Magical combat in Hogwarts Legacy is oriented around wand duels that only become increasingly dynamic the more spells that players learn. It is true that many spells offer a hand in utility purposes rather than combat, but each Force, Control, and Damage spell usually has a unique purpose in combat that players can take advantage of within a combination. These combinations are thankfully teased if players are paying attention to Hogwarts Legacy’s dueling feats, but there are explicit descriptions for each enemy that also inform players about helpful exploits.
Players do not need to indulge in Hogwarts Legacy’s optional content, but the game encourages players to seek them out anyway because of the potential gameplay options or upgrades they will receive. Such upgrades include subsequent Alohomora levels that players will not receive unless they pursue Demiguise Moons for Gladwin Moon, for example, or increased gear capacities that players will not receive unless they complete numerous Merlin Trials. Unique spells are paramount, too, and lead to one particularly familiar combat combo from Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.
Hogwarts Legacy and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Share Many Similarities
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order seems to have been a huge inspiration on a lot of the aesthetic and storytelling that is depicted in Hogwarts Legacy, whether Respawn’s Soulslike Star Wars epic was an intentional influence or not. This comparison is perhaps most clear when players are traversing through Hogwarts Legacy’s Ancient Magic dungeons, which are all depicted in pristine glass with rustic stone marbling, hearkening to a time long before that has been buried away but preserved in an ethereal beauty.
Ancient Magic itself swirls in a coagulation and reveals obscured structures, platforms, and passageways that are imperceptible otherwise. But in terms of gameplay, these trials serve as elaborate dungeons with environmental puzzles to solve.
Hogwarts Legacy’s first two Keeper Trials in particular are highly reminiscent of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order’s Zeffo tombs, and these tombs also contribute to what makes Fallen Order feel unique apart from its franchise roots in the same way that Ancient Magic makes Hogwarts Legacy feel unique from the Harry Potter IP at large. If this comparison is not enough, though, there is a nearly one-to-one combat mechanic players have access to in both games with regard to harrowing amphibian enemies.
Hogwarts Legacy’s Enemy Collections Tab is Paramount for Combat
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order allows players to exploit Bogano’s Oggdo enemies by waiting until they strike with their elongated tongues before holding them in place with Force Slow. This keeps their tongues extended and vulnerable for a brief moment where players can then sever it with their lightsaber, which effectively stops the Oggdo from using its tongue attack.
Likewise, players can unlock the Grasping Pull Force ability in order to yank an Oggdo’s tongue out themselves. Interestingly, Hogwarts Legacy’s field guide collections tab reveals any particular weaknesses that players may exploit on encountered enemies. This includes being able to smack trolls with their own clubs after a parryable overhead attack if players dodge it instead and then cast Flipendo on them, for example, or being able to slam mongrels into the ground with Descendo as they leap at the player.
Some enemies can be fairly tanky even if their power level is relatively low, and thus these exploits are incredibly useful once players have attended enough classes and completed enough extracurricular assignments necessary to gain unique spells. However, the enemies tab will also inform players that Hogwarts Legacy’s Dugbogs can be dealt with in an incredibly similar manner to Fallen Order’s Oggdos.
Players simply need to cast Levioso on a Dugbog that is readying a tongue attack, pinged with a golden parry prompt over the player’s head, and once they are suspended with their tongues out over their heads players must cast Diffindo to sever their tongue—this is also an insta-kill, making it much more effective than Fallen Order’s tongue-severing mechanic. Of course, players could choose to disregard these exploits entirely and simply rely upon Maxima and Thunderbrew potions, Ancient Magic abilities, or Hogwarts Legacy’s insta-kill Avada Kedavra curse.
Hogwarts Legacy is available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. PS4 and Xbox One ports are scheduled to release on April 4, and the Nintendo Switch version arrives July 25, 2023.
