You've probably just stepped out of your first Potions class in Hogwarts Legacy, feeling a bit overwhelmed by Aesop Sharp’s brooding energy. He’s a tough nut to crack. Unlike the bubbly Professor Garlick or the grandfatherly Fig, Sharp is all business. He wants results. Specifically, he wants you to field-test some of the most combat-essential brews in the game. Professor Sharp Assignment 1 is your first real hurdle to unlocking Depulso, a spell that’s basically mandatory if you want to stop getting cornered by goblins and spiders every five minutes.
It’s easy to get stuck here. Most players wander around Hogsmeade confused about whether they should spend their hard-earned Galleons on recipes or just buy the finished product. Honestly? It depends on how much of a completionist you’re trying to be. If you’re broke, this assignment feels like a massive paywall. If you’re prepared, it’s a five-minute errand.
What the Assignment Actually Asks of You
Sharp isn't just asking you to stir a pot. He wants to see you use these potions in a "practical" setting. You need to acquire and consume a Focus Potion, a Maxima Potion, and an Eurus Potion (though the latter two must be used simultaneously).
Wait. Let’s back up.
Technically, the requirements are split into two distinct tasks. First, you have to gulp down a Focus Potion. Second, you need to drink a Maxima and an Edurus Potion at the same time. You don't actually have to be in combat for these to count, which is a bit of a loophole. You can literally stand in the middle of a peaceful herbology garden, chug all three, and the quest log will tick over. It feels a little silly, but hey, it works.
Where to Get the Potions (The Cheap Way vs. The Fast Way)
You have two main paths here. Most people head straight to J. Pippin’s Potions in Hogsmeade. Timothy Pippin is a nice guy, but his prices are steep for a fifth-year student on a budget.
If you just want to get Professor Sharp Assignment 1 over with, you can buy the individual potions. A Focus Potion will set you back 500 Galleons. Maxima and Edurus are 300 each. That’s 1,100 Galleons total. For most early-game players, that’s a lot of loot to drop on a single quest.
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Brewing Them Yourself
If you’re thinking long-term, you should buy the recipes. It costs more upfront but saves you thousands later. To brew these, you're going to need specific ingredients that aren't always easy to find if you don't know where to look.
- Focus Potion: You’ll need Lacewing Flies, Fluxweed Stems, and Dugbog Tongue. Those Lacewing Flies are everywhere—just grab them from the glowing bushes along the paths. Fluxweed has to be grown on a large potting table (which requires another trip to Tomes and Scrolls), and Dugbog Tongues require you to actually fight those annoying oversized frogs in the South Sea Bog.
- Maxima Potion: This one is simpler. Leech Juice and Spider Fangs. If you’ve spent any time in the Forbidden Forest, your pockets are probably already overflowing with Spider Fangs.
- Edurus Potion: Ashwinder Eggs and Mongrel Fur. Ashwinder eggs are those bright red clusters found in rocky areas. Mongrel Fur comes from the dark wolves you find in the wild.
Using Maxima and Edurus Simultaneously
This is the part that trips people up. "Simultaneously" doesn't mean you have to frame-perfectly hit two buttons. It just means the effects need to overlap.
Drink the Maxima Potion first. Your skin will get a bit of a glow. Immediately bring up your tool wheel again (hold L1 or LB, or the Tab key on PC), select the Edurus Potion, and drink it. As long as the timer for the first potion hasn't run out, the game registers them as being used together.
I've seen players try to do this during a heavy fight with a Forest Troll, which is fine, but if you get knocked down mid-animation, it might not register. Just do it in a quiet spot. Your sanity will thank you.
Why Depulso is Worth the Hassle
Once you report back to Sharp during the day (he won't talk to you about the assignment at night, he's got a life too, sort of), he’ll teach you Depulso.
Is it worth it? Absolutely.
Depulso is the "push" spell. While Accio brings enemies close, Depulso sends them flying. In the early game, this is your primary tool for environmental kills. See a scout standing near a cliff? Depulso. See a heavy object hanging over a bunch of Ranrok’s loyalists? Depulso the lever. It’s also essential for the "Depulso Puzzle Rooms" found later in the castle, which contain some of the best gear appearances in the game.
The Common Mistakes Everyone Makes
One big mistake: trying to find these potions in chests. While you can occasionally find an Edurus or Maxima potion in a random dungeon crate, the Focus Potion is much rarer. Don't waste three hours raiding camps hoping for a Focus Potion drop. Just go to Pippin.
Another thing? Timing. Make sure you've actually unlocked the quest in your log. If you drink these potions before Sharp officially gives you the assignment, they don't count. You’ll have just wasted 1,100 Galleons to look shiny and feel focused for thirty seconds.
Also, Sharp's classroom is in the Potions Classroom—obviously. But if you’re tracking the quest and the marker seems to be pointing into a wall, remember that Hogwarts has multiple levels. You need to head down the spiral staircase in the Library Annex.
Moving Forward After the Assignment
After you finish this, Sharp doesn't just go away. He’ll eventually give you Assignment 2, which involves the Invisibility Potion and the Thunderbrew. The lessons you learn here—either budgeting for recipes or hunting for ingredients—will apply there too.
If you’re serious about combat, start growing your own ingredients now. Buy the Large Potting Table from Tomes and Scrolls as soon as you have the cash. Growing Fluxweed is the biggest bottleneck for Focus Potions, and you'll want a steady supply of those once you start fighting the heavier bosses like the Pensieve Guardian.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check your gold: If you have less than 1,000 Galleons, head to the North Ford Bog and capture some Mooncalfs or Puffskeins to sell at Brood and Peck (if you've unlocked it) or just sell any unused gear to any vendor in Hogsmeade.
- Visit J. Pippin: Buy the Focus Potion directly if you're in a rush, but try to buy the Edurus and Maxima recipes if you can afford them.
- Pop the potions anywhere: You don't need a target. Drink Focus, then quickly chain Maxima and Edurus.
- Wait for daytime: If Sharp isn't at his desk, use the "Wait" function on your map screen to fast-forward to morning.
- Master the pattern: When learning Depulso, follow the wand movement carefully. It’s a bit more "pointy" than the circular motion of Accio.
Once you have Depulso, go find a group of small enemies and practice the Accio-Incendio-Depulso combo. It’s one of the most effective ways to clear a room before you get access to the high-tier Dark Arts spells. Sharp might be a grumpy teacher, but his "practical tests" actually make you a much more dangerous wizard.