For fans of LEGO video games and the magical world of Harry Potter, few accomplishments feel as rewarding as unlocking Lord Voldemort in LEGO Harry Potter: Years 14 or Years 57. Known as the darkest wizard in the wizarding world, Voldemort is a highly coveted character due to his powerful spells and ominous presence. However, unlocking him is not straightforward and requires specific steps that players often overlook. Whether you’re aiming for 100% game completion or simply want to play as He Who Must Not Be Named, learning how to unlock Voldemort in LEGO Harry Potter is an exciting journey full of secrets, strategy, and exploration.
Why Unlocking Voldemort Matters
The Power of the Dark Lord
Voldemort is not just another character on the roster. In both LEGO Harry Potter games, he has access to Dark Magic, allowing him to interact with objects and solve puzzles that other characters cannot. This makes him vital for unlocking additional collectibles, Gold Bricks, and House Crests scattered throughout the game.
Completion and Collector Goals
For players aiming to reach 100% completion, unlocking Voldemort is essential. He can help uncover hidden areas, complete specific level challenges, and even be used in Free Play mode to access areas blocked to other characters. Additionally, playing as Voldemort provides a unique twist in gameplay, offering a darker perspective on familiar levels.
Steps to Unlock Voldemort
Play Through the Main Story
Before you can unlock Voldemort, you must first make significant progress through the game. In LEGO Harry Potter: Years 14, this means completing all story levels. In Years 57, you need to finish the main campaign to unlock the post-game hub areas where Voldemort becomes accessible.
Access Knockturn Alley
Knockturn Alley is the key area for unlocking Voldemort. Here’s how to get there:
- From Diagon Alley, head left past the Leaky Cauldron
- Look for a gated alleyway with a red entrance
- You must use a Dark Magic character or complete certain story segments to open it
Inside Knockturn Alley, you’ll find Borgin and Burkes, the creepy shop that sells various items including the Dark Lord himself.
Collect All 200 Gold Bricks
This is the most time-consuming part. To unlock Voldemort, players need to gather all 200 Gold Bricks in the game. These can be collected by:
- Completing story levels and earning full marks
- Finding hidden bricks in hub areas like Diagon Alley and Hogwarts
- Solving environmental puzzles
- Finishing bonus levels and challenges
Use characters with special abilities like Reducto or Animagus transformations to reach difficult areas. Playing in Free Play mode with multiple characters is highly recommended to make this process faster.
Build the Bonus Level in Knockturn Alley
Once you’ve collected all 200 Gold Bricks, head back to Knockturn Alley. You’ll see a special area in Borgin and Burkes where you can construct a golden gate. Use the Gold Bricks to build it. This unlocks the Dark Lord’s Bonus Level, a unique stage designed as a tribute to the character.
Complete the Bonus Level
The bonus level typically features a special arena-like map where you must gather a certain amount of studs or solve a few quick challenges. Complete the level and you’ll be rewarded with the ability to purchase Voldemort.
Buy Lord Voldemort
Once unlocked, Voldemort becomes available for purchase in Borgin and Burkes. He costs a high number of studs usually one million. To get enough studs quickly:
- Replay levels with x2, x4, x6, x8, or x10 multipliers
- Destroy objects and use magic to reveal hidden stud caches
- Play the bonus stud-collecting levels available in Diagon Alley
Tips for Earning Studs Efficiently
Use Stud Multipliers
Red Bricks found throughout the game offer stud multipliers. Activate these in the Extras menu to significantly increase your stud income. Combining multipliers can make earning one million studs much faster.
Replay High-Value Levels
Some levels have more objects to destroy and hidden secrets that yield high stud counts. Levels with lots of bookshelves, vases, or moving staircases are great for farming. Use a character like Bellatrix Lestrange or Tom Riddle to access Dark Magic secrets for even more studs.
Advantages of Using Voldemort
Dark Magic Capabilities
Only a few characters in the game can perform Dark Magic, and Voldemort is the most iconic of them. This allows him to unlock black-locked areas, control cursed objects, and complete unique puzzle solutions. He also has access to powerful offensive spells that can eliminate enemies or activate special blocks.
Unique Character Animations
Voldemort has distinct idle and attack animations that set him apart. He doesn’t use a traditional wand motion, instead relying on his signature style, giving a new flavor to gameplay. His presence often triggers hidden easter eggs and adds a cinematic feel to the game.
Use in Free Play
When replaying levels in Free Play mode, having Voldemort in your lineup opens many optional paths and allows you to unlock collectibles that would otherwise be inaccessible. He works well in combination with characters like Dumbledore, Snape, or Hermione to cover all gameplay mechanics.
Other Characters with Dark Magic
If you’re looking for alternative Dark Magic users while collecting Gold Bricks or studs, consider unlocking the following:
- Bellatrix Lestrange
- Lucius Malfoy (Death Eater)
- Tom Riddle
- Dolores Umbridge (in Years 57)
While these characters can fill the gap, Voldemort remains the ultimate Dark Magic user, both for gameplay utility and thematic presence.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Skipping Free Play Mode: Many Gold Bricks are only accessible with specific characters or abilities.
- Ignoring Collectibles: Every student in peril or house crest collected contributes toward Gold Brick totals.
- Not Using Multipliers: Stud collection without multipliers takes much longer and slows down progress.
Unlocking Voldemort in LEGO Harry Potter is a detailed and rewarding process that blends exploration, puzzle-solving, and smart planning. While it requires time and effort to collect 200 Gold Bricks, build the bonus level, and save enough studs to purchase him, the payoff is immense. With access to powerful Dark Magic and exclusive gameplay features, Voldemort adds depth, efficiency, and a sinister charm to your LEGO Harry Potter experience. Whether you aim to complete every level or just want to cast spells as the Dark Lord himself, unlocking Voldemort is a journey worth every step.