Hogwarts Valley Merlin Trials - Hogwarts Legacy Guide - IGN (2024)

The Hogwarts Valley Region is home to 16 Merlin Trials that can be cleared to make progress toward unlocking additional Gear Inventory Slots. Merlin Trials come in a variety of puzzles, each of which typically requires the use of at least one spell to complete.

In this Hogwarts Legacy guide, you'll learn the location of all 16 of the Merlin Trials in the Hogwarts Valley Region and you'll receive detailed instructions to help you clear each one. This Merlin Trials guide applies to all versions of Hogwarts Legacy, including the original PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S versions of Hogwarts Legacy, as well as the Switch version from November 2023.

How To Unlock Merlin Trials

To begin taking on the Merlin Trials, you'll need to complete the Trials of Merlin main story mission in Lower Hogsfield. After you have done that, you'll need to...

• Buy the ability to grow Mallowsweet from The Magic Neep in Hogsmeade
• Complete your first Herbology class, unlocking the ability to grow your own Mallowsweet

Tip: We also recommend buying the 5 pot table from Tomes and Scrolls in Hogsmeade to make growing it easier. You'll need Mallowsweet to activate every Merlin Trial.

• Merlin Trials: 16
• Required Spells: Accio, Confringo, Depulso, Incendio, Lumos, Reparo

Hogwarts Valley Region Merlin Trials

Click any of the links in the table below to learn more about a specific Merlin Trial in Hogwarts Valley:

Hogwarts Valley Region Merlin Trial 1

• Spells Required: Basic Cast

This Merlin Trial can be found west of the Central Hogwarts Valley Floo flame in a small clearing by the river. Your task is to destroy nine orbs surrounding the Merlin Trial puzzle location.

Cast Revelio to help you identify the location of the orbs. Use your Basic Cast to destroy all nine orbs. Some of the orbs may be obstructed by brush or rock, so you will need to move closer to get a clear angle to hit those orbs. There is also one orb that is placed higher on top of a rock – be sure to look up!

Hogwarts Valley Region Merlin Trial 2

• Spells Required: Confringo

Located south of the Central Hogwarts Valley Floo Flame, this trial is similar to the first one you completed during the Trials of Merlin main quest. Once you've started the trial, use Revelio to identify the location of three brazier-topped columns that you'll need to ignite quickly so all of them are lit simultaneously.

To solve this puzzle, you’ll need to ignite the taller columns first; otherwise, the flames will extinguish before you can light all three. Stand on the western bank across from the Merlin Trial location. Cast Confringo to light the braziers in this order:

• Brazier 1: Found just north of the river bridge, southwest of the Merlin Trial location.
• Brazier 2: Found at the river fork, northwest of the Merlin Trial location.
• Brazier 3: Found on the eastern river bank, west of the Merlin Trial location.

Hogwarts Valley Region Merlin Trial 3

• Spells Required:

Located east of the West Hogwarts Valley Floo Flame, this Merlin Trial is inside a Bandit Camp. You will encounter enemies in combat before being able to safely solve the puzzle.

Your task is to locate three clusters of stone orbs and cast Accio to move and place them onto the three circular stone altars in the area. Here’s where you can find each altar and set of orbs:

• Altar 1: Located directly south of the Merlin Trial marker. Find the cluster of orbs south of the altar, behind the gate.

If you have already started the Carted Away side quest from Arn, you’ll advance that quest when you open the gate.

• Altar 2: Located up the stairs in the southwest area of the Bandit Camp. Find the cluster of orbs southwest of the altar near a furnace.

• Altar 3: Located outside of the camp walls, northeast of the Merlin Trial marker. Find the cluster of orbs northeast of the altar hidden behind brush growing on the side of a large rock. Cast Confringo or Incendio to burn away the brush to access the orbs.

Hogwarts Valley Region Merlin Trial 4

• Spells Required: Lumos

Find this Merlin Trial right outside the farm west of Brocburrow. You’ll need to cast Lumos to attract and guide all three clusters of butterflies to each stone pillar.

• Butterfly Stone 1: Located just west of the Merlin Trial marker. Head north to find the butterflies amidst Lacewing Flies.
• Butterfly Stone 2: Located southeast of the Merlin Trial marker. Head west down a sloped path to find the butterflies.
• Butterfly Stone 3: Located just north of the Merlin Trial marker. Head east to find the butterflies against a wooden fence.

Hogwarts Valley Region Merlin Trial 5

• Spells Required: Basic Cast

Found in the center of Brocburrow, this Merlin Trial involves rolling a large stone orb into a crater. Head south from the Merlin Trial marker to find the crater. Continue south up the hill. You’ll pass two rock barricades until you get to a third rock barricade in front of the large stone orb.

Use your Basic Cast (or Confringo, if you want to use a stronger spell) to destroy each of the barricades. Then, hit the stone orb four times in quick succession with your Basic Cast to get it rolling down the hill. If you miss the crater the first time around, that’s okay! Just use your Basic Cast again (four times in a row) to direct the orb into the hole.

Hogwarts Valley Region Merlin Trial 6

• Spells Required: None

To find this Merlin Trial, head east from Brocburrow until you find a raised platform in the woods near balloons. This trial is a traversal challenge – no spells required! Your goal is to jump from platform to platform without touching the ground.

After activating the Merlin Trial, head to the southeast stone platform and climb it to start your path. Continue following the line of platforms, jumping from one to the next without touching the ground. If you fall off a platform, the puzzle will reset and you will need to start over.

Hogwarts Valley Region Merlin Trial 7

• Spells Required:

This Merlin Trial is located in a clearing surrounded by stacks of rocks, northwest of the West Hogwarts Valley Floo Flame. Your task is to locate three clusters of stone orbs and cast Accio to move them to the three circular stone altars in the area. Here’s where you can find each altar and set of orbs:

• Altar 1: Located just west of the Merlin Trial marker. Find the cluster of orbs hidden behind a rock barricade up a hill to the north. Use your Basic Cast (or opt for a stronger spell, like Confringo) to destroy the barricade and access the orbs.

• Altar 2: Located south of the Merlin Trial marker near the edge of the cliff. Find the orbs on top of the giant rock hill east of the altar.

• Altar 3: Located east of the Merlin Trial, just at the edge before the path slopes down. Find the orbs in the healer’s tent, up the northern path.

Hogwarts Valley Region Merlin Trial 8

• Spells Required: Confringo (or Basic Cast)

This Merlin Trial can be found in front of ruined buildings on a hill, southeast of the West Hogwarts Valley Floo Flame. Your task is to destroy nine orbs surrounding the Merlin Trial puzzle location. There is also a cluster of enemies in the stone structure, so you’ll need to defeat them before you can safely access all the orbs.

Cast Revelio to help you identify the location of the orbs, and use your Basic Cast to destroy them. Some of the orbs may be obstructed by different parts of the building structure, so you will need to move closer to get a clear angle to hit those orbs. There is also one orb that is hidden behind a rock barricade – use your Basic Cast or Confringo to break the barricade to access this orb.

Hogwarts Valley Region Merlin Trial 9

• Spells Required: Lumos

Northwest of Keenbridge, this Merlin Trial is another butterfly puzzle. Cast Lumos to attract and guide all three clusters of butterflies to each stone pillar.

• Butterfly Stone 1: Located southwest of the Merlin Trial marker, near the lamppost on the dirt path. Find the butterflies near a stone ledge southwest of the pillar.

• Butterfly Stone 2: Located just south of the Merlin Trial marker. Find the butterflies under the bridge south of the pillar.

• Butterfly Stone 3: Located north of the Merlin Trial marker. Head northeast to find the butterflies amidst the trees.

Hogwarts Valley Region Merlin Trial 10

• Spells Required: Depulso or Basic Cast

Find this Merlin Trial next to the Keenbridge Floo Flame. Your task is to push a large stone orb into a crater, but there are obstacles to navigate in this hamlet. Instead of only using your Basic Cast, you might consider casting Depulso for a stronger push.

The crater is located east of the Merlin Trial across the river. Head southwest from the trial marker to a fenced area behind the Keenbridge vendor, Fatimah Lawang. You’ll find the large orb resting at the edge of a wooden ramp. Aim to push the orb up the ramp and cast Depulso or use your Basic Cast four times consecutively.

Once you clear the ramp, continue pushing the large orb past the Floo Flame and across the bridge. Turn north and push the orb into the hole to complete the puzzle!

Hogwarts Valley Region Merlin Trial 11

• Spells Required: Confringo

This Merlin Trial is located northeast of Keenbridge in the middle of a clearing beside the train tracks. Note that there may be Inferi around the area, so you’ll need to defeat them before being able to safely complete the trial – use your fire-based spells to take them down!

Your task is to destroy five stone pillars by casting Confringo at them. After activating the Merlin Trial, cast Revelio to help you find each of the five pillars. This area is surrounded by large rocks, so you may need to move around those obstructions to get a clear shot.

Hogwarts Valley Region Merlin Trial 12

• Spells Required: None

Located on a cliffside near a waterfall west of Keenbridge is another Merlin Trial that requires platform traversal. Your task is to jump from platform to platform without touching the ground.

After activating the Merlin Trial, walk southeast to the nearest stone platform to start your path. Continue following the line of platforms, jumping from one to the next without touching the ground. If you fall off a platform, the puzzle will reset and you will need to start over.

Hogwarts Valley Region Merlin Trial 13

• Spells Required: Reparo

Find this Merlin Trial as you head up the hill of the Small Bandit Camp northwest of the Northern South Sea Bog Floo Flame. Because there are multiple clusters of enemies in this area, you’ll need to defeat them before safely completing your trial.

As you activate the Merlin Trial, you’ll hear sounds of collapsing stone. Your task in this trial is to repair the three broken statues in the area with the Reparo spell. If needed, use the Revelio spell to help find each of the statues.

• Statue 1: Located west of the Merlin Trial marker behind some brush at the stone ledge.

• Statue 2: Located south of the Merlin Trial marker on a ledge near the stair path.

• Statue 3: Located north of the Merlin Trial marker under a tent in the bandit camp. To access the status, you will either need to move closer to the open tent or break the wooden crates and barrels in front of it to have a direct line of sight.

Hogwarts Valley Region Merlin Trial 14

• Spells Required: None

Southeast of Keenbridge, you’ll find this Merlin Trial against the hillside. Your task is to jump from across all the platforms without touching the ground. Beware of Mongrels and Scurriours in the area that may initiate combat!

After activating the Merlin Trial, head southwest to the shortest stone platform to start your path. Continue following the line of platforms, jumping from one to the next without touching the ground. There is one smaller platform before you get to the end – don’t forget to jump on that one! If you fall off a platform, the puzzle will reset and you will need to start over.

Hogwarts Valley Region Merlin Trial 15

• Spells Required: Basic Cast

Find this Merlin Trial just west of The Mine’s Eye Floo Flame. Your task involves rolling a large stone orb into a crater.

Head north from the Merlin Trial marker to find the large stone orb. Hit the stone orb four times in quick succession with your Basic Cast to get it rolling down the hill. Continue pushing the orb to follow the northwest path underneath the train tracks until it lands in the hole.

Hogwarts Valley Region Merlin Trial 16

• Spells Required: Confringo

This Merlin Trial is located south of The Mine’s Eye Floo Flame. Once you've started the trial, use Revelio to identify the location of three brazier-topped columns that you'll need to ignite quickly so all of them are lit simultaneously.

To solve this puzzle, you’ll need to ignite the taller columns first; otherwise, the flames will extinguish before you can light all three. Before you cast those flames, you’ll want to clear the wooden crates and barrels obstructing the view of a brazier northeast of the Merlin Trial marker near an overturned cart.

Stand on the Merlin Trial marker for the best position to move quickly and reach all three braziers. Cast Confringo to light the braziers in this order:

• Brazier 1: Found southwest of the Merlin Trial location, across the mine track.
• Brazier 2: Found northwest of the Merlin Trial location, right against the cliffside.
• Brazier 3: Found behind the overturned mine cart where you just cleared the wooden crates and barrels, northeast of the Merlin Trial location.