You're running through a digital Hogwarts, frantically casting Revelio on every suit of armor, wondering why your stud count is barely crawling upward. We've all been there. It’s the classic grind of the Traveller’s Tales games. Honestly, the Lego Harry Potter red bricks are the only thing standing between you and total frustration when trying to hit that 100% completion mark. They aren't just collectibles; they are the literal lifeblood of the game’s economy. Without them, you're just a wizard with a very empty Gringotts vault.
If you’re playing the Lego Harry Potter: Collection—which mashed the original two games together for modern consoles—you probably know the drill. But there’s a lot of nuance people miss about how these bricks actually function across the different "years" of the story.
The Reality of Hunting Lego Harry Potter Red Bricks
Most players think they can just waltz into the library and grab a multiplier. It doesn't work that way. In the first half of the saga (Years 1-4), the red bricks are scattered throughout Hogwarts in a way that feels almost organic, if a bit chaotic. You’ll find them tucked behind puzzles that require specific spells like Reducto or characters with specific traits, like strength or dark magic.
The 20 red bricks in the first game cover everything from the basic "Score x2" to the absolutely absurd "Score x10." If you stack these? It’s game over for the economy. Your stud counter starts ticking up so fast it looks like a glitch. I remember the first time I realized they were multiplicative rather than additive. If you have the x2 and the x4 active, you aren't getting 6x rewards; you're getting 8x. Get all of them, and you’re looking at a 3,840x multiplier. It's ridiculous. It makes the "True Wizard" rank feel like a joke.
But here is the kicker: you can't just find them. You have to buy them. After you locate a brick in the world, Owl Post delivers it to Eeylops Owl Emporium in Diagon Alley. You have to physically go there, head upstairs, and cough up the studs to unlock the "cheat" in your extras menu. It’s a two-step process that catches a lot of newbies off guard.
Why Multipliers Come First
Seriously, don't waste your time on "Carrot Wands" or "Disguise" early on. If you're hunting for Lego Harry Potter red bricks, your priority should always be the score multipliers. Specifically, the x2 brick is hidden in the Clock Tower. You need to mess around with some clocks and gears, but it's accessible relatively early.
Once you have that, the game shifts. The "Score x4" is in the Boys' Dormitory, specifically inside the Gryffindor common room area. You need to hit a few objects to make it appear. It’s simple, but it changes the pace of the game entirely. By the time you get to the "Score x6" in the Woods (accessed via the Hagrid's Hut area), you're basically a billionaire.
The Weird Ones
Then there are the utility bricks. "Collect Ghost Studs" is a polarizing one. Some people find the trail of translucent blue studs annoying, but if you're struggling to find your way to the next mission, it’s a godsend. Then there’s "Fast Magic." Honestly, once you’ve played with Fast Magic enabled, going back to the standard casting speed feels like walking through molasses. It speeds up the building animations and the interaction times with environmental objects. It’s a massive quality-of-life improvement that has nothing to do with your score and everything to do with your sanity.
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Navigating Years 5-7 Red Bricks
The second game, Years 5-7, changed the layout. Hogwarts got a bit of a facelift, and the way you interact with the hub world evolved. There are still 20 bricks, and the "Score x2" is once again a priority. You’ll find it in the Hogsmeade area, specifically outside the station.
Interestingly, the later games introduced "Invincibility." This one is tucked away in the Divination classroom. To get it, you need a character with the "Focus" spell (the white/yellowish one) to interact with a specific student. It’s a bit of a trek, and frankly, the Lego games aren't exactly Elden Ring in terms of difficulty. You don't need invincibility to survive, but it makes those pesky boss fights or platforming sections over pits a lot less stressful.
The Detective Bricks
If you’re a completionist, the "Detector" bricks are non-negotiable.
- Gold Brick Detector
- Red Brick Detector
- Character Token Detector
- Crest Detector
The Red Brick Detector itself is found in the Library (Years 1-4) or the Great Hall area (Years 5-7). It’s a bit of a "chicken and the egg" scenario—you want the detector to find the bricks, but you have to find a specific brick to get the detector. My advice? Use a guide for the Detector brick first, then use the in-game indicators to find the rest. It feels more rewarding than following a map for all 40 total bricks across both games.
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Misconceptions and Troubleshooting
A huge mistake people make is thinking they can use cheat codes and call it a day. Yes, you can enter codes in the Wiseacre’s Wizarding Supplies shop to unlock some of these. But! In some versions of the game, specifically the older PS3/Xbox 360 releases, using certain codes was rumored to glitch out the 100% completion trophy. While the Collection version on PS4, PS5, and Switch seems more stable, there’s a certain pride in finding them naturally. Plus, finding the brick in the world is usually tied to a puzzle that grants you a percentage point toward that 100% completion anyway. Entering the code might give you the power, but it won't always give you the "Found" status for the brick in that specific room's stats.
Another thing: Red bricks don't stay on. Every time you reload your save, you have to go into the "Extras" menu and toggle them back to "On." It’s a minor annoyance, but I’ve seen dozens of forum posts from confused parents wondering why their kid’s "multiplier stopped working." It didn't stop; you just have to flip the switch again.
Actionable Strategy for Your Next Session
If you’re sitting down to play right now, here is exactly how you should prioritize your hunt for Lego Harry Potter red bricks to maximize your time:
- Ignore the "Fun" Bricks: Don't buy "Big Heads" or "Silhouetted Characters" until the very end. They are a stud sink you don't need early on.
- Get the x2 and x4 Multipliers ASAP: In Years 1-4, head to the Clock Tower and the Gryffindor Dorms. In Years 5-7, hit Hogsmeade. These should be your first purchases at Eeylops.
- Unlock a Dark Wizard: You cannot get all the red bricks without a character who can use Crucio or Avada Kedavra. In Years 1-4, Tom Riddle or Barty Crouch Jr. are your best bets. In Years 5-7, Bellatrix is easily accessible after the final levels. Many red bricks are trapped inside "dark" Lego objects (the ones with the red sparkles).
- Buy the Red Brick Detector: It’s usually priced around 250,000 studs. It sounds like a lot, but with a x2 multiplier, you'll have it in twenty minutes. This will make the arrows appear on your screen, pointing you toward the hidden locations in the hub.
- The Great Hall Trick: In Years 5-7, the Great Hall holds multiple secrets. Check the plates on the tables. It’s a prime spot for a few quick unlocks.
Red bricks are essentially the "Developer Console" of the Lego world. They turn a charming platformer into a sandbox of chaos. Once you have "Fall Rescue" and "Score x3840" active, the game feels entirely different. You’re no longer a student; you’re a force of nature. Just remember to save your game after buying them at the Owl Emporium, or you'll be doing that puzzle in the Herbology greenhouse all over again.