This Phasmophobia tier list ranks every major option by overall effectiveness. Rankings factor in damage output, survivability, versatility, gear requirements, and how well each option scales.
Tier definitions: S = best in class, always a strong pick. A = strong and competitive, minor weaknesses. B = solid but clearly outperformed in most situations. C = viable only for players who enjoy the playstyle.
Builds Rankings
| Tier | Build | Rating | Playstyle |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | Spirit | 7.5/10 | Standard investigation, use smudge sticks for extended safety windows. |
| A | Wraith | 8.5/10 | Place salt and check for lack of footprints to confirm Wraith. |
| A | Phantom | 8.5/10 | Photograph the ghost to temporarily banish it, avoid eye contact during hunts. |
| B | Poltergeist | 7.5/10 | Place items in ghost room, observe for multiple simultaneous throws. |
| S | Banshee | 9.5/10 | Figure out who the Banshee targets, keep that player safe, collect evidence from the safer players. |
Detailed Builds Analysis
Spirit (B-Tier)
The default ghost type. Smudge sticks prevent hunting for 180 seconds (double the normal 90). Has no special strengths. Spirit Box, Fingerprints, and Ghost Writing are its evidence. The easiest ghost to identify and counter.
Best with: Smudge sticks (extra effective), Spirit Box, UV Light Stat focus: Evidence gathering > smudge timing
Wraith (A-Tier)
Can teleport to random players regardless of distance. Doesn't leave UV footprints when stepping in salt. EMF 5, Spirit Box, and DOTS Projector evidence. Dangerous because it can appear anywhere without warning.
Best with: Salt (won't leave footprints — diagnostic), Spirit Box, DOTS Stat focus: Salt test > EMF monitoring > Spirit Box
Phantom (A-Tier)
Looking at the Phantom during a hunt drains sanity rapidly. Taking a photo makes it temporarily disappear (but hunt continues). Ghost Orbs, Fingerprints, and DOTS evidence. Less visible during hunts — flickers more.
Best with: Photo Camera (makes it disappear), avoid looking at it during hunts Stat focus: Photo evidence > Ghost Orb check > fingerprint scan
Poltergeist (B-Tier)
Can throw multiple objects simultaneously, creating loud, chaotic ghost events. During hunts, it throws objects at players for damage. Fingerprints, Ghost Writing, and Spirit Box evidence. Identify by the volume and frequency of thrown objects.
Best with: Items placed in ghost room (for throwing test), EMF Reader Stat focus: Object interaction monitoring > evidence gathering
Banshee (S-Tier)
Targets one specific player and hunts only that person until they die or leave. Non-targets are relatively safe during hunts. EMF 5, Fingerprints, and Ghost Orbs evidence. The Banshee's unique scream can be heard through the Parabolic Mic.
Best with: Parabolic Microphone (unique scream), Crucifix near target player Stat focus: Identify target player > protect that player > evidence
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Best With | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| EMF Reader | All investigations — primary detection tool | Detects ghost activity on a 1-5 scale. |
| Spirit Box | Voice-responsive ghost types (Spirit, Wraith, Poltergeist, etc.) | A radio device that responds to voice questions in the ghost room. |
| DOTS Projector | Wraith, Phantom, and other DOTS-evidence ghosts | Projects a grid of green dots on a wall. |
| Ghost Writing Book | Easy evidence confirmation in ghost room | Place in the ghost room and the ghost may write in it. |
| UV Light | All investigations — fingerprint evidence detection | Reveals fingerprints on doors, windows, and light switches the ghost has interacted with. |
Equipment Analysis
EMF Reader: Detects ghost activity on a 1-5 scale. EMF 5 is one of the 7 evidence types. Place it in the ghost room and check readings. Readings of 2-4 indicate ghost interaction without being evidence. Essential starting equipment.
Spirit Box: A radio device that responds to voice questions in the ghost room. Ask questions like 'Where are you?' or 'How old are you?' while alone in the room. Responses confirm Spirit Box evidence. Some ghosts only respond when you're alone.
DOTS Projector: Projects a grid of green dots on a wall. If the ghost passes through, its silhouette is visible in the dots. Place in the ghost room and monitor via camera or direct observation. One of the harder evidence types to spot.
Ghost Writing Book: Place in the ghost room and the ghost may write in it. Check periodically for markings. Ghost Writing is one of the easier evidence types to confirm — if the book has writing, it's confirmed. Some ghosts write quickly, others take time.
UV Light: Reveals fingerprints on doors, windows, and light switches the ghost has interacted with. Check these surfaces frequently. Fingerprints are one of the 7 evidence types. Also reveals footprints in salt (except Wraith).
Meta Analysis
The current meta in Phasmophobia centers on ghost identification and sanity management. Builds that leverage both systems outperform those that focus on only one.
What's strong right now:
- Spirit with EMF Reader is the benchmark. Everything else is measured against it.
- equipment usage builds are gaining ground as players find new synergies.
- Phantom remains essential for learning hard content.
What's underrated:
- Wraith is consistently overlooked despite being the most flexible option.
- DOTS Projector offers excellent performance for its investment level.
What's overhyped:
- Pure Banshee builds. High ceiling but the consistency isn't there for most players.
Quick Picks by Situation
| Situation | Best Build | Best Gear | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall best | Spirit | EMF Reader | Highest consistent performance |
| New player | Wraith | Spirit Box | Most forgiving, teaches mechanics |
| Hard content | Phantom | DOTS Projector | Survivability when you need it |
| Group play | Poltergeist | Ghost Writing Book | Utility and team support |
| Experienced player | Banshee | UV Light | Unique challenge and high ceiling |
For full build guides, see Phasmophobia builds. For progression help, check the walkthrough.
