Hogwarts Legacy: Beginner's Guide

Getting Started in Hogwarts Legacy

After sorting into your house and completing the opening sequence, you arrive at Hogwarts. Your first priority: attend every class that becomes available. Classes unlock essential spells — Charms class gives Accio and Levioso, Defence Against the Dark Arts gives Protego and basic combat spells, Herbology gives Mandrake and Chinese Chomping Cabbage combat plants. Do not skip classes; their spells are required for puzzles and combat shields throughout the game.

Exploration and Collectibles

Use Revelio (press the right d-pad button) constantly. It highlights nearby Field Guide pages, chests, collectibles, and interactive objects in blue. Walk through every area of Hogwarts at least once with Revelio active. The Hogwarts map in the pause menu shows unexplored areas, so floor-by-floor exploration helps you find the castle's hidden secrets.

Gear and Upgrades

The gear system upgrades equipment via the Loom in the Room of Requirement. Each upgrade requires specific magical creature materials. The Loom can add Traits to gear — powerful passive bonuses that stack with each other. Pick traits that match your spell loadout; check each trait's description at the Loom before committing materials.

Essential Quests to Prioritize

1. Sebastian Sallow's questline — he teaches the Unforgivable Curses, which you choose to learn during his quests. Optional but popular.
2. The Elf, the Nab-Sack, and the Loom — a main-quest mission that gives you the Loom and starts the Vivarium and beast-rescue system in the Room of Requirement.
3. Upgrade Alohomora — find Demiguise Statues throughout the world and bring them to caretaker Gladwin Moon. Level 3 Alohomora opens every lock in the game.
4. Astronomy Tables — these timed stargazing minigames appear across the world and award useful Astronomy gear.

Combat Tips

Build at least two offensive spell sets: one for standard enemies (Incendio, Wingardium Leviosa, Accio, Depulso) and one for tanky enemies (Expelliarmus, Bombarda, Confringo, Crucio if unlocked). Match your spell to the shield colour (Control for yellow, Force for purple, Damage for red); Unforgivable Curses break through all shield charms. The Basic Attack counters (Stupefy on a yellow flash) stagger enemies and give free damage windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Should I play as Gryffindor?
A: All houses are equally valid. Each has a unique common room and one exclusive companion quest. Slytherin and Hufflepuff have particularly well-regarded house-exclusive quests.

Q: Can I get Avada Kedavra (the killing curse)?
A: Yes — Sebastian Sallow teaches it, and you have to choose to learn it during his quests.

Q: Is there a New Game Plus?
A: No. After completing the main story, you can continue exploring and completing optional content on the same save.