You're flying over the North Ford Bog, maybe looking for some Leech Juice or just enjoying the view, and then you see it. A bandit camp. But not just any camp—a goblin stronghold tucked away in the northern reaches of the map. And right there, smack in the middle of their territory, is a Merlin Trial.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a jerk move by the developers. You can't just stroll in, sprinkle some Mallowsweet, and call it a day. No, you’ve got to clear out a dozen angry goblins first.
Most people get stuck here. Not because the puzzle is hard, but because they can’t find the "balls." If you’re looking for the goblin camp Merlin Trial, you’re actually dealing with a set of small stone orbs that need to be slotted into three different platforms. It’s basically wizard golf, but with more shouting and axe-swinging.
Where Exactly Is This Trial?
If you open your map and look at the very top, near the North Ford Bog Entrance Floo Flame, you'll see a small bandit camp. It’s easy to miss if you aren’t paying attention to the icons.
The trial itself is inside the camp. You'll know you’re in the right place because there’s a giant furnace and a bunch of wooden scaffolding.
Before you even think about the puzzle, do yourself a favor: clear the camp. The goblins here aren't the friendly "let's negotiate" type. They will pelt you with crossbow bolts while you're trying to aim your spells. Use Confringo to blow up the red barrels nearby. It’s faster. Once the silence sets in, then you can drop your Mallowsweet.
Solving the Goblin Camp Merlin Trial
This is a "stone ball" puzzle. You need to find three sets of five small orbs and pull them onto three stone platforms. The platforms look like square slabs with four circular indentations.
Platform 1: Near the Furnace
The first one is the easiest. It’s right near the main furnace in the camp.
- The Orbs: Look just a few feet away from the platform, tucked near some crates.
- The Spell: Use Accio. You don't need Wingardium Leviosa (though it works). Just pull them, and they’ll automatically snap into place once they get close enough.
Platform 2: Behind the Gate
Walk up the stairs toward the southwest side of the camp. You’ll see a wooden gate that’s usually closed if you haven't done the "Carted Away" quest yet.
- The Orbs: They are sitting right behind that gate.
- The Trick: If the gate is closed, just blast it open. Once you see the orbs, pull them out to the platform sitting just outside the entrance of that little caged area.
Platform 3: The Sneaky One
This is where people lose their minds. The third platform is on the eastern edge of the camp, but the orbs aren't visible.
- The Orbs: Walk east, out toward the edge of the camp. Look for a bunch of thick, green vines growing against a rock wall.
- The Spell: You must use a fire spell like Incendio or Confringo to burn the vines.
- The Solution: Once the vines are gone, you’ll see the five orbs hidden underneath. Pull them over to the final platform.
Why This One Is Actually Important
You might be thinking, "Do I really need to bother with this?"
Yeah, you do.
There are 95 Merlin Trials in the game. You don't need all of them to max out your gear slots, but the ones in the North Ford Bog are some of the fastest to complete once you know where the pieces are. Increasing your inventory space is the only way to stop that annoying "Your gear slots are full" message every time you open a chest in a dungeon.
Pro Tips for Trial Hunting
If you’re struggling to find the orbs even with this guide, hit Revelio while standing on the main Merlin circle. The objects you need to interact with will glow blue.
Sometimes the blue glow is faint, or it’s hidden behind a wall. Spin your camera 360 degrees. If you still don't see them, jump on your broom and fly up about twenty feet. Looking down gives you a much better perspective of the camp layout.
Also, keep an eye on your Mallowsweet supply. It’s frustrating to fly all the way to a remote goblin camp only to realize you’re out of leaves. You can buy the seeds at The Magic Neep in Hogsmeade and grow them in the Room of Requirement. It’s way cheaper than buying the leaves individually every time.
Moving Forward
Once the final set of orbs clicks into place, you'll see the cinematic of Merlin's gazebo forming. That's your cue that it's done.
Don't just leave immediately. Check the chests in the camp. Usually, there’s a collection chest or some decent gear hiding in the tents. Since you already did the hard work of taking out the goblins, you might as well loot the place.
If you're on a roll, there's another trial just a short flight east across the river. That one involves lighting torches with Confringo. It's a different mechanic, but it’s just as quick if you start with the tallest torch first.
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Keep your eyes on the map icons and keep clearing those trials. Your inventory will thank you later.