The Golden Snitch is one of the most iconic pieces of lore in the world of Harry Potter, and it makes a big return to the Quidditch pitch in Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions. It functions a little differently this time around, so here's our handy guide to how the Golden Snitch works in Quidditch Champions.

If you’re familiar with the original Harry Potter book series and its lore, the Golden Snitch is synonymous with Quidditch, and this walnut-sized, winged golden ball traditionally serves as the sport’s endgame challenge for Seekers. Those who manage to catch it earn a whopping 150 points for their team and the match automatically ends. This was even the case in the much-loved 2003 game Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup.

The Golden Snitch functions very differently in Quidditch Champions, however, which may come as a surprise to some. As you’ll first learn in the game’s Tutorial mode, a Seeker is still tasked with catching the Golden Snitch before the other team’s Seeker does. Once a notification appears that the Snitch has appeared on the field, you can quickly switch to your team’s Seeker to actively pursue it if you’d rather not rely on an AI bot to get the job done.

Once you've successfully spotted the Golden Snitch on the field, it will leave a trail of golden rings that you can fly through. These will give you a longer speed boost that lasts as long as you keep flying through the rings, and will fill the "catch gauge" that is visible underneath the snitch's model. Once the gauge is full and turns blue, you can catch the Snitch once you get close enough and press the appropriate button.