Dark magic can be learned and used in Hogwarts Legacy.
The game puts you in the shoes of a fifth-year student learning magic for the first time at school. You can choose between many other spells, but the three Unforgivable Curses are Crucio, Imperio, and Avada Kedavra. While these spells are illegal in the world of Hogwarts Legacy, that doesn’t mean they can’t be used. Crucio causes immense pain, Imperio controls them, and Avada Kedavra kills. Here are the Unforgivable Curses and their potential consequences.
Dark Magic’s Consequences
The consequences of using dark magic are really not that significant. There is no morality system in Hogwarts Legacy, nor are there choices that can lead in a different direction. For using them, there won’t be any gamified punishments, but you might get a shocked reaction from NPCs.
On Hogwarts grounds, curses cannot be used, reinforced by the game’s ban on casting them there. You will not be able to unlock any Achievements/Trophies or unlock any of the Achievements/Trophies if you use the spells. They are not required to complete the game in full. For the Achievement/Trophy for learning all spells, or for Sebastian Sallow’s questline, they are not required.
The Cruciatus Curse [Crucio]
During the Fall section of the game, you can learn the Dark Arts, including the Unforgivable Curses. As part of the main story, you meet Sebastian Sallow’s sister and learn his art as part of his quest. When Sebastian has a fight with his friend, Ominous, after completing this quest, you must speak to him in the castle. Slytherin’s Scriptorium will be discussed during this conversation, along with Crucio.
In The Shadow Of The Study, your first Unforgivable Curse, Crucio, is revealed after speaking with him. Sebastian, Ominous, and you all venture into Slytherin’s Scriptorium. After solving a few snake dial puzzles, where you need to match symbols on the gates with symbols on the dial. You will be trapped in a hallway where someone must cast the Crucio spell on another in order to advance.
Ominous refuses to cast the spell again and warns anyone who does will be forever scarred, and more than those on the receiving end. As Sebastian says, he’s pretty sure he knows how to cast it. He asks you to either master it and use it on him or let him try it on you. You can also learn the spell, but Sebastian will still have to do it for you. The two options where you can learn Crucio are listed below. Upon completion, you will receive a spellbook.
The Imperius Curse [Imperio]
Whenever Sebastian asks if you want to learn Dark Magic, you must agree if you want the spells.
Once you have completed the second trial and reached winter, Sebastian will ask you to meet with him in the Undercroft. In the spellbook you found, he tells you about an artifact that can reverse Dark Magic curses, which could save his sister. He will send you another message after some time has passed.
Our next interaction with Sebastian will take place in a main story quest called “In the Shadow of the Mine” and will take place at Overlook Mine. You won’t learn the next Unforgivable Curse there, however. In the same vein as this quest, Sebastian will send you another message. He will tell you that he believes he has found the relic that will help Anne and invites you to meet him in a catacomb near Feldcroft.
It is Sebastian’s suggestion that you learn Imperio halfway through the catacomb, which allows you to control the target. You must choose the option where Sebastian teaches you Imperio. Despite the fact that Imperio is required for completing this dungeon, you do not need to use it here, even if you learn it. Sebastian will be yelled at by Ominous after finding the relic. Once you leave the catacomb, you will be returned to Feldcroft, which is surrounded by goblins. Sebastian will use Imperio to stop a goblin from killing his sister in a cutscene. However, his uncle and sister are upset that he used dark magic. Upon completing this quest, Sebastian will ask you to meet him in the Undercroft, where he will continue researching the relic.
The Avada Kedavra Curse
Using Avada Kedavra, you can instantly kill any non-boss enemy.
Sebastian will send you a message after enough time has passed, shortly after completing the third trial–inviting you to meet him and Anne outside of Feldcroft. This is the start of the quest “In the Shadow of Hope.” You discuss using the Relic and the aforementioned “Dark Sacrifice” with Anne and Sebastian, but Sebastian says he will convince Ominous and Anne to participate later and send you another message.
Having completed the main quest “Lodgok’s Loyalty” will allow you to continue with this questline. You will receive a message from Ominous asking you to meet in the catacombs to discuss Sebastian’s irrationality and impatience. The quest “In the Shadow of the Relic” will teach you Avada Kedavra.
The catacombs of Feldcroft must be visited by you and Ominous to find Sebastian. Sebastian’s uncle arrives at the catacomb, and a battle ensues. Inferno fills the catacombs. It is Ominous who leaves to interfere with Headmaster Black. Sebastian defeats Solomon with Avada Kedavra. Anne burns the spellbook and all of the Inferni before leaving. You talk to Sebastian again, and he runs out of the catacombs.
Talking to Sebastian outside requires you to side with him when given dialogue options. At this point, Sebastian will teach you the killing curse. He will ask you if you wish to learn Avada Kedavra, and you should answer yes. In spite of the fact that his questline is not complete, you now know the three Unforgivable Curses.
