Phasmophobia’s supernatural investigation isn’t just about tracking ghosts, sometimes you can even try to bargain with paranormal forces themselves. One of the most mysterious and powerful items you can encounter in the game is the Monkey Paw, a cursed object that lets you make wishes but always at a cost.
The Monkey Paw is a Cursed Possession, one of several dangerous paranormal tools players might find during a contract. Unlike simpler ghost-detecting items, the Monkey Paw lets you call on supernatural assistance by making specific wishes, such as revealing the ghost’s location or changing the weather. However, every wish carries side effects that can significantly impact your game.
How Many Wishes You Get
When the Monkey Paw spawns on a map, it comes with a limited number of wishes you can make. The difficulty level of the contract determines how many wishes you’re allowed. Easy contracts allow up to five wishes, mid difficulty about four wishes, and high difficulty around three wishes. Each time you make a wish, one of the Monkey Paw’s fingers will curl down. Once all the fingers have bent, the item can no longer be used for that investigation.
Speaking or Selecting Wishes
To use the Monkey Paw, you must first pick it up inside the investigation area. The game lets you make wishes in two main ways. Voice chat allows you to speak a recognized wish phrase into the microphone while holding the paw, and the game will attempt to grant it. Alternatively, you can open the paw’s menu to select wishes from a text list. Whichever method you choose, be careful, as the paw’s cursed nature means that even beneficial wishes come with consequences.
What Wishes Can Do
The Monkey Paw’s wishes span several categories, and many have dramatic effects on your investigation. Some examples include:
- Revealing the ghost: The ghost appears near its current location, but this may start a dangerous hunt against the player who made the wish.
- Increasing ghost activity: Forces more ghost events and interactions at the cost of locking exits temporarily and potentially breaking a fuse box.
- Changing the weather: You can wish for weather changes like rain or fog, which affect surroundings and player visibility.
- Eliminating evidence: Removes incorrect evidence from your journal, helping narrow down the ghost type, but may trigger a hunt or reduce senses.
- Reviving a teammate: In multiplayer games, you can wish for a dead player to return, though this risky wish may kill the wisher.
Other variations exist, such as wishes that adjust sanity, unlock doors, or make the ghost temporarily trapped. Each has both a positive effect and a negative drawback, making the Monkey Paw a tense strategic decision.
Tips and Warnings When Using the Monkey Paw
When using the Monkey Paw, always consider the risks. Some wishes might immediately trigger hunts, worsen ghost behavior, or severely handicap the player who made the wish. Many experienced players prefer to use the paw only when they’re late in an investigation or when the potential reward outweighs the downside. In multiplayer games, the downsides often affect only the wisher, which can make the Monkey Paw slightly more strategic but still risky.
Why the Monkey Paw is a Game-Changer in Phasmophobia
The Monkey Paw in Phasmophobia is a fascinating but dangerous tool. Its ability to grant powerful supernatural effects makes it tempting to use, but its inevitable consequences mean that players must think carefully before making any wish. Whether you’re changing weather to complete objectives, revealing the ghost’s location, or trying to bring a teammate back to life, every use of the Monkey Paw is a strategic decision that can turn the tide of your investigation.
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