How to Use Every Item in Phasmophobia - Phasmophobia Guide - IGN (2024)

This page is part of IGN's Phasmophobia Wiki guide and details everything you need to know about how to use every available item in the game.

Looking for something particular? Click the links below to jump to...

• Equipment Overview
  • Candle
  • Crucifix
  • D.O.T.S Projector
  • EMF Reader
  • Flashlight
  • Ghost Writing Book
  • Glowstick
  • Head Mounted Camera
  • Lighter
  • Motion Sensor
  • Parabolic Microphone
  • Photo Camera
  • Salt
  • Sanity Pills
  • Smudge Sticks
  • Sound Sensor
  • Spirit Box
  • Strong Flashlight
  • Thermometer
  • Tripod
  • UV Flashlight
  • Video Camera
• Map Equipment
  • Ouija Board
  • Voodoo Doll
  • Bones

Having an item in your arsenal won't do you any good in Phasmophobia if you don't know how to use them. Use this page to quickly familiarize yourself with all of Phasmophobia's items and how to use them.

Can't afford the items you need? Head over to How to Make Money in Phasmophobia to learn more about your options for earning an income.

Candle

Price in Item Shop: $15
Maximum Amount: 4

Official Description: A Candle is a great way of keeping a room lit when the lights go out as it isn't dependent on electricity.

You will need a Lighter to use a Candle, and once you do, you will get a more consistent light source that can be more reliable than a Flashlight in certain situations. When a Ghost starts getting active or is hunting, it can make your Flashlight flicker. A candle will not be affected, so it is a good alternative to have.

Turn the lighter on by right-clicking when you are holding it, and then press F to light the Candle.

Crucifix

Price in Item Shop: $30
Maximum Amount: 2

Official Description: A Crucifix is used to stop Ghosts from entering their physical form to attack you. It's advised to place them near the Ghost.

A Crucifix should be placed in the room a Ghost is haunting to prevent it from going into its hunting phase. One of the most important things to note is that it must be near the Ghost to be effective, so if the Ghost is haunting a larger room, you may need to bring multiple with you. Crucifix are also more effective against a Banshee.

EMF Reader

Price in Item Shop: $45
Maximum Amount: 2

Official Description: The Electro Magnetic Field Reader is a handheld device used to detect fluctuations in electromagnetic fields left behind by paranormal activity. It will beep with increasing volume depending on the amount of activity nearby.

By using an EMF Reader, you will be able to tell when a specific type of Ghost is nearby. The levels will fluctuate as more Ghost activity is occurring, but only an EMF Level 5 reading counts as Evidence and a sign that the Ghost you are hunting is either a Goryo, Jinn, Myling, Obake, Oni, Raiju, Shade, Spirit, The Twins or a Wraith.

Flashlight

Price in Item Shop: $30
Maximum Amount: 4

Official Description: The Flashlight is a basic hunting tool designed to help you when the lights go out.

The Flashlight is a tool that should always be with you, as the locations you explore will always be dark at one point or another. Sure, some of the lights may be on, but once a Ghost becomes active, it can get dark very quickly.

Ghost Writing Book

Price in Item Shop: $40
Maximum Amount: 2

Official Description: Also known as automatic writing, if you place this book near a Ghost it will allow certain Ghosts to write on it.

By holding or dropping a Ghost Writing Book, you can encourage a Ghost to write inside of it. Of course, only certain types of Ghosts will take you up on it. Additionally, when Ghost Activity is higher, there will be a higher chance for the Ghost to write in the book.

Glowstick

Price in Item Shop: $20
Maximum Amount: 2

Official Description: A Glowstick can be used to help navigate in larger locations or used as an areas UV Light.

When certain Ghosts interact with items or spaces in a location, they will leave behind Fingerprints. By using the UV Light or Glowstick, you will be able to see them and will know just what type of Ghost you're dealing with.

Head Mounted Camera

Price in Item Shop: $60
Maximum Amount: 4

Official Description: A Head Mounted Camera can be used to help teams track each other and to see Ghost Orbs.

When you place Video Cameras in a room or are using a Head Mounted Camera with the lights off, players who are viewing the video feeds in the truck with night vision on may see Ghost Orbs floating about, which will give you evidence to determine what Ghost you're dealing with.

Additionally, a Head Mounted Camera does not take up an inventory slot, so it allows you to carry more items and still hopefully catch some Ghost Orbs in action.

Lighter

Price in Item Shop: $10
Maximum Amount: 2

Official Description: A simple Lighter used for lighting candles and Smudge Sticks.

Sure, a Lighter can provide a little extra light, but, as mentioned above, its main purpose is to light Smudge Sticks and Candles.

Motion Sensor

Price in Item Shop: $100
Maximum Amount: 4

Official Description: A motion sensor is a sensor that can detect the most subtle changes in the atmosphere around it. This is linked live to the map in your Truck.

The motion sensor is great for helping identify which room a Ghost is hiding in. All you have to do is place it in a room, and if a Ghost passes by it, you will get an alert in the truck.

Parabolic Microphone

Price in Item Shop: $50
Maximum Amount: 2

Official Description: A Parabolic Microphone can detect sound through walls and at a great distance. This is a portable version of the Sound Sensor.

The portable Parabolic Microphone can help you identify Ghosts through walls and at a greater distance, and gives a bit more flexibility than the other sensors.

Photo Camera

Price in Item Shop: $40
Maximum Amount: 3

Official Description: The camera has been fine tuned to take photos of the paranormal. This will help in situations where more evidence is needed.

The Photo Camera is on of the best tools to help you earn money in Phasmophobia. By taking pictures of paranormal activities and unfortunate events on a job, you will be able to earn money that will let you buy more equipment.

Salt

Price in Item Shop: $15
Maximum Amount: 2

Official Description: Salt is toxic to most kind of Ghosts and will reveal their footsteps under a UV light.

Salt can cause a Ghost to leave behind footprints, which can then be seen by a UV Light or Glowstick. A Wraith will not leave footprints, but if it travels over placed Salt, it will stop attacking.

Sanity Pills

Price in Item Shop: $45
Maximum Amount: 4

Official Description: Sanity Pills will increase your Sanity level therefore they are vital for larger locations as these will allow you to be safer on a contract for longer periods.

As Ghosts get more active and enter hunting phase, you and your teammate's sanity will drop. These pills can help raise your Sanity level, which will make the Ghost less likely to attack you. This is especially valuable on higher difficulties.

Smudge Sticks

Price in Item Shop: $15
Maximum Amount: 4

Official Description: Burning Smudge Sticks near a Ghost will prevent it from attacking for a period of time.

A Smudge Stick, once lit, will help temporarily cleanse a room of paranormal activity. This can be useful if you are trying to accomplish optional objectives or need a break from being too scared. You will need a Lighter to light a smudge stick, and you can do that by holding a lighter and right-clicking, and the pressing F while switched to the smudge Stick.

Sound Sensor

Price in Item Shop: $80
Maximum Amount: 4

Official Description: A sound sensor is a sensor that can listen to the most quiet sounds and vibrations in the air. This gets displayed as data at your base of operations.

The Sound Sensor is a device that you can place around a location to help identify what room a Ghost may be haunting. Once placed, you will get notifications in the truck if something weird is going on.

Spirit Box

Price in Item Shop: $50
Maximum Amount: 2

Official Description: This electronic voice phenomenon recorder or Spirit Box can capture paranormal frequencies that can allow communication with spirits.

To use a Spirit Box, you must be nearby (3m) or in the same room as the Ghost and the lights must be off. Then, you will be able to speak to the Ghost and ask it questions from four different categories - Difficulty, Location, Age, and Personal. 50% of the time, Ghosts will be shy and will only respond on the Spirit Box if there is only one player nearby. Not all Ghosts will respond, but if they do, you have found another piece of evidence.

Strong Flashlight

Price in Item Shop: $50
Maximum Amount: 4

Official Description: An upgraded version of the Flashlight. Designed to help you in large areas when the lights go out.

The Strong Flashlight is... well... a stronger version of the Flashlight and should be with you more often than not. While lights may be on at a location, once a Ghost becomes active, it can get dark very quickly.

Thermometer

Price in Item Shop: $30
Maximum Amount: 3

Official Description: A thermometer will help you discover the location of a Ghost quicker by getting the temperature of the room.

While all Ghosts will make the temperature in a location drop, only certain Ghosts will cause it to drop to Freezing Temperatures of 0°C/32°F. These temperatures can be tracked by a Thermometer, and once it drops to freezing, you will have another piece of evidence to determine what type of Ghost is hunting you.

Tripod

Price in Item Shop: $25
Maximum Amount: 5

Official Description: A Tripod can be used to mount Video Cameras on.

Sometimes, it's better to put a Video Camera on a Tripod than to put it on the ground. This will give you better height and a different angle to try and capture some Ghost Orbs.

UV Flashlight

Price in Item Shop: $35
Maximum Amount: 2

Official Description: This UV Light can spot even the most subtle paranormal prints and is one of the most vital pieces of equipment for tracking Ghosts.

When certain Ghosts interact with items or spaces in a location, they will leave behind Fingerprints. By using the UV Flashlight or Glowstick, you will be able to see them just what type of Ghost you're looking for.

Video Camera

Price in Item Shop: $50

Official Description: This DSLR Camera has been fine tuned to take videos of the paranormal. The camera has a live feed to your base of operations.

When you place Video Cameras in a room or are using a Head Mounted Camera with the lights off, players who are viewing the video feeds in the truck with night vision on may see Ghost Orbs floating about.

You can place a Video Camera on the ground while its on, so you don't need to hold it at all times. You can left-click to rotate the Video Camera, right-click to turn it on, and then you can press F to place it on the ground. A green light means its recording, and a red light means it's off.

To view the video footage, go back to the Truck (or ask one of your team members to), and check the computer monitor near the back. Clicking on the keyboard will activate night vision and clicking the mouse will let you go through all available cameras placed.

Throughout each location you'll be able to find certain items that will help you and your teammates complete optional objectives for reward money.

Ouija Board

The Ouija Board is an item that can not be purchased, but one that may be found at a location. It allows players to communicate with the Ghost, while also draining their sanity.

When players click on it, it will start to glow and that means the Ghost is listening. You can ask it any of the questions included on our Voice Command guide, and if the Ghost recognizes it, there is a 67% chance they will respond. This will cause the planchette on the board to move and the Ghost will spell out their answer.

There is also a 33% chance it will just anger the Ghost, so be aware of that.

If the Ghost is a Demon, you will not lose any sanity, and the Ouija Board can be photographed for a cash reward.

Voodoo Doll

The Voodoo Doll is an item that cannot be purchased but can be found in Grafton Farmhouse, Bleasdale Farmhouse, Willow Street House and Maple Lodge Campsite.

You can find and photograph the Voodoo Doll to earn a small amount of reward money at the end of a successful investigation. If you find more than one Voodoo Doll, be sure to take a photo each time as you do earn money for each photo you take.

Bones

The Bone is an item you cannot purchase but can find on every map. During each investigation, a human bone will randomly spawn somewhere on the map. If you can find this bone, be sure to take a photo of it as doing completes an optional objective and earns you some additional reward money.