There are many spells in Harry Potter, but do you know the most popular ones? The answers might surprise you. Find out if you know which popular Harry Potter spells goes to which situation below!
Defense Against the Dark Arts
When faced against an evil villain or some form of dark art, it’s the spells you learn in Defense Against the Dark Arts that you’ll turn to. While you might not want to take the cursed Defense Against the Dark Arts position as a professor, we’re certain you’ll still want to learn the spells to defeat a boggart, chase away a dementor, or even spook a school bully. Think you could score an O.W.L in Defense Against the Dark Arts?
See if you know the right popular Harry Potter spell to use when faced in the situations below.
What spell would you use to disarm an opponent?
Answer: Expelliarmus
- First taught at the Dueling Club led by Professor Gilderoy Lockhart in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, this disarming spell has been a very useful spell for Harry Potter and his friends. This spell even saved Harry’s life in the Battle at Hogwarts against Lord Voldemort.
What spell would you use when faced with a boggart?
Answer: Riddikulus
- Despite its amusing name, this spell is actually quite difficult to perform. As taught by Professor Remus Lupin in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, a boggart will take the form of what you are most afraid of. So to get rid of said boggart, you need to think of how to make that scary thing funny and then recite the incantation, “Riddikulus”.
What spell would you use when you want to stun an opponent?
Answer: Stupefy
- The stunning spell is used quite often in combat. It’s a spell to use on your opponents without causing too much harm.
What spell would you use to protect yourself from unfriendly spells?
Answer: Protego
- A very defensive spell, you’ll want to remember Protego the next time you’re in a wizard duel.
What spell would you use to confuse a target?
Answer: Confundo
- Hermione used this spell to confuse Cormac McLaggen while he was trying out for the Gryffindor Quidditch team in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince which incidentally helped Ron Weasley secure his spot as Keeper. What can we say, a girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do.
What spell would you use to cause explosions?
Answer: Confringo
- A spell that is not used quite as often as others in the Harry Potter series, but important none the less. Could also be confused with “Reducto”, a spell for destroying solid objects.
What spell would you use when faced with a dementor?
Answer: Expecto Patronum
- This spell was taught to Harry Potter by Professor Remus Lupin in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. It’s a very difficult spell to perform that even some of the best wizards and witches have trouble conjuring. To correctly conjure the patronus, you must think of a very happy memory and recite the incantation “Expecto Patronum” and if strong enough, your patronus will take the form of an animal that chases the dementors away.
What spell would you use to lift your opponent up by their toes?
Answer: Levicorpus
- One of the few spells that is recited inaudibly, Harry Potter found this spell in the Half-Blood Prince’s potions book in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
What spell would you use to slow down an opponent’s movements?
Answer: Impedimenta
- What spell would you use to temporarily paralyze an opponent? Answer: Petrificus Totalus
What spell would you use to destroy solid objects?
Answer: Reducto
- What spell would you use to make an opponent dance uncontrollably? Answer: Tarantallegra
What spell (though unforgivable) could you use to kill an opponent?
Answer: Avada Kadavra
- One of the three Unforgiveable Curses, this spell is the eviliest spell you could perform. It causes instant death that not even the Protego spell can save you from.
What spell would you use to cause a cut that will never heal?
Answer: Sectumsempra
- Created by Professor Severus Snape, this dark curse was found by Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. While not actually taught in Defense Against the Dark Arts, this spell can be useful if used against the right opponent. Just make sure not to use it if you’re not willing to face the consequences…
What spell (though unforgivable) would you use to cause excruciating pain to your opponent?
Answer: Crucio (or the Cruciatus curse)
- One of the three Unforgivable Curses, the Cruciatus curse was taught to Harry Potter’s class by Professor Mad-Eye Moody in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Of course we later learn it was actually Barty Crouch Jr. who taught them that spell. Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters made a habit of using this curse and even performed it on Neville Longbottom’s parents, Frank and Alice Longbottom.
What spell (though unforgivable) would you use to put your victim under your complete control?
Answer: Imperio (or the Imperius Curse)
- Another one of Lord Voldemort and his follower’s favorites, this spell is one of the three Unforgivable Curses. Though we advise against it unless you’re in dire need like Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Harry had to use the Imperio curse on a goblin in Gringotts to ensure he was taken to Bellatrix Lestrange’s vault.
Charms
Arguably one of the most useful classes, Charms is where you’ll learn what spells could help you in every day life. These spells come in handy when you’re needing to move objects, light up a room, or even knock out a stinky troll by lifting his own club. Is Charms your best subject? Well…let’s see!
What spell would you use to summon objects?
Answer: Accio
- You might remember that this spell was first introduced in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Up against a dragon in the first task of the Triwizard Cup, Harry used the Accio charm to summon his broom, the Firebolt, and secure the golden egg beneath the dragon.
What spell would you use to produce jets of water?
Answer: Aguamenti
- Harry Potter needed to use this spell in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince when he was with Professor Albus Dumbledore in the cave where Voldemort had hidden a horcrux. Unfortunately, the spell didn’t work out too well for him as there was a spell already cast upon the basin where the horcrux was hidden.
What spell would you use to unlock doors?
Answer: Alohomora
- Possibly one of the most used spells in the Harry Potter series. We see Harry and his friends use this spell countless times to get into places, where, let’s face it, they probably shouldn’t have been.
What spell would you use to levitate objects?
Answer: Wingardium Leviosa
- I probably don’t even need to say it as this spell has undoubtedly become one of the most iconic moments of the Harry Potter series. But when using the Wingardium Leviosa charm, you must remember to “swish and flick” and also, pronounce the spell correctly—I’m looking at you, Ron Weasley.
What spell would you use to repair objects in need of mending?
Answer: Reparo
- Harry Potter and his friends are always needing to repair something (usually Harry’s glasses) so this spell has come in handy quite a few times.
What spell would you use to create light at the end of a wand?
Answer: Lumos
- To describe this spell, I’ll need to use a muggle term… forgive me. Essentially this spell is a flashlight. Try using “lumos maxima” and your light will glow even brighter.
What spell would you use to turn out the light at the end of a wand?
Answer: Nox
- If you’re going to turn something on with a spell, you’ll have to turn it off at some point. After a wizard’s done using “lumos” they can then recite “nox” to turn off the light.
What spell would you use to start fires?
Answer: Incendio
What spell enlarges an object?
Answer: Engorgio
Transfiguration
You might remember Transfiguration as the class that Professor Minerva Mcgonagall taught. But did you know that Professor Albus Dumbledore was the Transfiguration professor when Lord Voldemort (then Tom Riddle) was in school? In Transfiguration, you’ll learn how to turn other items into something else—and even learn how to turn yourself into something else. Looking at you our Animagus friends!
Find out how much you know about Transfiguration below!
What spell would you use to transform an animal into a water goblet?
Answer: Vera Verto
What spell would you use to bring inanimate objects (for example, a statue) to life?
Answer: Piertotum Locomotor
- Professor Mcgonagall used this spell on statues to help protect Hogwarts at the Battle of Hogwarts in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
What spell would you use to conjure a flock of bird from your wand?
Answer: Avis
- You might remember when Hermione Granger used this spell in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince to send a flock of birds chasing after Ron Weasley.
How’d you do? Did you find know the most popular Harry Potter spells?
If we missed any of your favorites, let us know in the comments!
