The witch on a broomstick trope is as old as time, but in Hogwarts Legacy and in Harry Potter lore, there's a lot more to broomsticks and flying than what may initially meet the eye. It's by no means the flashiest form of magical transport, especially when compared to magical beasts like Hippogriffs, or the ability to conveniently Apparate in the blink of an eye. However, brooms are closely intertwined with the history of the wizarding world, and thus it's no surprise that they play such an integral part of the Hogwarts Legacy experience.
Being able to openly explore the ins and outs of the whimsical castle and the gorgeous landscapes that surround it are certainly one of main factors that attract players to Hogwarts Legacy. But in order to progress the main story line, students will need to travel quite frequently. Considering the size of Hogwarts Legacy's map, brooms can be a godsend, allowing witches and wizards to traverse the world at a great speed (all while taking in a spectacular view from above). Broomsticks aren't just a game-changing item, though - they're also quite significant in Harry Potter lore.
10 Hogwarts Legacy's Brooms Have Existed Since At Least 962 A.D.
It's still unclear who the first witch or wizard was, but it's safe to say that wizardkind has been around for quite some time, especially considering the first record of broom usage dates back to 962. Three warlocks from Europe were the first magic users to be officially seen using them; however, this implies that the invention of broomsticks predates 962 and possibly even the tenth century altogether. Of course, brooms from that age were crude in comparison to their modern counterparts in Hogwarts Legacy, but nonetheless, it's possible that they were around even before the time Hogwarts was founded.
9 The Cushioning Charm For Hogwarts Legacy's Broomsticks Was Invented In 1820
Unfortunately, it would take a few hundred years for the first Cushioning Charm to be invented for broomsticks. Up until 1820, it was common for witches and wizards to complain of uncomfortable and even outright painful experiences, such as finding splinters in their backsides, after flying on a broom. But thanks to Elliot Smethwyck, the creator of the Cushioning Charm, this form of transportation became much more favorable. Since Hogwarts Legacy is set seventy years after its invention in the 1890s, the player can rest assured that their witch or wizard is comfortable as they zoom around the map.
8 Hogwarts Legacy's Brooms Aren't Utilized Worldwide
Broomsticks likely skyrocketed in popularity after the Cushioning Charm, but still, not all magic users get around using this particular household object. Most Asian and Middle Eastern regions use flying carpets, instead - which are reportedly much more pleasant to ride and convenient for traveling in groups.
Arthur Weasley, who's related to Hogwarts Legacy's Professor Matilda Weasley, was personally involved in banning flying carpets from Great Britain, deeming them a misuse of Muggle Artifacts. Thus, brooms remain the sole form of recognized magical transport in the Scottish Highlands, despite the popularity of flying carpets in other magic communities.
7 Racing Brooms Were Invented After Hogwarts Legacy In 1926
Although it's exhilarating to whiz across Hogwarts Legacy's open-world map on a fast broomstick, this is actually a contradiction to Harry Potter canon, which dictates that racing brooms weren't invented until almost thirty years later. The Cleansweep Company was responsible for this advancement in flying technology, with the three founding brothers Bob, Bill, and Barnaby Ollerton giving birth to the revolutionary Cleansweep One model in 1926. Racing brooms were instantly a smash hit in the wizarding community - but it doesn't explain how Hogwarts Legacy's player gets their hands on such speedy brooms in the 1890s.
6 Hogwarts Legacy's Quidditch Isn't The Only Game Involving Brooms
Although racing brooms technically shouldn't exist in-game, Quidditch (which was rightfully banned in Hogwarts Legacy) has long been wizardkind's most beloved sport. Despite its popularity, it's only one of eight sports to incorporate the use of broomsticks. For example, a dangerous Irish competition called "Aingingein" is a free-for-all race which involves flying through flaming rings. On the other hand, the Scottish game "Creaothceann" was outwardly lethal, tasking players with collecting falling rocks midair with a cauldron strapped to their heads. Unlike Quidditch, which was only temporarily banned in Hogwarts Legacy, Creaothceann was outlawed by the Ministry of Magic in 1762.
5 Hogwarts Legacy's Brooms Have Evolved Significantly
Although in Harry Potter and in Hogwarts Legacy, brooms may seem intuitive and easy to use, this wasn't always the case. When broomsticks were first invented, the scope of their movement was limited, with some of the earliest models only being able to move up, move down, and stop. Plus, they featured one flat speed, meaning there was no way to accelerate or decelerate. Harry Potter would have hated Hogwarts Legacy, but he would have been glad that the in-game brooms were at least enchanted with more complex charms, allowing the players to fly through the air with relative ease.
4 Hogwarts Legacy's Brooms Are All Handmade
Although brooms were mass-produced during the later years of the main Harry Potter series, Hogwarts Legacy's brooms were still made by hand. In fact, all brooms preceding the Cleansweep models were individually crafted by talented witches and wizards. For example, one of the brooms that Albie Weekes, the owner of Spintwitches, mentions having in stock (though isn't actually available for purchase) is the famous Silver Arrow model.
This broom, which was renowned at the time for its high speed, was produced by Leonard Jewkes. Demand was for the Silver Arrow became so high that Jewkes, as the sole supplier, couldn't keep up and the model to faded away from the broom market.
3 Footrests May Or May Not Be Canon For Hogwarts Legacy's Brooms
When it comes to unlocking and upgrading brooms in Hogwarts Legacy, players have a few options to choose from, but none have footrests. This isn't surprising, as it's unclear whether they are actually canon to Harry Potter lore at all. From the Prisoner of Azkaban film and onwards, brooms featured useful cross-bars that a witch or wizard could rest their legs on. Conversely, the book series never mentions them. Footrests could be a modern addition to brooms, explaining their absence from Hogwarts Legacy, but it doesn't confirm whether it's canon for said modern brooms to include them.
2 Not All Characters Need A Broom To Fly In Harry Potter Lore
Not all brooms seen in the Harry Potter universe have footrests, and similarly, not all characters necessarily require one to fly. Most notably, Lord Voldemort can take the form of a fleeting burst of black smoke to travel through the air, all without mounting any objects or even using any flying charms. Dark magic in Hogwarts Legacy doesn't let players recreate this magic, which makes sense, considering Voldemort and Snape were the only ones to have ever mastered it. However, it's also possible for Animagi to assume the form of an avian animal and take flight in that way, too.
1 Broomsticks Are Wizardkind's Worst-Kept Secret In Hogwarts Legacy
In Quidditch Throughout The Ages, the book's canonical author, Kennilworthy Whisp, writes that "the fact that we fly on broomsticks is probably our worst-kept secret" - and indeed, this is one aspect that witches and wizards have ironically failed to keep under wraps. The entire reason that brooms were chosen as the main means of transport was specifically to avoid drawing the attention of Muggles, as even the earliest of mages predicted that they would need to conceal their arcane abilities from non-magic users. Kennilworthy describes Muggles' association of witches and brooms as a constant reminder of wizardkind's shortcomings.
Hogwarts Legacy's brooms are relatively canon, save for a few exceptions, like the early existence of racing brooms and the missing footrests (although this could be a nod to Harry Potter's book series). They have a lengthy relationship with the wizarding community - both before and after the events of the game - which not only make them an exciting way to explore Hogwarts Legacy, but also one with deep significance within its magical world.
Source: Hogwarts Legacy/YouTube
Editor’s Note: Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling has been accused of transphobia by those in the LGBTQ+ community. Although not directly involved in the development of Hogwarts Legacy, Rowling does stand to earn royalties from the game. We would like to reiterate our support for trans rights and that trans identities are valid. Support services are listed below for trans people impacted by discussions of transphobia.
In the USA:
- Trans Lifeline: (877) 565-8860
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