Phasmophobia Investigation Order: Identify Fast

New Phasmophobia players often burn time hunting for the “best” evidence instead of the cheapest, and veteran players on Nightmare and Insanity freeze when the journal stops naming the ghost. This page gives a repeatable investigation order that works on every difficulty, built on the evidence types and the hunt threshold reference.

Step 1: find the ghost room

Sweep with a Thermometer and EMF Reader. A room dropping below freezing points to the ghost, and doors opening or objects flying reveal its position. On large maps a Parabolic Microphone picks up whispers and footsteps through walls. You do not identify the ghost until you know where it lives.

Step 2: pull the cheapest, safest evidence first

• Ghost Orbs and D.O.T.S need only a camera left on a tripod — zero risk, do these first.
• Freezing Temperatures needs only time in the room with a thermometer.
• Ultraviolet is a quick flashlight sweep of doors and switches.
• EMF 5 requires catching an interaction, so check several.
• Ghost Writing needs the book left in the room — set it and move on.
• Spirit Box needs lights off and a question — do it last, because it is the most behavior-revealing and the most disruptive.

Step 3: let the journal eliminate

Tick what you have. Two clues usually gray out most of the 30 ghosts; three usually names it. On Nightmare and Insanity, you will be left with a short candidate list instead of a name.

Step 4: break ties with behavior

When evidence is short, separate the remaining candidates by their tells: hunt threshold (Demon at 70%, Shade at 35%), unique abilities, and the liars covered on the Mimic, Obake, Deildegast page. A crucifix burn at an unusual sanity, or a Banshee ignoring the team average (see the Banshee page), is often the deciding clue.

Step 5: confirm before you leave

Do not guess. If the journal still shows two names, one behavior test is cheaper than a wrong conclusion and a lost contract. The sound evidence page covers the voice-based clues that close many of these gaps.