There is a moment in Hogwarts Legacy where you stop flying a broom and start flying a Hippogriff, and honestly? It is one of the best feelings in the game. The catch is that you cannot buy, tame or catch your way into it early. The Hippogriff mount is tied to the story.
Here’s the chill version: you unlock Highwing by finishing the main quest The High Keep with Natsai Onai. This guide walks through what you need first, what happens in the quest, how the Onyx Hippogriff (Caligo) fits in and how the Hippogriff compares to your broom. Let’s walk through this together.
Hippogriff Mount at a Glance
| Mount | How you get it | Who gets it |
|---|---|---|
| Highwing | Finish the main quest The High Keep | Every player |
| Onyx Hippogriff (Caligo) | Originally a pre-order bonus, unlocked for all players in the June 2024 update | Every player on current versions |
| Thestral | Part of the Dark Arts Pack (Deluxe Edition) | Owners of that pack only |
Before You Can Start The High Keep
The High Keep is a mid-game main quest, so you will get there naturally. If your quest log feels stuck, these are the usual blockers:
- Level: guides list level 17 as the requirement.
- Professor Garlick’s Assignment 1: finish it to learn Wingardium Leviosa, which the quest’s puzzles need.
- The story so far: Natsai Onai, Natty, has to reach out about her investigation into Theophilus Harlow, Rookwood’s right-hand man, whose poachers keep turning up in the beast storyline. You’ll also have met Highwing earlier, in Beasts Class with Poppy Sweeting.
No Stress: you cannot miss this quest. If it is not in your log yet, keep doing main quests and assignments and it will show up.
The High Keep, Step by Step
Step 1: Meet Natty at Falbarton Castle
Falbarton Castle sits east of Hogsmeade. This is a night quest, so if you arrive in daylight you will need to wait until dark before talking to Natty starts the cutscene.
Step 2: Climb the Battlements
Harlow’s poachers hold the castle, and they have Highwing. Climb the battlements using the wooden planks near the entry bridge, then use the rotating mechanism on the wall with Depulso to open a small gate. Inside, levitate a crate with Wingardium Leviosa and hold it in place with Levioso so you can use it as a step to the next opening.
Step 3: Open the Main Gate
In the gatehouse, Depulso the spinner and pull the lock with Accio to open the main gate and regroup with Natty. Take your time with this one: there are off-path rooms with chests worth a quick detour.
Step 4: Reach the Roof and Rescue Highwing
The poachers on the way up hit harder than most enemies you have met so far. Disillusionment lets you sneak past or set up stealth takedowns, which makes this stretch way calmer. At the top, you and Natty free the captured Hippogriffs and escape into the clouds.
The Payoff: once you land, Highwing is yours to summon whenever you are outdoors. Okay but this part is so good: the first flight over the castle at night is a genuine highlight.
How to Summon and Fly Your Hippogriff
Your Hippogriff sits in the same mount menu as your broom.
- PlayStation: hold L1 to open the item wheel, then press Triangle.
- PC: open the same quick menu you use for your broom and pick the Hippogriff slot.
- Speed: there is no boost meter like the broom’s. Hold the fly-faster button to flap for a bit more speed; the upside is that the Hippogriff keeps a steady pace at any height with nothing to drain.
- Landing: it is much bigger than a broom, so give yourself open ground to land and dismount.
- Ground travel: unlike a broom, you can also run along the ground on a Hippogriff.
Hippogriff or Broom?
| Feature | Broom | Hippogriff |
|---|---|---|
| Upgrades | Speed and handling upgrades from Spintwitches | None |
| Size | Small, easy in tight spaces | Large, needs room to land |
| Boost | Yes | No boost meter, but a fly-faster flap |
| Ground travel | No | Yes |
Honestly? A fully upgraded broom is the faster way across the map. The Hippogriff wins on vibes, views and screenshots, and the vibes here are immaculate. Use whichever one makes you happy.
The Onyx Hippogriff (Caligo)
The jet-black Onyx Hippogriff started as a pre-order bonus. Warner Bros. Games’ June 2024 update unlocked the previously exclusive items for everyone, including the Onyx Hippogriff, alongside the formerly PlayStation-only Haunted Shop mission. It still sits behind the story, though: you need to reach the point where Hippogriff mounts unlock before it shows up in your mount list.
The same update added Photo Mode, so if you have been wanting a portrait of you and your Hippogriff over the Highlands, now you know where to start.
What About Wild Hippogriffs?
Wild Hippogriffs are a separate thing. They live in dens out in the Highlands, and you can catch them with your Nab-Sack once Deek has shown you how. Caught Hippogriffs go into your Vivarium, where you can feed, brush and breed them; they are not extra mounts. Players most often point to Manor Cape for a den, and the Hogwarts Legacy interactive map is handy for planning a beast run.
Still deciding whether this whole adventure is for you? Our take on whether Hogwarts Legacy is worth playing in 2026 covers it, and the live Hogwarts Legacy player count shows plenty of people are still flying around. And if you want to know what the sequel might add to the beast side of things, here is everything we know about Hogwarts Legacy 2.
Hippogriff Mount FAQ
How do you get a Hippogriff in Hogwarts Legacy?
Complete the main quest The High Keep with Natsai Onai at Falbarton Castle. You escape on Highwing at the end, and the mount unlocks.
What level do you need for The High Keep?
Guides list level 17, plus Professor Garlick’s Assignment 1 for Wingardium Leviosa.
Is the Onyx Hippogriff free now?
Yes. The June 2024 update made the Onyx Hippogriff available on all platforms. It appears once Hippogriff mounts are unlocked.
Can you ride wild Hippogriffs?
No. Wild Hippogriffs you catch go to your Vivarium. Your rideable Hippogriffs come from the story and the Onyx unlock.
Is the Hippogriff faster than a broom?
No. An upgraded broom is faster and easier to handle. The Hippogriff has no boost meter, only a fly-faster flap, but it keeps a steady pace at any height.
The Vibe: finish The High Keep, take Highwing up into the clouds over Hogwarts at night and just enjoy the view for a minute. You’ve got this, and trust me on this: it is worth the wait.
