Harry Potter: Wizards Unite has micro-transactions here's how they work

Harry Potter Wizards Unite shop hero
Harry Potter Wizards Unite shop hero (Image credit: iMore/Christine Chan)

Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is finally available after much anticipation. This is Niantic's third augmented reality (AR) game, following the success of Pokémon Go, and it's definitely a hit so far.

In Wizards Unite, a calamity has fallen upon the wizarding world, causing Foundables — magical artifacts, people, memories — to appear in the Muggle world. You're called upon to help the wizarding world solve the mystery behind The Calamity, as well as keeping magic safe from those prying Muggle eyes.

As you explore the world around you for Traces and Foundables, you'll also have to do combat against Confoundables, create potions to help you in battle and other events, unlock Portkeys, and more.

While you can do everything in the game without spending any money (it's just a bit grindy), you can also purchase useful items with Galleons (it's just called gold in Wizards Unite) that help speed things up, heal you, get you access to rarer encounters, and more. But if you're a bit short on those Galleons, and need a quick fix, you can purchase Galleons with real money through Gringotts. You can then spend those Galleons on various items in Diagon Alley.

Here are all of the items available in Diagon Alley that you can purchase with Galleons or real money (but remember, this is completely optional).

Harry Potter Wizards Unite Diagon Alley screen shots

Harry Potter Wizards Unite Diagon Alley screen shots (Image credit: iMore/ Christine Chan)

The Featured section contains items that are considered a good value or those that Niantic wants to promote, as this is the first section you'll see when you open Diagon Alley. This section is where limited bundles for Events are featured, as well. These limited bundles vary dramatically from one event to another, so always check to see what is in the bundle before you purchase to make sure you're getting what you really want for your Galleons.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Item nameWhat it doesHow much it costs
S.O.S KitEverything you need to get started: Gold, a Dark Detector, Spell Energy, and Potent Exstimulo Potions.$1.99
Stack of Dark DetectorsReveal rarer Traces with a set of 3 Dark Detectors.325 Galleons
Pile of KeysA set of 4 Silver Keys to unlock your Portkey Portmanteaus.325 Galleons
Exstimulo CrateGet more effectiveness from your incantations with a variety of Exstimulo Potions.800 Galleons
Potion Variety CrateA veritable variety of elixirs and infusions for all of your Potion needs.725 Galleons
Brain Elixir Potion KitLevel up faster with a bundle of 15 Baruffio's Brain Elixirs that double your Wizarding XP from Traces and Portkeys.1200 Galleons
Case of Dark DetectorsReveal rarer Traces and fill out your Registry faster with a bevy of 15 Dark Detectors.1400 Galleons
Vault ExtensionsIncrease your Vault capacity for Spell Energy, Ingredients, and Potions.475 Galleons

Wiseacres

Harry Potter Wizards Unite Diagon Alley Wiseacres

Harry Potter Wizards Unite Diagon Alley Wiseacres (Image credit: iMore/ Christine Chan)

The Wiseacres category contains the game's useful items for unlocking Portkeys, revealing rarer Traces, filling up Spell Energy, and Runestones for Wizarding Challenges in Fortresses.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Item nameWhat it doesHow much it costs
Silver KeyUse this Silver Key to unlock a Portkey Portmanteau as you explore the world.90 Galleons
Pile of KeysA set of 4 Silver Keys to unlock your Portkey Portmanteaus.325 Galleons
Dark DetectorPlace a Dark Detector at an Inn to reveal rarer Traces for 30 minutes. Stack up to three for an even stronger effect!120 Galleons
Stack of Dark DetectorsReveal rarer Traces with a set of 3 Dark Detectors.325 Galleons
+50 Spell EnergyUse Spell Energy to cast spells in Traces and Wizarding Challenges.100 Galleons
Spell Energy CapacityStock up on Spell Energy by expanding your Spell Energy Capacity.150 Galleons
Bag of RunestonesUse Runestones in Wizarding Challenges!40 Galleons

Slug & Jiggers

Harry Potter Wizards Unite Diagon Alley Slug & Jiggers

Harry Potter Wizards Unite Diagon Alley Slug & Jiggers (Image credit: iMore/ Christine Chan)

In Slug & Jiggers, you'll find a variety of potions and item storage capacity increases.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Item nameWhat it doesHow much it costs
Baruffio's Brain ElixirGrants double Wizarding XP from Traces, Wizarding Challenges, and Portkeys. Duration: 30 minutes.100 Galleons
Healing PotionRestores 35 percent of your maximum Stamina when you've taken damage in Oddity Traces and Wizarding Challenges.25 Galleons
Exstimulo PotionImproves your spell cast in Traces and Wizarding Challenges. Duration: 3 spell casts.25 Galleons
Strong Exstimulo PotionStrongly improves your spell cast in Traces and Wizarding Challenges. Duration: 4 spell casts.50 Galleons
Potent Exstimulo PotionTremendously improves your spell cast in Traces and Wizarding Challenges. Duration: 5 spell casts.75 Galleons
Potion Variety CrateA veritable variety of elixirs and infusions for all of your Potion needs.725 Galleons
Exstimulo CrateGet more effectiveness from your incantations with a variety of Exstimulo Potions.800 Galleons
Ingredients CapacityInvest in Ingredients by expanding your Ingredient Vault Capacity.150 Galleons
Potions CapacityPack away more Potions by expanding your Potions Vault capacity200 Galleons
Seeds and Water CapacityStore more Ingredient Seeds and Water by expanding your Seeds and Water Vault Capacity.150 Galleons

Gringotts

Harry Potter Wizards Unite Diagon Alley Gringotts

Harry Potter Wizards Unite Diagon Alley Gringotts (Image credit: iMore/ Christine Chan)

Running low on those gold Galleons? Make sure to stop by Gringotts to turn your Muggle cash into Galleons instead!

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Amount of GalleonsCost
80 Gold$0.99
425 Gold$4.99
900 Gold$9.99
2100 Gold$19.99
5400 Gold$49.99
12000 Gold$99.99

None of these are necessary

All of the microtransactions in Harry Potter: Wizards Unite are completely optional and by no means necessary to enjoy the game. In fact, you can play the game without ever spending a dime since the game does award you with Galleons for leveling up and completing tasks and other activities. However, the items that are in Diagon Alley are useful if you're in a crunch, and if you're short on gold, it's the fastest way to get the currency you need for that item without grinding.

Christine Chan

Christine Romero-Chan was formerly a Senior Editor for iMore. She has been writing about technology, specifically Apple, for over a decade at a variety of websites. She is currently part of the Digital Trends team, and has been using Apple’s smartphone since the original iPhone back in 2007. While her main speciality is the iPhone, she also covers Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac when needed. When she isn’t writing about Apple, Christine can often be found at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, as she is a passholder and obsessed with all things Disney, especially Star Wars. Christine also enjoys coffee, food, photography, mechanical keyboards, and spending as much time with her new daughter as possible.