Phasmophobia has seen a lot of change since its initial release in September of 2020. Die-hard fans of the game have gotten to see it grow into arguably the most popular horror game on Steam.
With the game's growing popularity on Twitch, many new players are beginning to test their ghost hunting skills. Phasmophobia is a daunting experience at first. Many new players fall to the ghost's grabby hands on their first few hunts. Hunters need to be prepared before taking that first step into the haunted house. Knowledge of the equipment, the different ghost types, and what affects a hunter's health are all vital to surviving a hunt.
Updated February 28th, 2022 by Russ Boswell: Phasmophobia remains one of the best horror titles on the market, giving tons of scares to groups of gamers as they attempt to make cash as paranormal investigators. It's difficult at times, especially in a group, which means players are flocking to forum posts and online to see if there are any tips to help make things easier. To better help the slew of players that keep returning for developer updates, or new players that are just now making their way to the title for the first time, the following guide has been updated to include even more Phasmophobia beginner tips.
12 Finding The Haunted Room
Every location's activity is mostly localized in one room. Ghosts will roam from time to time, even more so after a recent update. Locating the haunted room can be tricky, especially on larger maps. Sound Sensors, the Parabolic Microphone, and the Thermometer are all helpful tools for finding the room.
Pay attention to every sound made inside the house. Ghosts often roam the most at the beginning of an investigation, so creaking doors and heavy footsteps are good indicators of where the ghost is.
11 Take Plenty Of Pictures
If a player dies on a hunt, they lose all of the equipment they brought. Amateur hunts will give half the total value of the equipment lost back. Intermediate hunts will give a quarter of the value back, and professional hunts give no money back. This makes money a valuable resource for replacing lost equipment.
Taking photos of evidence found in the house is the best way to make money in Phasmophobia. A bone spawns on every map that gives the player money for taking a picture of it and for picking it up. There are also voodoo dolls that spawn in the farmhouse maps that the player can photograph for extra cash.
10 Using The Ghost's Name
The name of the ghost can be found on the objective board in the truck. It can be used to entice a reaction from the ghost to gain evidence. The main purpose behind speaking the ghost's name is to agitate it enough to make it appear for photos.
This is dangerous because the ghost can either appear for a few moments to warn the players away or appear to hunt and kill the players. So when using the ghost's name, a crucifix must be set up in the room to prevent the ghost from hunting.
9 Take Equipment Inside First
There is a lot of unique equipment that players can use in Phasmophobia to hunt specters. In fact, there's so much that it's impossible to carry it all through the house at the same time. Players can only hold a maximum of three items and most of the time the houses are so pitch-black inside that a flashlight is pretty much mandatory. Because of this, many players find themselves taking a long walk back to the truck each and every time they want a new device or item.
Thankfully, it's possible to drop items at any given time, meaning players can simply grab whatever they want from the truck and haul it into the house. They can then set it on a table or even the floor, giving them a "centralized area" that's filled with all their equipment and is much closer to the hunting grounds.
8 Using The Crucifix
A recent update has made the Crucifix much easier to use. The Crucifix is now able to prevent the ghost from hunting twice. When the Crucifix works, one of the side prongs will snap off. When both side prongs are gone, the Crucifix becomes useless, making the player vulnerable.
The Crucifix is best used by placing it near the area with the most activity. The Crucifix's radius of effect is 3 feet for most ghosts and 5 feet for the Banshee. The ghost must try to hunt within the Crucifix's radius for it to work.
7 On Location Items And What They Do
Several items can be found in the different haunted locations. The bone spawns on every map and gives the player extra cash if found and photographed. Two different keys can be found in the street house and roadhouse maps. One is a black car key for turning off the car alarm (if activated by the ghost), the other is a house key that can be used if the ghost locks a player in the room.
The voodoo dolls in the farmhouse maps can be photographed for extra cash. The ouija board can be used to incite activity and often causes the ghost to spawn (and possibly begin hunting). There is a list of questions that players can ask the ouija board for different responses. Candles on location can be lit to keep sanity high, and different electronics can be manipulated by the ghost.
6 Use A Ouija Board Near The Edge Of A Map
Ouija Boards are one of the handiest items that players can use when performing a mission in Phasmophobia. They're great a getting certain information and can help players finish their tasks faster if they're missing certain things. The only downside is that they drain sanity, and they can also cause a ghost to enter hunting mode, locking everyone inside the home in a deadly game of cat and mouse.
To avoid becoming a ghost themselves, players can interact with the Ouija board while on the outside of the house, leaving it inside and poking at it from the doorway. This will allow them to get their questions answered while maintaining outside should a ghost start angrily hunting.
5 What Triggers The EMF Reader
The EMF reader works on a scale from 1 to 5, with the different levels indicating different things. Level one is the default state that indicates that the EMF reader is on. Levels 2 and 3 mean that the ghost just moved an object near the player. This often comes in the form of a door or light switch.
Level 4 means that the ghost has manifested somewhere in the house, and a reading of level 5 is key evidence in identifying the ghost and should be marked in the player's journal. A few readings of level 2 and level 3 are often required to reach a level 5 reading.
4 Knowing When The Ghost Is Hunting
A ghost entering hunt mode is the only thing that can kill a player in Phasmophobia. The main indicator that the ghost is about to hunt used to be the player's flashlight flickering but this will only work now if a player is close. If players are too far, the flashlight will remain solid and players won't be aware that they're being hunted. A good alternative now is to turn the radio on and off periodically as hearing a steady static noise is a good indicator that the ghost is hunting.
Players have just a few seconds to find a hiding spot after a hunt begins. One of the worst mistakes a player can make is not having a nearby hiding spot picked out. The best hiding spots are closets located away from the haunted room. When the player begins hearing footsteps, that means the ghost has spawned and is actively hunting.
3 Keeping Sanity High
Sanity is the most important resource available to players. If the average team Sanity dips below 70%, a ghost hunt may occur. Player Sanity can be kept high by turning on lights in the house, lighting candles nearby, and taking Sanity Pills.
Turning on too many lights can blow the fuse, requiring the players to turn the power back on. Typically 4 to 5 lights on is the sweet spot, anymore can blow the fuse. Sanity Pills can restore forty points of Sanity and should be used as soon as a player dips below 70%.
2 What Equipment Should Be Used First
The amount of equipment can be overwhelming at first, especially if a new player is joining a team of high-level hunters. Each player should have a strong flashlight at all times. The photo camera is a great item to bring in early for photos of the bone and other evidence.
At least one player should have a thermometer, as lower temperatures are the best indicator of where the haunted room is. After the haunted room is found, filling that room with testing items, like the ghost-writing book and spirit box, becomes the next priority. On larger teams, one player can be devoted to bringing in video cameras for a clear view from the truck.
1 Surviving A Ghost Hunt
After the flashlights begin blinking, all players inside the house should immediately run to a hiding spot. The house maps all have closets that make great hiding spots. Hiding in the corner of a room that isn't the haunted room is also a good hiding spot.
On larger maps, if a player can't think of a hiding spot, they can loop the ghost through long hallways or around furniture. This method is dangerous, as it requires being chased by the ghost. Players can outrun every type of ghost except for the Revenant. The best way to ensure survival is by having a hiding spot picked out early, running to it as soon as the hunt begins, and turning off the flashlight.