Hogwarts Valley is massive. If you’ve spent any time flying over those rolling hills and jagged cliffs, you know the feeling of seeing that little leaf icon on your mini-map and thinking, "Not another one." Honestly, Nora Treadwell really started something when she introduced us to Mallowsweet. Now, we’re all stuck hunting down 95 of these things across the Scottish Highlands just to carry a few extra pairs of gloves.
Hogwarts Valley holds a significant chunk of these puzzles. Specifically, you’re looking at 16 individual trials scattered from the edges of the South Sea Bog all the way up to the Lower Hogsfield border. Most people just fly around casting Revelio until their eyes bleed, but having a mental Hogwarts Valley Merlin trials map strategy makes the whole process way less of a chore. Some of these are tucked into corners you’d never visit otherwise.
It’s not just about the inventory space, though that’s the main draw. It’s about that 100% completion mark. If you’re like me, seeing 15/16 on a region map is enough to keep you up at night.
Where the Hogwarts Valley Merlin Trials Actually Are
The valley is sort of split into three unofficial zones. You’ve got the northern stretch near Lower Hogsfield, the central hub around the Keenbridge area, and the rugged southern bits leading toward the Coastal Mine.
Up north, things are pretty chill. There’s one trial right near the Lower Hogsfield Floo Flame that basically serves as your introduction to the "big stone ball" mechanic. Use Depulso. Or Accio. Just get the ball into the hole. It’s simple, but it sets the tone.
As you move toward the center of the valley, near Keenbridge, the density picks up. There’s a trial sitting right on the riverbank that trips people up because the firefly pedestals are hidden behind some breakable greenery. If you aren't looking closely, you'll swear the game is glitched. It isn't. You just need to be more observant with your Lumos.
The western ridges are where things get annoying. The verticality of Hogwarts Valley is a nightmare for your broom's stamina if you haven't upgraded it at Spintwitches yet. There are trials perched on plateaus that require you to jump across stone pillars without touching the ground. One slip and you’re starting the sequence over.
The Keenbridge Hub
Keenbridge is basically your base of operations for the central valley. From here, you can hit about four trials within a short flight. One is north of the village, involving those giant stone pillars you have to blow up with Confringo or Bombarda. Seriously, don't use Incendio there; the range is terrible and you'll just end up frustrated.
Another one sits to the west, nestled in a small forest clearing. This one is a "platforming" trial. You see those flat-topped stones? You have to hop across them. Sounds easy until you realize the hitboxes for the "fail" state are occasionally a bit sensitive. Don't mount your broom halfway through or it resets. Just jump. Like a normal wizard.
The South Sea Bog Border
Down south, near the Medium Bandit Camp, things get a bit more combat-heavy. You'll often find yourself clearing out a pack of Loyalists or some over-leveled spiders just to get to the Mallowsweet circle. There’s a specific trial here involving the "butterfly" or firefly mechanic. You’ll need Lumos to lead three swarms of glowing bugs back to their stone pillars.
The trick here? One of the swarms is usually hidden behind a destructible stone wall or high up on a ledge.
Common Mechanics You'll Encounter in the Valley
Look, Merlin wasn't exactly reinventing the wheel with these. Once you’ve seen one type of puzzle, you’ve seen them all. But Hogwarts Valley likes to hide the components.
- The Big Rolling Ball: You need Depulso. Sometimes Wingardium Leviosa if the terrain is particularly wonky. Find the circular pit in the ground, find the giant stone ball, and marry them.
- Small Stone Balls: These come in sets of five. You use Accio to pull them onto a platform with four divots. There are usually three platforms per trial.
- The Pillar Blast: Use Confringo. Bombarda works too, but Confringo is faster. Just smash the pillars before they sink back into the ground or just smash them once if they don't move.
- Moth to a Flame: Use Lumos. Find the glowing green moths and walk them back to the square stone pillars.
- The Cube Symbols: Flip the top cube using Flipendo until the symbols match the bottom pillar. This is the one that makes people quit. Just look at the orientation of the icon. If it’s a swirl, make sure the swirl is facing the same way as the one below it.
That One Trial Everyone Misses
There’s a trial tucked away on the far eastern side of the valley, near the mountains. It’s almost on the border of the South Hogwarts Region. It involves repair work. You’ll see a bunch of shattered statues. Hit them with Reparo. It’s one of the few times that spell is actually useful outside of a questline. Most players fly right over this because the statues look like generic environment debris until you're standing right on top of them.
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Logistics: Mallowsweet and Map Prep
You can't do any of this without Mallowsweet Leaves. Don't be the person who buys them one by one from The Magic Neep. That's a massive waste of gold. Go to Hogsmeade, buy the Mallowsweet seeds, and plant them in large pots in your Room of Requirement. One harvest gives you plenty, and with the right fertilizer or just a bit of time, you'll have hundreds. You need one leaf per trial.
If you’re looking at your Hogwarts Valley Merlin trials map and notice a trial isn't activating, check your inventory. No leaves, no puzzle.
Also, do yourself a favor and wait until you have at least Level 2 Alohomora and the basic combat spells like Confringo and Flipendo. Trying to "complete" the valley early on is just going to result in you hitting a wall because you can't open a gate or rotate a block.
Nuance in the Puzzles
Not every trial is a simple "hit X to win." In the southern part of Hogwarts Valley, the terrain is your biggest enemy. There is a trial near the river where the stone ball you need to move is actually quite far uphill. If you accidentally blast it into the water, it should respawn, but sometimes it gets stuck in the physics engine. If that happens, fast travel away and come back. It’s a pain, but it fixes the "stuck ball" bug that has haunted players since launch.
There is also a significant difference between the "timed" trials and the "logic" trials. The ones involving lighting three braziers on fire are timed. You have to be fast. Start with the highest brazier and work your way down, because the highest one usually stays lit the shortest amount of time.
Why Bother With All 16 in This Region?
Besides the Gear Slots, which cap out after you finish a certain number of trials (you don't actually need all 95 for the max slots, just 52), it's about the Challenges menu. Completing the Hogwarts Valley set gets you closer to those sweet cosmetic rewards.
Honestly, the valley is one of the prettier places to explore. If you’re going to be grindy, at least you’re doing it with a view of the viaduct and the distant castle.
Actionable Steps for Completion
If you're staring at your map right now wondering where to start, follow this sequence to be efficient:
- Mass Produce Mallowsweet: Get a 3-stack of large potting tables going. You’ll need about 20 leaves just for this zone to be safe.
- Unlock the Floo Flames: Grab the Keenbridge, The Mine's Eye, and West Hogwarts Valley flames first.
- Fly High, Cast Often: Revelio's range is increased when you're on a broom. Fly at a medium altitude. Too high and the icons won't pop; too low and the terrain blocks your "sonar."
- Prioritize the "Flippy" Blocks: These take the longest. If you see a pillar with symbols, land and get it over with.
- Check the "Completed" Markers: On your world map, zoom all the way out. It will show you a tally for Hogwarts Valley. If it says 16/16, you’re done. If it says 15/16, check the very edges of the border near the Poidsear Coast entrance. There’s a sneaky one down there.
The Merlin Trials aren't exactly the peak of game design, but they are a quintessential part of the Hogwarts Legacy experience. Take them in small bites. Don't try to do all 16 in Hogwarts Valley in one sitting unless you really love the sound of the "puzzle solved" musical chime.
To finish your collection, head toward the northernmost point of the valley near the waterfall. There's a trial there involving basic target practice. Hit the globes on the pillars with basic casts. It’s a nice, easy way to wrap up the region before you head into the much more annoying Feldcroft territory.