Just beginning your Hogwarts journey? With so much to explore, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But don’t worry! These 10 essential tips will help you make the most of your adventure right from the start. I sure wish I had known these tips sooner…
1. Focus on the Main Story First (At Least for a Few Hours)
It’s tempting to explore everything right away, but following the main quest for the first 5-10 hours unlocks key mechanics like:
Broom flight (so you can travel freely).
The Room of Requirement (your personal magic hub).
Essential spells (needed for exploration and puzzles).
Once these are unlocked, you’ll have the tools to explore more efficiently.
2. Revelio Is Your Best Friend– Use It Constantly
Hogwarts is packed with hidden details, and using Revelio will help you uncover them. This spell highlights treasure chests, interactable objects, puzzle clues, hidden Field Guide Pages, and more. Listen for the bell chime as a hint!
Get into the habit of casting Revelio whenever you enter a new area. It will save time and help you spot secrets you might otherwise miss.
3. Unlock More Spell Slots Early
With so many spells available, you’ll quickly find that the default four-slot setup is way too limiting. As soon as you gain access to Talents, invest in the "Spell Knowledge" upgrades. This adds additional spell sets, allowing you to switch between combat, utility, and exploration spells seamlessly. This upgrade makes puzzle-solving and combat a lot more fluid, and eliminates the need for constant menu switching.
To optimise your spell setup even further, check out our Best Spell Combinations Guide!
4. Expand Your Inventory with Merlin Trials (ASAP)
Your inventory starts with only 20 slots, which fills up fast. Solve Merlin Trials (marked by leaf symbols on the map) to expand your gear storage.
You’ll need Mallowsweet Leaves to activate these trials, so keep a supply on hand. Once completed, claim inventory upgrades in the Challenges menu to increase your carrying capacity.
Need help solving them? Check out our Merlin Trials Guide!
5. Potions Are a Game-Changer… Brew and Use Them Wisely!
Stocking up on potions can make combat much easier. The most useful ones include:
Wiggenweld Potion for healing.
Focus Potion to reduce spell cooldowns.
Thunderbrew to summon a storm that stuns enemies.
Crafting your own potions saves Galleons and ensures you always have the right brew on hand. Want the best potion recipes? Check out our Potion Crafting Guide!
6. Solve Arithmancy Doors for Easy Loot
Those ornate doors with symbols and numbers are puzzles hiding valuable rewards. Each magical creature represents a number from 0-9, and the goal is to make all three numbers in the equation match the total in the center.
The Demiguise is 0, the Unicorn is 1, and the numbers continue as such... Memorising (or writing down) these values makes solving the puzzles much faster!
7. Stealth Makes Many Encounters Easier
The Disillusionment Charm grants invisibility, allowing you to avoid combat or take down enemies in one hit. It’s especially useful for:
Sneaking past powerful enemies.
Eliminating foes before a big fight.
Completing stealth-based challenges for rewards
Taking a quiet approach can often save resources too, and make certain quests much smoother.
8. Master Spell Combos for Stronger Attacks
Combat is much more effective when you chain spells together. Try this simple combo:
Levioso to lift an enemy.
Accio to pull them closer.
Incendio to ignite them midair.
Some enemies have coloured shields that must be broken with a corresponding spell type. Keep a mix of red, yellow, and purple spells equipped to counter different opponents efficiently.
9. Learn When to Block vs. When to Dodge
Protego blocks most attacks. All you need to do is look out for an orange halo around your character as a warning. Holding the block button after a successful block also stuns most enemies, and timing it perfectly will even launch a powerful counterattack.
A red halo means an unblockable attack. In this case, dodge immediately to avoid taking damage!
10. Customise Your Look with Transmog
If you don’t like how your best gear looks, you can change its appearance while keeping its stats! To do this:
Open the gear menu.
Select any equipped item.
Press Square (PlayStation) or X (Xbox) to choose a different look.
Now you can stay powerful and fashionable.
Bonus Tip: Some Areas and Puzzles Require Progress– Come Back Later!
Not everything in Hogwarts Legacy can be accessed immediately. Many puzzles, locked doors, and mechanics—like upgrading gear or collecting magical beasts—only unlock later in the game.
If you come across something you can’t interact with, mark it on your map and return later once you have the right spell or ability. Some secrets are meant to be uncovered over time (Metroidvania style).
That wraps up our list of 10 essential tips that the game doesn’t tell you. You’re now tens of hours worth of knowledge ahead of me during my first playthrough.
Looking for more guides to help you get ahead? Check out our full Hogwarts Legacy Wiki for more secrets and strategies.