walkthrough

How to learn all 3 Unforgivable Curses

Crucio → Imperio → Avada Kedavra. The exact Sebastian Sallow quest order, level requirements, and the cutscene that locks AK.

“Crucio is the first unlock — Sebastian's quest In the Shadow of the Study, completing it teaches the spell. Imperio comes next from In the Shadow of the Relic — temporarily forces enemies to fight as if they were your companion, takes less damage from other enemies, prolongs their life and curses them. Avada Kedavra is the final one — In the Shadow of the Relic late quest, you'll need to be level 28. It's an unblockable instant-kill on most enemies, even trolls, with a long cooldown.”

How to learn all 3 Unforgivable Curses

All three Unforgivable Curses come through Sebastian Sallow's quest chain. They are not regular spells you find — each is taught at a specific story beat. Refusing the first one (Crucio) locks all three for that save.

Hard order

  1. Crucio — In the Shadow of the Study (Sebastian's first major personal quest, level ~13-16).
  2. Imperio — In the Shadow of the Relic (continues Sebastian's chain, level ~17-19). Requires casting Crucio in the questline first.
  3. Avada Kedavra — In the Shadow of the Relic finale (level ~28). The cave catacomb scene with Solomon Sallow.

Each unlock sits behind a Sebastian-specific quest gate; the curse is taught as part of the cutscene.

What each does

  • Crucio — torture / damage-over-time. Curses the target so all your follow-up damage is amplified. Best vs single tough mobs.
  • Imperio — temporarily turns one enemy into your ally (~10 seconds). They take less damage from other enemies during it. Curses + amplifies your damage too.
  • Avada Kedavra — instant-kill on most enemies (yes, even trolls). Long cooldown unless you take the Mastery talent. Unblockable.

Avada Kedavra unlock — what to expect

The AK cutscene plays after the catacomb fight. Sebastian is talking about Anne and Solomon, says "I had to use the killing curse, you had no choice." He then teaches you. The teaching is dialogue, not gameplay — you don't cast it during the cutscene.

Level requirement is typically ~28. If your Sebastian chain has paused, that's why.

After unlock — assignment

Slot them on Hotbar 4 (most players). Cooldowns are long enough that you don't want them mixed with rotation spells.

Trophies

  • The Cruciatus Curse — cast Crucio.
  • The Imperius Curse — cast Imperio.
  • The Killing Curse — cast Avada Kedavra.
  • The Unforgivable — cast all three.

If stuck: if Sebastian doesn't progress past Crucio teaching, you may have a side-quest gate. Talk to Ominis Gaunt in the Slytherin common room (or near the entrance if you're not Slytherin) — he often advances the chain.