Can You Avoid Sebastian Sallow in Hogwarts Legacy? The Complete Guide
Yes, you can avoid Sebastian Sallow in Hogwarts Legacy, but doing so will significantly alter your gameplay experience and lock you out of a substantial amount of content. While you aren’t forced to engage directly with his personal questline involving the Dark Arts, completely severing ties with him is impossible if you want to experience the full scope of the game. He is a core character intrinsically linked to the story and various quests. Avoiding him entirely deprives you of unique spells, crucial story elements and important choices that influence your character’s path.
The Role of Sebastian Sallow in Hogwarts Legacy
Sebastian Sallow is a fifth-year Slytherin student who becomes a central figure in your character’s journey, particularly if you’re interested in learning more about the Dark Arts. His questline delves into his family’s history, a mysterious relic, and his desire to cure his sister, Anne, from a debilitating curse.
Forced Interactions and Opportunities
While you have choices regarding your interactions with Sebastian, the game is structured so you encounter him frequently.
- Early Main Story Encounters: Sebastian appears early on in the main story during classes and shared activities. Avoiding him entirely at this stage is impossible.
- Herbology Class and Beyond: Early interactions start with herbology class, progressing into common quests and events.
- His Personal Questline: You can choose not to actively pursue Sebastian’s questline. However, he will still be present around Hogwarts and occasionally intersect with the main storyline.
- Missing Spells: Avoiding his questline means you won’t learn crucial Dark Arts spells like Crucio, Imperio, and Avada Kedavra.
Understanding the Consequences of Avoiding Sebastian
Completely sidelining Sebastian has far-reaching effects:
- Missed Dark Arts Spells: Crucially, you cannot learn unforgivable curses without progressing through his questline.
- Altered Character Development: Your character will miss opportunities to explore difficult moral choices related to the Dark Arts, significantly impacting your role-playing experience.
- Reduced Understanding of Hogwarts History: Sebastian’s questline provides additional background and lore to Hogwarts and its mysteries.
- Lost Story Content: A substantial part of the game narrative revolves around Sebastian and his family’s plight.
- Missing Companionship: While Sebastian is controversial, he can be a valuable ally and friend. Ignoring him limits your potential relationships.
The Middle Ground: Minimal Interaction
While total avoidance isn’t feasible for a comprehensive experience, you can minimize your interaction with Sebastian. Here’s how:
- Decline Side Quests: Politely decline or outright refuse to participate in his side quests.
- Focus on Other Companions: Build relationships with other characters like Nattai Onai or Poppy Sweeting.
- Choose Different Dialogue Options: Select dialogue options that express disapproval of his actions or a disinterest in the Dark Arts.
Weighing the Pros and Cons
Before deciding whether to avoid Sebastian, consider the following:
Pros:
- Avoidance of Dark Arts focus: You may prefer to play a character who avoids the Dark Arts entirely.
- Maintain a specific moral alignment: If you want to maintain a strictly “good” character, avoiding his influence may align with your role-playing goals.
Cons:
- Missing Spells: You’ll be locked out of powerful and unique spells.
- Reduced Story Content: You’ll miss a significant portion of the game’s narrative.
- Limited Character Development: Your character will lack exposure to complex moral dilemmas.
- Restricted Gameplay Options: Certain areas and puzzles become harder or impossible to complete without those specific spells.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Sebastian Sallow and Avoiding Him
1. Is Sebastian Sallow a mandatory character in Hogwarts Legacy?
Yes, Sebastian Sallow is partially mandatory. You will encounter him in the main story and he’s intertwined with the main storyline, but engaging in his side quest is your choice. Completely avoiding him will deprive you of substantial content.
2. Can I play Hogwarts Legacy without learning the unforgivable curses?
Yes, you can. Learning the unforgivable curses is tied to Sebastian’s questline. If you choose not to complete those quests, you will not learn them.
3. Does my Hogwarts house affect my interaction with Sebastian?
No, your Hogwarts house does not affect your ability to interact with Sebastian. He is part of the core narrative regardless of your house.
4. Are there consequences for learning unforgivable curses?
Yes, there are narrative consequences. Other characters might react differently to you based on your knowledge and use of unforgivable curses.
5. Can I learn the unforgivable curses from other characters?
No, you can only learn the unforgivable curses from Sebastian Sallow. No other character will teach you these spells.
6. Will avoiding Sebastian make the game harder?
Potentially, yes. The unforgivable curses are powerful tools, and not having them might make certain combat encounters more challenging. But you can finish the game perfectly well without using them.
7. Can I change my mind about avoiding Sebastian later in the game?
Yes, to an extent. You can start his questline at any time before the game’s ending. But you will miss dialogues, specific moments and choices related to his past.
8. Will other characters judge me for being friends with Sebastian?
Yes, some characters may express concern or disapproval about your association with Sebastian, especially if you choose to embrace the Dark Arts.
9. Does choosing to learn the unforgivable curses affect the game’s ending?
The ending of the game has several variations, depending on the player choices. Learning unforgivable curses can impact the ending, but is not the sole factor that determines it.
10. What if I accidentally start Sebastian’s questline and want to stop?
You can stop at any time; his quests are optional. Simply don’t pursue the next objective in his questline.
11. Will avoiding Sebastian lock me out of any achievements or trophies?
Yes, it will lock you out of achievements/trophies related to his questline and learning the unforgivable curses.
12. Can I get Sebastian expelled from Hogwarts?
Whether he gets expelled or not depends on your actions throughout the game.
13. Is Sebastian a villain in Hogwarts Legacy?
Whether Sebastian is a “villain” is subjective. He is a complex character who makes morally questionable decisions, but his motivations are driven by love and desperation.
14. Are there any romance options with Sebastian Sallow?
No, there are no romance options with any characters, including Sebastian Sallow, in Hogwarts Legacy. The game focuses on friendships and alliances.
15. Does Sebastian appear after the main story is completed?
No, after finishing the main storyline, the game returns to the point before the final quest. You can keep exploring the world and do side quests, but there are no new story updates to his questline.
In conclusion, while entirely avoiding Sebastian Sallow in Hogwarts Legacy is technically impossible, minimizing your interactions is possible. Weigh the pros and cons carefully to make an informed decision that aligns with your desired gameplay experience.