Did you know, that when you sign up to HarryPotter.com, you can discover everything you could possibly need to know about your wand? Yes, from the wood to the core to the length and even the flexibility – discover what that may say about you!
With so many wonderful personalities reflected in all these wands, we wanted to home in on the two most important elements – the core and wood – and explore (with a helping hand from Ollivander) what that might mean for you. With 114 possible wood and core combinations, some are more common than others. Out of them all, these were the 10 rarest – can you spot your wand on this list?
10th: Walnut & Phoenix
Kicking off our list, we have a wand which would suit someone of a highly intelligent nature. According the brilliant wandmaker, Garrick Ollivander, walnut wands are often drawn to the innovators and inventors. Coupled with a phoenix core which is known to show initiative (occasionally acting of its own accord) and capable of the greatest range of magic, together you’d make a perfect pair – full of curiosity and always on the brink of a great discovery.
Interestingly, two of the most famous phoenix core owners were a Slytherin and a Gryffindor – that is reflected here too. While it sits at number 10 overall, it doesn’t make either the Slytherin or Gryffindor top 10 as their 16th rarest. You will find the least of these wands in Hufflepuff, as the seventh rarest, and only a handful more in Ravenclaw at number nine.
9th: Red Oak & Unicorn
Wands made from red oak are suited to those who are quick on their feet with lightning reactions. In short, it is the perfect wand for duelling. With unicorn cores known to produce the most consistent magic, which is least subject to fluctuations and blockages, we imagine this rare combination would suit someone who would be described as both reliable and efficient. Someone who can make snap decisions under pressure and nearly always gets it right.
While this wand is uncommon across all the houses, there is quite a stark difference between its popularity in Hufflepuff compared to Slytherin. Despite being the ninth rarest overall, it doesn’t make the Hufflepuff top 10 – breaking into the top 20 at number 17. Whereas in Slytherin, it just misses the top spot in second place. It does make the top 10 for both Gryffindor and Ravenclaw in 10th and eighth position.
8th: Blackthorn & Unicorn
A rare wand for a rare personality. If this is yours, we imagine you are regarded as a pillar of strength – possibly even a great leader. An unusual wand wood, blackthorn wands have a reputation for suiting warriors best. They are powerful and loyal but need to go through danger or hardship with their owner to solidify their bond. With loyalty being a key trait of the unicorn core too, we imagine that you are someone who people often trust. You have had your fair share of challenges in life but have faced them head on and have not allowed it to shatter your faith in others.
The Slytherin ranking for this combination mirrors its overall position in eighth place. It is less common in Hufflepuff and Gryffindor in sixth place. However, in 13th place, you will find a few more in Ravenclaw.
7th: Red Oak & Dragon
If this is your wand, then we think that you are an extrovert who wears their heart on their sleeve. Owners of red oak wands are often known for ability to produce distinctive spells – almost like their signature or trademark. Interestingly, dragon heartstring is the wand core capable of producing some of the most flamboyant spells. Together? This is not a wand for somebody who wishes to simply fade into the background. No, you are someone who stands out from the crowd and doesn’t shy away from the spotlight.
Interestingly while red oak wands are often drawn to those with a quick wit, out of the four houses, you’ll find the least in Ravenclaw where it’s their third rarest. It is only slightly more popular in Slytherin, taking fourth place. Gryffindor matches the overall ranking at number seven, and there are a few more in Hufflepuff as their ninth rarest.
6th: Red Oak & Phoenix
As the owner of this rare wand, we imagine you are known for your air of wildness. You are not someone who likes to be pinned down – living life in the fast lane and by your own rules. When you consider than red oak wands are often drawn to those who are adaptable and quick-thinking, and combine that with a phoenix core, which are notoriously hard to tame, then we think this wand would reflect your free-spirited nature perfectly.
Even though it is the sixth rarest wand combination altogether, in 11th place, it sits just outside the 10 rarest wands in Hufflepuff. On the flip side, it takes the top spot in Slytherin as their rarest wand! In fourth and eighth place, it is still one of the rarer wands in Ravenclaw and Gryffindor.
5th: Blackthorn & Dragon
Not only is blackthorn wood renowned for its prodigious power but dragon cores are too. While power can corrupt, and both elements of this wand can be swayed towards the Dark Arts, it doesn’t mean they will be. To paraphrase Dumbledore, it is our choices that show who we really are, not our abilities. As the owner of this wand, it goes without saying that you are someone who possesses great skill, knowledge and ambition. Most importantly? You know that with great power comes great responsibility and you don’t take it for granted.
While it sits at the midpoint of our list of ten rarest wands, this is actually the rarest wand in Hufflepuff. Gryffindor matches the overall ranking, and it is slightly more popular in Ravenclaw in sixth place. As their 13th rarest, you’ll find the most in Slytherin.
4th: Blackthorn & Phoenix
We wouldn’t say that this wand combination has trust issues… but we would say it is one of the hardest to win over. Both the core and the wood have a rather picky reputation – expecting their owner to prove themselves before they’ll truly accept them. Perhaps this is a character trait you recognise in yourself? If this is your wand, we imagine you’re somebody who can be closely guarded at first. It takes you a while to warm up and let people see the real you. Yet, once you do, you are the definition of loyalty and will stand by your loved ones no matter what.
Climbing the ranks of rarest wand, the blackthorn and phoenix wand is number four on the rarest list. It is even less common in Gryffindor and Hufflepuff in third and second place but slightly more popular in Slytherin and Ravenclaw in sixth and seventh place.
3rd: Poplar & Dragon
Did you know that two of the Ministry’s most accomplished Ministers for Magic, Eldritch Diggory and Evangeline Orpington, were the owners of wands made from poplar wood? As this wand wood values reliability, strength and consistency, you can see how it was drawn to them. Building on that, we also know dragon heartstring cores produce the most powerful magic. Put them together and we imagine you’re someone extremely impressive, who exudes an air of authority but is clearly fair-minded too.
Despite being one of the rarest wands overall, it sits just outside of the Slytherin top 10 at number 11. Taking all three of the rarest spots, it is less poplar in the other houses – third in Hufflepuff, second in Gryffindor and the rarest in Ravenclaw.
2nd: Poplar & Phoenix
If this is the wand that chose you, then we see you as a visionary. You dream big but you’re also proactive in trying to follow your grand ideas through. Ollivander believed that poplar wood wands are happiest when working with a witch or wizard of clear moral vision. Combine that with the resourceful phoenix core which refuses to sit on the sidelines… and you’ve got an accurate reflection of your personality. You don’t just wait for things to happen – you make them happen. You don’t do things by halves.
Interestingly, this wand happens to be both the second rarest wand overall and the second rarest in Ravenclaw. Yet, you will find more among the other houses. It takes the fourth spot in Gryffindor and Hufflepuff and is slightly more common in Slytherin in seventh place.
1st: Poplar & Unicorn
As Ollivander’s grandfather, Gerbold Ollivander, liked to say, ‘If you seek integrity, search first among the poplars’. That’s something we can get on board with – especially for this wand. Poplar wand wood and unicorn hair are both known for their strong moral compass. Uneasily swayed to the Dark Arts, they remain consistent, loyal and true. If this is your wand, then we believe that the same can be said for you. Throughout your life, you have proved you will always choose what is right over what is easy and have an admirable inner strength.
In first place, the poplar and unicorn wand takes the title of rarest wand. This is the same for Gryffindor, but it is slightly more common in the other houses. In Slytherin, you will find it at number three, and it is fifth for both Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw.
What about the Hogwarts houses?
As both your house and your wand reflect your personality, we’re not surprised to see that different houses find themselves drawn to different wood and core combinations. As a result, each house’s list of their 10 rarest wands looked a little different.
So, which wands appeared on a house list that didn’t make the overall top 10? Let’s find out…
Ravenclaw 10th, Gryffindor 9th and Slytherin 9th: Willow & Dragon
This wand combination is all about raw potential. It’s about recognising a diamond in the rough. Spotting someone who is always willing and eager to learn. As the Ollivander family proverb goes, ‘he who has furthest to travel will go fastest with willow’. It’s not just the wand wood that gives us this impression, when you consider that dragon cores have a reputation for being powerful but temperamental too. As someone with this wand, you might struggle with some insecurities, but you’re destined to go far.
At number 11 overall, the willow and dragon wand just misses the cut as one of the 10 rarest wands. However, this is not the case for three of the houses. It is the 10th rarest wand for Ravenclaw and the ninth for Gryffindor and Slytherin. However, you will find a few more of these wands in Hufflepuff as their 24th rarest.
Slytherin
10th: Willow & Unicorn
Did you know that Ron Weasley had this wand? It makes sense to us. As Harry’s loyal best friend, who (despite being a pure-blood) had never been tempted to turn towards the Dark Arts, a unicorn wand core was a brilliant match for him. Plus, despite Ron’s struggles with his with self-esteem, it was clear that he always had the ability to become someone brilliant – which he did. If you happen to share this wand with Ron, you probably relate to his story on a personal level because you’ve been on a similar journey too.
Curiously, it feels as though the biggest differences in wand popularity can be found between Hufflepuff and Slytherin. While this is the 10th rarest Slytherin wand, it is much more common in Hufflepuff as their 42nd rarest! You’ll find this at number 20 for both the overall and Ravenclaw ranking. Ron Weasley might have had this wand combination, but it’s still the 14th rarest for Gryffindor.
5th: Willow & Phoenix
With a wand wood known for its healing power and a core that is known for its initiative and range of magic… we think this a wand that would be suited to the practical among you. Those who are analytical and like to solve problems. Those of you that are drawn to professions like medicine or teaching. Those who always want to fix things.
Interestingly, despite it being the fifth rarest in Slytherin, this wand combination is far more popular in Hufflepuff – it’s only their 28th rarest! Although, we’re not entirely surprised, with their house reputation of being a down-to-earth bunch. It might be the 14th rarest overall, but in 12th place, you will spot less in Ravenclaw and Gryffindor.
Hufflepuff
10th: Holly & Phoenix
When we think about this wand combination, we picture a storm of emotions. You see, holly wands are protective and look out for their owners with a hot-headed streak. Yet, phoenixes are some of the most independent and detached magical creatures to exist. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to pair the two together. However, when they find their perfect match, nothing can stand in their way. Perhaps you see this reflected in your own personality? You are a mass of contradictions, an unstoppable force of nature but your determination is unparalleled.
As the same wand as Harry Potter, while still rare, we’re not surprised to find the most in Gryffindor at number 23. It doesn’t make the list for Ravenclaw and Slytherin either as their 15th and 19th rarest. It just sneaks into Hufflepuff in 10th place and is 16th overall.
8th: Walnut & Dragon
A formidable combination of intelligence and power, this is a wand that feels as though it is almost capable of anything. If you have this wand then we would probably describe you in a similar way. You are an extremely fast learner who picks up just about anything. Your brain seems to work on a whole different level and people have refereed to you as brilliant, or even a genius, on more than one occasion. Nevertheless, such brilliance needs to be channelled correctly to avoid falling into the pitfalls of corruption – something you actively try to do.
Despite it making the Hufflepuff list as eighth rarest, this wand is 13th overall. Slytherin reflects the overall ranking, and you’ll find a few more in Gryffindor as their 17th rarest. Finally, this takes 11th place for Ravenclaw.
Don’t see your wand here? Perhaps that’s because yours is one of the most popular… stay tuned to see if yours is on that list.
If you are yet to discover what your wand might be, you can take the official wand quiz right here.
