The most crucial mechanism inHogwarts Legacy’s gameplay is its puzzles, with the component forming the backbone ofspells like Alohomoraand missions such as the immensely popular Keeper Trials. While being an undeniably tantalizing progression dynamic that has keptHogwarts Legacyplayers fully engaged during playthroughs, the title’s puzzles have developed a reputation for stumping gamers with their logic.Hogwarts Legacy’s riddles require great care, and minute details like mixing up action sequences could become obstacles to player progression, especially during Keeper Trials. One such puzzle, the Arithmancy Doors, is an infamous headscratcher that forces most players to consult cheat sheets to get past it and reveal its secrets.
The wizarding world is rife with mystery, and Avalanche Software did a stellar job of incorporating it inHarry Potter’s best video gamerendition to date, adorningHogwarts Legacy’s surroundings with hundreds of Field Pages, Disillusionment Chests, and empty frame puzzles to elevate its intrigue factor. Every great RPG needs its secrets and a suitably challenging method of unraveling them, andHogwarts Legacy’s adoption of riddles and cryptic doors in its gameplay has received praise from fans. However, a few of the game’s puzzles have proven to be tough nuts to crack for a sizable portion of the fan base, with the Arithmancy Doors, in particular, proving a formidable opponent of players' wits.
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Arithmancy Doors Require a Bit of Math
Arithmancy door puzzles can be found in several locations across theiconic school of wizardry and witchcraft, requiring players to channel their inner Da Vinci and solve a code to access its prizes. In anticipation of players' struggles, developer Avalanche Software provided a clue to the puzzle in the Arithmancy Study Guide Page and around the edge of every door’s frame. The study guide numbers ten images from zero to nine, and these numbers can be cross-referenced to the door frame, which holds pictures of the same images. This numbering system will come in handy and help players crack the Arithmancy code.
There are 12Arithmancy Doors inHogwarts Legacy, and players will need to interact with the door to solve the puzzle, and some residual addition skills are required to get past the locks. The Arithmancy doors have two equations on their displays, with a number in the middle surrounded by images, numbers, and a question mark dial. Finding the dials can sometimes be akin to a treasure hunt, as they may be hidden away in adjacent rooms or even on different floors.
After locating the dials, the next challenge is to make the numbers and images on the outside add up to the figure in the middle using the key given by the study guide. For instance, if the number in the middle is 21 and the numbers in the outer circles are 11 and 2 (Graphorn image), players will need to turn the question mark dial until it lands on 8 (Acromantula image). Once both equations have been solved with the help of the key from the Guide Page, the Arithmancy Door will unlock to allow players access its chests, which containHogwarts Legacy’s cosmetic gear.
Completing games without assistance can be a mark of pride for some gamers, but once in a while, a challenge arises that forces players to compromise on this achievement and consult walkthroughs. InHogwarts Legacy’s case, the Arithmancy Doors are one of the most notable brainteasers in the whole game, as very little can be made of the puzzle without its corresponding clues. In an unfortunate oversight from the developer, there’s no achievement handed to players for completing all 12 riddles, but the head-scratching and clue-hunting experience is enough to keep players satisfied.
Hogwarts Legacyis available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, with a Switch version releasing November 14.
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