Wand Woods in the American Wizarding Confederation
All my love to @americanwizarding for the AWC which they created!
While all wands are capable of performing a full range of magic, it is common knowledge in the wandlore community that certain woods perform better in diverse areas from their compatriots. These differences vary from wood to wood, augmented by their cores, length, flexibility, and the mage they bond with. While we may be able to generalize most woods and cores, an exact science remains impossible with the addition of the human element. Furthermore the trees of America produce magical effects and demonstrate properties that are far different from their European counterparts. Below are 33 examples of popular wand woods used in the AWC.
Black Walnut: The Patronus Wand
The American variety of Walnut is possessed of qualities far unlike that of its European counterpart. Black Walnut wands tend to be paired with masters who imbue the woods prefered qualities of intellect and insight. Potent in all manner of charms, Black Walnut wands are some of the best suited of American wand woods for the production of powerful Patronuses and other defensive magic. While the wand will never turn against its original owner, even if taken in battle, the Black Walnut wand has one very specific foible; it will never function properly for anyone who is not true to himself. This particular quirk has led to the phrase âDarkest Walnut for the Brightest Soulsâ.
Black Willow: The Mental Wand
While the European Willow may pair well with the underachiever, the Black Willow prefers those who are themselves insecure and unsure. Strongly attuned to the inner natures of its owner, Black Willow fuels itself upon those negative feelings. Black Willow holders have noted that bleak periods of depression usually manifested powerful magical abilities that seemed to devour their dark moods. Magical Psychologists typically keep a Black Willow wand on hand to counter and offset the depressive symptoms of their patients. In owners who overcome their darker moods, the Black Willow proves itself a powerful wand, excellent for mental magic and spells that deal with ghosts and other ethereal beings.
Black Cherry: The Passionate Wand
Boasting far more power than their Asian cousins, the American Black Cherry is a deadly force to be reckoned with. This is odd because the nature of Black Cherry prefers artists and philosophers over battlemages and duelists. Owners of such wands tend to be flamboyant and mercurial in emotions and perceptions, but in times of need boast reliability and loyalty. The nature of the Black Cherry wand seems to be that it enjoys the chaos of wild and dangerous magic as much as it loves the beautiful madness of the artistâs mind. Black Cherry takes quickly to elemental magic, particularly fire and air. Of note, MACAWIC did consider banning the wand wood during the late 1800âs after a spate of violent feuds between painters of rival schools.
Osage Orange: The Methodical Wand
A preferred wand of the battlemage, Osage Orange may lack the brute power of other wands but makes up for it in its accuracy and reliability. Owners of such wands tend to be methodical thinkers and pragmatists, as the nature of the wood conflicts greatly with any discord or disorganization. During the initial colonization of the New World by European settlers, Osage Orange wands were prized among the settlers looking to fight against the native tribes who were defending their land. It was because of this connotation with the wood that it fell out of favor during the early 1800âs only to make a strong comeback with the reintroduction of International Dueling Exhibitions in the 1950âs.
Honey Locust: The Technical Wand
A strong wood of reliability and logic, Honey Locust pairs best with mages who display a technical bend of thinking. Honey Locustâs properties mean that it is perhaps the most accurate and delicate of wand woods available today. Highly desired by mages who work in experimental magic, especially magic involving technology as Honey Locust seems to not disrupt Mundane Technology as much as other woods, it tends not to function as well with flashy and violent spells. Honey Locust performs its best magic when used in conjunction with non-verbal magic. The MRD keeps a cache of Honey Locust wands for use in its experiments, and it is a well known historical fact that the mages involved with the first magical spaceflight all used wands of this wood.
Flowering Dogwood: The Prankster Wand
Prankster by nature, the Flowering Dogwood enjoys a wild and chaotic nature bending towards mages who dislike calm and quiet. Typically refusing to use non-verbal magic and magic that has no visual or auditory effect, owners of Flowering Dogwood wands are more likely to violate the International Statute of Secrecy over all other wand woods. One should not think though that this wood cannot be taken seriously as many famous duelists wielded Flowering Dogwood wands to amazing effect. Wands made of this wood are best suited to using transfigurations and illusory magic, specifically illusions that affect all five senses at once.
Blue Ash: The Explorer Wand
Early American explorers were armed only with wands made of Blue Ash for good reason. Blue Ash wands tend toward potent defensive and survival magic and make excellent pairings with naturalists and magizoologists alike. Best bonding with those of brave or at least inquisitive dispositions, Blue Ash proves itself in moments of great need or mortal peril. While it does poorly with loud magic, the Blue Ash is one of the best wands for the transfiguration of natural materials and in particular food. Today some of the greatest chefs in the magical world use wands made of Blue Ash.
Eastern Mayhaw: The Silent Wand
No other wand wood in America has as dark a reputation as the Eastern Mayhaw. Used by Lady Isabelle Temper during her reign of terror, the Mayhaw owner is sometimes unfairly looked upon with distrust by the magical community. Eastern Mayhaw wands pair best with solitary thinkers and other introverts who dislike large groups of people and the noise they bring. Mayhaw wands are well attuned to the subtle magic of silence and death and so are comfortable with non-flashy charms and curses alike.
White Pine: The Regal Wand
Purist families had long praised the properties and powers of pine wands, believing that like Elm wood they would only perform for Pure-Blooded mages. This is of course nothing more than empty boasting and blood prejudice. White Pine is prized because it typically bonds well with those of more regal and serious demeanors, avoiding the jocular and uncouth. Wands of White Pine perform their magic reliably and quietly; one rarely can ever get a wand of this kind to perform loud and flashy magic. Non-verbal spellcasters excel easily with White Pine, and those suited to quiet lives of study or in the salons of the wealthy will find a mutual friend in their wand.
Red Mulberry: The Miner Wand
So-called the wand of the backwoods because of its popularity in the Appalachian Mountains of the AWC. In truth the Red Mulberry enjoys its reputation because of its deep affinity for underground spaces and earth magic. Wands of this sort are possessed of natural abilities for dowsing and divining precious metals, gems, and lost treasures. Old magical families have jealously guarded Red Mulberry trees capable of producing wands in order to limit their rivals treasure hunting prowess; a danger that could undercut some of these old families own methods of gaining wealth, that is prospecting. For those not inclined to hunt below the ground the Red Mulberry pairs well with calm and patient mages. Red Mulberry is known for its slow learning curve with new spells, but its innate precision and reliability more than make up for this downside.
Red Cedar: The Questing Wand
The wand of the mage with a purpose in life, Red Cedar pairs well with those disposed to questing. A steadfast wand wood that prefers owners of strong character and moral fiber who cannot be swayed from their cause by any means. While owners of Red Cedar do tend to be hard headed, this does not mean that they are fundamentalists or extremists, rather they are devoted to their cause. Red Cedar performs well with most charms but does seem to falter with most curses and dark magic.
Hackberry: The Naturalist Wand
The AWCâs famous âmountain menâ (who were mostly women) were known to prefer wands made of Hackberry as their magic blended well with the wilds of the frontier. Today the Hackberry wand is drawn to those who prefer the outdoors over the indoors and those who arenât afraid to leave the forest path. With a bend towards naturalistic magic that gives power over plants and animals, Hackberry wands are found with magizoologists and magical explorers searching for lost cities hidden by ancient enchantments. Much of the Hackberryâs draw is that itâs magic is sometimes completely indistinguishable from nature itself.
River Birch: The Diplomatic Wand
The wand of many languages comes from the river. This old quote from early settlers speaks to the nature of the River Birch wand, namely that it has strong ties to magic affecting language and sound. River Birch owners tend to be diplomatic in nature and excellent public speakers, unafraid of crowds or being the center of attention. River Birch wands excel at magic aimed at infusing the spirit or decoding messages and languages foreign to the owner. While it may not be the most powerful in a battle, owners of River Birch wands tend to be so good at diplomacy that they never need enter battle at all.
Apple: The Healer Wand
Apple wands are the providence of the caregiver and the supporter. Excellent wands for healing and teaching, Apple wood rejects all dark magic and openly embraces restorative and protective charms. Owners of such wands are of a caring nature and are not afraid to put the needs of others before their own. Refusing outright to turn on their original owner, Apple wood wands can and will in fact conspire to return to their rightful master sometimes using their own magic to effect an escape.
Scarlet Oak: The Honor Wand
Fiery personalities find themselves reflected in the nature and power of the Scarlet Oak. A wild and difficult to tame wand wood, the Scarlet Oak bonds with owners of wild passions and a strong sense of personal honor. Preferring that their respect be earned, some wands wonât perform properly until it and its owner pass through some manner of trial or tribulation. Best suited for battlemagic and other violent spells, a wand of Scarlet Oak will flat out refuse to cast non-verbal magic, believing it to be dishonorable.
American Hornbeam: The Rival Wand
Unlike their European cousins the American Hornbeam strives to challenge and rival its wielder, requiring effort and work far beyond that of other woods. Bonding with those who never back down or surrender, Hornbeam wands are actually prized amongst American aurors who view the quirk of the wood to be extremely beneficial to their work. As Hornbeam grows as its wielder overcomes challenges, the aurors who wield them tend to be some of the most powerful mages in the AWC.
Mesquite: The Morphic Wand
A wand of fire and change the Mesquite wand is comfortable in the hands of either a duelist or a transfigurer. Able to handle the complex magic needed for advanced and sometimes dangerous transformations, wands of Mesquite bend morphic fields better and faster than other woods. In the hands of a fighter though the woods propensity for effecting change manifests itself in the wide variety of disfigurements and disabilities one can inflict upon an opponent. Some of the most popular, and conversely dangerous, curses of the late 20th century were invented by mages who owned Mesquite wands.
Catclaw Acacia: The Moral Wand
As fickle as their name implies the Catclaw wand only allies itself with a mage of strong moral standing and impeccable demeanour. Oddly the Catclaw wand is perhaps one of the best at producing curses and other forms of dangerous magic. Some theorists believe that the wood itself is aware of its own power and potential for destruction, and that is why it only bonds with mages who are able to hold themselves in check. It is true that while the wood of the Catclaw could produce devastation on a large scale, it never has as wielders of such wands have yet to be counted amongst the ranks of dark mages.
California Laurel: The Optimists Wand
Laurel wands are known for their glow, gained from the decades spent absorbing the golden sun of California. Pairing best with those who have a positive world outlook, Laurel wood sets itself apart from other woods in its ability to oppose magical influence of the mind. Many Laurel owners are highly accomplished Occlumens, even able to spread their mental protections to those around them. Laurel wands rarely take to dark magic or even the slightest curses, as harm to others seems to be an abhorrent concept to them.
Desert Ironwood: The Survivor Wand
The survivorâs wand links itself with those who have the courage and the ability to overcome the trials set before them. Ironwood earns its name through the power it applies to survivalist magic and protective charms, both of which experience strong boosts when cast by such wands. While wielders of the wood may be strong in body, they are also strong in spirit and belief. Many well-known activists and campaigners for change were owners of Ironwood wands, a testament to the woods affinity for strong souls and brave hearts.
Douglas Fir: The Helper Wand
Choosing from mages who are by their nature selfless and caring, the Douglas Fir amplifies any protective or nurturing magic that is used upon another. Mages who cast Shield Charms on their friends and loved ones find that when using a wand of this wood, those charms become almost unbreakable. While Douglas Fir wands are commonly found in the hands of Healers and caregivers, they are also well placed amongst aurors and agents of the Department of Secrecy and Obfuscation.
Bristlecone Pine: The Warrior Wand
It should come as no surprise that many of the wand woods harvested from within the AWC are well adapted towards war and battlemagic. After all the continent is one of revolutions (American and Mexican to name two), wars between nations (colonists vs first peoples), and ever-shifting changes. But of all the wands that excel at combat all are outshone by the Bristlecone Pine. A wand that demands a fighter and accepts no less, a wand that desires to pass through combat and return a hero, a wand that seeks enemies to overcome. Never get in the way of a mage with a Pine wand, it may be the last thing you do.
Rocky Mountain Juniper: The Ambitious Wand
Juniper wands are wands of youthful spirit and high ambition. Keepers of Juniper wands are known for their youthful attitude, playfulness, and desire for a higher purpose. Producing charms of great intricacy, as well as excelling in emotional magic, makes wands of this wood very popular with popular people. Both well known celebrities, Quadpot athletes, and politicians in the Magical Congress wield Juniper wands, a sign of the woods driving ambition.
Silver Spruce: The Introvert Wand
Highly desired for its deep gray color, Silver Spruce wands are as somber as their preferred match. Useful in all forms of divinatory magic wands made of this wood typically function at their most powerful when alone with their owner. It seems that the presence of other mages leads to some flaw in the Silver Spruce wood that decreases its potency, yet this quirk is not seen when the wand is surrounded by Mundies. As the wood will only bond with a consummate introvert, and typically one touched with the Seerâs gift, the fact that Silver Spruce dislikes company rarely poses a problem for its owner.
Golden Aspen: The Beautiful Wand
Producing perhaps the most beautiful and heartbreaking magic of all wand woods, the Golden Aspen seeks out those with imaginations and dreams far beyond their contemporaries. Blossoming forth charms of colorful and audible beauty, Golden Aspen is almost incapable of producing non-verbal magic or even any type of quiet and hidden spell. It is a wood that desires to be seen and experienced by everyone. Augmenting its power by tapping into the imagination of the one it bonds with, Golden Aspen can bring such wonders as its owner dreams into reality. Prized by authors, actors, painters, and dreamers alike, this wand is known for its almost conscious disregard for the International Statute of Secrecy.
Alpine Larch: The Stormcloud Wand
The environs of the AWC are notable in their diversity of geography and weather. Alpine Larch wands embody this fact with their bend towards meteorological magic. Seeking for their own a mage with the soul of a storm, the Larch wand proves itself to be almost unstoppable when enraged. Truely, early dark mages were known for wreaking havoc with Larch wood, most notably Anders Borkman the notorious âStorm Bringerâ. Other than weather magic the Larch responds well to spells that affect the four basic elements and charms that purify air and water.
White Fir: The Creature Wand
White Fir is the wood of the fauna of America. Attracted by mages who donât seek to subjugate but rather co-exist with the natural world, White Fir wands find themselves best suited to naturalists and magizoologists. Unlike wand woods like Hackberry and Pawpaw that bend nature, White Fir rather does its best when it is helping nature to grow its own way rather than the way a mage feels it should. Owners of such wands are usually predisposed to innate abilities like Snake-Talking, Bird-Kissed, or even Stone-Speak.
Ohio Buckeye: The Servile Wand
Unlike other wands, the Buckeye willingly twists itself to conform to the needs of its chosen mage. Buckeye looks for mages of vastly diverse interests and qualities; specifically jacks-of-all-trade. Its propensity for change makes it extremely useful as a utilitarian wand, but because it adapts so quickly it can also become quite dangerous. Mages testing out new spells may find them too powerful to begin with, resulting in accidents and potentially fatal backfires.
Giant Redwood: The Unyielding Wand
Standing tall, proud, and true are characteristics Redwood wands look for in the mages they choose. Picking only those who are willing to be themselves no matter the cost, Redwood supplies its owner with a powerful knack for dueling and other martial magic. A wand of lost causes, history has shown time and again stories of mages armed only with Redwood wands turning the tide of battle, or rallying others to their cause. Extremely rare, the AWC considered banning the wood due to concerns over the endangered state of the species.
Yellow Poplar: The Extraverts Wand
The wand of the people pleaser, the party animal, the center of attention. As even the Europeans say âthe Poplar is Popularâ. Boosting advanced power for charms, Yellow Poplar bonds best with extraverts, but not with those who are full of themselves. Rather it selects for itself the outgoing individual whose personality seeks to build up those around them, rather than tear them down. Yellow Poplar produces amazing results with human transfigurations, particularly those that only alter appearance much like Mundi makeup.
White Elm: The Dominion Wand
White Elm is the wood of both the strong-minded  but careful leader and the fanatical despot. Enjoying a period of heavy use during the AWCâs slavery era, White Elm is known for its potent mind control and mood altering properties that have given it such a dark reputation over the years. Today many wandmakers refuse to use the wood out of both disgust at its history and fear of what it could do in the wrong hands. However one should not judge current wielders over past events. Today most of the justices on the Supreme Wizengamot own White Elm wands, a sign that the wood also has a strong propensity for justice, in the right hands.
Pawpaw: The Building Wand
The wand of farmers loves those who study herbology and live for the feel of earth between their fingers. Pawpaw bonds best with mages who prefer to use their own hands rather than simply cast a charm or a spell. This does not mean that the wand refuses to help build, far from it. Pawpaw wood is best known for its ability and focus in fabrication magic and in the hands of a talented builder or even artist, it can construct modern wonders. Farmers, construction workers, hands-on artists, and even architects and designers find that Pawpaw wands are drawn to them and their self-made nature.
Eastern Redbud: The Seeker Wand
âNothing is lost under the Redbudâs eyeâ was an old phrase concerning the properties of the Redbud wand. Like the Silver Spruce, Redbud has a potent affinity for divination magic. However while the Spruce may be better at seeking the future, Redbud seeks in the present. Location magic and spells of revelation are far more powerful when cast with a Redbud wand then any other wand wood. AB-DENS is always sure to keep spare wands of this wood on hand for cases of prisoner escapes and missing persons. Redbud binds best with the inquisitive, especially those who never stop asking questions.
