Exploring the open world of Hogwarts Legacy becomes even more magical once you unlock the ability to fly a broom. While walking through the vast landscapes of the Scottish Highlands and the enchanted grounds around Hogwarts is enjoyable, soaring through the air adds a new level of freedom and excitement. Whether you’re looking to get from one quest to another faster or simply enjoy the beauty of the world from above, knowing how to use the broom efficiently is essential. The game doesn’t always explain everything clearly, so understanding the controls, upgrades, and limitations of your broomstick will help you get the most out of this iconic magical transportation method.
How to Unlock the Broom in Hogwarts Legacy
Complete the Flying Class
You cannot access broom flight right from the beginning of the game. First, you must attend your first flying class, which becomes available during the main story progression after a few hours of gameplay. Once you complete this class, you’ll unlock the basic mechanics of flying and gain the opportunity to purchase your first broom.
Purchase a Broom from Spintwitches Sporting Needs
After completing the flying class, a shop named Spintwitches Sporting Needs in Hogsmeade becomes accessible. Head there and you’ll find several broom models available for purchase. Each broom costs around 600 Galleons, so make sure you’ve saved up enough from quests, looting, or selling excess gear.
How to Equip and Use the Broom
Equipping the Broom
Once you have purchased a broom, equipping it is straightforward:
- Open the Tool Wheel by holding the appropriate button (usually L1 on PlayStation or LB on Xbox).
- Select the broom icon using the right stick or mouse.
- Release the button to mount the broom.
On PC, this process may differ slightly, typically requiring the use of assigned hotkeys. If you’re using a keyboard, press the correct key to bring up the Tool Wheel and then select the broom manually.
Basic Controls for Flying
Flying in Hogwarts Legacy feels smooth and intuitive once you get used to the controls. Here’s a breakdown of how it works:
- Ascend/Descend: Use the right stick (console) or mouse movement (PC) to pitch the broom up or down.
- Steering: Move the left stick or WASD keys to steer left, right, forward, or backward.
- Speed Boost: Hold the boost button (R2 on PlayStation, RT on Xbox, Shift on PC) to temporarily increase flight speed.
- Dismount: Press the same button used to summon the broom to dismount when you’re close to the ground or on safe terrain.
Flying Restrictions
While broom flight offers a great deal of freedom, it’s not unlimited. There are certain areas in the game where flight is restricted, such as:
- Inside Hogwarts Castle
- During specific main story missions
- In certain tightly enclosed or underground locations
If you attempt to fly in these zones, the game will prevent you from summoning your broom and display a message explaining the restriction.
How to Upgrade Your Broom
Complete Broom Time Trials
To improve your broom’s performance, seek out Imelda Reyes, who offers broom time trials. These are racing-style challenges where you fly through rings and try to beat her time. After completing each race, you unlock the ability to upgrade your broom’s speed and handling.
Visit Albie Weekes for Upgrades
Once you beat a time trial, return to Spintwitches Sporting Needs and speak to Albie Weekes. He will offer broom upgrades based on your progress in the races. Each upgrade costs Galleons and improves how your broom handles, especially when using boosts.
- First Upgrade: Better acceleration and slight top speed increase.
- Second Upgrade: Further boost enhancements and smoother handling.
- Third Upgrade: Maximum speed potential and better control during sharp turns.
Choosing the Right Broom
Cosmetic Differences
All brooms available for purchase offer the same stats at the base level. The differences between them are purely cosmetic shape, color, and trail effects. Players can choose whichever design best suits their style or character roleplay preferences.
Visual Customization
Some broom models have unique animations or visual flair while flying. While this doesn’t impact performance, it does enhance immersion and adds personality to your magical travel. As you upgrade the broom, these effects may become more noticeable, such as trails becoming more vibrant or the broom producing subtle magical sparkles.
Tips for Mastering Broom Flight
Practice in Open Areas
The best way to get familiar with broom flight is to find an open field or mountain range with plenty of space. The Highlands offer sweeping landscapes with minimal obstructions, ideal for practicing ascent, descent, and sharp turns.
Use Boost Strategically
Your boost meter is limited, so use it wisely. Instead of holding boost constantly, tap it during long stretches of open flight or when navigating uphill terrain. Save boost for timed events or when escaping enemies during certain quests.
Explore from Above
Flying gives you a new perspective of the world. Use your broom to locate hidden treasure chests, fast-travel points, or unmarked landmarks. You may also find enemies camping in hard-to-reach spots or shortcuts to hard quests.
Know When Not to Fly
Although the broom is fun and fast, it’s not always the best choice. When engaging in combat, entering buildings, or navigating narrow corridors, dismount your broom to maintain control and avoid awkward transitions.
Benefits of Using a Broom
Fast Travel Alternative
Although the game includes Floo Flame fast travel, the broom provides more immersive travel without relying on menus. It’s especially useful for discovering new areas and flying directly to unexplored parts of the map.
Scenic Travel Experience
The world of Hogwarts Legacy is rich in visual details, from sparkling rivers to ancient ruins. Flying allows you to soak in these environments without being interrupted by terrain or enemies. It’s also ideal for screenshots and roleplaying moments.
Safe Exploration
Flying over enemy territory lets you bypass ground patrols or dangerous creatures entirely. If you’re low on resources or trying to conserve potions, staying airborne keeps you away from unwanted combat encounters.
Mastering broom flight in Hogwarts Legacy adds a whole new layer of enjoyment to the game. It’s not just a means of transportation it’s a key part of the magical experience. From the first time you lift off during flying class to soaring over the mountains after upgrades, using a broom brings both function and fantasy together. Make sure to participate in time trials, invest in upgrades, and explore every corner of the world from the sky. Whether you’re racing against Imelda or simply gliding above the Forbidden Forest, broom travel is one of the most rewarding and iconic aspects of the game.