Hogwarts Legacy's beasts are one of the most magical parts of the game, but they're also actually the root of a major - and rather dark - plot hole. The Harry Potter-inspired RPG certainly doesn't shy away from serious topics, touching on themes like illness, social injustice, and death throughout its length. However, this specific discrepancy relates to Hogwarts Legacy's own main character, and how they interact with the lovely creatures who inhabit the world around them.
For the most part, there aren't many plot holes in Hogwarts Legacy. Avalanche Software put a lot of effort into staying true to wizarding world lore, and it shows, because there are only two instances wherein the game seemingly alters Harry Potter canon. Nonetheless, it's difficult to ignore this particular inconsistency concerning magical beasts in Hogwarts Legacy, since all players will spend at least some amount of time with these creatures (especially if they want to upgrade their gear).
Hogwarts Legacy's Protagonist Isn't Saving Creatures
When the student first obtains the nab-sack, their justification for capturing creatures is that they're sparing them from poaching rings. Indeed, it's true that the poachers can't take them if the protagonist beats them to it, but that doesn't make them a knight in shining armor by any means. Once players catch a beast in Hogwarts Legacy, it still gets thrown into a small enclosure in the Vivarium and endlessly farmed for resources. They might get a bit more love thanks to the feeding and brushing requirements, but it ultimately doesn't change the fact that the student is just snatching them up from the wild for their own personal gain.
Selling Magical Beasts Is Basically Poaching In Hogwarts Legacy
It's bad enough that the protagonist is going around uprooting creatures' families and disrupting the ecosystem in the Highlands, but things get even worse when the Vivarium runs out of room. In order to make space for another beast, they'll need to move one from the Vivarium and into their inventory. From there, players can release it back into the wild, but they also have the option to go and sell it to Brood and Peck in Hogsmeade. Each beast will sell for 120 Galleons, which makes it one of the best ways to earn money fast, but this morally grey venture creates a serious plot hole in Hogwarts Legacy.
The protagonist may think of themselves as a savior, but in actuality, they are far from it. By stealing animals from the wild, keeping them captive and taking their resources, and then potentially pawning them off for profit, they're essentially engaging in poaching themselves. The only thing that separates them from these villains is that they don't outright kill beasts - but considering everything else they're willing to do, it isn't much of an upgrade. The main character doesn't deserve any praise for "saving" these beasts, as the poor creatures are not only victims of some serious hypocrisy, but also of a major plot hole in Hogwarts Legacy.
Source: Sam Bram/YouTube
Editor’s Note: Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling has been accused of transphobia by those in the LGBTQ+ community. Although not directly involved in the development of Hogwarts Legacy, Rowling does stand to earn royalties from the game. We would like to reiterate our for trans rights and that trans identities are valid. services are listed below for trans people impacted by discussions of transphobia.
In the USA:
- Trans Lifeline: (877) 565-8860
- The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386
In Canada:
- Trans Lifeline: (877) 330-6366
- Youth Line: 1-800-268-9688
In the UK:
- Switchboard: 01273 204050
- Mermaids: 0808 801 0400
