How to get more Gear slots in Hogwarts Legacy

Hogwarts Legacy Gear slots - gear screen
(Image credit: Warner Bros. Interactive)

The Hogwarts Legacy message that Gear slots are full is a constant problem early on. It's not only an annoying pop up but it also means you'll be unable to pick new stuff until you clear some space or get more. You only start with 20 slots,which quickly fills up.  

Unfortunately, how you do that isn't explained at all and is linked to an apparently unrelated quest you won't know about until you find it. Eventually you'll discover Hogwarts Legacy Merlin Trials that will slowly earn you more slots but depending on how you explore and what mission you take on, it could take a while. 

I'll explain full what's involved below, and while the Merlin trials might sound like pain to get more gear slots, it's well worth the time to be able to carry more. Much like Hogwarts Legacy spell slots, you'll never feel like you have enough. So here's how to get more Hogwarts Legacy gear slots and never have to worry running out of space

How to get more Gear slots in Hogwarts Legacy

Gear Slots in Hogwarts Legacy

(Image credit: Warner Bros. Interactive)

You'll get more Gear slots by completing Hogwarts Legacy Merlin Trials, a side quest thread you can unlock during the main story. Once you start the objective you'll be able to earn more slots by completing any of the Trial-related challenges you can find - you'll get four new Gear slots per completed challenge.

In the Exploration section of the Challenges screen in Hogwarts Legacy, you'll find details for Merlin Trials once you have them. There are five separate challenges to tick off in total that increase what you need to do each time - the first asks you to complete two Merlin Trials, the second six, and so on. That means that there are a total of 20 additional Gear Slots up for grabs by completing Merlin Trials. 

The Merlin Trials challenge in Hogwarts Legacy

(Image credit: Warner Bros. Interactive)

However, that's going to take quite a lot of time, so one of my top Hogwarts Legacy tips is to sell anything you're not currently wearing whenever you get the chance. You can sell gear at any vendor, and you'll keep all the looks of anything you've found to change your appearance - regardless what you actually wear. So just sell it all and you'll be both full of inventory space and richer. 

How to unlock Merlin Trials and find them on the map

Speaking to Nora Threadwell as part of the Trials of Merlin quest in Hogwarts Legacy

(Image credit: Warner Bros. Interactive)

Merlin Trials can be unlocked by speaking to Nora Treadwell, who you'll discover after finishing the quest with Natty called "The Girl from Uagadou". You'll hear Treadwell shouting out and just going near her triggers a quest called "Trials of Merlin". You'll end up fighting some enemies and afterwards she'll explain everything. 

With that done you'll be able to complete Merlin Trials as you find them in the world. On the map they're marked out with little leaf icons:

The Hogwarts Legacy map showing a Merlin Trial marker

(Image credit: Warner Bros. Interactive)

Or, they're also visible on the ground with a large ornate stone circle, which again bears the same leaf icon and glows blue when you cast Revelio. 

The circular stone marker for a Merlin Trial in Hogwarts Legacy

(Image credit: Warner Bros. Interactive)

Merlin Trials take on various forms, which can essentially be solved in a few ways, but we'll have a complete guide on how to solve the various Hogwarts Legacy Merlin Trials. 

The release of Hogwarts Legacy has been the subject of criticism and debate due to J.K. Rowling’s public stance on gender identity, which continues to challenge the inclusivity at the heart of the Harry Potter community. Here is our explainer on the Hogwarts Legacy controversy.

Sam Loveridge
Global Editor-in-Chief, GamesRadar+

Sam Loveridge is the Global Editor-in-Chief of GamesRadar, and joined the team in August 2017. Sam came to GamesRadar after working at TrustedReviews, Digital Spy, and Fandom, following the completion of an MA in Journalism. In her time, she's also had appearances on The Guardian, BBC, and more. Her experience has seen her cover console and PC games, along with gaming hardware, for a decade, and for GamesRadar, she's in charge of the site's overall direction, managing the team, and making sure it's the best it can be. Her gaming passions lie with weird simulation games, big open-world RPGs, and beautifully crafted indies. She plays across all platforms, and specializes in titles like Pokemon, Assassin's Creed, The Sims, and more. Basically, she loves all games that aren't sports or fighting titles! In her spare time, Sam likes to live like Stardew Valley by cooking and baking, growing vegetables, and enjoying life in the countryside.

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