Hogwarts Legacy hands out its magic slowly. A few spells arrive with the story, but most of them sit behind professors’ assignments, and three of them depend on choices you make with Sebastian Sallow. Miss an assignment and you can go hours wondering why Merlin Trials keep asking for a spell you do not have.
So here’s the deal: this is every spell in the game, where each one comes from, and the order that gets you the full spellbook with the least backtracking.
How Spells Work in Hogwarts Legacy
The Setup: there are two kinds of spells. Essential spells (like Protego, Revelio and Alohomora) have their own buttons and never take up a slot. Everything else goes into spell sets of four.
- Spell sets: you start with one set of four slots. Spell Knowledge talents unlock up to three more, for 16 slots in total.
- Duplicates: you can put the same spell in more than one set, which keeps your favorite attack on every page.
- Beast tools: the Beast Petting Brush, Beast Feed and Nab-Sack also show up in the spell menu as utility tools.
Every Spell and How to Unlock It
Essential Spells
| Spell | What it does | How to unlock |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Cast | Quick damage and combo builder (with the Basic Cast Mastery talent, hits also lower other spells’ cooldowns) | The Path to Hogwarts |
| Revelio | Reveals collectibles and interactables | The Path to Hogwarts |
| Protego | Blocks attacks | The Path to Hogwarts |
| Stupefy | Stuns after a block | The Path to Hogwarts |
| Ancient Magic and Ancient Magic Throw | Finishers and thrown objects | Welcome to Hogsmeade |
| Alohomora | Opens locks | The Caretaker’s Lunar Lament |
| Petrificus Totalus | Instantly takes down unaware enemies | Secrets of the Restricted Section |
Combat Spells
| Spell | Type | How to unlock |
|---|---|---|
| Levioso | Control | Defence Against the Dark Arts Class (main quest) |
| Glacius | Control | Madam Kogawa’s Assignment 1 |
| Arresto Momentum | Control | Madam Kogawa’s Assignment 2 |
| Transformation | Control | Professor Weasley’s Assignment |
| Accio | Force | Charms Class (main quest) |
| Depulso | Force | Professor Sharp’s Assignment 1 |
| Descendo | Force | Professor Onai’s Assignment |
| Flipendo | Force | Professor Garlick’s Assignment 2 |
| Incendio | Damage | Professor Hecat’s Assignment 1 |
| Expelliarmus | Damage | Professor Hecat’s Assignment 2 |
| Diffindo | Damage | Professor Sharp’s Assignment 2 |
| Bombarda | Damage | Professor Howin’s Assignment |
| Confringo | Damage | Taught by Sebastian Sallow during the main story |
Utility and Transfiguration Spells
| Spell | What it does | How to unlock |
|---|---|---|
| Lumos | Lights your wand | The Path to Hogwarts |
| Reparo | Repairs broken objects | Professor Ronen’s Assignment |
| Wingardium Leviosa | Moves objects around | Professor Garlick’s Assignment 1 |
| Disillusionment | Makes you nearly invisible | Secrets of the Restricted Section |
| Conjuring Spell | Places furniture in the Room of Requirement | The Room of Requirement |
| Evanesco | Vanishes conjured items | The Room of Requirement |
| Altering Spell | Changes conjured items’ size and color | Interior Decorating (side quest) |
The Unforgivable Curses
Here’s Where It Gets Wild: the three Unforgivable Curses only come from Sebastian Sallow’s optional side questline, and each one is a dialogue choice you can refuse.
- Crucio: In the Shadow of the Study.
- Imperio: In the Shadow of Time.
- Avada Kedavra: In the Shadow of the Relic, late in the game.
Turn them down and you can still learn them later: once Sebastian’s questline is over, talk to him in the Undercroft and he will teach you any you refused, as long as you did not turn him in. You can also try all three in the Dark Arts Battle Arena if you own it.
The Best Order to Unlock Every Spell
- Play the opening. The Path to Hogwarts gives you Basic Cast, Revelio, Lumos, Protego and Stupefy.
- Go to class. Charms Class (Accio) and Defence Against the Dark Arts Class (Levioso) are main quests you cannot miss.
- Hit Hogsmeade. Welcome to Hogsmeade unlocks Ancient Magic and Ancient Magic Throw.
- Accept every assignment the moment it appears. Hecat, Sharp, Garlick, Kogawa, Ronen, Onai, Howin and Weasley give out most of the combat spells. Assignments need things like a few uses of specific spells or a gathered ingredient, so keep an eye on your quest log.
- Push the story. The Caretaker’s Lunar Lament (Alohomora), Secrets of the Restricted Section (Disillusionment and Petrificus Totalus) and The Room of Requirement (Conjuring and Evanesco) all come from the main quest line.
- Do Interior Decorating to finish the Room of Requirement set with the Altering Spell.
- Decide on Sebastian. His side quests offer the curses if you want them.
Nothing besides the curses is missable. Assignments stay open after the story ends, so you can always come back.
Tips for Building Your Spell Sets
- Learn the Perfect Protego: block right before a hit lands to reflect projectiles and stagger attackers, then hold the button for Stupefy.
- Combo by color: Control spells (yellow) lift or freeze, Force spells (purple) move enemies around, Damage spells (red) finish them. One of each in a set is a solid start.
- Break shields: enemy shields are colored to match the spell type that breaks them, so give every set a mix of colors.
- Keep Basic Cast in rotation: each hit builds your combo and Ancient Magic, and with the Basic Cast Mastery talent it also trims your spell cooldowns.
- Plan your route: the Hogwarts Legacy interactive map makes it easier to chase assignment objectives across the Highlands.
Hogwarts Legacy Spells FAQ
How many spells are in Hogwarts Legacy?
34 counting essential spells, slotted spells, the three Unforgivable Curses and the beast tools that live in the spell menu.
Can you miss any spells?
Only the Unforgivable Curses, since you can refuse them in Sebastian’s quests. Every other spell can be unlocked after the story.
How do you get more spell slots?
Unlock the Spell Knowledge talents. Each adds another set of four, up to four sets and 16 slots.
Where do you learn Alohomora?
In the main quest The Caretaker’s Lunar Lament.
How do you get Confringo?
Sebastian Sallow teaches it to you during his part of the main story.
The Payoff: once all the assignments are done, every Merlin Trial and shielded enemy in the Highlands opens up to you. For the toughest locked doors you also need Alohomora II and III, which Gladwin Moon teaches you once you bring him more Demiguise Moons. And if you are hunting the Spell Master trophy, good news: the three Unforgivable Curses are not required. The worldbuilding here is next level, and it is still drawing players years later, as the live Hogwarts Legacy player count shows. If you are deciding whether a fresh run is worth it, our Hogwarts Legacy in 2026 verdict breaks it down, and our Hogwarts Legacy 2 roundup covers what comes next.
