Imperio is the second Unforgivable Curse you can learn in Hogwarts Legacy, and it will be taught to you by Sebastian Sallow during the “In the Shadow of Time” quest. This powerful spell temporarily forces the enemy to fight alongside you, actively helping against other foes and cursing them once the effect of the spell ends.

　　If you don’t wish to learn the Imperius Curse, you can always decline Sebastian’s proposal. However, keep in mind that unlocking any Unforgivable Curse won’t negatively affect your story or character in Hogwarts Legacy. Instead, this spell will help you eliminate stronger enemies faster. So, let’s see how to complete the “In the Shadow of Time” mission and unlock Imperio.

　　

How to complete the In the Shadow of Time quest

“In the Shadow of Time” is a Relationship quest you’ll carry on with Sebastian Sallow. It will become available later in the game after you complete the main story mission called “In the Shadow of the Mine.” In addition, you must have already completed all the previous Relationship quests tied to Sebastian, including “In the Shadow of the Study,” in which your friend teaches the Cruciatus Curse to you.

　　You will receive an owl from Sebastian, and the “In the Shadow of Time” quest will appear on your menu. You can start the mission by going to the catacomb and talking to your friend. He believes the relic may be hidden in this area and is determined to find it to help her sister Anne. After you’re done talking to him, enter the catacomb with Sebastian.

　　Follow the main path, and you will soon find several spiders that will attack you. You can use your Damage spells, particularly Bombarda, Confringo, and Incendio, to fight them and burn their webs. Keep walking on the main trail, and you will enter another room full of spiders. Once you clean the area, go to the left. You will reach a big room with an altar and a Student Journal Entry near it. Take it and talk to Sebastian.

　　After that, you will be able to continue with the quest. You'll need to open the door in front of the altar to move forward. Two other trails also start from the main room, leading to some treasures. To unlock the central passage, you must use Accio on the skeletons in the area, including the one on the altar, and bring them to the gate. You can use Revelio to locate the remaining bones quickly. One is in the small room on the right, inside a tomb. Here, you will also find some items you can collect. The other is inside one of the tombs on the wall in the main room.

　　

How to learn Imperio in Hogwarts Legacy

When you reach the next room, Sebastian will offer to teach you Imperio. You can decline or accept the proposal. If you refuse, you can always learn it later by joining your friend in the Undercroft. If you are ready to unlock the Imperius Curse now, the usual minigame will start once the conversation with your friend ends.

　　This spell will let your enemies fight alongside you for a brief period. They take reduced damage if they get hit by other foes during this time. Also, once the Imperius Curse effect ends, they will remain cursed, and any damage they take will be more significant. You can assign this spell to any shortcut and try it on the spiders you will find in the remaining sections of the catacomb.

　　

How to solve the runic puzzle

After learning Imperio in Hogwarts Legacy, you will continue your mission by reaching another chamber with a runic puzzle. The next door will be blocked by a bones barricade, just like the room where you found the Journal Entry. You must bring the skeletons near the passage using Accio to open the gate. However, you first need to solve the runic puzzle to get them. Use Revelio to see where the bones are placed, and check the runes drawn on each door. Use Accio on the two exact symbols you see for every door, and you will complete this section quickly and easily.

　　

How to find the relic

After you unlock the passage, you will enter the last section of the catacomb. Here, you will find several spiders that will assault you. Defeat them, burn the webs, and proceed to the small altar at the end of the room. Use Revelio to locate The Relic’s Note and the Lost Relic Illustration. Collect them, and after this, you will find the relic. Talk to Sebastian about it. He will take it.

　　It’s now time to leave the catacomb, but you will soon be stopped by Ominis, who has secretly followed you. Speak to him, and he will let you go with the relic. The outcome will be the same, no matter what you choose.

　　

Defend Feldcroft from the attack

You will return to Feldcroft with Sebastian, only to find it invaded by Ranrok’s Loyalists. Defeat them to trigger the cutscene where Sebastian will use Imperio to save her sister. Your friend’s uncle, however, will see everything and won’t be able to forgive his nephew for using the Curse. You will try to speak to the man, but the conversation won’t help Sebastian.

　　This will conclude the “In the Shadow of Time” quest, so you can use Imperio against your enemies from now on.

　　

How to upgrade the Imperius Curse

You can upgrade your abilities and spells using Talent Points in the Talents menu. Among the best Talents to unlock in Hogwarts Legacy, you will find Imperio Mastery, which will further enhance the power of this Unforgivable Curse. Once claimed, every enemy under your control with Imperio will successfully curse every other foe they hit. Cursed enemies take additional damage from every attack.

　　If you need more help with Hogwarts Legacy, you can check our beginner’s guide, how to unlock every spell, all Gobstone locations, and how to learn Avada Kedavra.