The three 'common' cores are dragon heartstrings, phoenix tail feathers, and unicorn tail hairs.

Wands made with a dragon heartstring core are the most powerful and produce the most flamboyant spells. They possess a lot of magical "heft," per say. For subtle magic, choose a wand with another core, but for sheer power, this core is the best. While among Dark wizards, these cores are the most common, Dark wizards are not- I repeat, not- their most common users. These cores are not inherently evil in any capacity, no more than anyone who uses a wand made of willow is inherently good. In Hogwarts Houses, Slytherins most commonly have wands with this core, though the power they possess often bonds with Gryffindors and Ravenclaws (they tend to overwhelm Hufflepuffs). They bond strongly with their current owner, even if won from their original master as they can change allegiance easily. While they tend to be more easily swayed to the Dark Arts, they will not turn of their own accord. They are the wands that are temperamental and produce the most accidents. If combined with certain woods (such as yew), they tend to be lethally hazardous.

Wands that have a phoenix tail feather core are quite popular, though they are rare. They are quite versatile and very powerful, particularly with the Defense Against the Dark Arts, though they can easily adapt to perform excellent hexes or jinxes if it is needed. Among Light wizards, this core is the most common, but not all of the wands with a phoenix tail feather inside practice the Light Arts. Practicers of the Dark Arts may find that phoenix tail feathers will intentionally prevent such a spell from being performed, making them uncommon to those in the Slytherin House. While they are most common among Gryffindors, they are not unusual among Ravenclaws or Hufflepuffs. They have the widest range of magic that they are able to perform (it may take longer to reveal this than with wands with a dragon heartstring ot a unicorn tail hair core, though). They occasionally act of their own accord, which many witches and wizards dislike very much. Wands with this core are the pickiest when choosing an owner (partially because phoenixes are one of the most independent and detached from the world). They are the hardest to tame and make one's own, and their allegiance is typically hard won, but they are very loyal and not easily won from their original master.

Wands made with a unicorn tail hair are some of the most reliable, producing consistent magic with rare fluctuations or blockages. They are very faithful to their first owners, regardless of how accomplished the witch or wizard was. These wands are the most difficult to sway to the Dark Arts, given the innocence and purity of the unicorn. They are the absolute best with the healing arts (due to the healing capacity of unicorn blood), though they perform well with Charms and Transfiguration. They generally select gentle yet intelligent users, making it more common with Ravenclaws or Hufflepuffs (though Gryffindors who are more laid-back, or subtle Slytherins may get chosen). The disadvantages of having a wand with this core is that they are not the most powerful cores (the wood might compensate, though), and if seriously mishandled they may become quite upset and die. If the tail dies, it will have to be replaced before any more magic can be produced with that wand.