Confoundables

• Type: Magical Constructs / Phenomena (video game)
• Origin: The Calamity (video game)
• Purpose: To magically ensnare, guard, or attack Foundables (video game)

A Confoundable is a magical manifestation that traps a Foundable—a magical person, creature, object, or memory displaced from its proper place and time. The appearance of Confoundables varies widely, depending on the nature and threat level of the encounter. They can appear as swarms of aggressive creatures like Pixies, malevolent-looking dark tendrils, animated objects, or ethereal magical barriers. (video game) Their form often relates thematically to the Foundable they are trapping; for instance, a rogue Bludger might be the Confoundable entrapping a memory of a Quidditch player. (video game)

The primary magical property of a Confoundable is to act as a magical obstacle or prison. They are a direct result of the Calamity and serve to prevent the easy recovery of Foundables that have been scattered across the Muggle world. (video game) Members of the Statute of Secrecy Task Force must overcome these Confoundables to return the Foundables and prevent breaches of the International Statute of Secrecy. This is achieved by casting specific spells to counter the Confoundable's magic. (video game) The strength of a Confoundable is indicated by a threat level, which determines the difficulty of the spellcasting required to defeat it. (video game) A single type of Confoundable may be vulnerable to one or more specific spells, requiring the witch or wizard to use the correct counter-incantation to successfully free the Foundable. (video game)

Confoundables came into existence as a result of a massive magical incident known as the Calamity. (video game) This event caused magical items, creatures, and even memories to be violently torn from the wizarding world and appear haphazardly in the Muggle world, each one trapped by a corresponding Confoundable. In response, the Ministry of Magic, in cooperation with the International Confederation of Wizards, established the Statute of Secrecy Task Force to manage the crisis. The primary duty of its members is to locate these disturbances and neutralize the Confoundables to secure the Foundables within. (video game)

Within the narrative of the Wizards Unite game, Confoundables serve as the primary antagonists and gameplay obstacles. (video game) The player, acting as a new recruit to the Statute of Secrecy Task Force, constantly encounters Confoundables while exploring the world. Successfully dispelling them is the core mechanic for making progress, earning rewards, and restoring pieces of the wizarding world that have been lost to the Calamity. (video game) The ongoing mystery of what caused the Calamity, and thus created the Confoundables, is a central plot point of the game's story. (video game)

The term “Confoundable” does not appear in the original seven Harry Potter novels by J.K. Rowling, nor is it mentioned in the original film series. It is a concept created specifically for the augmented reality mobile game, Wizards Unite, which was developed by Niantic and WB Games San Francisco. (video game) The name “Confoundable” is likely derived from the Confundus Charm (incantation: Confundo), a spell used to confuse a person or an enchanted object. This fits the chaotic and perplexing nature of the Calamity, which has thrown the wizarding world into disarray and created these confusing magical phenomena.