Hogwarts Legacy invites players into the Wizarding World as a fifth-year student with a mysterious connection to ancient magic. With a sprawling open world, dozens of spells, intricate gear systems, and hidden secrets, the game offers a rich but complex experience. This guide breaks down how to master Hogwarts Legacy across ten key areas—from character creation to endgame exploration—organized by gameplay progression and thematic relevance. Whether you’re just starting your magical journey or seeking 100% completion, this guide will help you unlock the full potential of your wizarding adventure.
- Starting Out: Character Creation and House Selection Your journey begins with character customization and house selection. While appearance is purely cosmetic, your chosen house affects your common room, companions, and one exclusive quest. Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff each offer distinct vibes and lore.
Choose a wand and difficulty level. Normal is balanced for most players, while Hard increases enemy aggression and reduces healing. Your wand type and core (e.g., dragon heartstring) don’t affect gameplay but add immersion.
Tips:
- House choice affects one unique quest and common room
- Wand selection is cosmetic—choose what feels magical
- Difficulty can be changed mid-game
- Attending Classes and Unlocking Spells Progressing through the main story unlocks key classes like Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Potions. These classes teach essential spells such as Levioso, Accio, and Incendio, which are used in combat and puzzles.
Professor assignments unlock additional spells like Alohomora (lockpicking), Glacius (ice), and Wingardium Leviosa (object manipulation). Complete these tasks early to expand your spell arsenal and access more areas.
Spell Unlocking Tips:
- Complete class quests to learn core spells
- Finish professor assignments for utility spells
- Use spells in combat and exploration to level up
- Exploring Hogwarts and the Open World Hogwarts Castle is filled with secrets, puzzles, and collectibles. Use Revelio constantly to uncover Field Guide Pages, hidden doors, and lore. The castle connects to Hogsmeade, the Forbidden Forest, and other regions via Floo Flames (fast travel points).
Unlock your broom through the “Flight Test” quest to explore freely. Mounts like the Hippogriff and Thestral become available later. Explore every hamlet, dungeon, and cave to uncover gear, ingredients, and story fragments.
Exploration Tips:
- Use Revelio often to find hidden items
- Unlock Floo Flames for fast travel
- Complete “Flight Test” to unlock broom
- Solving Puzzles and Merlin Trials Merlin Trials are scattered across the map and unlock gear slot expansions. Each trial requires a different spell or item—like Lumos, Confringo, or Mallowsweet. Complete at least 95 trials to maximize inventory space.
Other puzzles include number doors, statue puzzles, and chests with eyes. Use spells like Disillusionment and Arithmancy knowledge to solve them. These puzzles reward XP, gear, and collectibles.
Puzzle Tips:
- Carry Mallowsweet for Merlin Trials
- Use Disillusionment to open eye chests
- Learn Arithmancy for number door puzzles
- Combat Mechanics and Spell Combos Combat in Hogwarts Legacy is dynamic and strategic. Use combos like Levioso → Accio → Incendio to juggle enemies. Ancient Magic attacks deal massive damage and can be triggered when your meter is full.
Enemies have shield colors that correspond to spell types—yellow for control, red for damage, purple for force. Break shields with matching spells and dodge frequently to avoid damage.
Combat Tips:
- Use spell combos for crowd control
- Break shields with matching spell types
- Trigger Ancient Magic for high damage
- Gear, Upgrades, and Inventory Management Gear affects your stats and appearance. Each item has traits like offense, defense, and upgrade slots. Use the Room of Requirement’s Loom to apply traits and upgrade gear using beast materials.
Sell unused gear at vendors to free up space and earn gold. Use Merlin Trials to expand inventory slots. Legendary gear offers the best stats and customization options.
Gear Tips:
- Upgrade gear at the Loom in Room of Requirement
- Sell unused gear for gold
- Complete Merlin Trials to expand inventory
- Talents and Leveling Up Talents unlock at Level 5 after completing “Jackdaw’s Rest.” They’re divided into Core, Spells, Dark Arts, Stealth, and Room of Requirement. Focus on Core and Spell talents early for combat efficiency.
Level up by completing quests, defeating enemies, and collecting Field Guide Pages. Use potions and plants like Thunderbrew and Chinese Chomping Cabbage to enhance combat and gain XP.
Leveling Tips:
- Prioritize Core and Spell talents
- Use potions and plants for combat boosts
- Collect Field Guide Pages for XP
- Room of Requirement and Beast Care The Room of Requirement is your customizable base. Brew potions, grow plants, and upgrade gear here. Unlock the Vivarium to care for magical beasts like Graphorn, Niffler, and Mooncalf.
Beasts provide materials for gear upgrades. Feed and brush them daily to collect resources. Expand the Vivarium to house more creatures and unlock new environments.
Room Tips:
- Brew potions and grow plants for combat
- Upgrade gear using beast materials
- Expand Vivarium for more beast types
- Side Quests, Relationships, and Secrets Side quests offer unique rewards, lore, and character development. Befriend companions like Sebastian, Poppy, and Natty to unlock relationship quests and powerful spells like Crucio and Avada Kedavra.
Explore hidden areas like the Headmaster’s Office, Restricted Section, and Azkaban (exclusive to Hufflepuff). These quests deepen the story and offer rare items.
Side Quest Tips:
- Complete companion quests for unique spells
- Explore house-exclusive content
- Use Alohomora to access locked areas
- Endgame and 100% Completion Goals After finishing the main story, post-game quests unlock. Focus on completing all Merlin Trials, collecting Demiguise Statues, and finishing side quests. Aim for 100% map coverage and gear upgrades.
Use guides to find every Field Guide Page, balloon, and collectible. Achievements include defeating all enemies, mastering all spells, and completing all challenges.
Endgame Tips:
- Finish post-game quests for lore and XP
- Collect all Demiguise Statues for Alohomora III
- Use guides to track collectibles and challenges
Conclusion Hogwarts Legacy is a vast and magical experience that rewards exploration, strategy, and curiosity. From mastering spell combos to unlocking every secret in the castle and beyond, this guide provides a structured path to becoming the ultimate witch or wizard. Whether you’re chasing achievements or simply enjoying the journey, these tips will help you thrive in the Wizarding World.