Hogwarts Legacy: Complete Main Story Walkthrough

This walkthrough covers the entire main story of Hogwarts Legacy, from your arrival as a fifth-year student through all four trials, the climactic battle at the Final Repository, and the choice that determines your ending. Whether you are pursuing the good ending or flirting with the Dark Arts, this guide maps out every critical decision point, recommended character levels, and the consequences of the Sebastian Sallow questline.

Prologue: The Path to Hogwarts

Your journey begins in dramatic fashion — a dragon attack on your carriage en route to Hogwarts. After a brief tutorial section where you learn basic movement and spell-casting with Professor Fig, you arrive at the castle. The Sorting Ceremony follows, where you are asked two questions that influence your house assignment. While the game lets you choose any house, certain houses offer unique access to a specific quest later (Hufflepuff gets an early visit to Azkaban, while Gryffindor participates in the Headless Hunt). Choose based on your preference — no house locks you out of content permanently.

After sorting, you receive your Field Guide and attend your first classes: Charms with Professor Ronen, where you learn Accio, and Defence Against the Dark Arts with Professor Hecat, where you unlock Levioso. These two spells form the foundation of early combat. Practice the Accio + Levioso combo heavily; it remains useful throughout the entire game.

Chapter 1: Welcome to Hogwarts — Recommended Level 1–5

First Day at the Castle

After your introductory classes, you meet Sebastian Sallow and Natsai Onai, the two primary companion characters. Both offer early side quests that introduce you to Hogsmeade and the surrounding Highlands. Complete Sebastian's "In the Shadow of the Undercroft" as soon as it becomes available — it unlocks the Undercroft, a secret training area beneath Hogwarts, and begins the chain that leads to the Unforgivable Curses.

The trip to Hogsmeade is mandatory for the main story. Here you learn Expelliarmus (the disarming charm) and encounter the Pensieve Guardian, a mysterious ancient magic construct that attacks you. This fight serves as your first real test. Use Protego (shield charm) to block its sweeping attacks and counter with basic casts. After the fight, you visit Ollivanders for your wand customization — this is purely cosmetic but affects your wand-handling animations throughout the game.

Gringotts Vault 12

Professor Fig takes you to Gringotts via the Floo Flame network to investigate the ancient magic map. Inside Vault 12, you encounter your first Pensieve Protectors — floating stone sentinels that serve as mini-bosses. This dungeon introduces the basic puzzle mechanics: use Revelio to highlight interactable objects, Accio to pull levers and platforms, and Lumos to guide moths to their frames.

At the vault's core, you discover a Pensieve memory revealing the existence of ancient magic and the Keepers who once guarded it. After escaping (another dragon attack), the main narrative is set: you must complete the four Keeper Trials to prove yourself worthy of understanding and protecting the ancient magic repository.

Chapter 2: The First Trial — Recommended Level 8–12

Preparations

Before tackling the first trial, complete as many side quests and assignments as possible. Priority activities:

• Professor Hecat's Assignment 1: Win two rounds of Crossed Wands (the dueling club). Rewards: Incendio, a short-range fire spell essential for spider encounters.
• Professor Hecat's Assignment 2: Dodge-roll ten attacks, then cast Incendio five times on enemies. Rewards: the dodge-roll tutorial and early combat practice. You also learn Expelliarmus formally.
• Professor Ronen's Assignment: Collect two Flying Pages (bronze pages scattered across Hogwarts) and practice Accio on objects. Rewards: enhanced Accio mastery.
• Explore Hogsmeade and the Forbidden Forest outskirts to collect gear and reach level 10+ for safety.

San Bakar's Trial (The First Keeper)

San Bakar's Tower is located in the Forbidden Forest, accessible via the Hogsmeade Valley Floo Flame. This trial is your introduction to the Pensieve Guardian boss fights. The arena consists of a circular chamber with scattered ancient magic platforms.

Boss Strategy — Pensieve Guardian:

• Phase 1: The Guardian attacks with sweeping arm strikes and a charge attack. Dodge sideways to avoid. Use basic casts to chip away at its health orb (visible above its head).
• Phase 2 (50% HP): The Guardian summons Pensieve Protectors. Prioritize the adds — use Incendio to quickly dispatch them, then return to the boss.
• Phase 3 (25% HP): The Guardian begins a spinning attack that covers the entire arena. Dodge into the gaps in the pattern. Ancient Magic Throw (press RB/R1 on glowing objects) deals massive damage — save your Ancient Magic meter for this phase.

After defeating the Guardian, you access the pensieve memory. You witness the story of the Keepers and their decision to seal ancient magic away. Percival Rackham, the leader of the Keepers, appears and explains that four trials await you — one for each Keeper.

Post-Trial

Return to the Map Chamber beneath Hogwarts. Speak with Professor Fig about what you witnessed. The Map Chamber now shows three remaining trials on the map. At this point, Sebastian's questline branches:

• In the Shadow of the Estate: Sebastian reveals his sister Anne is cursed by dark magic. He believes a goblin relic might cure her. This dialogue choice (support him or express caution) determines dialogue throughout the questline but does not ultimately lock you out of anything.

Chapter 3: The Second Trial — Recommended Level 14–18

The Path to Charles Rookwood's Trial

The second trial is located in Rookwood Castle, a ruined fortification in the southern Highlands. Before entering, ensure you have these spells equipped:

• Confringo (reward from Professor Hecat's Assignment 3): Long-range fire blast, excellent for distant targets and burning obstacles.
• Depulso (reward from Professor Sharp's Assignment 1): Push force spell, essential for the puzzle segments in Rookwood's trial.
• Disillusionment Charm (learned from Professor Fig): Invisibility charm, useful for sneaking past certain enemy patrols in Rookwood Castle.

Rookwood Castle and the Trial Chamber

Rookwood Castle is crawling with Ranrok's Loyalists — goblin soldiers with different archetypes. The Ranger goblins are snipers, the Warriors charge with axes, and the Stingers fire crossbow bolts. Use Confringo to break red shields, Accio to pull Stingers into melee range, and Levioso to float Warriors for follow-up combos.

Inside the trial, the central puzzle involves massive stone blocks that must be positioned using Depulso and Accio. The solution sequence is:

1. Use Accio to pull the right-most block onto the pressure plate near the entrance.
2. Cast Depulso on the left block to push it across the room, triggering a second plate.
3. The central door opens, revealing a bridge. Cross it and continue through the ancient magic obstacle course.

The trial concludes with another Pensieve Guardian encounter, this time stronger. The boss now employs an area-of-effect energy blast — Protego alone will not block the full damage. Dodge to the edges of the arena when you see the Guardian's chest glow blue.

Isidora's Memory

The pensieve reveals the story of Isidora Morganach, a witch who attempted to use ancient magic to remove emotional pain from others — effectively altering their memories and personalities. The Keepers' decision to stop her (by killing her and sealing the repository) is revealed. This sets up the game's central moral question: should ancient magic be wielded to reshape the world, or kept sealed forever?

Chapter 4: The Third Trial — Recommended Level 20–25

Niamh Fitzgerald's Trial (The Headmistress)

This is the most unique trial in the game, taking place in a stylized, monochromatic version of Hogwarts inspired by the Deathly Hallows story (Tale of the Three Brothers). The trial is light on combat and heavy on atmosphere and storytelling.

The mechanics are simple: you wield the Deathly Hallows artifacts:

• Elder Wand: Used to defeat the wraith-like enemies that appear. Basic casts are replaced with Elder Wand-powered blasts that one-shot enemies.
• Resurrection Stone: Summons spectral allies to distract enemies. Use when outnumbered.
• Cloak of Invisibility: Sneak past Death's shadow (a massive cloaked figure patrolling the hallways). The cloak depletes over time but recharges when stationary.

The trial's narrative reveals Niamh Fitzgerald's perspective on ancient magic — she believed in strict control and secrecy above all else. The final section requires you to approach Death itself and accept the Elder Wand, echoing the Tale of the Three Brothers.

Between Trials: Sebastian's Descent

By this point in the game, Sebastian's questline has progressed significantly. Key moments:

• In the Shadow of the Study: Sebastian teaches you Crucio. You must either cast it on him or let him cast it on you. Choosing to cast it and choosing to learn it has no long-term consequence, but refusing means you cannot learn Crucio until later. If you want all Unforgivable Curses, say "Yes, I want to learn the Cruciatus Curse."

• In the Shadow of Discovery: The relic hunt continues. This is largely a dungeon-crawl quest.

• In the Shadow of Time: Sebastian obtains the relic. His desperation reaches new heights.

This is the "point of no return warning" zone: if you want to learn all Unforgivable Curses, maintain a positive or neutral relationship with Sebastian. Do not report him to Professor Fig or any other faculty.

Chapter 5: The Fourth Trial — Recommended Level 26–30

Preparations for the Final Trial

Before San Bakar's trial, ensure you have:

• Level 28+ character with Talent Points invested in your preferred build
• All three Unforgivable Curses (if pursuing the Dark Arts path): Crucio (control), Imperio (mind control), and Avada Kedavra (instant kill). Crucio and Imperio from Sebastian's questline (In the Shadow of the Study and In the Shadow of the Relic). Avada Kedavra comes from the climactic "In the Shadow of the Relic" quest — Sebastian uses it, and you can choose to learn it afterward.
• Max-level Wiggenweld Potions (25 capacity) — craft using Horklump Juice and Dittany Leaves
• Ancient Magic meter with 5 bars — collect Ancient Magic Hotspots across the Highlands map (white glowing orbs that permanently increase your meter capacity)

The Fourth Keeper's Trial

The final trial is a gauntlet through a massive ancient magic arena. Unlike previous trials, this one includes multiple boss-phase waves rather than a single Pensieve Guardian:

• Wave 1: Pensieve Protectors (x4). Use Ancient Magic Throw on glowing objects in the arena for one-hit kills.
• Wave 2: Pensieve Sentinel (stronger Guardian variant). This enemy has a reflective shield — wait for it to drop the shield after its slam attack, then unload with Confringo and Diffindo.
• Wave 3: Two Pensieve Guardians simultaneously. Focus fire one at a time. Use Ancient Magic's area-of-effect blast (L1+R1 / LB+RB) when both are close together.

The final pensieve memory reveals the truth: the Keepers sealed the ancient magic repository beneath Hogwarts to prevent anyone from using it for Isidora-like purposes. But Professor Fig believes the repository must be protected, not sealed away forever. This sets up the final confrontation.

Chapter 6: The Final Repository — Recommended Level 30+

The Battle Beneath Hogwarts

The climax takes place in the caverns beneath Hogwarts, accessed via the Map Chamber. Ranrok has breached the repository and is absorbing ancient magic directly, transforming into Ranrok Dragon — the final boss.

Ranrok Dragon Boss Strategy:

• Phase 1 — Goblin Form: Ranrok attacks with magic blasts and melee strikes. His attacks are telegraphed (glowing red indicators). Use basic casts to break his magic shield, then hit him with your strongest spells. Expelliarmus stops his charging magic attack.
• Phase 2 — Dragon Form (75% HP): Ranrok transforms into a dragon made of molten magic. He hovers and sweeps the arena with fire breath. Use Glacius (if available) or dodge to avoid fire. Target the glowing magic orbs that appear around the arena — each destroyed orb damages Ranrok.
• Phase 3 — Enraged (40% HP): Ranrok becomes more aggressive, adding a ground-pound shockwave and a charging grab attack. Stay mobile. Ancient Magic finishers are the most efficient way to close out the fight. If you have Avada Kedavra, it deals massive damage but does not one-shot the boss due to his ancient magic protection.

The Final Choice

After defeating Ranrok, the repository stands open. Professor Fig is mortally wounded. You must now make the game's defining choice:

Choice A — Keep the Repository Sealed: You agree with the Keepers' philosophy. The ancient magic is too dangerous for anyone to wield. This leads to the "good ending" where Professor Fig passes peacefully, you are hailed as a hero who protected the wizarding world, and Professor Weasley delivers a speech about the power of restraint.

Choice B — Open the Repository: You absorb the ancient magic for yourself, believing you can wield it responsibly. This leads to the "power ending" where Professor Fig dies dismayed, but you gain immense power. The ending cinematic shows ancient magic swirling around you as you contemplate your new abilities. This ending is notably darker but does not make you "evil" — it posits that you believe you are strong enough to handle the burden.

Both endings are considered canon by the developers, and neither locks you out of post-game content. After the credits, you can continue exploring the open world, completing side quests, and hunting for collectibles.

Sebastian Sallow Questline Impact

The Sebastian questline (In the Shadow of...) is a parallel narrative that runs alongside the main story. Key consequences:

• If you turn Sebastian in: He is expelled and taken to Azkaban. You lose access to any remaining Sebastian quests and he does not appear in the epilogue. Ominis Gaunt (his best friend) expresses gratitude but sadness.
• If you protect Sebastian: He remains at Hogwarts. In the epilogue, he thanks you but is haunted by what he did. Anne refuses to forgive him regardless of your choice, but the family is not entirely broken.

This choice does not affect the main story ending. It is a companion narrative that explores themes of loyalty, desperation, and the corrupting nature of dark magic. Role-play as you see fit.

Recommended Level Breakdown

Story Milestone	Recommended Level	Key Unlocks
Arrival & Sorting	1–2	Accio, Levioso, Field Guide
Hogsmeade Visit	3–5	Expelliarmus, Wand
Gringotts Vault 12	5–8	Ancient Magic introduction
First Trial	8–12	Incendio, Confringo
Second Trial	14–18	Depulso, Disillusionment
Third Trial	20–25	Deathly Hallows mechanics
Fourth Trial	26–30	Ancient Magic mastery
Final Repository	30+	Legendary gear, endgame

Post-Game Content

After the credits roll, Hogwarts Legacy offers substantial post-game content:

• House Cup: Complete all side quests and collectibles across the four seasons for a final ceremony and additional rewards.
• Collectible Cleanup: 33 Demiguise Statues, 95 Merlin Trials, 236 Field Guide Pages (Hogwarts), 20 Ancient Magic Hotspots, and 12 Astronomy Tables.
• Dark Arts Battle Arena: If you purchased the Dark Arts Pack DLC, the arena in the Forbidden Forest lets you use Unforgivable Curses freely without cooldowns.
• Breeding Beasts: The Room of Requirement's Vivarium supports breeding for all 13 magical beasts, including the rare Phoenix and Graphorn.

Congratulations, witch or wizard. You have completed Hogwarts Legacy. Now go live your best Hogwarts life.