, as gingko trees ceased to be a wild species, the wood began losing favour. The commonly held perception that wild woods lead to stronger wands means that modern gingko wands are fairly rare. This is not to say that gingko is not a useful wandwood: it has great staying power, and is good for calming temperamental cores.

Greenheart*

It is commonly found in northeastern South America and is a wood you almost never see despite its durability and resistance to rot. This a wood that it difficult to work with which is why it’s so uncommon in the world of wandmaking. It is stubborn in its approach to magic and would not do well for a wizard expecting versatility. Greenheart is the strongest when used for darker magic despite its non threatening colour.

Hawthorn

There is a unique ritual associated with the harvesting of hawthorn for wandwood- they are only cut in symbolic pruning at Beltane. It is an excellent DADA wand, as it symbolizes protection.

Holly

The archetypal Light wandwood, Holly is renowned for its ability to repel dark spirits and demons. It may reduce your power in hexes, but the boost you get to DADA may just balance it out.

Hornbeam

Hornbeam, or ironwood, is considered to be the most stubborn of wandwoods. Those who have the necessary will to master it will be rewarded with an extremely powerful wand.

Ivy

An uncommon wandwood due to the difficulty of harvesting thick enough pieces, it is often worth the trouble, as it is deceptively strong.

Jezo Spruce*

Native to northeastern Asia, the jezo spruce is a more expensive, rarer wand wood for wizards within and around eastern Asia. It is found to be remarkable for healing magics and potions but poor for transfiguration. It’s most noted for being thinner than its contemporaries while remaining decently reliable for the wielder.

Juniper*

The owner of a wand made of Juniper is a creator, a maker, and most commonly a lover of the home. Juniper wielders value family and friendship, and are often calm and concise in temperament. They would make brilliant potion brewers, particularly concoctions devoted to healing, health and happiness. Nothing unsettles those of the Juniper wand, because they know they can find strength in their social connections.

Kaya

A lovely yellow wandwood of Japanese origin, it is extremely rare in British wandmaking. However, those bonded to Kaya wands will find their abilities in logical arts, such as Potions, Astronomy, Ancient Runes, and Arithmancy, boosted.

Linden

Linden, or lime, has not been widely used in British wandmaking. However, German wizards have long favored it for its association with Freya, and most powerful German DADA wands are made of linden.

Madrona

A beautiful evergreen from the Pacific Northwest region of North America, it is rare in British wandmaking. However, its distinctive peeling bark denotes its magical powers of change- hence, a powerful wood for Transfiguration.

Mahogany

Mahogany is a good all-around wood, not particularly powerful in any one situation, but a good solid overall wood.

Maple

Maple is a good, sturdy wood, and a bit more magical than oak. It’s rather versatile.

Monkey Puzzle*

A person who has the branch of the monkey puzzle as their wand is often well-liked, valued and has an alluring personality. Wandmakers of Britain often give this wand to someone who they immediately feel is true to themselves, and has that rare spark of likeableness to anyone they would meet. However, it is often said that owners have hidden sharpness to their temperaments. They can be feisty and impulsive. Owners of this wand wood can be talented in charms and offensive magic, but it is rare that they have gone to do real harm on others.

Oak

Oak is a strong, reliable wandwood that helps with DADA and Transfiguration. However, its sturdiness means that it may take longer to learn new spells.

Pine

A quiet wood, not powerful, not weak. It is a softwood, and thus has a bit more yield, making it more inclined to a quick-learning but less powerful wand. It is, however, excellent for Divination.

Plum

Plum wood is not common in English wandmaking, however, it is a traditional Chinese wandwood that has gained favor in Central Europe. It seems to be much like applewood, if slightly more inclined to Charms.

Poplar

Although poplar is a light wood, it is sometimes found in the wands of Dark Wizards, who find its properties of being extremely similar to human bone desirable.

Rainbow Eucalyptus*

The rainbow eucalyptus is one of the very few eucalyptus woods you wouldn’t see in Australia with the exception of imports. This wood usually falls into the hands of more eclectic witches and wizards that lean towards speciality in charms. It is most commonly found in wands from southeastern Asia extending to an extent of Oceania. Unlike most wands, this wood features numerous colors making anyone who wields it stand out.

Redwood

This wood excels at all wand-based magic, but it rarely bonds to witches and wizards who do well in the non-wand-based arts. Don’t expect this one to make a good potion stirrer!

Reed

Reed is always delicate, and a difficult wand to work with. However, its wisdom and intelligence make it sought-after by some. It is almost solely a Ravenclaw wandwood.

Rosewood

Rosewood is graceful and will complement phoenix feathers, unicorn hair, veela hair, and fairy wings nicely. However, other cores end up at odds with the wood.

Rowan

Rowan gives a definite boost to Charms and Transfiguration, but is one of the most willing and reliable all-around wandwoods. It was commonly used for a bow-making wood, and carries this significance into being a good duelling wood.

Sequoia

Another American wood, this is not commonly used in British wandmaking. However, the great age of the trees gives them plenty of time to absorb ambient magic, and hence this wood is ideal for those both strong-willed and in touch with nature.

Spruce

Spruce is a good, reliable, standard wandwood. You can’t go wrong with it.

Sycamore

A relatively new wandwood, many of sycamore’s properties are as yet unknown. However, it excels at divining, and would help with Divination, Arithmancy, and Ancient Runes.

Vinewood

Vinewood is flexible, which one might think would denote a yielding wood. However, it tends to be extremely erratic, and it is a strong wizard or witch who overcomes the insecurities the wood holds to become successful with it.

Walnut

A beautiful, strong, and versatile wood. Unlike black walnut, it has no slant towards Light or Dark.

White Pine

White pine is a unique wandwood, as it radiates serenity. It cannot be exhausted too much or it will strain and become quite fragile, but it is otherwise docile and easy to work with.

Willow

Willow is known as “the tree of enchantment”, and is hence quite favoured for Charms. It also enhances healing magic, and is overall a willing, feminine wandwood.

Yew

Yew is a powerful wandwood. Due to its poisonous sap, it has Dark leanings, and is particularly good at Transfiguration.

wand cores

common

Dragon Heartstring

Dragon heartstring is a powerful wand with a lot of magical “heft”. It is not the core you want for subtlety, but for sheer power it is definitely the best. Although it is the most common core among Dark Wizards, Dark Wizards are most certainly not their most common users. Dragon heartstrings are by far the most common wand core amongst Slytherins, but their power often bonds to Gryffindors and Ravenclaws as well. However, they tend to overwhelm the archetypal Hufflepuff personality.

Phoenix Feather

Phoenix feather is a popular wand core due to its versatility and power. Its main strength lies in Defence Against the Dark Arts, although its adaptability can wrench it to hexes and jinxes if need be. As with the dragon heartstring core, the phoenix core is common amongst Light Wizards, but its users are not necessarily Light Wizards. This core may specifically impede Dark spells, so it is not common amongst Slytherins. However, it is by far the most common Gryffindor wand core, and is not unusual amongst Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs.

Unicorn Tail Hair

Unicorn hair is a more subtle wand, but it is quite compatible with Charms and Transfiguration. It is also hands-down the best core for healing, as it picks up some of the healing capabilities of unicorn blood. Unicorn hair has a reputation of picking gentler or more cerebral users, so it is common amongst Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. More laid-back Gryffindors and subtler Slytherins may find themselves with a Unicorn hair wand.

exotics & originals

Alicanto Feather*

Found most commonly in Chile, it’s a rare wand core for a witch or wizard to have. Alicanto is known for its metallic hues based on its diet of either gold or silver ores. When used as a wand core, it often ends up in the hands of a wand-bearer with a knack for alchemy.

Angel Feather*

There is only one wand that has an angel feather as its core, and only one being knows about it: Drogros, its demon creator. The Angel feather, as a core, has the power of resurrection, amongst other, powerful properties. We're talking about something that could probably either destroy or save the world, depending on the wielder. Probably a good thing that it's being kept well hidden at the moment.

Ashwinder Ash

Ashwinders are small grey serpents that come out of magical fires. They lay fiery eggs that tend to set buildings on fire. The ash from the fires created by Ashwinders can be used as a wand core. Ashwinder ash core is the best for protection charms.

Acromantula Web

If you're thinking about having a wand made with Acromantula web, you're probably a fan of having your wand confiscated by the authorities. Using a wand with this core has been illegal in Britain since 1782, after it was discovered that the wielder of an Acromantula web wand has particular ability with Dark magic, especially the Imperius curse. There are certain diplomatic exceptions, as it is a traditional core for Asian wands, but even those are temporary, and many wizard diplomats on long-term assignments find themselves compelled to procure replacement wands for their stay.

Augurey Tail Feathers

Augureys, or Irish phoenixes, were once associated with powerful Dark wands, as their cries were thought to signify an upcoming death. However, they were in reality never a strong Dark core, and were more accurately a powerful core for Divinations. Misunderstood students may find themselves bonded to an augurey wand, although these wands are altogether quite rare.

Basilisk Skin

Basilisk wands are incredibly rare, as the beasts are rare to begin with and hard to kill. Due to the rarity, they often are passed down from generation to generation, so basilisk-core wands are either the heirloom of Slytherin-type Pureblood families or reforged wands from family cores. The occasional new basilisk wand will almost always bond to a Parselmouth or budding Dark Wizard. Very little good comes out of wielders of basilisk wands.

Billywig Stinger

Billywig stingers are not common in Britain, but are occasionally imported from Australia, the native habitat of the Billywig. Billywig wands bond almost exclusively to light-hearted pranksters, and are extremely capricious- at one moment it will produce the strongest Cheering Charm in the school, but another time it will object to being used as a potion stirrer and siphon up hours of work without so much as a by-your-leave. When they do bond to a witch or wizard, they tend to be of Hufflepuff or Gryffindor.

Boomslang Venom

Boomslang venom, whether crystallized or in a rarer liquid core, provides a small boost to jinxes and hexes thanks to its venomous qualities. However, when a wandmaker undertakes the dangerous task of working with the raw venom, it is generally with the aim of creating a powerful Transfiguration wand. Whether or not the advantages outweigh the risks is not generally agreed upon in wandmaking circles.

Cerastes Horn*

A rare core that is often imported from Greece, a horn of a cerastes is often bound to a witch or wizard who possesses a deceiving nature. It is suitable for both the dark and defensive arts while also being flexible for other types of magic even if the strength varies.

Chimera Scale Fragment

Although chimera scales are magically powerful, they are extremely rare in modern wandcraft. This is not out of any concern for safety, as they are generally considered no more stubborn than hippogriff feathers, and are more stable than Erumpent hide. The fact of the matter is that there are more recorded basilisk slayings in the past fifty years than there are chimera slayings in all of recorded history. This one slaying occurred in Greece over two millenia ago, so what scales were harvested at that time have been degraded, broken, and dispersed.

Today, they are only found as parts of heirloom cores, and even then, all such cores are a more common core (often dragon heartstring) with a tiny fragment of scale embedded. Chimera wands are most common in Greece and the Balkans, although as they were circulated through the Mediterranean and former Roman Empire they are found throughout Europe. These wands are prized for their raw power, although they are difficult to control.

Curupira Hair

A kind of forest-dwelling dwarves native to Brazil, these hairs are often found in the wands of talented, unpredictable wizards. As this core is considered unstable, it isn't unheard of for spells cast with the wand as a result of falling into the posession of somebody else to drastically backfire.

Demiguise Hair

Demiguise hairs were long considered to not have enough oomph to make a proper wand, but with the advent of multiple cores they have gained favor for their strength in Transfiguration and the subtle arts. When combined with a stronger wand core they make potent wands, however, on their own they can be rather one-dimensional and difficult to use for anything but Transfiguration. They have found favor in students of all Houses, although they may be slightly rarer among the open Hufflepuffs.

Dittany Stalk

The only known wand core derived from a plant, these wands are known for being particularly competent at healing-related magic and potions. The nature of Dittany doesn't bond well with more malicious wizards due to its tendency towards restoring than destroying.

Doxy Wings

Doxy wings, like the creatures they come from, can be unmanageable and mean-spirited. They are second only to basilisk wands in their abilities with the Dark Arts, and as such these rare wands are most often found in the hands of stubborn Slytherins without the familial connection to obtain a basilisk core.

Erumpent Hide

There is a very good reason this is an exotic- Erumpent hide wands are extremely dangerous, and don't take well to high levels of magic or sharp impacts. They may add a 'punch' to spells when combined with a gentler core, but most wandmakers refuse to work with it completely due to the danger it poses to maker and wielder.

Fairy Wing

This core makes for a light, airy wand, and is the absolute best for Charms. They also signify a connection to the mystic, so these wands, despite their relative rarity, are used by nearly half of known witches and wizards with the Sight. Despite their astounding strength in Charms, they are merely average in Defense Against the Dark Arts and Transfiguration, and will often fail at hexes altogether. As such, they’re not commonly found in Slytherin House, but are common in Hufflepuff. Ravenclaws and Gryffindors may be drawn to this core, although they tend to react better to blends of fairy wings and unicorn hair.

Fwooper Feather

Fwooper feather wands are said to be a mark of ill omen for the wizards they bond to, as, like the birds they come from, they are rumored to slowly drive their wielder mad. Despite their poor reputation, they do well with Charms and Care of Magical Creatures. However, they have a near-inability to cast Quietus. They are commonly combined with another feather core, such as the phoenix for health or the hippogriff for stability.

Griffin Claw

A majestic creature of enormous strength, the griffin is consider to be king of beasts and birds; it possesses the bravery of a lion and the dexterity of an eagle. They are often known to guard vast treasures. A griffins claw is a wise choice for one who wishes to cast powerful defensive spells, charms or hexes. It would make an excellent companion to woods that draw off the elements of air and earth.

Hippogriff Feather

Hippogriffs are noble animals with a reputation for not taking a slight. These wands require constant respect, and if the wielder does not give it, they can watch its formerly stable and versatile magic backfire on it. It is not the strongest core, but it is one of the most adaptable. These wands are most common amongst Gryffindors, but they are rare overall.

Hippogriff Talon

Hippogriffs are the product of a cross between a griffin and a horse. They are winged, with a piercing stare because they demand respect. A Hippogriff talon can only be taken after the death of a Hippogriff. Using a Hippogriff talon as a core results in a wand well-suited for charms, as well as a wand that demands respect.

Horned Serpent Horn

This core was first used by Isolt Sayre and James Steward around the founding of Ilvermorny in the 17th history. These wands are noted for being powerful and sensitive to the use of Parseltongue, alerting their owners of any dangers by emitting a low musical tone.

Kelpie Hair

Kelpie hairs are incredibly temperamental cores, explaining their rarity. They were once common in Celtic wandmaking, however, the import of demiguise hairs has resulted in them falling out of favor. They have similar qualities to demiguise hair, and are powerful Transfiguration cores when they don't backfire spectacularly.

Leprechaun Hair

Leprechauns are little humans that are native to Ireland. Wands with Leprechaun hair core are popular with Irish witches and wizards and tend to be temperamental for the Non-Irish.

Manticore Hair

The manticore is an intelligent yet ferocious creature. With the brave heart of a lion and the cunning head of a human, the manticore is not a beast to be trifled with. A manticore hair would be a wise choice for one who wishes to cast dangerous hexes or miraculous charms. It would make an excellent companion to woods that draw of the element of earth, as the manticore dwells in the depths of the earth.

Pegasus Wing Feather

The pegasus is a powerful creature of flight. Strong and agile, the pegasus is thought to create springs where ever its hoof touches the earth. A wing feather would be a wise choice for one who wishes to control the four winds or harness the power of lightning. It would make an excellent companion to woods that draw off the elements of air, lightning, and water.

Runespoor Fang

Runespoors are orange and black three-headed snakes. They were favoured by Dark witches and wizards. Runespoor fang core is the best for dealing with Dark Magic.

Serpent Scale

The serpent is a mystical creature often misrepresented in literature. Dangerous and stealthy, the serpent was summoned to guard and defend ancient temples or places of power. They have the power to heal, poison or provide expanded consciousness, which would make a wise choice for one who wishes to brew potions or cast defensive spells. A serpent scale would make an excellent companion to woods that draw off the element of earth and water.

Veela Hair

Veela wands are temperamental like the creatures they come from, and are considered too volatile for a decent wand core in many circles. However, some wizards, particularly those with Veela blood, enjoy the boost it gives to outdoorsy magics, divinations, and Charms. The veela’s inherent intelligence makes finding these wands among the non-Veela blooded most common in Ravenclaw.

length and flexibility

Length

Between 7 and 15 inches. Length is mostly a matter of preference, although you will rarely see a 7-inch wand bond to someone who will grow to a large stature.

Flexibility

The flexibility of a wand is generally a measurement of its willingness to work for its chosen Witch or Wizard. A witch with a whippy wand might learn spells faster than a wizard with a rigid wand, but the wizard with a rigid wand will have more spell strength once he finally masters it. Rigid and inflexible wands are the hardest to master, but dependent on their core and wood, can be the most powerful. There is also an element of material inherent- it is rare to find a whippy mahogany wand or a stiff reed wand.

List of Flexibility:
(Easiest to learn and cast, least powerful)
Very flexible
Quite flexible
Surprisingly swishy
Swishy
Quite bendy
Fairly bendy
Whippy
Pliant
Supple
Reasonably supple
Slightly springy
Slightly yielding
Solid
Stiff
Hard
Rigid
Unbending
Unyielding
Brittle
(Hardest to learn and cast, most powerful)