Hidden throughout Hogwarts are mysterious flying keys that guard the house cabinets. Each Daedalian Key holds a reward for those observant enough to trace its trail through the castle’s twisting corridors and secret chambers. Here’s where you can find them all.
Even if you don’t fancy the robes, completing as much of the Daedalian Keys quest as you can early in the game is worth the bother, as it unlocks several Floo Network fast travel points and saves trekking across the entire castle later on.
You’ll need to learn Alohomora to access the last set of keys, which means tracking down Demiguise statue locations to add this new spell to your repertoire.
How to start the Daedalian Keys quest in Hogwarts Legacy
To begin the Daedalian Keys quest in Hogwarts Legacy, speak to Gladwin Mooncalf after completing the first main quest in the Astronomy Wing during orientation. He hands over the first key and explains the task of returning each locked chest’s matching key to its box around the castle. This triggers the side quest, with subsequent keys appearing on the map as blue icons once collected. Progress happens automatically as you fly the keys back to their chests.
The side quest “The Daedalian Keys” becomes available after you complete “Welcome to Hogsmeade” and return to your dormitory for the night. Head down to the Transfiguration Courtyard in the Astronomy Wing section, and speak with Nellie Oggspire.
The quest tracks down the first Daedalian Key for you and teaches you the basics of hunting them down and opening their respective cabinets. The keys are difficult to spot, save for a small golden streak of light they leave behind when moving.
If you can, play with the audio on or while wearing headphones, as they keys make an audible rustling and jingling sound that lets you know when you’re close to one.
After you find a key and approach it, it will fly off toward its cabinet and wait for you to approach. Most cabinets are near where the key was loitering, but we’ve included their locations below as well to help you find them faster.
Interact with the cabinet to start a minigame where you need to press the prompted button at the right moment – when the key is crossing over the keyhole. You need precision to an extent, but as long as you press the button while the key is somewhere in the center circle around the keyhole, the game counts it as a hit.
After taking the first house key to your common room, you’re on your own. The game won’t track where to find the remaining keys for you.
All Daedalian Key locations in Hogwarts Legacy
Daedalian Keys hide across Hogwarts, each locked chest waiting for its match. Head to the Astronomy Wing’s clock tower for the first, perched high on a balcony. In the Library’s restricted section, another floats near the upper shelves. The Grand Staircase holds one midway up the central banister. South of the Hospital Wing, spot it above the wooden bridge. Transfiguration Courtyard’s fountain ledge conceals the next. Bell Tower Yard’s owl pedestal bears one. The greenhouses’ exterior wall has another at roof level. Hogwarts North Exit’s battlements feature one overlooking the path.
You can track down the other keys in any order and at any time after starting the quest, though bear in mind that the final three are literally locked behind story progression.
Defense Against the Dark Arts Daedalian Key
For the first key, head downstairs from the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom and into the main lobby area. The key is flying around the giant skeleton.
Head back up the stairs, take a left at the Floo Flames, and keep going straight ahead until you reach the cabinet.
Bell Tower Daedalian Key
Start from the Bell Tower Courtyard location, and, while facing the Floo Flames, turn right. Head up the stairs and through the door in front of you. Climb the next flight of stairs, and you’ll see the key flying around.
Follow the staircase all the way up, past the large wooden crate, and the cabinet is tucked away in a corner at the top.
Dungeons Daedalian Key
Go back to the door where you entered from the Central Hall. Instead of going up the staircase, go down the flight of stairs to your left. This route takes you to the dungeons. You’ll pass the cabinet on a landing. Continue down another flight of stairs, and after a few moments, you’ll run across the key near a sculpture of a sleeping dragon.
Use Revelio to reveal a page for your field guide too.
Second Dungeons Daedalian Key
Continue moving ahead along the hallway opposite the dragon statue, and you’ll run across the next key. Follow it down the passage to an open room with barrels, where the cabinet sits waiting.
Potions Class Daedalian Key
Travel to the Library Annex location, or if you haven’t unlocked that yet, go to the Central Hall instead. Facing the giant statue and the library doors, turn left, and left again. Follow the passage through the doorway, and you enter a dingy hallway with cauldrons stacked around. The key is flying around here and will probably zoom off before you realize it.
Follow the passage downstairs and continue straight ahead to find the cabinet.
Entrance Hall Daedalian Key
Head to the Entrance Hall for the next key. You can get there quickly by starting at the Grand Staircase, getting off at the Reception Hall, and taking a left. The key is flying around on the top stair landing.
Follow it down the stairs to its cabinet, near a boar statue and a locked door.
There’s another key near the giant crest in the center of the room as well.
Great Hall Daedalian Key
Go through the other set of giant doors in the Reception Hall, and you’ll wind up in the Great Hall.
To your left, near the fireplace, is another Daedalian Key. This one’s cabinet is up a short flight of stairs on the other side of the Floo Flames point.
Central Hall Daedalian Key
Walk down the stairs toward the large green doors that take you to the Greenhouses, and turn left. The key is to your left in the corner near all the paintings.
The cabinet is on the other side of the hall, near the door with the number puzzle.
Grand Staircase Daedalian Key
Travel to the Grand Staircase Floo Flame, and start climbing up. After a few landings, you’ll run across the next key just before the landing with the number puzzle door.
The cabinet is near the reception hall, on the landing above the house point hourglasses.
Library Daedalian Key
Head into the library to find another key near the fireplace.
This one’s cabinet is at the other end of the library, behind a flight of stairs.
Viaduct Entrance Daedalian Key
While you’re in the Central Hall, head up the stairs toward the Viaduct Entrance. The Daedalian Key is lurking under a staircase.
Take the flight of stairs in front of the door to the Viaduct Courtyard, and you’ll see the cabinet to your right, sitting next to a painting of a man with a feathered cap.
Quad Courtyard Daedalian Key and how to get to the Quad Courtyard
Getting to the Quad Courtyard is a nuisance unless you’ve been there before. The easiest way to do it is starting from the Viaduct Courtyard Floo Flame. Go up the stairs in front of you, and then turn right and climb the next set of stairs. Ahead of you is yet another staircase on the left and a stone railing on the right. Follow the stone railing, and you’ll end up in the Quad Courtyard.
Once here, turn left, climb the stairs, and find the key floating under an archway.
Head back to the center of the courtyard. Face away from the Floo Flames, and move forward. Turn right at the back of the courtyard, and you’ll see a door. The cabinet is to the right of the door.
That’s all the Keys that are available out in the open. However, you might be missing a final few from here…
Where are the final three Daedalian Keys?
The final three Daedalian Keys hide in the Astronomy Wing. The 13th key swings above the Defense Against the Dark Arts tower; cast Levioso on the cabinet blocking the ladder to reach the chest. The 14th floats near the Transfiguration courtyard bridge-hit it with Depulso to send it into its chest. The 15th hovers by the Astronomy Wing staircase; use Accio on the chest to pull it over and open it.
Two of the remaining keys are in and near the Hospital Wing, and the last one is in the Secret Rooms. You need Alohomora to reach these areas.
Faculty Tower Daedalian Key
Enter the Faculty Tower from the locked door – which you do naturally during The Caretaker’s Lunar Lament – and head up the staircase. The key is flying around near the prefect in the center of the room.
The cabinet is back downstairs, next to the banister.
Faculty Tower Daedalian Key 2
Continue up two more flights of stairs until you reach a landing with a golden statue and, to your left, a long hallway with clock cogs at the end. The key is at the end of the corridor.
The cabinet is in the atrium near the staircase and statue.
Clock Tower Daedalian Key
The final key is in the Clock Tower. Travel to the courtyard Floo Flame, and unlock the door. Head up the stairs, and you’ll find the key at the far end of the room.
Turn around, and continue up the stairs until you reach a small landing. The cabinet is to your left.
Daedalian Key rewards
Completing the Daedalian Key quest rewards players with a special House Chest containing a unique House Relic Robe. This robe features an animated glow that reflects your house colors, making it one of the standout cosmetic items in the game. The robe becomes available only after returning all flying keys to their cabinets, marking the successful end of this Hogwarts mystery.
Interact with the chest in your house common room, and then speak with Nellie again in the Transfiguration Courtyard to finish the quest and get your legacy robes.
Looking for other things to collect? We have explainers for where to find Beasts, Demiguise statues, and Spells.
On numerous occasions in recent years, billionaire and Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling has taken public stances against inclusive transgender laws and trans rights, and has written fiction that has been condemned by LGBTQ organizations for its use of harmful anti-trans tropes. Hate crimes, as well as legislation that denies the rights of trans people, have become more prevalent in the U.K. since 2019, and, more recently, in the United States as well.
According to an FAQ from Hogwarts Legacy publisher Warner Bros. Interactive – the parent company of Avalanche Software, the game’s developer – Rowling is “not directly involved” with the creation of Hogwarts Legacy. Regardless, the sales and widespread attention generated by a AAA video game will benefit Rowling, and that has led some fans to decide not to buy the game. For a more in-depth explainer of the yearslong controversy leading up to Hogwarts Legacy‘s release, read AELGAMES’s breakdown.
How to catch Daedalian Keys that fly away quickly
Catching Daedalian Keys in Hogwarts Legacy requires spotting them first, then chasing their predictable path to a nearby cabinet. They fly slowly once alerted but can seem quick due to tight timing at the lock.
Spotting Tips
Use Revelio frequently near cabinets to reveal hidden keys, which leave a faint golden trail and make a rustling/jingling sound. Keys hover nearby until you approach, then take off-listen with headphones for proximity cues. Stay close to the cabinet area, as keys loop back predictably without straying far.
Chasing Strategy
Run directly toward the key to trigger its flight path; it flies slowly and straight back to the cabinet, often up/down stairs or around corners. Don’t sprint ahead-follow at a jog to keep it in sight, or let it lead while heading to the cabinet yourself to intercept. Paths are linear per location (e.g., Astronomy Tower key goes downstairs), so memorize routes from guides if lost.
Lock Timing Trick
At the cabinet, interact (Square on PlayStation) when the key hovers over the keyhole, then mash confirm (X) immediately for an instant catch as it defaults centered. Alternatively, let it bob 3 times per side, then strike on its upward lift to the opposite side. Practice on early keys like the first in Astronomy Tower for rhythm.
What is the best spell to slow down Daedalian Keys
Arresto Momentum is the best spell to slow down Daedalian Keys in Hogwarts Legacy. It drastically reduces their movement speed during the chase and mini-game, making them easier to catch and insert into cabinets.
How to Use It
Unlock Arresto Momentum via the “Percival Rackham’s Trial” main quest assignment (Control talent tree, available mid-game). Cast it directly on the key after spotting it with Revelio-hold the cast button for full effect, slowing it to a crawl so you can follow leisurely to the cabinet. In the keyhole puzzle, apply it again to the hovering key for precise timing on swings.
Why It’s Best
No other spell (like Levioso or Accio) slows keys as effectively; Arresto Momentum is specifically praised in player tips for frustrated chases on higher difficulties. Early keys like Astronomy Wing are doable without it, but later ones benefit hugely. Practice reveals it also works on the cabinet itself pre-mini-game for an easier rhythm.
