Unlocking Hogwarts Legacy’s Secrets: Do ALL Merlin Trials Give You Gear Slots?
The answer is a nuanced no. While Merlin Trials are the key to expanding your gear inventory in Hogwarts Legacy, not every single trial directly rewards you with gear slots. Instead, completing Merlin Trials contributes towards completing Exploration Challenges. Each Exploration Challenge requires a specific number of Merlin Trials completed. It is these Exploration Challenges that reward you with four additional gear slots per completed challenge. You need only complete the required Merlin trials for these challenges to maximize your inventory capacity. This is a critical understanding for efficient gameplay and resource management within the vast world of Hogwarts Legacy.
Maximizing Your Inventory: A Deep Dive into Merlin Trials and Gear Slots
Hogwarts Legacy throws you into a sprawling open world brimming with treasures, challenges, and of course, a ton of gear. From enchanted robes to powerful wands, you’ll quickly find your starting inventory of 20 slots woefully inadequate. That’s where Merlin Trials come in. But how exactly do these trials translate to more space for your hard-earned loot? Let’s break it down.
The Merlin Trial System: Challenges and Rewards
Merlin Trials are environmental puzzles scattered throughout the Highlands and surrounding areas. To activate one, you’ll need Mallowsweet Leaves, readily available from vendors in Hogsmeade or through your own herbology efforts. Once activated, each trial presents a unique puzzle that tests your spellcasting abilities and environmental awareness. These can range from guiding balls into stone basins with Wingardium Leviosa to destroying specific stones using Confringo or Bombarda.
The important thing to remember is that completing individual Merlin Trials doesn’t automatically grant you more gear slots. Instead, each completed trial contributes to the completion of an Exploration Challenge. These challenges, found in the Challenges menu under the Exploration section, task you with completing a specific number of Merlin Trials to earn a reward.
The reward for completing these Exploration Challenges? Four additional gear slots. This system is repeated five times, increasing the number of Merlin Trials required for each subsequent challenge. This means you’ll need to strategically complete Merlin Trials to maximize your inventory early on, before deciding if completing all 95 is worth the effort.
The Truth About 95 Trials: Completionism vs. Practicality
Hogwarts Legacy features a staggering 95 Merlin Trials. While the prospect of conquering them all might appeal to completionists, it’s important to understand that you don’t need to complete all 95 to reach the maximum gear slot capacity. You only need to complete 52 Merlin Trials to max out your inventory.
What about the remaining 43 trials? Completing all 95 Merlin Trials grants you the “Merlin’s Beard” trophy/achievement. This is purely a completionist reward, offering no tangible in-game benefit beyond bragging rights and a sense of accomplishment.
Therefore, if your primary goal is maximizing inventory space, prioritize completing the first 52 trials and strategically choosing the easiest and most accessible ones.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Merlin Trials and Gear Slots:
1. How many gear slots do I start with in Hogwarts Legacy?
You begin Hogwarts Legacy with a base inventory of 20 gear slots. This fills up quickly, making Merlin Trials essential for expanding your storage capacity.
2. How many additional gear slots can I unlock through Merlin Trials?
You can unlock a total of 20 additional gear slots through completing Merlin Trials, bringing your maximum inventory capacity to 40.
3. What do I need to activate a Merlin Trial?
You need Mallowsweet Leaves to activate a Merlin Trial. These can be purchased from vendors in Hogsmeade or grown in the Room of Requirement.
4. Where can I find Mallowsweet Leaves?
You can buy Mallowsweet Leaves from the Magic Neep in Hogsmeade. You can also grow your own Mallowsweet with the proper potting table and seeds in the Room of Requirement.
5. How many Merlin Trials do I need to complete to max out my inventory?
You need to complete 52 Merlin Trials to reach the maximum inventory space.
6. Do I get anything for completing all 95 Merlin Trials?
Yes, you get the “Merlin’s Beard” trophy/achievement for completing all 95 Merlin Trials.
7. Are there any missable Merlin Trials?
No, Merlin Trials are not missable. You can return to them at any point in the game.
8. How do I track my progress on Merlin Trials?
You can track your progress through the Challenges menu, under the Exploration section. This shows you how many Merlin Trials you’ve completed and how many are required for each Exploration Challenge.
9. Are all Merlin Trials the same difficulty?
No, Merlin Trials vary in difficulty. Some are straightforward, while others require more intricate spell combinations and environmental manipulation. Look for trials that involve exploding stones and that are generally closer to the school to be easier to manage.
10. Can I complete Merlin Trials at any level?
While most Merlin Trials can be attempted at any level, some may be easier to complete with certain spells unlocked.
11. Is there a way to skip the Merlin Trial cutscenes?
Yes, PC users can download a mod to skip the cutscenes. It is not possible on other platforms to skip the cutscenes.
12. Can I complete Merlin Trials but not get more gear slots?
Yes, if you don’t claim the reward in the Challenges menu, then you will not get more gear slots despite completing the Merlin Trials. Make sure to visit the Challenges menu, under the Exploration section.
13. Are there any “secret” Merlin Trials not marked on the map?
The map can be incomplete, depending on whether you have unlocked the area. There are cases of Merlin Trials that don’t appear until you are nearby and that area is unlocked. Check all regions for trials to increase your chances of finding these secret Merlin Trials.
14. What are some of the easiest Merlin Trials to complete?
Many players find the “Exploding Stones” trials to be among the easiest. These trials involve destroying several large stones using spells like Confringo or Bombarda.
15. Is it better to sell or dismantle gear in Hogwarts Legacy?
Generally, it’s better to sell unwanted gear to vendors. This provides a more reliable source of income compared to dismantling. Also, Well-Appointed gear cannot be upgraded or have traits attached so you should always sell the gear.
The Strategic Wizard: Planning Your Merlin Trial Conquest
Understanding the mechanics behind Merlin Trials and gear slots is the first step. Now, let’s talk strategy. Here’s how to efficiently maximize your inventory space in Hogwarts Legacy:
- Prioritize Early Exploration: Focus on unlocking Floo Flames and exploring the areas surrounding Hogwarts early in the game. This will reveal the locations of numerous Merlin Trials.
- Stock Up on Mallowsweet: Always carry a supply of Mallowsweet Leaves. Visit the Magic Neep in Hogsmeade regularly or invest in herbology in the Room of Requirement.
- Check the Challenges Menu: Regularly check the Challenges menu to track your progress and claim your rewards.
- Focus on Efficiency: Prioritize easier Merlin Trials early on to quickly unlock gear slots. Consider using online resources or guides to locate these easier trials.
- Don’t Obsess Over 95: Unless you’re a dedicated completionist, don’t feel pressured to complete all 95 Merlin Trials. Focus on the 52 required to max out your inventory.
Beyond Gear Slots: The Broader Benefits of Merlin Trials
While gear slots are the primary reward for completing Merlin Trials, they offer other benefits as well. They provide valuable experience points, contribute to your overall character progression, and expose you to different regions of the map. They also encourage creative problem-solving and help you master your spellcasting abilities. The more experience you get, the higher the level cap you reach. The Hogwarts Legacy max level cap is 40.
By strategically tackling Merlin Trials, you can enhance your gameplay experience, maximize your inventory space, and unlock the full potential of your wizarding adventure.
Finally, learning can be integrated in various ways into gaming environments. More information is available on the Games Learning Society website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.