Can You Embrace the Dark Arts in Hogwarts Legacy? A Deep Dive into Morality and Choice
The short answer is: yes, and no. While Hogwarts Legacy provides ample opportunities to dabble in morally grey areas and even wield the dreaded Unforgivable Curses, the game stops short of allowing you to become a truly, canonically evil character. You won’t be crowned the next Voldemort, but you can certainly explore the allure of the Dark Arts and make choices that reflect a darker path. The game emphasizes player agency in choosing your character’s narrative.
Exploring Moral Ambiguity in Hogwarts Legacy
Hogwarts Legacy positions itself as an RPG where choices matter, and to a certain extent, they do. You’re presented with dialogue options that can range from compassionate and helpful to sarcastic and, at times, downright cruel. You can learn and use Crucio, Imperio, and Avada Kedavra, all of which are considered dark magic with severe consequences in the Harry Potter universe. The thrill of unleashing these powerful spells on enemies is undeniable, and the game facilitates this power fantasy without significant in-game repercussions.
However, the narrative itself doesn’t bend enough to fully accommodate a truly evil character. Your main quest remains largely the same regardless of your moral choices, and the overarching storyline pushes you towards saving the wizarding world, even if your methods are questionable. While you can make “evil” choices in quests, the game lacks a comprehensive morality system that would drastically alter the story’s outcome or your character’s reputation.
The Allure of the Unforgivable Curses
One of the biggest draws for players interested in exploring the “dark side” is the opportunity to learn and wield the Unforgivable Curses. These spells – Crucio (the Torture Curse), Imperio (the Imperius Curse), and Avada Kedavra (the Killing Curse) – are powerful and devastating. Using them in combat provides a significant advantage, allowing you to control enemies, inflict damage over time, or even instantly kill them.
Despite their power, the game doesn’t impose any substantial penalties for using these curses. Your companions might express disapproval, but there are no consequences for your character or the game’s overarching narrative. This allows players to freely experiment with the Dark Arts without fear of expulsion, imprisonment, or a drastically altered storyline. This absence of consequences is a key aspect of the debate, and it is something that the Games Learning Society might study further.
Endings and Story Choices
Hogwarts Legacy features a few different endings, but none of them are inherently “evil” in the traditional sense. One ending allows you to siphon the power of ancient magic for yourself, which can be interpreted as a selfish act, but it doesn’t necessarily make you a villain. The narrative ultimately focuses on containing or controlling the ancient magic, regardless of your specific choices.
While your choices influence some character interactions and the outcome of certain side quests (like the Sebastian Sallow storyline), they don’t fundamentally change the main storyline’s trajectory. This limitation prevents players from fully embodying a truly evil character and shaping the world according to their dark desires.
Mods and the Potential for Evil
While the base game restricts you from becoming truly evil, the modding community has stepped in to offer more extreme possibilities. Mods like the “Play as Voldemort” mod allow players to embody iconic dark wizards and potentially alter the game’s mechanics to reflect a more sinister playstyle.
Mods offer a pathway to push the boundaries of the game’s inherent morality. However, it’s important to remember that these modifications are not part of the official game and may have unintended consequences or stability issues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about exploring the dark side in Hogwarts Legacy:
1. Can I become Voldemort in Hogwarts Legacy?
Not in the base game. A mod exists that allows you to play as Lord Voldemort, but this is not an official feature.
2. Can I go to Azkaban in Hogwarts Legacy?
Only Hufflepuff players get a brief, linear visit to Azkaban as part of their house-exclusive quest. You cannot be sent to Azkaban for using Unforgivable Curses.
3. Can I get expelled in Hogwarts Legacy?
No. While turning in Sebastian Sallow results in his expulsion, you cannot be expelled yourself.
4. Are there Dementors in Hogwarts Legacy?
Dementors appear briefly in the Hufflepuff house quest that takes you to Azkaban. There are no Dementors present at Hogwarts.
5. Can you learn Avada Kedavra later in Hogwarts Legacy?
Yes, you can learn Avada Kedavra by progressing through Sebastian Sallow’s relationship quest line. You must choose not to turn him in to learn the curse.
6. What happens if you learn Avada Kedavra in Hogwarts Legacy?
You can use Avada Kedavra in combat to instantly kill enemies. There are no in-game consequences for using it.
7. Can you learn Avada Kedavra as a Gryffindor?
Yes, you can learn it regardless of your house by following Sebastian’s questline. If you turn him in or did not take the Slytherin House, you can practice using Avada Kedavra in the Dark Arts Battle Arena, which is only available through the Deluxe Edition or Dark Arts Pack DLC.
8. How many endings does Hogwarts Legacy have?
There are a few variations, but only two endings truly change the story. These are: locking away the ancient magic forever, or siphoning the power for yourself. The difference is not dramatic.
9. What is the strongest build in Hogwarts Legacy?
Many consider the dark wizard build, focused on using Unforgivable Curses, to be one of the most powerful.
10. What is the bad ending of Hogwarts Legacy?
The “bad” ending is subjective, but it is the ending where you siphon the ancient magic’s power for yourself.
11. Can I get the Elder Wand in Hogwarts Legacy?
You can wield the Elder Wand temporarily during the final trials, but you cannot permanently acquire it.
12. Does it matter if you’re good or bad in Hogwarts Legacy?
Not significantly. Your choices influence some interactions, but the main story remains consistent. There are no major in-game story consequences.
13. Can you avoid Sebastian killing his uncle?
No. Sebastian’s confrontation with his uncle is a fixed event. You can only choose whether or not to turn him in afterward.
14. Is there a downside to using Avada Kedavra?
The only real downside is a potential disconnect between the protagonist’s generally good nature and the use of such a dark spell. This is an issue of narrative coherence for some players.
15. Should you turn in Sebastian or not?
If you want to learn all the Unforgivable Curses and experience all of his quests, do not turn him in. There are more restrictions to your experience if you do turn him in.
Conclusion: A Choice-Driven Experience With Limitations
Hogwarts Legacy offers a compelling experience for players who want to explore the morally ambiguous aspects of the wizarding world. While you can’t become a truly evil character with far-reaching consequences, you can certainly dabble in the Dark Arts, make questionable choices, and shape your character’s personality to reflect a darker path.
The game encourages players to experiment with spells, dialogue options, and quest outcomes, but it stops short of allowing for a complete transformation into a villainous figure. Whether this is a limitation or a deliberate design choice is a matter of perspective. While the game is not a sandbox for unfettered evil, it provides enough choices and spells to offer a unique experience. Exploring the intersection of game design and narrative agency is a key area of interest for the Games Learning Society. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org for more information on this subject.