Hogwarts Legacy is a big game, giving players various options in combat style, dialogue, story endings, and more - but there are some choices that can objectively and unnecessarily hinder gameplay. Whether they're just stepping foot into Hogwarts for the first time, or if they've already gotten a good few magic classes under their belt, every student should do their best to avoid these errors in their own playthroughs.
Of course, it must be said that as with any open-world RPG title, there isn't exactly a right or wrong way to play. Students are at complete liberty to take on their adventures in whichever manner they see fit. However, some players, particularly new witches and wizards who are about to play Hogwarts Legacy, may make mistakes that inadvertently slow down progression or make situations more difficult than they need to be. By avoiding these blunders, they'll find that they have a much smoother and more enjoyable experience in the wizarding world.
7 Ignoring Dueling Feats
With the game's complex, yet nonetheless satisfying combat system, players can often get tunnel vision on their opposition and not pay attention to Dueling Feats in Hogwarts Legacy. This extra mechanic, which pops up in the bottom right corner of the UI during a fight, can be easily overlooked, yet it can be a powerful way of gaining extra XP and even obtaining some exclusive accessories.
Oftentimes, all Dueling Feats take is switching up a spellcast or two, so students should make an effort to incorporate these small challenges into their combat routines.
6 Bad Spell Set Organization Can Make Hogwarts Legacy Combat Difficult
Of course, a witch or wizard's most powerful tool is their wand, and so players should take advantage of Hogwarts Legacy's best spells to excel in combat. However, even if players have a firm grasp on the type of magic they're using, they may be undermining themselves by not properly organizing their spell sets.
A total of four sets can be unlocked by the end of the game, which hold up to sixteen different spells. By assigning spells of the same type (or color) in the same slot on each spell set, students can take full advantage of muscle memory.
5 Using Revelio Ineffectively Can Make Exploration Slow
Revelio is one of the first spells that the protagonist will learn in Hogwarts Legacy, and its value cannot be understated, but some players may not be getting full use out of this beneficial tool. One important mechanic to note is that the volume and spatial positioning of Revelio's audio cue is relative to the item of interest in-game.
For example, when searching for Field Guide Pages in Hogwarts Legacy, the louder the ping sound is, the closer the page will be to the student's current location.
Additionally, it may not be immediately obvious that Revelio can actually be used while flying on a broomstick. During this time, its range will be greatly increased, so much so that a single wave of a wand will reveal points of interest that are miles away.
Instead of traversing by foot and constantly spamming this spell, players can simply use it once while on their broom to pinpoint the location of any nearby Merlin Trials, shopkeepers, dungeons, and more.
4 Clinging Onto Hogwarts Legacy Gear Is A Mistake
Thanks to the convenience of the transmog system, holding onto gear is one of Hogwarts Legacy's biggest mistakes. Once a student picks up a piece of gear for the first time, its look is permanently added to their collection, meaning they can simply apply that style to their character at any time while changing the appearance of their gear.
Combined with the extremely limited inventory space they start out with, it's crucial that players sell any gear that isn't currently equipped as often as possible, both to make money and save inventory slots.
3 Not Using Plants Puts Hogwarts Legacy Players At A Disadvantage
Herbology isn't every student's strong suit, but it doesn't have to be for them to take advantage of the game's ridiculously strong plants. Once they've unlocked the Room of Requirement, growing greenery is as simple as pressing a few buttons.
While some magical plants are more conducive to potion-making, others, like the Mandrake or the Chinese Chomping Cabbage, are actually invaluable weapons in combat. With how quick they are to pull out and cast, there's really no reason not to be using them offensively - especially considering that one of Hogwarts Legacy's plants is stronger than Unforgivable Curses.
2 Overleveling Can Ruin Gameplay
One of the most pressing issues in practically every RPG is over-leveling, and unfortunately, the wizarding world isn't free from it, either. Exploring Hogwarts is perhaps the most exciting aspect of the game, but it can cause witches and wizards to accidentally derail the entire main quest line by becoming too powerful much earlier than intended. This may sound like a good thing, but some players may begin to find Hogwarts Legacy's story boring if they're slaughtering every enemy without breaking a sweat.
To avoid this, students should hold off on the majority of exploration until they've made some decent progression in the main quest. An effective way to gauge this is by the change of seasons; when the game reaches autumn, they'll be at a much lower risk of over-leveling.
1 Hogwarts Legacy's Talent Points Shouldn't Be Spent Carelessly
By far the worst Hogwarts Legacy mistake, however, is not creating an effective Talent build. It's all too easy not to realize that these points are both limited and nonrefundable, meaning that players won't be able to reset their talent trees, nor will they be able to obtain all the available perks.
For this reason, it's crucial that they plan out a Talent build before sinking points into unnecessary categories. Other than starting a new save, this is one decision that is entirely irreversible, and so if witches and wizards aren't careful, it can quickly ruin their Hogwarts Legacy playthroughs.
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
- The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386
In Canada:
- Trans Lifeline: (877) 330-6366
- Youth Line: 1-800-268-9688
In the UK:
- Switchboard: 01273 204050
- Mermaids: 0808 801 0400