Surviving Your Fifth Year at Hogwarts

Published July 19, 2007

With Voldemort returned to full power, an over-zealous Ministry of Magic willing to condemn Harry for underage use of magic, and the frightful reign of Dolores Umbridge at Hogwarts in full swing, things are looking bleak for Harry and friends. Consider the following tips though and you may find more success than failure in your quest to thwart Umbridge, the Ministry, and eventually Lord Voldemort.

Together again.

Explore Hogwarts
Harry's purpose in Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix™ may be to discover and foil the nefarious plans of Lord Voldemort, but along the way his proper and thorough exploration of Hogwarts and surrounding areas will net unlockable content, and most important to Xbox 360™ owners, achievements.

Repair broken statues, discover secret panels (look for glowing bricks on the walls), or replace dropped paintings, but make sure to exhaust each area before moving on. This will give you discovery points, and lessen the need to backtrack later.

Shatter, Push, and Pull
With discovery points at a high premium, it's worth tearing up every element of every room you come across. Luckily though, you don't have to wave your wand at every inanimate object just hoping to reveal something. Objects that can be influenced with a spell will glow slightly as you approach. And don't forget to cycle through all the available targets with the left trigger.

You may be surprised what thugs need to be dealt with on campus.

Puzzle Spells
Nearly every puzzle in the game is designed to be solved with a spell. This is particularly true when learning a new ability. Often, the next puzzle you encounter will involve your most recently learned ability.

More Power, More Options
The power of your spells increases throughout your adventures. This obviously helps you to dis-wand an enemy wizard, but it also allows you access to secrets previously blocked. For example, a more powerful version of Depulso may be able to push larger, heavier objects.

Gentle Motions
It's the precision wand movement that helps make a spell effective in the books, and frankly, the game is no different. It's easy to get caught up in the moment and twist the right stick too quickly, but if you do, the spell is likely to fail. Try using slower, gentler motions when you're casting to be more effective.

Marauder's Exploration
Because the Marauder's Map will always guide you to your next destination (provided it's listed), there's no need to worry about getting lost. Use this to completely explore all the immediate areas around you. Despite the storyline's occasional insistence at rushing to the next objective, or if you're on a timed mission, there's really no rush, and the Marauder's Map will help you find everything you need.

Bring together all of Dumbledore's Army together for an achievement.

Chatter Time
It's worthwhile to talk to students, teachers, and whoever else may be around just to see what they have to say. Chatting up nearby characters also gets you closer to the Character's Cup achievement, and introduces you to different mini-games. Talk to the students playing Exploding Snap, and you'll be invited to play. Do well enough and you'll earn an achievement.

In-Game Tips
Developer EA UK has no interest in frustrating the player, and to that end, they've included a series of helpful in-game hints. Bring up the Start menu at any time, and select Hints and Tips. There's also access to a full Spell List, in case you forget what spells you have available, or how to use them.

Listen Closely
When stumped on how to proceed, listen to Ron, Hermione, or anybody nearby that's offering advice. Those lines of dialogue aren't there just by accident. If you need assistance, it's likely that someone will pipe up with a bit of helpful advice.

These tips should help you finish your fifth year at Hogwarts, and save the school from Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Take it easy, make sure you explore every nook and cranny, and master your magic skills with precision.

Article by Ryan Treit