Dragons are coming to Wizards Unite!

Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is a Niantic's latest location-based AR game that challenges you to save the Wizarding World!

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has long been a beloved franchise by kids. teens and adults alike and Harry Potter: Wizards Unite aims to take you right into the action on your phone. The iOS and Android game will require you to get up and walk around to interact with points of interest in the game, collect magical ingredients, brew potions, fight dark wizards, and so much more!

Whether you're just starting, or you've been playing for a while and looking for, this is the guide for you! Here's everything you need to know about Harry Potter: Wizards Unite!

What's new

July 19, 2019: Regional dragons are coming, starting at the Indianapolis festival.

At San Diego Comic-Con Niantic announced the launch of its first Harry Potter: Wizards Unite Festival that will be happening in Indianapolis. Along with this announcement, Niantic also told us that dragons were coming to the game!

From the Welsh Green to the Antipodean Opaleye, these regional Oddities will be making their landfall debut in the game at Harry Potter: Wizards Unite Fan Festival in Indianapolis this Aug. 31 - Sept. 1. Fans will want to take advantage of this unique opportunity as after the event, the different dragon varieties will only appear in specific regions around the world.

So the dragons will be regional and I'm assuming the Welsh green will be the European variant, and the Antipodean Opaleye will be the Australian version. These dragons will arrive as Traces in the Oddities Family so you will have to fight them like you would a regular Oddity or a Fortress encounter.

I'm kind of hoping that dragons will appear in Fortresses as well but no word on that yet. It's exciting news though!

June 27, 2019: Harry Potter: Wizards Unite's first Fan Festival will be in Indianapolis this year!

We knew it was coming, but now it's official; Harry Potter: Wizards Unite will host a Fan Festival in Indianapolis later this summer from August 30 - September 1, 2019. The event will take place at the White River State Park where players will be able to engage in a variety of interactive experiences and play the game with a ton of wizards and witches!

June 18, 2019: Harry Potter: Wizards Unite will launch in the U.S. and UK on June 21!

Finally, two years after its first announcement Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is coming to the U.S. and UK on June 21, 2019! Niantic and WB Games made the launch announcement at a special event held at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Studios in Hollywood.

May 1, 2019: Harry Potter: Wizards Unite beta now available in Australia!

After two false launches in Australia, the beta version os Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is now available in Australia. Niantic says the game can be downloaded from the Google Play Store and the App Store in the Australian region right now, and players will be able to test the game and send feedback through the game to the developers.

No official word on when or where the beta version of the game will launch next. The launch of the game in Australia comes just about two weeks after the game first launch in New Zealand this past April.

April 18, 2019: Niantic launches Harry Potter: Wizards Unite beta test in New Zealand

Niantic has launched the beta testing phase for Harry Potter: Wizards Unite in New Zealand for both Android and iOS. You can grab the game on the Google Play Store right now and pre-register if you're not in New Zealand, but all iOS users will need to wait a bit later before they can pre-register.

Early gameplay footage reveals map-based gameplay that is similar to Pokémon Go. However, you'll be collecting magical artifacts and returning them safely back to the wizarding world before Muggle eyes are exposed to magic. You'll also be facing off against other witches and wizards in magical duels by casting spells with your finger. There are Ministry-issued badges to earn and collect, too.

Stay tuned for more updates about Harry Potter: Wizards Unite as we get them.

April 10, 2019: Niantic allows players to reserve their Pokémon GO trainer nicknames for use in Harry Potter: Wizards Unite

In an email sent out to Pokémon Go players, Niantic is giving you the opportunity to reserve their trainer nicknames so that you can use them in the upcoming Harry Potter: Wizards Unite game. If you want to duel wizards and search for magical "foundables" with the same name you're already using to catch friendly-Pokémon, you can reserve your name now.

Read: How to reserve your Pokémon GO trainer name for Harry Potter: Wizards Unite

While there's no new information on an official release date, it certainly does seem this is another step in the right direction. We can only hope that a release (in any form) has to be coming up in the next few months, and the anticipation is killing us!

March 11, 2019: New gameplay footage for Harry Potter: Wizards Unite!

In a blog post the developers gave us a first look at the upcoming Harry Potter: Wizards Unite and unveiled quite a bit of information about what you will do in the game.

"A calamity has befallen the wizarding world, causing artefacts, creatures, people, and even memories to mysteriously appear in the Muggle world. Witches and wizards from across the globe must come together to solve the mystery of The Calamity, overcome the confounding chaotic magic that surrounds these "Foundables," and return them to their rightful place, keeping them safe from Muggle eyes."

For a full breakdown of all the new gameplay details announced keep on reading below!

February 28, 2019: Niffler spotted in London arcade in new teaser!

Harry Potter: Wizards Unite hit us with another teaser for the upcoming AR mobile game, and this time it's cute as can be! It seems as though more magic is spreading to the muggle world and now magical beasts are venturing out into the real world.

December 21, 2018: Developers of Wizards Unite release a new teaser.

It's going to be a magically Christmas after all, as the developers of Harry Potter: Wizards Unite pushed out a new teaser trailer featuring a broom streaking across an empty highway by itself. While no new game info has been released yet the official Twitter for the game tweeted this along with the teaser video:

"Riderless broomsticks were spotted flying erratically in the Muggle world. Stay alert for any other cases of unexplained magical activity! #WizardsUnite"

It could be a hint that more information will be released in the near future!

November 14, 2018: Niantic and WB Games release a first teaser trailer for Harry Potter: Wizards Unite!

While the trailer doesn't show any actual gameplay, there are a few details we can discern from the live action trailer. It appears wizards and witches around the world will be responsible for keeping the wizarding world safe and out of sight from the Muggle world.

The official Harry Potter Wizards Unite website has also been updated to tease us all about the upcoming AR game set in J.K. Rowling's wizard universe:

"The Ministry is looking for witches and wizards willing to roll up their sleeves and volunteer to save the wizarding world from the Calamity. As a member of the Statute of Secrecy Task Force (a new task force formed in partnership between the Ministry of Magic and the International Confederation of Wizards) you will hone lightning fast wand reflexes, an ability to sniff out the faintest whiff of magical disorder from afar, and proficiency in advanced casting of multiple spells."

Where can I play Harry Potter: Wizards Unite?

The game is currently only live in four countries; the U.S., UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Unfortunately, if you are outside of one of those countries, you will be unable to

It's unclear exactly when other countries will get it, but in a PR statement Niantic and the development team did say that the game would be releasing in other countries "in the days ahead." While that's far from handles this launch similar to the launch of Pokémon GO, more countries will be added over the coming weeks and months after the launch, rolling out gradually instead of releasing worldwide all at once.

How do you get started with Harry Potter: Wizards Unite

If you're brand new and have never played Harry Potter: Wizards Unite before, getting started is easy. You'll need to download the app, create an account, and customize your character a little bit! Once you're done, you'll be thrown into the world and have a chance to explore, it may seem daunting at first, but don't worry, we're here to help.

Whether it's downloading the game, picking a Hogwarts house, knowing the terms in the game, or learning all the basics to play — we've got you covered with the links below.

How to download and sign up for Harry Potter: Wizards Unite Harry Potter: Wizards Unite: How to choose a name, wand, and Hogwarts house All the terms in Harry Potter: Wizards Unite and what they mean Harry Potter: Wizards Unite: Beginner's guide

Tips and tricks to get the most out of Harry Potter: Wizards Unite

You don't just want to play Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, you want to crush it. Getting everything you can out of a game as complex as this one can be tricky, but we've got quite a few tips and tricks that should help you not only get the most out of the game, but also help you play longer and pinch your pennies if you choose to spend them!

Harry Potter: Wizards Unite: Tips and tricks 7 Tips to save your battery while playing Harry Potter: Wizards Unite Harry Potter: Wizards Unite has micro-transactions here's how they work

Traces, Foundables, and Confoundables

In Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, your main goal is to prevent the magic of the Wizarding World from bleeding into the Muggle world, and you do this by find things called Foundables.

On the World Map, you will see points of interest like Inns, Greenhouses, and Fortresses, but you will also see small floating discs with different symbols. Each disc is called a Trace and houses a **Foundable * that you need to save. Once you tap on the Trace you will open the combat screen and will join in your first battle.

Once you start the battle you will be shown what the Foundable is and what the Confoundable is doing to stop you from getting it. You'll need to cast a spell, by tracing a glyph on your screen both fast and accurately to attempt to defeat the Confoundable, if you succeed, you'll send the Foundable back to Wizarding World ad each rewards.

How to defeat Confoundables and complete your registry in Harry Potter: Wizards Unite Tips to casting Masterful spells in Harry Potter: Wizards Unite

Fortresses

Fortresses are found out in the world and are filled with AI controlled foes, that players can either take on alone or team up with other players. Each Fortress has 20 floors and each floor is harder than the last, and some even have a level requirements, meaning you have to have someone in your party at least be the minimum level.

It appears that players will need Runestones to enter a Fortress and take on the threats that are inside and more Runestones are needing to progress through a Fortress and enter different chambers. Runestones can be found by playing the game and encountering the Foundables around the world.

Harry Potter: Wizards Unite: What are Fortresses and how they work

Inns

If you've played Pokémon GO, you'll likely think of Inns as Pokéstops. They are places on the map — indicated by small buildings — that a player can enter by tapping on them and once inside receive Spell Energy which is the primary resources you need in the game to cast spells. These small buildings correspond to real-world locations, parks, statues, and other landmarks. Different types of inns offer you varying amounts of Spell Energy, and it's important to note that they don't all look exactly the same.

Once inside an Inn, you'll be required to trace a Glyph on your screen to activate the Inn, which will then spin five dishes and award you one randomly. The meal you end up with will award you Spell Energy, which allows you to cast spells in the game.

Harry Potter: Wizards Unite: What are Inns and how do they work?

Professions

Players will have the option to specialize in three different magical professions once they reach a certain level — Auror, Magizoologists, or Professor — which will grant players access to unique skills and abilities to help you on your journey. Aurors are strong against Dark Forces, Magizoologists are strong against Beasts, and Professors are strong against Curiosities.

When it comes to battling enemies at a Fortress, it seems it would be wise to team up with other wizards and witches that have chosen a different profession than you, thus having a wider range of abilities to use in battle!

What Professions are and how to pick the right one in Harry Potter: Wizards Unite All the skills for Aurors in Harry Potter: Wizards Unite All the skills for Professors in Harry Potter: Wizards Unite All the skills for Magizoologists in Harry Potter: Wizards Unite

Potions

First things first, you need to be at least Level 4 to start brewing potions. Just play the game until you hit Level 4. If you're regularly completing activities, it shouldn't take too long.

The next things you need are ingredients. You'll find ingredients for potions around you as you play. Some ingredients will be more plentiful than others, and it may depend on where you are. Potions you make can give you different bonuses, like improving your spell casting, grant bonus experience, and more, making them super handy to have, so make sure you're always stocked up!

How to brew potions in Harry Potter: Wizards Unite How to make potions brew faster in Harry Potter: Wizards Unite How to plant ingredients in Greenhouses in Harry Potter: Wizards Unite

Are you excited for What is Harry Potter: Wizards Unite?

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