Supreme Cores

• Classification: Wand Core Material Category
• Source: Unicorn, Dragon, Phoenix
• Primary Proponent: Garrick Ollivander

“Supreme Cores” is a term used by the celebrated wandmaker Garrick Ollivander to refer to the three magical substances he personally considers to be of the highest quality and which he uses exclusively for the cores of his wands (Pottermore). He believes that these three cores, when paired with the correct wand wood, produce wands of the finest caliber. The three Supreme Cores are:

• Dragon heartstring
• Unicorn hair
• Phoenix feather

While other wandmakers, such as Mykew Gregorovitch, use different core materials like Veela hair, Ollivander is steadfast in his belief that these three are superior to all others.

According to Ollivander's research and writings, each of the Supreme Cores has distinct and powerful properties (Pottermore).

• Dragon heartstring: Wands with this core are the most powerful and are capable of producing the most flamboyant spells. They tend to learn more quickly than other wand types. However, they can be temperamental and are the most prone to accidents. A dragon heartstring wand can change its allegiance if won from its original master. Notable wizards with this core include Hermione Granger, Viktor Krum, and Bellatrix Lestrange.
• Unicorn hair: This core generally produces the most consistent magic and is the least subject to blockages or fluctuations. Wands with unicorn hair are the most difficult to turn to the Dark Arts and are the most faithful to their first owner. A minor disadvantage is that they do not make the most powerful wands and are prone to 'die' if seriously mishandled, meaning the hair must be replaced. Wands belonging to Cedric Diggory, Ron Weasley (his first wand), and Neville Longbottom (his second wand) contained unicorn hair.
• Phoenix feather: This is the rarest type of core. Phoenix feather wands are capable of the greatest range of magic, though they may take longer than other types to reveal this. They are known for showing initiative and can sometimes act of their own accord. They are the most selective when it comes to choosing an owner, and their allegiance is often hard-won. Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort both possessed wands with a core from the same phoenix, Fawkes.

The tradition of using the Supreme Cores was perfected by Garrick Ollivander, who built upon the work of his father and ancestors. The Ollivander family has long held the belief that the finest wands have cores of a powerful magical substance. Garrick's decision to exclusively use dragon heartstring, unicorn hair, and phoenix feather revolutionized wandmaking in Britain, setting a standard for power, consistency, and temperament that he believes is unmatched (Pottermore). This philosophy is highlighted during the Weighing of the Wands ceremony at the start of the Triwizard Tournament, where he inspects the champions' wands and dismisses Fleur Delacour's Veela hair core as “temperamental.”

The concept of the Supreme Cores is central to the plot, primarily through the two wands that share a phoenix feather core: those of Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort. Because their wands are “brothers,” they will not work properly against each other. When forced to duel in the Little Hangleton graveyard, they connected in an effect known as Priori Incantatem, revealing echoes of the spells Voldemort's wand had recently performed. This twin core connection also caused Harry's wand to act of its own accord during the battle in the skies over Little London, where it recognized Voldemort and cast a golden fire spell to defend Harry. The unique and powerful nature of the phoenix feather core, one of the Supreme Cores, is therefore a critical plot device that shapes the conflict between Harry and Voldemort. The properties of the other cores are also demonstrated through characters like Hermione Granger, whose powerful and quick spell-casting is characteristic of her dragon heartstring wand.

The term “Supreme Cores” does not appear in the original seven *Harry Potter* novels. It was coined by J.K. Rowling in her supplementary writings on the Pottermore (now Wizarding World) website. While the books establish Ollivander's exclusive use of these three substances, the formal name and detailed descriptions of their properties were expanded upon in these later writings. Other magical cultures, such as that in North America, use different powerful core materials, including Thunderbird tail feather, Wampus cat hair, Horned Serpent horn, and Rougarou hair, making the “Supreme Cores” an Ollivander-specific, British-centric classification (Pottermore).