The High Keep is a pivotal main story quest in Hogwarts Legacy that introduces players to the exhilarating mechanic of flying mounts. In this mission, you team up with Natsai Onai to infiltrate Falbarton Castle, a ruined stronghold overrun by Poachers. Successfully navigating this quest requires a mix of environmental puzzle solving, stealth, and spell mastery. This guide provides a detailed breakdown of the challenges you will face inside the historic battlements.
Scaling the Gatehouse Wall
Upon arriving at the designated location, you will find the main gates firmly shut against intruders. You must look to the right side of the castle structure to find a scaffolding network that allows you to climb toward a higher entry point. Utilizing basic movement controls will help you reach the upper ledge without alerting nearby guards.
Once you reach the top area, a mechanical mechanism blocks your immediate progression into the fortress interior. You need to equip the Depulso charm to spin the wall switch rapidly and lift the gate mechanism. Snagging a nearby crate with Accio allows you to position a stepping block under the crawl space to move forward smoothly.
Breaching the Main Gate
Inside the upper ramparts, you will locate the primary winch controlling the main gatehouse access. Cast Depulso repeatedly on the mechanism to reveal a golden ring handle behind the iron bars. Pulling this ring with Accio drops the gate and allows Natty to join your stealth operation inside the courtyard.
Following a brief cutscene detailing the villainous Poacher activity, you must scale the main tower walls to locate the captured beasts. You can use the Wingardium Leviosa charm to move another wooden crate against the wall to climb higher. This vertical progression ensures you stay out of sight while navigating the outer battlements.
Infiltrating the Upper Battlements
The upper levels of the fortress require a careful approach due to patrolling enemies guarding the corridors. Utilizing the Disillusionment charm is highly recommended to sneak past these dangerous foes undetected. If you are spotted, you can combine your combat spells to quickly neutralize the threat before reinforcements arrive.
Before reaching the top room, you will encounter multiple locked doors that contain valuable hidden treasure chests. Players looking to unlock extra rewards can use Alohomora to break the security constraints on these storage rooms. Gathering these items provides helpful resources that enhance your wizarding gear stats later in the campaign.
Rescuing Highwing and Escaping
Reaching the roof of the castle triggers the final encounter where you discover the magnificent Hippogriff named Highwing trapped in chains. You must work quickly alongside Natty to release the magical creatures from their iron bindings. Once freed, you will automatically mount the creature to initiate a dramatic aerial escape sequence over the Scottish Highlands.
During the flight phase, follow Natty through the clouds as you learn the basic mechanics of controlling a flying mount. The panoramic views provide a stunning perspective of the expansive map surrounding the school grounds. Completing this journey unlocks the permanent ability to summon your own mounts anywhere in the open world.
