Wands, Wood, and Magical Properties

[-- jae-hwa]

Wand Cores and Magical Properties

*Ashwinder Ash - Not all that rare, but yet not that common, it is useful for casting the best protection charms.

*Augurey Tail Feather - Not a strong Dark Arts core, they are much more useful for those in Divination and those who are misunderstood.

*Basilisk Skin - Another rarity of wand cores, this is another type of wand good for the everyday Dark Wizard. They usually take to Slytherin Purebloods or a Parselmouth. Not much good can come out of this wand.

*Billywig Stinger - Bonding quickly to those carefree prankster types, they tend to stick to mostly Hufflepuffs or Gryffindors.

*Boomslang Venom - Whether crystallized or in liquid form, it adds a strength boost to jinxes and hexes. Very rarely though, if the wand is created with raw venom, it can be a very good Transfiguration wand.

*Chimaera Scale - A rare core it is, but in gaining it, it is very powerful. It usually enhances the spells one uses to a more strong level.

*Demiguise Hair - Only the best wand for Transfiguration and Transmogrification. Again, good for those who are poor in these areas.

*Doxy Wing - These wands can be uncontrollable and very, very mean. Second to Basilisk Skin wands in the Dark Arts area, these are usually wielded by Slytherins.

*Dragon Heartstring - Hexes, curses, and jinxes are rather a specialty of this core, even if the user is somewhat inept at it.

*Erumpent Hide - Extremely dangerous, these are a rare type of wand because it poses as a great threat to both maker and wielder. But on the bright side, if they are combined with a gentler core, they may add an 'oomph' to spells, but they don't take well to high levels of magic.

*Fairy Wing - A light and airy wand, it's the best for Charms work. These are wielded by those with "The Sight", or psychics. They are average in Defense Against The Dark Arts and Transfiguration, but they fail at hexes. They are rare in Slytherin, and are mostly found in the other houses.

*Fwooper Feather - A mark for ill omens, they are said to drive their wizard insane. They are excellent for Charms and Care of Magical Creatures, but the absolutely suck with casting "Quietus". They are usually mixed with Phoenix Feather or Hippogriff Feather.

*Hippogriff Feather - These wands demand continuous displays of respect, and if these demands are not meant, they normally backfire on the wielder. It is an adaptable wand core, and mostly found in Gryffindors.

*Hippogriff Talon - Very excellent for those who deal with Charms, and Charms work.

*Kelpie Hair - Balanced in all that it performs, this wand core is a good with all sorts of spells.

*Leprechaun Hair - Somewhat temperamental to those who aren't of Irish descent.

*Phoenix Feather - A very magical core, two rather special ones in existence. Usually it's only one feather from a phoenix.

*Runespoor Fang - Best for those who dawdle in the use of Dark Magic. Excellent in curses, hexes, and jinxes.

*Unicorn Hair - Best for those who are pure of heart. To say, they work much better for those who aren't Death Eaters and the sort.

*Veela Hair - A very temperamental core, it is considered too volatile for a decent core. Most Veela-blooded wizards enjoy it's boost for outdoorsy magic, Divination, and Charms. It's most common to non-Veela blooded people in Ravenclaw.

Wand Woods

*Alder - Extremely rare, the wands made of alder are often those with strongly opposing cores, as the wood imposes balance.

*Apple - A gentle, outdoorsy wood, it is usually found with a student skilled in Herbology or Care of Magical Creatures. It gets overwhelmed easily, and is rarely used with powerful cores.

*Ash - Ash is associated with the Dark Arts sometimes. It does excel in the Dark Arts, but it is all good for Transfiguration and tends to bond to good Diviners.

*Aspen - Those who wield these wands tend to be defiant and talkative. It boosts power in Charms, but detracts from the magic of Healing.

*Beech - A strong, neutral wood that has no particular strengths or weaknesses. It does have on small disadvantage - it functions less effectively in water.

*Birch - Birch is one of the finest Light wand woods in existence. It is associated with both driving out evil spirits - such as dementors - and with healing magic.

*Black Ironwood - This type of wood will sink rather than float in water. It is rarely used though, since it's weight impedes spell casting, and is next-to-useless in the water.

*Black Walnut - A dark wood, this is more decorative than what it implies - Dark. It's actually a strong Light wood and is useless when it comes to the Dark Arts.

*Blue Spruce - This wood excels in everything besides the Dark Arts. However, a wizard with a strong personality can coax more out of a Blue Spruce wand than a Spruce one.

*Cedar - A docile wand wood, it's particular speciality is protective spells. Wielders of this wood often become potent Occlumens.

*Cherry - This will give consistent results in all magic, except for the Dark Arts. Cherry and Phoenix Feather is an agreeable combination for a Light wizard without exceptional magical skills.

*Chestnut - A very excellent wood for Transfiguration, but it tends to be less then excellent in Charms and Defending against the Dark Arts.

*Cypress - Long associated with the Greek God of the Underworld, Hades, this wand has subtle power, and is good with Transfiguration and the Dark Arts.

*Dogwood - Extremely hard and strong, its wands will have this resilience. It was once used for making daggers, hence the slight violent streak.

*Ebony - The most famous of the Dark Woods, it is not the most powerful. However, for visual impact and power, it is amongst the best.

*Elder - Rumored that the most powerful wand in existence was made of elder wood, it is quite rare. If the wands backfire, they often kill the wand maker or wielder.

*Eucalyptus - Eucalyptus trees grow quickly, and so, these wands channel that liveliness to be willing and powerful. Although, they are rather rare.

*Fir - Not a common wand wood, it has a few undesirable physical properties, but it is occasionally seen in outdoorsy wands.

*Hawthorn - These wands are only cut in symbolic prunings at Beltane, but nonetheless, it makes an excellent Defense Against the Dark Arts wand, seeing as how it symbolizes protection.

*Hazel - Quiet and versatile, it gives subtle boots to Charms and Transfiguration. It is another wand wood that denotes skill in Divination.

*Hemlock - A quick wand wood, it allows for fast reactions and makes an excellent potion stirrer.

*Holly - A Light wand wood, it's known for its ability to repel dark spirits and demons. It reduces your power in hexes, but the boost to Defense Against the Dark Arts might balance it out.

*Hornbeam - Also known as Ironwood, it is considered to be the most stubborn of wand woods. Those who have the will to master it, may be rewarded with an extremely powerful wand.

*Ivy - Difficult to come by, the harvesting of the wood is often worth the trouble, as it is deceptively strong.

*Kaya - A wand wood of Japanese origin, it is extremely rare in British wand making. However, those who are bonded to it, will find their abilities in logical arts such as Potions, Astronomy, Ancient Runes, and Arithmancy boosted.

*Linden - Or lime, it has not been widely used in British wands. However, German wizards have long favored it, and the most powerful German Defense Against the Dark Arts wands are made of linden.

*Madrona - Because of its origin, it is quite rare in British wand making. 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.

*Oak – Oak is a strong, reliable wand wood that helps with Defense Against the Dark Arts 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 wand making, however, it is a traditional Chinese wand wood that has gained favor in Central Europe. It seems to be much like apple wood, 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.

*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 wand wood.

*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 wand woods. It was commonly used for a bow-making wood, and carries this significance into being a good dueling wood.

*Sequoia – Another American wood, this is not commonly used in British wand making. 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 wand wood. You can’t go wrong with it.

*Sycamore – A relatively new wand wood, 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 wand wood, 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 favored for Charms. It also enhances healing magic, and is overall a willing, feminine wand wood.

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