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Solving Hogwarts Legacy Merlin Trials get you more gear slots so completing them is vital if you want avoid the message about them being full. There are 85 in total which seems like a lot, but there are actually only 9 variations to deal with, with basic puzzle set ups reused all over the map.
Most Merlin Trials are a range of small puzzles that involve magic to solve, although there are some more practical versions. You'll find them all over the game as you explore and will need some Mallowsweet in your inventory to activate them. To help you along I've information here on how to solve every Merlin Trial in Hogwarts Legacy, which will get plenty of Hogwarts Legacy Gear Slots to store everything.
How to unlock Hogwarts Legacy Merlin Trials
You'll unlock Merlin Trials by speaking to a witch called Nora Treadwell. She can be heard shouting nearby appear after you finish Natty's "The Girl from Uagadou" quest in Hogsfield. Treadwell's mission is literally called "Trials of Merlin" so it shouldn't be hard to miss. Once that's done you'll be able to complete the trials where every find them and start getting more slots.
Like the Hogwarts Legacy eye chests, you'll be finding Merlin Trials throughout the game so expect to see them everywhere once you know what you're looking for.
How to solve Merlin Trials in Hogwarts Legacy
You'll need to unlock the Hogwarts Legacy broomsticks to really tackle Merlin Trials fully, as they span the entire map and are often in places that are hard to reach on foot. If possible at all. Once you have a broom, or a Hogwarts Legacy mount which unlocks later, you'll be able to fly around casting Revelio to find them as you go. You'll also need Mallowsweet, a herb you can buy, grow and find in the world, because each trial is 'activated' by sprinkling Mallowsweet leaves on the markers you find.
There are 85 Merlin Trials in the game in total, each marked with little leaf icons like this:
In the world itself, you'll also see them marked by ornate stone circles on the ground like this:
There are essentially nine Merlin Trials variations. The solution to each one is always near the marker, and highlighted in blue when you cast Revelio, so you always know what you need to interact with, if not how. Many Merlin Trials require one of these spells in order to complete them:
- Basic Cast (RT)
- Depulso
- Accio
- Confringo and/or Incendio
- Lumio
- Reparo
- Flipendo
So if you're scratching your head as to why something is proving tricky, you might well not have the right spell yet.
Here are all the different types of Hogwarts Legacy Merlin Trials and how to solve them:
Large stone ball Merlin Trial
Spell required: Depulso
For this it's simply a case of using Depulso (the push spell) to roll a large stone ball into a bowl in the ground. The balls are usually fairly high up and there's a clear path to the goal. However, the balls move slowly and are really hard to change the direction of, so you'll need to be careful.
Small stone balls Merlin Trial
Spell required: Accio
This Merlin Trial will have three stone plates with four circular holes in it on the floor around it, and also three stacks of small stone balls nearby. You'll need to use Accio to lead the balls to each stone plate in order to clear this trial.
Braziers Merlin Trials
Spell needed: Confringo (but some can be completed with Incendio alone)
This trial requires you to light three braziers mounted on stone columns. They can be spread out pretty far, which is why it's going to be a lot easier to tick them off by using Confringo. They'll need to be lit in a certain order as well because they'll start sinking into the ground as soon as they're lit. Start with the tallest one, and end with the lowest one to get them all done in time.
Moth stones Merlin Trials
Spell needed: Lumio
Riffing on the guiding of the moth to the frame side quest, one of the Merlin Trials involves leading a group of moths to a trio of glowing statues. You'll see the statues easily enough, and then have to find the moths, which can be a little more hidden and harder to see with Revelio. Use Lumio to call the moths to your wand, and then lead them to all three statues.
Broken statues Merlins Trials
Spell needed: Reparo
You'll see three statues dotted around the place that immediately smash into bits when you start the Merlin Trial. Use Reparo on all three and you'll clear this one really quickly.
Matching puzzle block Merlin Trials
Spell needed: Flipendo
This is one of the trickier Merlin Trials and involves three stone columns made up of two stone blocks with markings on. You won't be able to complete it until you have Flipendo (which comes quite a way into the game). Use Flipendo to rotate the top stone block of each column until you match the symbols that look like this with the arrow pointing down:
You'll need to change your position around the block in order to change the direction in which you're flipping the block. It's a little awkward but, thankfully, this Merlin Trial variety aren't that common.
Green spotted slabs Merling Trials
Spell needed: Confringo
This is one of the easier of the Merlin Trials as it just needs you to use Confringo to destroy all the blocks that look like the above. There's always at least one hidden one, so use Revelio to get them to light up in blue to smash them all.
Balls on sticks Merlin Trials
Spell needed: Basic R2 / RT spell
Another of the more straightforward Merlin Trials involves a series of nine stone balls sat unpon stone columns. They're found in groups of three around the Merlin Trial marker, and the trickiest bit is usually just finding them. Thankfully they glow with Revelio but can be tucked away behind walls and higher up than you'd expect. One you've found them all it's just a case of hitting them with a basic cast.
Platform challenge Merlin Trials
Spell needed: None
Finally, probably the rarest of the Merlin Trials is a simple platforming challenge. You'll find a series of stone platforms in a line that's basically a simple obstacle course. Just jump from one to the other without touching the floor until you've reached the end of the course.
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.
