The Most Powerful Wands In 'Harry Potter'

What It's Made Of: Elder wood, the rarest type of wood used to create wands because it is generally considered unlucky. This wand is unnaturally long at 15 inches and at its core contains a Thestral hair, another rare wand component.

Types Of Magic It Can Do: It can complete any form of magic that does not contradict Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration. The Elder Wand is designed to perform incredible acts of magic that are achievable only if the owner of the wand has achieved its allegiance. 

Its Most Powerful Feat(s): The near-destruction of Paris, France. Gellert Grindelwald uses it to perform a spell that would have wiped out the city if multiple Aurors and other wizards had not used their combined powers to curb the spell. The most powerful successful curse it performs is the destruction of the shield around Hogwarts. Voldemort carries out the curse, which is ironic, because the wand's allegiance isn't to the Dark Lord.

What It's Made Of: Fir, which suits wands in the hands of masters who have strong willpower and are gifted in Transfiguration. This wand is 9 1/2 inches in length with a dragon heartstring core. The combination of the dragon heartstring's ruthlessness and fir's inner strength allow the wand to create powerful spells that don't become too dangerous.

Types Of Magic It Can Do: Primarily magic based on Transfiguration. Minerva McGonagall completes superb feats in this branch of magic, which can change objects into something else entirely.

Its Most Powerful Feats: McGonagall's wand is incredibly quick in two instances: first, when she reverses the human Transfiguration of Draco Malfoy into a ferret; and second, when she defeats Severus Snape in combat, turning his conjured fire snake into smoke and a swarm of daggers, which forces him to retreat.

What It's Made Of: Implied to be crafted from ebony based on its structure, this wand was used by Albus Dumbledore during the first half of his life (before he obtains the Elder Wand). Ebony is best suited for combat and Transfiguration, and "is happiest in the hand of those with the courage to be themselves," according to Garrick Ollivander.

Types Of Magic It Can Do: A blend of defensive magic, Charms, and Transfiguration. As a Hogwarts teacher for Defense Against the Dark Arts and Transfiguration, Dumbledore uses this wand to complete incredible acts in those areas. According to his O.W.L. examiner, Griselda Marchbanks, Dumbledore demonstrated magic she had never seen in her life during his Transfiguration O.W.L. exam.

Its Most Powerful Feat: Casting a fog over Trafalgar Square in London. Dumbledore uses the wand for a charm of great scale that shrouds the streets in fog so he can have a discreet conversation with Newt Scamander.

What It's Made Of: Yew, which has poisonous properties and makes for wands that are proficient in curses. This wand, 13 1/2 inches in length, has a phoenix feather core. Wands with such cores generate power, and can act on their own accord based on their master's most patented spells.

Types Of Magic It Can Do: Dark magic at its most extreme. Its affinity for Voldemort's innate power is known because the magic holds long after Voldemort has completed a spell.

Its Most Powerful Feat: Voldemort slays many people with the wand, including James and Lily Potter and Cedric Diggory, which of course is terrible. But this wand's most incredible feat is creating an army of Inferi, a curse of cadavers that remains active decades after the initial spell. The curse in the cave guarding Voldemort's Horcrux remains dormant until someone attempts to remove the Horcrux, at which point the curse on the Inferi is activated. 

What It's Made Of: Snakewood, which wandmakers like Garrick Ollivander don't use because snakewood trees are extremely difficult to prune. Slytherin creates his own wand, which contains the horn of a Basilisk (a giant snake) at its core. As a Parseltongue, Slytherin can control the wand on his own, causing it to wake or sleep at his will. 

Types Of Magic It Can Do: This wand is perfect for doing dark magic. In the hand of Slytherin's descendent, Gormlaith Gaunt, the wand eliminates Muggles and Gormlaith's sister, whom she finishes off with a single stroke.

Its Most Powerful Feat: Killing Gormlaith Gaunt's sister and brother-in-law. Gormlaith uses the wand to instantly burn the pair's cottage with no effort whatsoever. On the grounds of Ilvermorny School, where the wand is buried after it becomes inactive, it sprouts a snakewood tree with magical medicinal leaves.

What It's Made Of: Holly, an element that suits those with a daring mentality. Eleven inches long, it contains the core of a phoenix feather - from the same phoenix that supplied the feather for Voldemort's wand. The combination of phoenix feather and holly is difficult, because "the wood’s volatility conflicts strangely with the phoenix’s detachment," according to Garrick Ollivander.

Types Of Magic It Can Do: Advanced defensive magic. Harry chooses to go the defensive route in his battles, which balances out the wand's boldness to create strong spells best suited for Defense Against the Dark Arts. It includes the casting of charms that act as defensive barriers, along with accuracy of the Expelliarmus spell.

Its Most Powerful Feats: Harry's wand is known for two instances of extremely powerful magic: first, the creation of a Patronus charm that repels hundreds of Dementors at the same time; and second, the creation of a golden flame to protect its master when the wand recognizes Voldemort as Harry's enemy during the flight of the seven Potters.