The Calamity

The Calamity is a global magical catastrophe that caused magical items, creatures, people, and memories to appear randomly throughout the Muggle world, posing a grave threat to the International Statute of Secrecy. This event and all its related phenomena are not part of the original seven novels and were created exclusively for the Harry Potter: Wizards Unite mobile game.

The Calamity is characterized by the widespread and uncontrolled appearance of Foundables in the non-magical world. Foundables are magical elements that have been torn from their proper place and time. They are often trapped or guarded by chaotic magical energy known as Confoundables. The primary danger of the Calamity is the potential for mass exposure of the wizarding world, as Muggles might witness these magical occurrences. The Ministry of Magic and other magical governments mobilized to contain this threat. Examples of Foundables include:

• Magical Creatures: A Hippogriff appearing in a city park or a Niffler in a bank vault.
• Magical Objects: A Howler shouting in a library or a rogue Bludger careening down a street.
• People and Memories: Manifestations of famous witches and wizards, or even living memories of past events, such as a younger Harry Potter facing a Dementor. (video game)

The precise cause of the Calamity is initially a mystery within the context of the game's story. Its sudden onset caused widespread chaos, forcing an unprecedented response from the international wizarding community. To combat the crisis, the Ministry of Magic established the Statute of Secrecy Task Force, an elite group of witches and wizards tasked with containing the Calamity. Members of this task force are responsible for locating Foundables, overcoming their Confoundable guardians using magic, and returning them to their rightful place in the magical world. This international effort involves collaboration between different magical ministries and volunteers from the wizarding population. (video game)

The Calamity is a narrative concept created specifically for the Harry Potter: Wizards Unite augmented reality mobile game, which was released in 2019. It serves as the central plot device for the game's mechanics, where players act as members of the Statute of Secrecy Task Force. This event, along with related terms such as Foundables, Confoundables, and the Statute of Secrecy Task Force, does not appear in the original seven *Harry Potter* novels written by J.K. Rowling, nor is it mentioned in the original film series or other official supplementary materials outside of the game. It is considered part of the expanded universe of the franchise but is not part of the core book canon.