How to solve Hogwarts Legacy Merlin Trials

The Merlin Trials in Hogwarts Legacy
(Image credit: Warner Bros. Interactive)

Solving Hogwarts Legacy Merlin Trials get you more gear slots so completing them is vital if you want avoid the message about them being full. There are 85 in total which seems like a lot, but there are actually only 9 variations to deal with, with basic puzzle set ups reused all over the map. 

Most Merlin Trials are a range of small puzzles that involve magic to solve, although there are some more practical versions. You'll find them all over the game as you explore and will need some Mallowsweet in your inventory to activate them. To help you along I've information here on how to solve every Merlin Trial in Hogwarts Legacy, which will get plenty of Hogwarts Legacy Gear Slots to store everything.

How to unlock Hogwarts Legacy Merlin Trials

You'll unlock Merlin Trials by speaking to a witch called Nora Treadwell. She can be heard shouting nearby appear after you finish Natty's "The Girl from Uagadou" quest in Hogsfield. Treadwell's mission is literally called "Trials of Merlin" so it shouldn't be hard to miss. Once that's done you'll be able to complete the trials where every find them and start getting more slots. 

Like the Hogwarts Legacy eye chests, you'll be finding Merlin Trials throughout the game so expect to see them everywhere once you know what you're looking for. 

How to solve Merlin Trials in Hogwarts Legacy

You'll need to unlock the Hogwarts Legacy broomsticks to really tackle Merlin Trials fully, as they span the entire map and are often in places that are hard to reach on foot. If possible at all. Once you have a broom, or a Hogwarts Legacy mount which unlocks later, you'll be able to fly around casting Revelio to find them as you go. You'll also need Mallowsweet, a herb you can buy, grow and find in the world, because each trial is 'activated' by sprinkling Mallowsweet leaves on the markers you find.  

There are 85 Merlin Trials in the game in total, each marked with little leaf icons like this:

(Image credit: Warner Bros. Interactive)

In the world itself, you'll also see them marked by ornate stone circles on the ground like this:

(Image credit: Warner Bros. Interactive)

There are essentially nine Merlin Trials variations. The solution to each one is always near the marker, and highlighted in blue when you cast Revelio, so you always know what you need to interact with, if not how. Many Merlin Trials require one of these spells in order to complete them: 

  • Basic Cast (RT)
  • Depulso
  • Accio
  • Confringo and/or Incendio 
  • Lumio
  • Reparo
  • Flipendo

So if you're scratching your head as to why something is proving tricky, you might well not have the right spell yet. 

Here are all the different types of Hogwarts Legacy Merlin Trials and how to solve them:

Large stone ball Merlin Trial

The large ball Merlin Trial in Hogwarts Legacy

(Image credit: Warner Bros. Interactive)

Spell required: Depulso

For this it's simply a case of using Depulso (the push spell) to roll a large stone ball into a bowl in the ground. The balls are usually fairly high up and there's a clear path to the goal. However, the balls move slowly and are really hard to change the direction of, so you'll need to be careful.  

Small stone balls Merlin Trial

The small ball Merlin Trial in Hogwarts Legacy

(Image credit: Warner. Bros Interactive)

Spell required: Accio

This Merlin Trial will have three stone plates with four circular holes in it on the floor around it, and also three stacks of small stone balls nearby. You'll need to use Accio to lead the balls to each stone plate in order to clear this trial. 

Braziers Merlin Trials

The fire brazier Merlin Trial in Hogwarts Legacy

(Image credit: Warner Bros. Interactive)

Spell needed: Confringo (but some can be completed with Incendio alone)

This trial requires you to light three braziers mounted on stone columns. They can be spread out pretty far, which is why it's going to be a lot easier to tick them off by using Confringo. They'll need to be lit in a certain order as well because they'll start sinking into the ground as soon as they're lit. Start with the tallest one, and end with the lowest one to get them all done in time. 

Moth stones Merlin Trials

The moth statue Merlin Trial in Hogwarts Legacy

(Image credit: Warner Bros. Interactive)

Spell needed: Lumio

Riffing on the guiding of the moth to the frame side quest, one of the Merlin Trials involves leading a group of moths to a trio of glowing statues. You'll see the statues easily enough, and then have to find the moths, which can be a little more hidden and harder to see with Revelio. Use Lumio to call the moths to your wand, and then lead them to all three statues. 

Broken statues Merlins Trials

The broken statue Merlin Trial in Hogwarts Legacy

(Image credit: Warner Bros. interactive)

Spell needed: Reparo

You'll see three statues dotted around the place that immediately smash into bits when you start the Merlin Trial. Use Reparo on all three and you'll clear this one really quickly. 

Matching puzzle block Merlin Trials

The puzzle block Hogwarts Legacy Merlin Trial

(Image credit: Warner Bros. Interactive)

Spell needed: Flipendo

This is one of the trickier Merlin Trials and involves three stone columns made up of two stone blocks with markings on. You won't be able to complete it until you have Flipendo (which comes quite a way into the game). Use Flipendo to rotate the top stone block of each column until you match the symbols that look like this with the arrow pointing down:

The puzzle block solution for the merlin trial in Hogwarts Legacy

(Image credit: Warner Bros. Interactive)

You'll need to change your position around the block in order to change the direction in which you're flipping the block. It's a little awkward but, thankfully, this Merlin Trial variety aren't that common.

Green spotted slabs Merling Trials

The slab Merlin Trial in Hogwarts Legacy

(Image credit: Warner Bros. Interactive)

Spell needed: Confringo

This is one of the easier of the Merlin Trials as it just needs you to use Confringo to destroy all the blocks that look like the above. There's always at least one hidden one, so use Revelio to get them to light up in blue to smash them all.

Balls on sticks Merlin Trials

The stone balls on columns Merlin Trial in Hogwarts Legacy

(Image credit: Warner Bros. Interactive)

Spell needed: Basic R2 / RT spell

Another of the more straightforward Merlin Trials involves a series of nine stone balls sat unpon stone columns. They're found in groups of three around the Merlin Trial marker, and the trickiest bit is usually just finding them. Thankfully they glow with Revelio but can be tucked away behind walls and higher up than you'd expect. One you've found them all it's just a case of hitting them with a basic cast. 

Platform challenge Merlin Trials

The platform challenge Merlin Trial in Hogwarts Legacy

(Image credit: Warner Bros. Interactive)

Spell needed: None

Finally, probably the rarest of the Merlin Trials is a simple platforming challenge. You'll find a series of stone platforms in a line that's basically a simple obstacle course. Just jump from one to the other without touching the floor until you've reached the end of the course.

The release of Hogwarts Legacy has been the subject of criticism and debate due to J.K. Rowling's public stance on gender identity, which continues to challenge the inclusivity at the heart of the Harry Potter community. Here is our explainer on the Hogwarts Legacy controversy.

Sam Loveridge
Global Editor-in-Chief, GamesRadar+

Sam Loveridge is the Global Editor-in-Chief of GamesRadar, and joined the team in August 2017. Sam came to GamesRadar after working at TrustedReviews, Digital Spy, and Fandom, following the completion of an MA in Journalism. In her time, she's also had appearances on The Guardian, BBC, and more. Her experience has seen her cover console and PC games, along with gaming hardware, for a decade, and for GamesRadar, she's in charge of the site's overall direction, managing the team, and making sure it's the best it can be. Her gaming passions lie with weird simulation games, big open-world RPGs, and beautifully crafted indies. She plays across all platforms, and specializes in titles like Pokemon, Assassin's Creed, The Sims, and more. Basically, she loves all games that aren't sports or fighting titles! In her spare time, Sam likes to live like Stardew Valley by cooking and baking, growing vegetables, and enjoying life in the countryside.

With contributions from