Screenshot by PC Invasion

Dark Arts Battle Arena is a special mode in Hogwarts Legacy. In it, you’ll be able to use the Unforgivable Curses on a whim, defeating waves of opponents to test your mettle. Here’s our Hogwarts Legacy Dark Arts Battle Arena guide to help you unlock this mode and complete all waves.

Note: For more information, check out our Hogwarts Legacy guides and features hub.

Hogwarts Legacy Dark Arts Battle Arena guide

How to access and where to find the arena

To gain access to the Dark Arts Battle Arena in Hogwarts Legacy, you’ll need to own the Dark Arts Pack DLC. This is also included in the Deluxe Edition. As for the arena itself, you’ll find it in the Forbidden Forest. It’s west of Hogsmeade and north of Hogwarts Castle. One of the nearby fast travel points is Jackdaw’s Tomb, which you’ll visit as part of the main story.

Once you get there, you’ll notice a couple of wizards. Sneak up on them or go in wands blazing to take them out. Then, you’ll have to destroy 10 vases in the area using your Basic Cast or other spells. Simply cast Revelio so you can see the objects. This will cause the statue to show you the entrance to the fight pit.

The Unforgivable Curses and Confringo

The Hogwarts Legacy Dark Arts Battle Arena allows you to use the Blasting Curse, Confringo, as well as the three Unforgivable Curses: Crucio, Imperio, and Avada Kedavra. Here’s the gist:

• While inside in the arena, you’ll automatically have access to those spells, so it’s more of a practice/showcase to see them in action. We did link separate guides in any case. Those methods are how you acquire them permanently in the campaign.
• Ideally, you’ll want to use the best talents, including a few options in the Dark Arts panel.
• Some players have reported that they lost access to the Unforgivable Curses in subsequent fights. As such, you might want to avoid changing your spell slot loadout while in the arena so you don’t experience the bug.

Screenshot by PC Invasion

Taking out enemy waves

The Hogwarts Legacy Dark Arts Battle Arena consists of five waves of enemies ranging from wizard poachers and goblins to armored trolls. Apart from spells, you can use your Ancient Magic and Ancient Magic Throw, as well as your potions and carnivorous plants. Each wave you clear will also refresh the cooldowns of spells, including Avada Kedavra, which takes forever to be off-cooldown again. However, if you’re KO’d, your run will end and you’ll have to restart.

The ideal setup here is something that maximizes your kills using Avada Kedavra by way of the Avada Kedavra Mastery talent. This is bolstered by other Dark Arts talents, such as Stunning Curse, Blood Curse, and Enduring Curse. You may also include Knockback Curse (i.e., Flipendo) and Crucio Mastery.

Basically, you’ll use the curse debuff to full effect on as many enemies as possible (i.e., Stupefy counters, Crucio, Imperio, and Flipendo). You’ll see that those afflicted will have a green “X” mark. Then, once you’ve got numerous cursed opponents, that’s when you cast Avada Kedavra. With its mastery talent, it will kill not just the main target, but everyone else with the curse debuff.

Screenshot by PC Invasion

Hogwarts Legacy is available via Steam.