The Side Quest In the Shadow of the Study contains a choice of whether should learn Crucio, and whether you or Sebastian should cast Crucio in Hogwarts Legacy. Learn the best choice of who should cast Crucio, whether you should learn Crucio or not, and the results of each choice.

All Crucio Choice Results

The major choice here is whether the player will learn Crucio or not at this point in the game (it can still be learned later on). The choice of whether you or Sebastian casts it has no effect on the main story.

In the Shadow of the Study Side Quest Walkthrough

All Crucio Choice Result Cutscenes

The video above shows the results of all three choices.

Who Should Cast Crucio?

Cast it on Sebastian to Keep Your Health

There's no real difference in the story whether you choose to cast Crucio on Sebastian, or ask him to cast it on you. However, it will set you to the minimum amount of HP after you're hit by Crucio, so if you'd like to maintain your health, cast it on the poor lad instead. What, were you really planning to learn Crucio and keep your morals?

That said, if you want to have Sebastian cast Crucio on you, you can regain your health just by saving your game afterwards and then reloading your save, so it's really not a big deal either way.

Dialogue Choices and Consequences

Should You Learn Crucio?

Learning Crucio is Missable

Crucio's never strictly necessary to use, but the spell is part of the full Spell list. If you choose not to learn Crucio during the dialogue with Sebastian, you can still learn it from Sebastian by talking to him at the Undercroft at any time after completing the quest.

However, this option goes away if you choose to turn Sebastian in during In the Shadow of Fate, as Sebastian will no longer appear in your game after that decision.

Should You Turn In Sebastian?

Hogwarts Legacy Related Guides

List of Choices

Choices and Consequences Guides