In Hogwarts Legacy, budding witches and wizards have access to a wide variety of spells to both use in combat and interact with the magical world. From the fiery, long-ranged Confringo to the barrel-creating Transformation spell, players are able to place most of these spells in customizable spell wheels to suit their preferred play style and perform the most fun spell combos.
However, there are some spells that cannot be placed on a specific button, and require players to fulfill certain conditions before they may be used. One of these spells, Petrificus Totalus, has an offensive application. In this guide, players will learn how to unlock Petrificus Totalus, as well as how to use it effectively.
Updated July 30, 2023, by Joe Grantham: Hogwarts Legacy has been out for quite some time now and while it's possible that not quite all of Hogwarts Legacy's secrets and Easter eggs have been found yet, the game's core mechanics and spells are better understood than at release.
One of Hogwarts Legacy's most underrated spells is Petrificus Totalus, one of the few spells that can one-shot many enemies in the game. Petrificus Totalus game's stealth mechanics and can be used in many creative ways.
Petrificus Totalus
Petrificus Totalus is a spell that will paralyze its victims in the Harry Potter universe, and Hogwarts Legacy is no exception. The Full Body-Bind Curse as it is technically known, has been used a few times throughout the series in some key story moments, such as when Hermione paralyzed Neville Longbottom in ThePhilosopher's Stone. Players will also be able to take advantage of this powerful spell themselves, though in an indirect way, through another spell.
Acquiring Petrificus Totalus
To use this spell, players will first be required to reach and complete the quest “Secrets of the Restricted Section.” This quest sees players cooperating with Sebastian Sallow, a Slytherin boy who has some darker sides. The story requires that players sneak themselves into the restricted section of the library in order to investigate a trace of Ancient Magic. To accomplish this, Sebastian will teach players the Disillusionment Charm, a spell that will allow players to blend in with the background. While this will not make players completely invisible, it will enable them to enter a sneak mode to avoid the attention of any prefects or enemies in the area.
The Disillusionment Charm, being the main method of stealth in Hogwarts Legacy, comes with a few additional mechanics. As it would be remiss to have a stealth mode in a game without the ability to make a stealth attack, the game provides its own version of a surprise attack. This sneak attack comes in the form of Petrificus Totalus, and it is automatically unlocked at the same time as the Disillusionment Charm.
Using Petrificus Totalus
To use Petrificus Totalus, players have two methods available to them. The first of these is quite obvious. Players can sneak up on enemies while hidden with the Disillusionment Charm, and when they get close enough, the game will prompt players to use Petrificus Totalus with the press of a button. Using this spell will then paralyze the enemy, defeating them instantly without bloodshed. This is the most common method of using Petrificus Totalus.
A second method to use the spell exists, however. If players have ventured down the fickle patch of using Dark Magic, they can learn the Unforgivable Curses to use against enemies. The second Unforgivable Curse players can learn is Imperio, a spell that lets players mind control most enemies in the game. If players use this spell on an enemy, and then defeat all other enemies in combat, players will be left with a mind-controlled enemy that wanders around the battlefield. Players can approach their new minion before Imperio wears off, and cast Petrificus Totalus on them, as if using a stealth finisher. Depending on the enemy, this will knock them down without a fight, allowing players to deal with their subject before their control over them fades. This technique can be used to take down some of the strongest enemies in Hogwarts Legacy, but creatures such as trolls will unfortunately not succumb to a single spell.
Hogwarts Legacy is out now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, with a Switch version coming November 14.