Ghost hunts are the most dangerous and deadly part of Phasmophobia. And while you can usually avoid them at the beginning of a contract, some early hunters may decide to go after you right away.
Knowing which ghosts to watch out for from the start is crucial if you’re hoping to make it out of a contract alive and with the correct ghost type identified. Here’s a breakdown of which ghosts are early hunters in Phasmophobia and everything you need to know about them in case they choose to come after you.
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Which ghosts hunt early in Phasmophobia?
Ghosts that are early hunters in Phasmophobia include the Demon, the Yokai, the Raiju, the Banshee, the Onryo, the Thaye, the Mare, and The Mimic. None of these ghosts are guaranteed to hunt you early, but they all have special conditions and modifiers that affect whether or not they act as an early hunter. This means that any of them can hunt you very early under the right circumstances.
| Ghost | Sanity threshold | Explanation | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demon | Usually 70 percent, sometimes any percent. | This ghost has the unique ability to hunt at any sanity level if chooses to use this skill. Even if it doesn’t, the Demon can still hunt starting at 70 percent sanity, so this is overall the most dangerous early hunter ghost. | Ultraviolet Ghost Writing Freezing Temps |
| Yokai | Usually 50 percent, sometimes 80 percent. | The Yokai’s regular sanity hunt threshold is at 50 percent, but if at least one player talks and uses voice chat within range of this ghost, this threshold raises all the way to 80 percent, which makes it the earliest hunter of all in this instance. Because of this, the Yokai technically has the highest sanity threshold for an early hunt if someone is talking by it, which makes it highly dangerous. | Spirit Box DOTS Projector Ghost Orbs |
| Raiju | Usually 50 percent, sometimes 60 percent. | In normal situations, the Raiju has a sanity hunt threshold of 50 percent. But if at least one piece of active electronic equipment is near them, this number increases to 65 percent, making it a fairly early hunter. | EMF Level Five Ghost Orbs DOTS Projector |
| Banshee | Usually 50 percent, but can deceptively appear to hunt as early as 87 percent. | The Banshee technically always hunts at only 50 percent or lower sanity. But since this ghost picks one specific target at the start of the match, their ability to hunt is based on the sanity of that one person. This means only their sanity rather than the sanity of the entire group is taken into account. Because of this, the Banshee may hunt when the average sanity in the truck reads 87 percent if the target’s sanity is 50 percent or lower. This can only happen in multiplayer mode. | Ultraviolet DOTS Projector Ghost Orbs |
| Onryo | Usually 60 percent, but can hunt as soon as a third flame is extinguished. | The Onyro has a sanity hunt threshold of 60 percent. If you’ve been messing around with flames a lot, it may hunt even sooner as every third flame that’s blown out will cause it to initiate a hunt if there are no other flames nearby. | Spirit Box Ghost Orbs Freezing Temps |
| Thaye | Starts at 75 percent, but decreases over time. | Thaye are aging ghosts whose hunting sanity threshold changes over time as they do. When you first enter a location, the Thaye has a very high threshold of 75 percent, making it highly dangerous. But this threshold rapidly decreases by six percent every one to two minutes as the Thaye ages. This ghost only ages if at least one player is near it. When the Thaye reaches age 10, its threshold is only 15 percent, so it transitions from being a very early hunter to one of the very latest hunters over time. | Ghost Orbs DOTS Projector Ghost Writing |
| Mare | Usually 40 percent, sometimes 60 percent. | This ghost thrives in darkness, so if the lights are off in the Mare’s current room, its sanity threshold is raised to 60 percent. Otherwise, it hunts at 40 percent. | Ghost Writing Spirit Box Ghost Orbs |
| The Mimic | Varies depending on which ghost it’s copying. | The notoriously tricky Mimic can really throw you off if you forget about it since The Mimic follows the hunting sanity threshold rules for whichever ghost it is actively copying. This means it may act exactly like any of the previously listed early hunters or another ghost entirely. | Ultraviolet Spirit Box Freezing Temps Fake Ghost Orbs |
What is the sanity hunt threshold in Phasmophobia?
The baseline sanity hunt threshold for ghosts in Phasmophobia is 50 percent. The vast majority of ghosts stick to this rule and won’t hunt until the average sanity reaches this point, but there are also a couple of early and late hunters who can break the rules at any time.
Which ghost hunts the earliest in Phasmophobia?
With no other modifiers in play, the ghost that hunts earliest is a Demon or The Mimic copying a Demon. The easiest way to figure out which one it is is by checking for Ghost Orbs since The Mimic presents them as fake evidence. You can also watch what the ghost does to see if it changes between different behaviors frequently, which is indicative of The Mimic.
If you’ve done anything more than walk through the door, the early hunter could be a different ghost. A Thaye is the next most likely but quickly becomes less likely over time. It’s best to refer back to the specific modifiers if you don’t think the ghost is a Demon or The Mimic since many factors can affect which ghost decides to hunt you early on.
Early hunters can completely ruin your contract, so be sure to place down Crucifixes early on to deter them. If a Crucifix is used to stop a hunt very early on, you’ll know that the ghost has to be one of the early hunters, eliminating a solid number of ghosts. There are lots of great tips and tricks for Phasmophobia sure to help you become a better ghost hunter, but knowing who the early hunters are means you’re already on the right track.
Others Asked
Can using Tarot Cards in Phasmophobia affect my sanity levels?
Yes, some specific Tarot Cards, such as The Wheel of Fortune, The Moon, and The Sun, have effects that can alter your active sanity levels.
What is the method for identifying ghosts in Phasmophobia?
To identify ghosts in Phasmophobia, players use various tools to uncover evidence fitting the ghost's characteristics. Specifically, each ghost can be identified using three types of evidence out of seven total options: DOTS Projector, EMF Five, Fingerprints (Ultraviolet), Freezing Temperatures, Ghost Orb, Ghost Writing, and Spirit Box.
What happens when a ghost begins a hunt in Phasmophobia?
When a hunt begins, the ghost materializes, blinks in and out of existence, actively chases players, and locks all exit doors until the hunt ends. Players will hear their heartbeat loudly if the ghost is within 10 meters, and all equipment and lights will flash and malfunction.
Published: Feb 14, 2025 2:31 PM UTC