How to Win the Race at Irondale

Master the Irondale broom race in Hogwarts Legacy! Learn how to beat Imelda Reyes, utilize boost orbs, and navigate checkpoint rings for victory.

Alright, so you've bested Imelda Reyes on the Quidditch Pitch, huh? Nice! But guess what? There's another race waiting for you, and with a spiffy new broom upgrade, you might just have a shot at taking her down again. This guide is all about the side quest Sweeping the Competition in Hogwarts Legacy.

How to Get Started:

First things first, you need to have finished the Flight Test side quest. After that, Albie Weekes over at Spintwitches and Sporting Needs in Hogsmeade will get in touch. You'll need to progress a bit in the main story, specifically after completing Percival Rackham’s Trial. Once enough time has passed, Albie will send an owl saying your broom upgrade is ready. Head to Spintwitches, chat with Albie, and buy the upgrade for 1,000 Galleons. Keep an eye out for the Galleon icon!

After you snag that upgrade, Albie will spill the beans about a new race course Imelda conquered way down south in Irondale. With your souped-up broom, you've got a solid chance to beat her score. The Irondale course is pretty far from Hogwarts, located northeast of the Irondale landmark (there's a Floo Flame there too!), and southwest of the Northern South Sea Bog Floo Flame. It's a bit of a trek, so if you've unlocked those Floo Flames, definitely use them!

Winning the Irondale Broom Race:

Head over to the cliffs northeast of Irondale. You'll find Imelda there, full of her usual confidence. She's looking for a challenge, so she's happy you're there, even if she's a bit dismissive of your skills. When you accept her challenge, the race begins!

The race mechanics are pretty much the same as the one on the Quidditch Pitch. You don't need to be a total pro, just finish faster than Imelda. She's currently in 5th place with a time of 2:26:22. Your main goal is to fly through all twenty checkpoint rings as quickly as you can.

Warning: Missing a ring will cost you 3 seconds, but it won't stop you from finishing. Between each ring, you'll find a line of four yellow boost orbs. Flying through these fills up your boost meter and gives you a speed burst. So, to get a fast time, you need to nail those checkpoint rings without missing any, and try to hit as many boost orbs as possible.

This course is actually pretty forgiving! There's a good amount of space between the rings, and you won't have to deal with too many tricky obstacles or sharp turns. You can probably get away with just holding down the accelerate button (that's !DualSense-R2 / !Xbox-TriggerRight) and the boost button (that's !DualSense-L2 / !Xbox-TriggerLeft) while focusing on the boost orbs and rings. Beating Imelda's time of 2:26:22 shouldn't be too tough if you've got a decent handle on flying.

Once you beat her time, chat with Imelda. She'll grumble about someone from her house and challenge you to another race at a course that isn't available yet. After that, head back to Albie Weekes to get the next broom upgrade sorted and wrap up the quest!