Mastering Phasmophobia: A Comprehensive Guide to Surviving the Supernatural

Phasmophobia, the chilling cooperative horror game from Kinetic Games, throws you and up to three friends into haunted locations to investigate paranormal activity. Your goal isn’t to fight the ghosts, but to identify them using a range of ghost-hunting equipment and deduce which specific type of specter is tormenting the place. It’s a game of deduction, teamwork, and nerve, where every creak, whisper, and flicker of a light could spell the difference between a successful investigation and a terrifying demise. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to become a seasoned ghost hunter in Phasmophobia, from understanding the basics to mastering advanced techniques.

Understanding the Fundamentals

Before you dive headfirst into the spectral realm, let’s cover the essential elements of Phasmophobia.

The Ghost Types

Phasmophobia features a variety of ghost types, each with unique behaviors, strengths, and weaknesses. Identifying the correct ghost is the core of the game. Here’s a breakdown of the ghosts you’ll encounter:

• Banshee: Known for targeting one player at a time, usually the one with the lowest sanity. Their activity increases when their target is nearby.
• Demon: Aggressive and prone to hunting more frequently than other ghosts. The Crucifix is less effective against them.
• Goryo: Prefers to remain in its room and is shy. Its interactions are often seen on a DOTS projector.
• Hantu: Faster in cold areas and slower in warm areas.
• Jinn: Travels at a faster speed when a player is far away from it. Its ability drains the sanity of nearby players.
• Mare: More active in the dark and less active in the light. It has a higher chance of initiating a hunt in the dark.
• Myling: Known to be quiet when hunting and to be louder on the parabolic microphone.
• Oni: More active and frequently attacks, especially when people are nearby.
• Onryo: Highly aggressive around flames. It likes to extinguish fires.
• Phantom: Can make players have significant sanity loss if looked at. It also disappears from photographs.
• Poltergeist: Known for throwing objects around. Its interactions can be used to confirm its presence.
• Raiju: Moves faster when near electrical equipment and uses electricity more often.
• Revenant: Very slow when not hunting but very fast when hunting a player.
• Shade: Shy and less likely to hunt if more than one player is nearby.
• Spirit: No special abilities, it is the most basic ghost type to identify.
• The Twins: Two ghosts that can interact with the environment at the same time.
• Wraith: Can teleport through walls and floors and can sometimes be seen briefly at a location other than its room.
• Yokai: More likely to hunt when people are talking nearby. Can be heard talking through the spirit box.

The Equipment

Your arsenal of ghost-hunting tools is crucial for success. Here’s a rundown of the equipment you’ll be using:

• EMF Reader: Measures electromagnetic field disturbances. Higher readings indicate stronger ghost activity.
• Spirit Box: Used to communicate with the ghost through questions. The ghost will answer with distorted words.
• Ghost Writing Book: Place this book down, and the ghost might write in it. This is one form of evidence.
• DOTS Projector: Projects a grid of lasers that a ghost can sometimes be seen moving through.
• UV Flashlight: Reveals fingerprints or footprints left behind by the ghost on doors and surfaces.
• Thermometer: Measures the temperature of the room. Freezing temperatures are a key piece of evidence for some ghosts.
• Video Camera: Can be set up to record evidence that can be seen on a monitor in your van.
• Photo Camera: Captures photos of ghost activity, fingerprints, or footprints for extra money.
• Strong Flashlight: A more powerful flashlight for navigating dark environments.
• Salt: You can sprinkle salt to deter the ghost. This allows you to track where the ghost is walking.
• Sanity Pills: Replenish your sanity. Your sanity lowers when you see ghost events and during hunts.
• Lighter/Candle: Can be used to light the area or to prevent the Mare from hunting.
• Crucifix: Place a crucifix near the ghost’s room to stop it from initiating a hunt.
• Headgear Camera: Worn on your head for video footage and communication with the van.
• Parabolic Microphone: To listen for sounds the ghost might be making.

Sanity and Hunts

Your sanity is a crucial aspect of Phasmophobia. As your sanity depletes, the ghost becomes more aggressive and more likely to initiate a hunt. Here’s what you should know:

• Sanity Depletion: Your sanity drops when you witness ghost events, stay in the dark, or get too close to the ghost.
• Sanity Pills: These pills restore a portion of your sanity, allowing you to stay in the investigation longer.
• Hunts: When a ghost hunts, it becomes visible and actively tries to kill players. During a hunt, the ghost moves quickly, and doors lock, preventing escape.
• Hide: During a hunt, hiding is crucial for survival. Use closets, lockers, or other furniture to break line of sight with the ghost.
• Keep Quiet: During a hunt, do not talk. The ghost can use your voice to find you.

Step-by-Step Guide to a Successful Investigation

Now, let’s dive into the practical steps you’ll take during each investigation:

Step 1: Preparation and Loadout

1. Choose a Contract: Select a map with the desired difficulty level. Consider starting with smaller maps.
2. Customize Your Loadout: Prioritize equipment like the EMF reader, spirit box, thermometer, and flashlight. Make sure you have at least one sanity pill.
3. Coordinate with your Team: Assign roles, such as one person monitoring the map in the van, or one person carrying the sanity pills, while the others carry the equipment.

Step 2: Entering the Location

1. Locate the Ghost Room: Use the EMF reader to locate the area with the highest readings. The ghost will often reside in the room where the activity is the strongest.
2. Turn on the Lights: Turn the lights on to slow sanity loss. Be mindful of Mares which have a stronger affinity to darkness.
3. Place Equipment: Place down equipment like the ghost writing book, DOTS projector and set up a video camera aimed at the ghost room.

Step 3: Gathering Evidence

1. EMF Reader: Use the EMF reader often to register ghost activity and to help pinpoint the ghost room.
2. Spirit Box: Attempt to communicate with the ghost using the spirit box. Turn off the lights and ask questions like “Are you here?” or “What do you want?”.
3. Thermometer: Use the thermometer to check for freezing temperatures.
4. Ghost Writing Book: Place the ghost writing book in the ghost room. The ghost may write in it during its interactions.
5. DOTS Projector: Use the DOTS projector in the ghost room. If the ghost walks through the DOTS, it will be visible.
6. UV Flashlight: Use the UV flashlight to look for fingerprints on doors, windows, and light switches.
7. Video Camera: Use video cameras to look for orbs, which are floating specks of light that can be seen on a video camera monitor.
8. Parabolic Microphone: Use the parabolic microphone to listen for sounds the ghost may be making. It is especially useful to identify a Myling.

Step 4: Deduction and Identification

1. Analyze Evidence: Once you have two or three pieces of evidence, compare them against the ghost list.
2. Consult the Journal: Use your journal to cross-reference the evidence with the ghosts.
3. Make your Guess: Confirm your ghost type in the journal.

Step 5: Optional Objectives and Exit

1. Complete Optional Objectives: If you are confident in your ghost identification, complete the optional objectives. Optional objectives usually include things like capturing a picture of the ghost, or burning a crucifix within a ghost’s presence.
2. Leave the Location: Return to the van after identifying the ghost and complete the contract to earn money and experience.

Advanced Techniques and Strategies

Once you’ve grasped the basics, here are some advanced techniques to elevate your Phasmophobia game:

Efficient Evidence Gathering

• Teamwork: Divide and conquer to cover the location quickly and effectively.
• Sensor Placement: Strategically place sensors like motion sensors to detect ghost activity early.
• Ghost Room Confirmation: Use salt to track where the ghost is walking and to ensure that you have identified the correct ghost room.

Hunt Survival

• Recognize Hunt Cues: Pay attention to the signs of an impending hunt, such as a flickering flashlight, a change in the ghost’s activity, and the sound of a heartbeat.
• Effective Hiding Spots: Be familiar with the best hiding spots on each map.
• Looping Strategy: In larger locations, learn how to loop around obstacles to prevent the ghost from catching you.
• Don’t Panic: When hiding, remain calm and be quiet.

Utilizing Ghost Abilities

• Banshee Hunting: If you are being targeted by a Banshee, try to stay away from the ghost room and away from the targeted player.
• Demon Aggression: Be mindful of a Demon’s higher hunt frequency and use the Crucifix as often as possible.
• Mare Fear of Light: Be aware of the darkness if you suspect it to be a Mare.
• Oni Activity: If you suspect an Oni, stay together to draw out its ability.
• Shade Shyness: If you suspect a Shade, try to be alone in the room.
• Raiju Electricity: If you suspect a Raiju, turn on electrical equipment.

Sanity Management

• Stay in the Light: Spending time in the dark can reduce sanity quickly. Make sure to turn on the lights.
• Sanity Rotation: If you run out of sanity pills, swap team members in and out of the haunted location to minimize sanity loss.
• Monitor Sanity Levels: Regularly check your sanity levels and be aware of when to use your sanity pills.

Communication and Teamwork

• Clear Communication: Use voice chat to communicate with your team. Clearly relay the findings and any ghost activity.
• Role Allocation: Coordinate tasks to maximize efficiency, like having one person focus on the EMF reader, another on the spirit box, etc.
• Stick Together: Staying together, particularly in the early stages of the game, can increase confidence and reduce overall sanity loss.

Conclusion

Phasmophobia is a game that rewards patience, observation, and teamwork. Mastering the basics, understanding the ghost behaviors, and employing advanced techniques will significantly improve your success rate and your chances of surviving a paranormal encounter. Remember that each ghost is unique, and the game is constantly updated with new ghosts and features. Keep exploring, learning, and most importantly, have fun with your friends while exploring the terrifying world of Phasmophobia. Happy hunting!