Hogwarts Legacy recently revealed its Dark Arts Battle Arena to the dismay of some fans. Because players can freely cast Avada Kedavra, Imperio, and Crucio in this particular Battle Arena, many have been quick to criticize how nonchalantly the player can kill and torture their enemies. This argument is salient when considering that Hogwarts Legacy’s protagonist is a late fifth-year student at Hogwarts and their youth may be a talking point regarding their actions. That said, it seems entirely up to players whether they choose to cast these curses or not.
Moreover, many open-world action-RPGs feature combat where players cut down enemies without a second thought. It is possible that Hogwarts Legacy could pit players against fellow students, but many of the game’s common enemies seem to be appropriately antagonistic and wish harm upon them. Still, the argument remains that players may not need to use curses that seem reprehensible on enemies at all if they wish not to. For players who do want to use curses, the Dark Arts Battle Arena offers a haven to freely enjoy Unforgivable Curses as a feature in Hogwarts Legacy.
Hogwarts Legacy Lets Players Choose Their Own Moral Path
Choices in Hogwarts Legacy may or may not be reprimanded, at least from what has been shown thus far. It is clear that certain choices will lead players down certain paths, but it is unclear whether these paths lock them out of particular endings, friendships, or other interactions.
Players are able to acquire the three Unforgivable Curses throughout Hogwarts Legacy, but it has also not been stated one way or another if players will be able to use these curses in every instance of combat. It would surely be damning if players could use Hogwarts Legacy’s Killing Curse on another student, for example, especially if it was used in a consensual dueling club match. However, even if players were indeed able to use these curses on students, they may not be forced to in any way. Using these curses could be up to player discretion in combat, and their actions would only be as malignant as they choose.
Creatures such as trolls may not be the most empathetic enemy, and perhaps using these curses on them will not have a narrative effect. It is then up to players to decide which charms and curses they would like to use and when. If players fall down a dark path long enough, though, it would be intriguing to see these curses play a larger and more compulsory role in combat.
Hogwarts Legacy’s Dark Arts Battle Arena Isolates Curses for Skeptical Players
Knowing that Hogwarts Legacy’s Unforgivable Curses are being treated faithfully, it makes sense for fans to be wary about casting them. It is fairly likely that many fans will want a wholesome experience that reflects their warm nostalgia of the Harry Potter franchise, but it is also excellent that Hogwarts Legacy lets players choose which path they will go down.
If players want to experiment with hard-earned Unforgivable Curses but are worried about what repercussions that might have on the narrative, Hogwarts Legacy’s Dark Arts Battle Arena DLC seems like the perfect retreat. This arena is only available as part of DLC separate from the base game, or included as part of Hogwarts Legacy’s Deluxe and Collector’s editions.
Players could decide that they do not want to cast a single curse in the events of the game, but the Dark Arts Battle Arena seems to let them do it freely without a narrative consequence that could impact them externally. Therefore, every player who indulges in this DLC may get the chance to express that darker side of their character in an isolated combat arena, before returning to their wholesome path when they have completed the arena’s challenges.
Hogwarts Legacy launches February 10, 2023 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, on April 4 for PS4 and Xbox One, and on July 25 for Switch.