Hogwarts Legacy's Missed Mandrake Opportunity: Unlocking Thrilling Animagus Abilities

Mandrakes are a staple in both Hogwarts Legacy and the beloved Harry Potter franchise. Their deadly shrieks and use in combat make them an unforgettable part of the game, but there is so much more to them than just that. Despite their magical properties, Hogwarts Legacy misses out on the chance to fully utilize mandrakes and all the content possibilities they could bring. As a massive RPG with a vast open-world map, there are inevitably gaps in the game's lore, but expanding the use of mandrakes could have opened the doors to a plethora of exciting opportunities. It's a missed opportunity that could have served as a simple feature to snowball into much more.

How Hogwarts Legacy’s Mandrakes Were A Missed Opportunity For A Thrilling Animagus Ability

Mandrakes possess more than just a piercing scream in Harry Potter lore; their leaves can aid witches and wizards in becoming Animagi. However, this process is notoriously difficult and even dangerous, as evidenced by a student's accidental transformation into a sheep in Hogwarts Legacy. Despite this, Natsai Onai serves as a successful Animagus, able to transform into a gazelle at will, while the player also encounters NPC enemies with wolf-like abilities. Although self-transfiguration is not taught at Hogwarts due to safety concerns, Natsai reveals it is a common practice at Uagadou. With access to Hogwarts Legacy's mandrakes, players could potentially learn the art of Animagi transformation from Natsai, much like they can learn Unforgivable Curses from Sebastian.

How Hogwarts Legacy's Mandrakes Could Have Snowballed More Features Like New Potions

Natsai had a unique insight into enhancing the game experience at Uagadou. She proposed an innovative approach that allowed players to transform into magical creatures as a means of exploring the world map, outwitting adversaries, and deepening the connection to their House, thereby adding to the game's replayability.

Hogwarts Legacy's mandrake restrictions also apply to its potion-making capabilities, providing ample opportunities for DLC content. By allowing players to harvest mandrake leaves, rather than just the entire plant, they could create new potions, such as the mandrake restorative draught, useful in fighting curses.

The mandrake restorative draught, while commonly known as a cure for petrification in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, could serve as a valuable alternative to the Wiggenweld Potion or other healing spells in future Hogwarts Legacy sequels. Despite not being a necessary element in the game's story, the inclusion of this magical tool could expand the game's arsenal of tricks and resources. It's unclear why mandrake's abilities were limited in the game, given their potential usefulness and the presence of NPC Animagi and a relatively finite supply of potions. This could be addressed in a potential sequel through Natsai's questline, enabling players to deepen their relationships with existing companions and form new ones.