There are six categories of spells in Hogwarts Legacy, each covering different use cases and levels of potency.
Apart from these six categories, we’ve also got “Essential” spells that’ll almost certainly be used the most over the course of progressing the main story and completing various side quests in the game.
These Essential spells have fixed controls for casting, but every other spell can be assigned to various controls in your spell slots.
This guide runs through the list of spells in the game, including descriptions explaining how each one works and how to unlock them. But first, let’s talk about spell slots.
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How Spell Slots Work
As you can imagine, it can be a little overwhelming to learn different controls for every spell, and the good news is, you don’t have to.
At the start of the game, your character has a sort of “spell wheel” that contains slots that you can allocate four spells into at a time. As you level up and complete quests in the main story, you’ll be able to unlock three more spell wheels for a total of 16 spell slots at a time.
In total, there are up to 31 spells (8 essential and 23 slottable) in Hogwarts Legacy, which means that you will still have at least 7 spells unallocated at any given time even after unlocking all the wheels.
It’s not a bad thing because you’ll generally have a selection of spells that you use most often and you can occasionally swap a new one in temporarily. Setting up your loadout (R2/RB + d-pad) is pretty straightforward and adding more spell wheels would just make it a tedious process.
Now, let’s get back to the categories of spells.
Essential Spells
Note: For each essential spell below, the PlayStation controls are listed first, followed by the Xbox equivalent.
Basic Cast
- In-game description: Deals minor damage to enemies and objects. Tap R2/RT to cast.
- How to unlock: Tutorial by Professor Fig at the beginning of the quest “The Path to Hogwarts”.
Revelio
- In-game description: Highlights a variety of useful and interactive targets in the world, including hidden objects, puzzle items, loot, enemies, and more. Cast with the left d-pad.
- How to unlock: Tutorial by Professor Fig after completing the quest “The Path to Hogwarts”.
Protego
- In-game description: Protects against a variety of attacks, including spell casts, weapon strikes, and more. Cast with Triangle/Y. Waiting to cast Protego until the last moment before an impact results in a Perfect Protego that damages melee attackers and reflects projectiles back, breaking enemy shields.
- How to unlock: Available after completing the quest “The Path to Hogwarts”. Protego and the dodge roll are very simple but effective ways to defend yourself against enemies in Hogwarts Legacy.
Stupefy
- In-game description: Stuns enemies, making them easy targets for follow-up spells. It deals no direct damage but stunned enemies take extra damage, indicated by gold numbers. It also breaks enemy Shield Charms (except on Hard difficulty). When successfully deflecting an incoming attack with Protego, keep Triangle/Y held to cast a Stupefy counter-attack at whichever enemy you choose to target.
- How to unlock: Available after completing the quest “The Path to Hogwarts”
Ancient Magic Throw
- In-game description: Summons and then throws special environmental objects at the targeted enemy. Particularly useful for breaking through Shield Charms. Cast with R1/RB when that prompt is hovering over an object.
- How to unlock: Unlocks automatically in the middle of the troll attack in Hogsmeade during the quest “Welcome to Hogsmeade”.
Ancient Magic
- In-game description: When at least one segment of your Ancient Magic Meter is full, you can cast devastating Anicnet Magic attacks that deal massive damage and break Shield Charms. Cast with L1+R1/RB+LB when you use the prompt over an enemy’s head.
- How to unlock: Unlocks automatically in the middle of the troll attack in Hogsmeade during the quest “Welcome to Hogsmeade”.
Alohomora
- In-game description: Grants access to a variety of locked rooms and containers throughout the world but requires magical prowess to perform successfully. Cast with Square/X when prompted near a valid lock.
- How to unlock: Available after completing the quest “The Caretaker’s Lunar Lament”. This spell can be upgraded by taking moons from Demiguise Statues and handing them over to Gladwin Moon.
Petrificus Totalus
- In-game description: Powerful enough to bind most enemies permanently, but more dangerous foes will only take some damage and then quickly break free from the effect. Sneak up undetected to an enemy and press Square/ X when prompted to cast.
- How to unlock: Available after completing the quest “Secrets of the Restricted Section”
Control Spells
Arresto Momentum
- In-game description: Slows both objects and enemies, giving you extra time to plan your next move.
- How to unlock: Available after completing Madam Kogawa’s Assignment 2.
Glacius
- In-game description: Freezes enemies, increasing the damage they take from follow-up attacks.
- How to unlock: Available after completing Madam Kogawa’s Assignment 1, following the first Ancient Magic trial.
Levioso
- In-game description: Levitates objects and enemies. Useful for solving puzzles and surprising enemies alike.
- How to unlock: Tutorial by Professor Hecat in your first Defence Against the Dark Arts class.
Transformation
- In-game description: Transforms objects and enemies into alternate forms, whether puzzle solutions or harmless knickknacks.
- How to unlock: Available after completing Professor Weasley’s Assignment, following the “Fire and Vice” quest.
Force Spells
Accio
- In-game description: Summons a variety of objects and enemies to close range. Certain magical and heavy objects require sustained effort to pull close. When a summoned object reaches you, you will automatically cast Wingardium Leviosa to continue levitating and controlling it without the need for additional button inputs.
- How to unlock: Tutorial by Professor Rowen in your first Charms class. You have to use it to try and beat Natsai at a game set up by the Professor.
Depulso
- In-game description: Repels many types of objects and enemies with considerable force. Although it deals no direct damage to foes, enemies and objects alike can be launched into each other the destructive results. Also useful for pushing and spinning objects for a variety of purposes.
- How to unlock: Available after completing Professor Sharp’s Assignment 1.
Descendo
- In-game description: Deals no direct damage, but objects and enemies that are slammed to the ground will suffer considerable impact damage. Airborne enemies will take even greater damage upon hitting the ground.
- How to unlock: Available after completing Professor Onai’s Assignment 1.
Flipendo
- In-game description: Flips objects and enemies upwards and backwards. With its short cooldown, it is excellent for setting up and extending juggles. Its ability to flip objects instantly is useful for solving puzzles and exploiting certain enemies’ weaknesses.
- How to unlock: Available after completing Professor Garlick’s Assignment 2.
Damage Spells
Confringo
- In-game description: A long-range bolt that deals damage on impact. Enemies hit with fire-based attacks will continue to take damage for a few seconds, during which time collisions will result in incendiary bursts.
- How to unlock: Learned from Sebastian Sallow during the quest “In the Shadow of the Undercroft”.
Diffindo
- In-game description: Slashes objects and enemies from afar dealing considerable damage.
- How to unlock: Available after completing Professor Sharp’s Assignment 2.
Expelliarmus
- In-game description: Disarms wands and weapons from most enemies who wield them. Also deals damage to all enemies, even if they do not carry a weapon.
- How to unlock: Available after completing Professor Hecat’s Assignment 2.
Bombarda
- In-game description: Deals heavy damage on impact, accompanied by an explosion that can destroy heavy obstacles and hit surrounding enemies.
- How to unlock: Available after completing Professor Howin’s Assignment.
Incendio
- In-game description: Its range is short and requires you to be close to the target. This spell deals significant damage and lights certain objects on fire. Enemies hit with fire-based attacks will continue to take damage for a few seconds, during which time collisions will result in incendiary bursts.
- How to unlock: Available after completing Professor Hecat’s Assignment 2 following your accompanied initial visit to Hogsmeade.
Utility Spells
Disillusionment
- In-game description: Causes you to blend into your surroundings, making it more difficult for others to perceive you. Perfect for sneaking or approaching enemies undetected to be able to cast Petrificus Totalus.
- How to unlock: Learned from Sebastian Sallow during the quest “Secrets of the Restricted Section”.
Lumos
- In-game description: Allows you to see in the dark areas or solve puzzles that require extra light.
- How to unlock: Tutorial by Professor Fig during the quest “The Path to Hogwarts”.
Reparo
- In-game description: Allows you to quickly return certain damaged objects to their former states.
- How to unlock: Available after completing Professor Ronen’s Assignment.
Wingardium Leviosa
- In-game description: Levitates and controls a movable object. Control its position with your movement and use the d-pad to fine-tune its distance and rotation. Wingardium Leviosa is automatically cast on objects summoned to you with Accio.
- How to unlock: Available after completing Professor Garlick’s Assignment 1.
Transfiguration Spells
Conjuring Spell
- In-game description: Conjures items into existence when cast within the Room of Requirement.
- How to unlock: Tutorial by Professor Weasley during the quest “The Room of Requirement”.
Altering Spell
- In-game description: Alter the physical forms and features of items when cast within the Room of Requirement.
- How to unlock: Available after completing the side quest “Interior Decorating” following the main quest “The Room of Requirement”.
Evanesco
- In-game description: Vanishes items and returns moonstones when cast within the Room of Requirement.
- How to unlock: Tutorial by Professor Weasley during the quest “The Room of Requirement”.
Unforgivable Curses
Avada Kedavra
- In-game description: Kills enemies instantly.
- How to unlock: Learned from Sebastian Sallow during the side quest “In the Shadow of the Relic”. Your dialogue choices during this quest will determine if you learn the curse, so you have the option not to learn. It is also temporarily available in the Dark Arts Battle Arena included as a pre-order DLC.
Crucio
- In-game description: Causes most enemies to writhe in pain as they take damage over time. Also curses the victim – and cursed enemies take extra damage.
- How to unlock: The same as “Avada Kedavra”.
Imperio
- In-game description: Temporarily forces enemies to fight as if they were your companion. While under your control, they take reduced damage from other enemies to prolong their allegiance to you. Also curses the victim – and cursed enemies take extra damage.
- How to unlock: The same as “Avada Kedavra”.
Now that you know all the spells in Hogwarts Legacy, and how to use them in spell slots, you should learn about gear slots as well.
Maximizing their use by increasing gear capacity will be crucial to the speed of your progress in the game. Best of luck!
