Should I Keep the Gobstones in Hogwarts Legacy? A Comprehensive Guide
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The question of whether to keep the gobstones in Hogwarts Legacy is a recurring dilemma for many players. On one hand, you might be intrigued by the prospect of being a little mischievous or just want to see what happens. On the other hand, there’s the nagging feeling that you might be missing out on something. So, should you keep them?
The short answer is: No, you shouldn’t keep Zenobia’s Gobstones. While the game does offer you the choice to keep them, it leads to no tangible benefit and is essentially a dead end in terms of gameplay and rewards. Giving the Gobstones back to Zenobia Noke is the only path to receiving the intended reward for the side quest, “Gobs of Gobstones.” Keeping them only serves to mildly upset Zenobia, and provides no alternative outcome beyond that.
The Allure of the Mischievous Path
It’s tempting to stray from the virtuous path, particularly in a game that encourages player freedom and exploration. Hogwarts Legacy allows players to make choices that reflect their individual character, and that might include being a bit of a rebel. The idea of keeping the Gobstones might appeal to players aiming for a more morally ambiguous or even “evil” playthrough.
However, this choice in Hogwarts Legacy doesn’t actually lead to any significant changes to the storyline, character development, or player interactions. Unlike some games where such decisions have a meaningful impact, choosing to keep the Gobstones is essentially just an expression of rebellion without consequence. You won’t gain access to new quests, dialogue, or a unique ending. It’s a choice that has no reward, and serves to prevent you from earning the actual quest reward.
The Reward for Returning the Gobstones
Returning all six Gobstones to Zenobia, located near the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, is crucial if you want the rewards. Upon doing so, you will receive:
- 180 XP: This will contribute to leveling up your character and unlocking further talents and abilities, which can be extremely beneficial as you progress through the game.
- A Wand Handle: A unique cosmetic item that will allow you to customize your wand, which adds a degree of personalization to the game.
By keeping the Gobstones, you’re essentially foregoing these rewards for no actual benefit. So, unless you simply want to see Zenobia’s slightly saddened response, there’s no real incentive to do so. It’s important to remember that while the game offers the choice, not all choices are created equal.
Understanding the Gobstones Lore
Gobstones, in the wizarding world, are similar to Muggle marbles, but with a very unpleasant twist. They’re a popular game among witches and wizards, and whenever a player loses a point, the gobstone squirts a foul-smelling liquid on them. This peculiar feature highlights the more whimsical and sometimes gross elements of the wizarding world.
The rules of Gobstones in the Harry Potter universe involve attempting to knock the stones out of a central ring. Successfully knocking one out earns another turn, while failing to do so results in the next player taking their turn.
In Hogwarts Legacy, the game of Gobstones is unfortunately not playable. The developers have stated that while they wanted to include such aspects, they were not feasible, but the mention of Gobstones keeps the world feeling immersive and accurate to the Harry Potter canon. This means that, despite its importance in the lore, the Gobstones are only involved in this quest as collectible objects.
The Quest for the Gobstones
The Gobstones side quest, “Gobs of Gobstones,” is one of the early quests in Hogwarts Legacy. It’s initiated by speaking with Zenobia Noke, a Ravenclaw student who has lost her Gobstones. Your task is to find all six of these misplaced stones scattered around the castle. Each Gobstone is hidden in a unique spot, requiring a bit of exploration and some clever use of the Accio spell to retrieve them.
The Location of the Gobstones
To help you find all the stones, here is a breakdown of locations:
- Transfiguration Courtyard: The first Gobstone is found on a structure to the right of Zenobia, where the owls are perched. Use Accio to pull it down.
- Near the Charms Classroom: The second Gobstone is above the house flags near the stairs to the Charms Classroom. Accio can retrieve it.
- The Great Hall: Search for the Gobstone on top of a large pillar in the Great Hall. You can use the Floo Flame for the Great Hall to make your way over to it.
- The Library: The fourth stone is tucked away in the library on top of the second floor, on a bookshelf that’s near the spiral staircase.
- The Trophy Room: You can find the fifth stone within the Trophy Room, perched atop a trophy cabinet along one of the walls.
- Trophy Room 2: The final Gobstone is also located in the Trophy Room. It’s inside the center chamber above some trophies, on a wall shelf.
Conclusion: Return the Gobstones for Optimal Play
Ultimately, choosing to keep the Gobstones offers nothing but a slightly disappointed Zenobia and denies the player rewards. It doesn’t align with the game’s general encouragement of exploration and rewards. Given that the game does not provide a meaningful ‘evil’ playthrough, nor reward keeping them, returning the Gobstones to Zenobia is the sensible decision for any player looking to progress in the game. The 180 XP and wand handle are useful and unique rewards for completing this relatively straightforward side quest.
While it can be fun to explore all possible outcomes of a game, some choices are simply more valuable than others. In this case, returning Zenobia’s Gobstones is the path to take to ensure a better gameplay experience, in terms of both leveling and customization.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Gobstones in Hogwarts Legacy to further assist you:
1. Can I actually play Gobstones in Hogwarts Legacy?
No, you cannot. While Gobstones are part of the Harry Potter lore, they are not a playable game in Hogwarts Legacy. They are instead used as a quest item.
2. Why can’t I play Gobstones?
The developers of Hogwarts Legacy wanted to maintain the integrity of the world and include known aspects of the Harry Potter universe. However, they also acknowledged that they couldn’t include every element, such as Gobstones or Quidditch, as fully playable games due to time and resources.
3. What is the reward for completing the Gobs of Gobstones quest?
You receive 180 XP and a wand handle for returning all six Gobstones to Zenobia Noke.
4. What happens if I keep the Gobstones?
If you choose to keep the Gobstones, you won’t receive the quest rewards and will simply get a slightly saddened reaction from Zenobia.
5. Where do I find Zenobia Noke?
You can find Zenobia near the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, where you first initiate the “Gobs of Gobstones” side quest.
6. How many Gobstones do I need to find?
There are six Gobstones that you need to collect for the quest.
7. What spell do I use to collect Gobstones?
You will need to use the Accio spell to pull the Gobstones towards you.
8. Where is the final Gobstone?
The final Gobstone is located in the Trophy Room, inside the center chamber, above some trophies on a wall shelf.
9. What are Gobstones used for in the Harry Potter universe?
Gobstones are used for a wizarding game similar to marbles, but when a player loses, the stone squirts a foul liquid on them.
10. Is keeping the Gobstones considered “evil” in Hogwarts Legacy?
No, keeping the Gobstones is not considered a significant “evil” act in the game. It’s just a minor choice that doesn’t influence the storyline or your character’s morality.
11. Is money important in Hogwarts Legacy?
Yes, Galleons are important for purchasing useful items, but they can be difficult to accumulate and should be spent wisely.
12. Can I be in Azkaban in Hogwarts Legacy?
Only if you select Hufflepuff as your house at the start of your game, which unlocks their house-exclusive quest, that includes a visit to Azkaban.
13. When can I get the Avada Kedavra spell?
You can only unlock Avada Kedavra later in the game, by completing the Sebastian Sallow quest line and choosing to learn the spell at the end.
14. What spell is used to unlock doors with Demiguise Statues?
You need to use Alohomora to unlock doors and interact with Demiguise Statues. You get the spell during “The Caretaker’s Lunar Lament” quest.
15. Are there any other consequences for other choices like this in Hogwarts Legacy?
Similar to the Gobstones, some choices like keeping the Astrolabe are presented as choices with potential consequences, but the rewards remain the same regardless of which option you choose.