Hogwarts Legacy is Avalanche Software's open-world action RPG set in the Wizarding World of the 1800s, long before Harry Potter's era. You play as a late-enrolling fifth-year student at Hogwarts with a unique ability to see and wield ancient magic. The game features spell-based combat with a rock-paper-scissors shield system, Merlin Trials puzzles scattered across the open world, the Room of Requirement as your personal base, and one of the most detailed recreations of Hogwarts castle ever made.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avada Kedavra | S | Dark Arts Build — ultimate killing spell | The Killing Curse — instant kills any regular enemy. |
| Expelliarmus | A | Control builds — enemy weakening | Disarms enemies and deals damage. |
| Accio | A | Crowd Control, combo setups | Pulls enemies toward you and groups them for AoE attacks. |
| Levioso | B | All builds — fundamental combo starter | Lifts enemies into the air, suspending them helplessly. |
| Ancient Magic Throw | B | All builds — free damage | A context-sensitive ability that picks up environmental objects (barrels, crates, rubble) and hurls them at enemies for massive damage. |
S-Tier: Avada Kedavra
The Killing Curse — instant kills any regular enemy. 90-second cooldown. The Avada Kedavra Mastery talent spreads death to all cursed enemies nearby, making it the most powerful spell in the game. Learned from Sebastian Sallow's questline.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Dark Arts Build — ultimate killing spell |
| Key Mechanic | spell combos |
| Recommended Build | Dark Arts Build |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Avada Kedavra: Pairs naturally with Dark Arts Build thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Expelliarmus
Disarms enemies and deals damage. Effective against shielded enemies when the shield matches. Disarmed enemies lose their weapon permanently and fight with fists (much weaker). Good crowd control in enclosed fights.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Control builds — enemy weakening |
| Key Mechanic | Room of Requirement |
| Recommended Build | Beast Master |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Expelliarmus: Pairs naturally with Beast Master thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Accio
Pulls enemies toward you and groups them for AoE attacks. The talent that pulls multiple enemies makes Accio the best grouping tool. Pull enemies together, then hit them all with Incendio or Bombarda.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Crowd Control, combo setups |
| Key Mechanic | beast breeding |
| Recommended Build | Stealth Build |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Accio: Pairs naturally with Stealth Build thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Levioso
Lifts enemies into the air, suspending them helplessly. The foundation of combat combos — lifted enemies can be juggled with basic attacks indefinitely. Breaks yellow shields. Every build should have Levioso equipped.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | All builds — fundamental combo starter |
| Key Mechanic | talent tree |
| Recommended Build | Crowd Control |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Levioso: Pairs naturally with Crowd Control thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Ancient Magic Throw
A context-sensitive ability that picks up environmental objects (barrels, crates, rubble) and hurls them at enemies for massive damage. Builds Ancient Magic meter and deals damage that ignores shields. Use it whenever objects are nearby.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | All builds — free damage |
| Key Mechanic | Merlin trials |
| Recommended Build | Ancient Magic Build |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Ancient Magic Throw: Pairs naturally with Ancient Magic Build thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Hogwarts Castle
- Expelliarmus → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Accio → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Avada Kedavra → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying — one strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Levioso into basic attacks is the strongest early combo — lift an enemy, then attack repeatedly to juggle them without letting them fight back. Works on most non-boss enemies.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Hogwarts Legacy Guides
- Hogwarts Legacy Hogwarts Legacy Overview
- Hogwarts Legacy Best Builds
- Hogwarts Legacy Tier List
- Hogwarts Legacy Walkthrough
- Hogwarts Legacy Beginner's Guide
- Hogwarts Legacy Tips & Tricks
- Hogwarts Legacy Combat Guide
- Hogwarts Legacy Boss Guide
- Hogwarts Legacy Maps & Locations
- Hogwarts Legacy Crafting Guide
- Hogwarts Legacy Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Hogwarts Legacy, check out these related guides:
- Elden Ring Weapons Guide — rpg game with similar mechanics
- Baldur's Gate 3 Weapons Guide — rpg game with similar mechanics
- Cyberpunk 2077 Weapons Guide — rpg game with similar mechanics
