Crossed Wands is a side quest and the name of a club in Hogwarts Legacy, which is also your chance to prove you’re the best spell-slinger in school. This underground dueling club is where students test their skills in fast-paced magical battles, and if you want to be the reigning champion, you’ll need more than a good wand wave.
You’ll encounter the Crossed Wands Duels challenge right after dueling Sebastian Sallow in Defense Against the Dark Arts. You will meet Lucan Brattleby, the club organizer, who will set you up for a series of increasingly tough duels. These battles are not just a fun side activity, but they’re one of the best ways to learn and master spell combos, defensive tactics, and crowd control before facing difficult enemies outside the castle. With three rounds to win, the competition ramps up quickly, throwing multiple opponents and different shield types your way.
Where to Find Crossed Wands
Your dueling journey begins at the South Wing Clocktower Courtyard, where you’ll find Lucan Brattleby, the self-proclaimed fight promoter of Hogwarts. Lucan will explain the rules and ask if you’re ready to throw down. From there, team up with a partner such as Sebastian Sallow or Natsai Onai, or end the challenge solo to have a true challenge. Each duel introduces more opponents and further advanced spell mechanics, so to come out on top, you should master dodging, shielding, and magic spell combos.
Crossed Wands Duels Round 1
You’ll be facing two opponents, and Lucan lets you pick a partner. If you want to play it safe, team up with Sebastian Sallow—he’s a solid fighter and will take some heat off you. Your enemies will use yellow Protego shields, and you’ll need Levioso to break them. The best way is to lift them with Levioso, spam Basic Attacks, and finish with Accio (if you have it unlocked).
One thing to get used to early on is Protego and Stupefy. When you see the telltale red warning glow, throw up your Protego to block. If you time it perfectly, you’ll counter with Stupefy, stunning them and making them an easy target. Learn this now because it’s the key to surviving harder fights later. Also, keep moving. Standing still in a duel is asking to get smacked in the face with a spell. Roll, reposition, and stay on your toes. After some spell-slinging, you’ll claim victory. Lucan will shower you with some praise and give 180 XP as a reward.
Crossed Wands Duels Round 2
This time, there will be three students to face, which means more spells flying your way and less time to react. Again, you can decide to team up with Natty or Sebastian. The opponents will have blue Protego shields, which Accio will break. You need to think strategically here—don’t just fire spells randomly. Instead, figure out enemies by their shield color and break them accordingly. A good trick is to cast Accio on a blue-shielded enemy, then immediately follow with Incendio for extra damage.
With more students to face on the field, crowd control is key. The worst thing you can do is spread out your attacks across all three enemies—you will only prolong the fight and give them more chances to hit you. Instead, focus on one enemy at a time. Pick one, break their shield, hit them with a quick combo, and move on to the next. If you’re playing solo, use your dodge roll often to avoid getting surrounded. As always, Protego and Stupefy are your great help. If you’re not using them regularly, you’re only making things harder on yourself. Further, if you’ve unlocked Ancient Magic Throw, use it—throwing objects at enemies instantly breaks any shield, no matter the color. Lucan will again praise you and reward you with 180 EXP.
Crossed Wands Duels Round 3
The last round of Crossed Wands will be 4v1 or 4v2, depending on whether you play solo or with a partner. This fight is hard not only because more enemies, but they use all three types of Protego shields including yellow, blue, and red. If you’re not quick at swapping between spells, this is going to be a nightmare. Prioritize your targets smartly and don’t simply attack whoever is closest. Instead, follow this general order:
- Break blue shields first (Accio) and combo with Incendio—Accio pulls them in, and Incendio sets them ablaze.
- Break yellow shields next (Levioso) and juggle them in the air with Basic Attacks.
- Break red shields last (Incendio or Stupefy)—if you don’t have Incendio, use Stupefy off a perfect Protego block.
Your survival depends on constantly dodging and using Protego. Four enemies can overwhelm you fast, and if they all attack at once, you’ll get hit unless you react quickly. If you get swarmed, break away, change your position, and defeat them at a time. Use your Ancient Magic Throw whenever possible—it’s a free shield break and deals solid damage.
When struggling, don’t be afraid to use Wiggenweld Potions. This isn’t the time to hoard them—if you’re low on health, heal up and stay in the fight. Also, keep an eye out for any throwable objects in the environment. When you finally defeat the last student, Lucan will declare you the Champion of Crossed Wands. You will again receive a 180 XP boost, a cosmetic reward, and bragging rights as the best duelist in Hogwarts.
After all that buildup, the club only disbands, and Lucan sends you off. Kind of a letdown, right? That’s exactly why so many players were disappointed that Crossed Wands wasn’t an ongoing challenge. Still, winning this tournament is one of the best ways to improve your dueling skills. If you can handle this, you’re more than ready for the real fights ahead, whether against dark wizards, goblins, or the occasional poacher who seriously underestimated a fifth-year Hogwarts student.
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