Hogwarts Legacy High Keep: How to climb the battlements and open the main gate

Unlocking the Hippogriffs.

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After you’ve spent a while in Hogwarts Legacy, you’ll eventually unlock the 27th main quest, “The High Keep,” which centers on you and Natty running into one of Harlow’s lairs. You’ll be tasked with climbing the battlements and getting to the roof here, but the whole High Keep is really more of a puzzle to get through. Not to worry. We’re here to help with step-by-step instructions.

This is also a very exciting quest as completing it unlocks Hippogriffs and flying magical beasts. It’s one of the best quest rewards inHogwarts Legacy. With all of the wizarding fun you can have, it’s no wonder this is one of thebest PC gamesandbest Xbox gamesout there.

How to climb the High Keep battlements and get to the roof

There are lots of small treasures and goodies to collect along the way, but this is mostly just a straightforward High Keep walkthrough to the top of the battlements. Make sure to useReveliooften and grab any rewards along the way.

Step 1: Climb the battlements east of the bridge

From the Falbarton Castle Floo Flame looking at the High Keep, goeast of the bridgeandclimb up the ledgesthere.

Step 2: Get further into the High Keep

When you get on the High Keep wall, you’ll see arotating mechanismon the left. Go to it and castDepulsoto make it turn and open the small gated door.

UsingWingardium Leviosaon the crate inside the room, move it out and place it directly in front of where you just climbed up from the ground.

When the crate is in place, useLeviosoon it to lift it up. Get on the crate while it’s floating and climb into the battlement opening above.

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Step 3: Open the High Keep main gate

Go around the corner and you’ll see awooden palletblocking a small opening. Destroy it with a basic attack or one of your fun ones. But instead of going into the opening, go around the outside of the building until you cansee through a windowinto the center of the building.

UseAccioto pull the chest inside the High Keep towards you.

Now run around back to the opening you uncovered and enter the gate room. UseDepulso multiple timeson the mechanism to move the gate.

Then quickly castAccioon the handle in the center of the gate area to keep the gate open.

Step 4: Get up the High Keep broken stairs

Natty will join you and then acutscenefollows showing that Harlow’s evil group has captured Highwing the Hippogriff. You and Natty will get separated, but we’ll fix that.

Climb up the ledges on theright of the large double doors. Now go straight and stop at the enclosure with the crate inside. UseDepulsoto push the crate so that it falls down a hole to the ground below.

Run down the stairs to the crate and move it against the broken stairs usingWingardium Leviosa. Now levitate it withLevioso.

Climb on top of the crateand then pull yourself onto the ledge.

Step 5: Get to the High Keep roof

A guard will walk in front of you and gaze out over the parapet. UseDisillusionmentto sneak up behind him and usePetrificus Totalusto knock him out. Continue up the stairs and around the corner and you’ll see more of Harlow’s thugs. Use Petrificus Totalus as much as you can or fight them using your other spells and the exploding barrels around you.

When they’re dealt with, turn to theLevel 1 locked doorand unlock it with Alohomora. Enter the keep and immediately climb out of the room through the opening on the right. Go up a couple of flights of stairs and someenemieswill appear. Take them out using your best attacks.

When they’re defeated,unlock the Level 1 door lockin this area with Alohomora and enter the room.

Head up the stairs until you get most of the way to the top of the building. You’ll see a small room with awooden palletagainst the wall. Destroy it using your basic spell and then climb over the wooden beams to grab something in a largetreasure chest.

Cross back over the beam and continuerunning up the stairsas high as you can go until you come outside on a wooden floor.

You’ve made itto the roof of High Keep! Now a glorious cutscene will commence!

Highwing freedom

Now that you’ve successfully climbed the battlements, opened the main gate, and gotten to the roof of the High Keep you’ll fly off on Highwing’s back. What’s more, you’ve now unlocked the ability to fly on magical beasts throughout the map. Enjoy collecting these rare flying creatures and using them to get wherever you want to in Hogwarts Legacy.

Self-professed gaming geek, Rebecca Spear, is one of Windows Central’s editors and reviewers with a focus on gaming handhelds, PC gaming, and laptops. When she isn’t checking out the latest games on Xbox Game Pass, PC, ROG Ally, or Steam Deck; she can be found digital drawing with a Wacom tablet. She’s written thousands of articles with everything from editorials, reviews, previews, features, previews, and hardware reviews over the last few years. If you need information about anything gaming-related, her articles can help you out. She also loves testing game accessories and any new tech on the market. You can follow her@rrspearon X (formerly Twitter).