Cursed Consequences: A Guide to Phasmophobia’s Monkey Paw Wishes

Introduction

The air crackles with tension. Sanity dwindles with each creaking floorboard and flickering light. The ghost, a malevolent entity of unknown origin, roams the halls, its presence a suffocating weight. Hope seems lost until you spot it – the Monkey Paw. This gnarled relic, imbued with dark magic, offers a tantalizing promise: the fulfillment of desires. But beware; within Phasmophobia, every wish has its price, a twisted consequence that can quickly turn a hopeful investigation into a terrifying ordeal. This cursed object is not to be trifled with. One wrong word, one carelessly chosen phrase, can unleash a torrent of paranormal activity, endangering your team and sealing your doom.

The Monkey Paw is more than just a spooky prop; it’s a high-risk, high-reward mechanic that can significantly impact the course of a Phasmophobia investigation. Knowing its powers and understanding the pitfalls of its magic is crucial for any aspiring ghost hunter. This article will explore each Monkey Paw wish, detail its potential benefits and detrimental consequences, and offer strategies for mitigating the risks involved in using this powerful, yet dangerous tool. Mastering the Monkey Paw is like walking a tightrope over an abyss; one wrong step, and you’ll fall into a darkness from which there is no return.

Unearthing the Artifact: Locating the Monkey Paw

Finding this dark relic is the first step to playing a dangerous game of chance. The Monkey Paw doesn’t reside in a fixed location; its appearance is randomized for each investigation, adding an element of unpredictability to its use. While its exact spot may vary, you can find the paw in the following locations:

• Bleasdale Farmhouse: Look for the Monkey Paw nestled among the old furniture in the living room or perhaps in the dusty attic.
• Edgefield Street House: Search within the cozy living room or the basement.
• Grafton Farmhouse: The kitchen counters or within the bedrooms are typical locations.
• Willow Street House: Check the coffee table or the shelves in the garage.
• Tanglewood Street House: The Monkey Paw is often found on the dining table or within the children’s bedroom.
• Camp Woodwind: Hidden amongst the campfire, picnic benches, or the tents, you’ll have to look closely.
• Maple Lodge Campsite: Check the picnic benches, campers, or fire pits.
• Prison: The cells, visitor’s area, and cafeteria are great places to check.
• Asylum: One of the bedrooms or the chapel.
• Brownstone High School: Keep a lookout in the library and classrooms.
• Sunny Meadows Mental Institution: Check the hallways or treatment rooms.

Remember, these are just general guidelines. The Monkey Paw could be hidden in any corner of these locations, so a thorough search is crucial before you attempt to invoke its powers.

Invoking the Curse: Using the Monkey Paw Correctly

Once you’ve located the Monkey Paw, you must speak your wish aloud to activate its magic. This is where things get tricky. The Phasmophobia’s voice recognition system demands clarity and precision. Background noise, mumbling, or incorrect phrasing can lead to unintended consequences or a failed wish.

To ensure your wish is properly recognized, follow these guidelines:

• Speak Clearly: Enunciate each word slowly and deliberately. Avoid slang or colloquialisms.
• Reduce Background Noise: Find a quiet spot away from other players or environmental sounds.
• Use the Exact Phrase: The Monkey Paw only recognizes specific phrases. Any deviation will result in a failed wish or, worse, a random curse.
• Listen for Confirmation: After you speak your wish, the game will display the text of what it thinks you said. If it’s incorrect, try again. You have limited attempts.

Once the wish has been confirmed and activated, the consequences, both good and bad, will unfold immediately. Be prepared for anything.

A Catalogue of Desires: Analyzing Each Monkey Paw Wish

Each wish offered by the Monkey Paw comes with its own set of possibilities, both empowering and perilous. Let’s delve into each wish, examining the intended benefit, the ensuing curse, and strategies for mitigating the risks.

Seeking Shelter: I Wish to Be Safe

Intended Benefit: This wish promises a temporary reprieve from the ghost’s attacks. It aims to provide a brief period of invulnerability, allowing you to gather your thoughts, replenish your sanity, or complete objectives without the constant threat of being hunted.

The Curse/Consequence: The team is indeed made safe, but all exits are barricaded shut for a period of time. Once the safety is lifted, a hunt will begin.

Strategies for Mitigation/Handling the Curse: Make sure to identify the ghost room before activating this wish so that once the hunt begins, you can get far away. It may also be worth setting up equipment so that you can gain more evidence.

A Thirst for Understanding: I Wish for Knowledge

Intended Benefit: This wish seems to offer a shortcut to uncovering the ghost’s identity. It implies that the Paw will provide crucial clues and evidence, speeding up the investigation and eliminating the need for tedious experimentation.

The Curse/Consequence: All evidence is immediately shown, but the ghost’s speed will increase for the rest of the game.

Strategies for Mitigation/Handling the Curse: Use this wish when you are close to identifying the ghost, but don’t know exactly what kind it is. Make sure that you and your team stick together once you are safe.

Trapping the Unseen: I Wish to Trap the Ghost

Intended Benefit: This wish conjures the image of confining the ghost, restricting its movement, and preventing it from hunting. A trapped ghost would allow for easier observation and evidence gathering, reducing the overall danger of the investigation.

The Curse/Consequence: The ghost is indeed trapped, but the building’s front door opens and will not lock again.

Strategies for Mitigation/Handling the Curse: Only use this wish when you know that you will be able to find out what ghost you are hunting as quickly as possible. With no way to lock the door, a hunt would likely be deadly for anyone who can’t hide or run away.

Restoring Clarity: I Wish to Be Sane

Intended Benefit: Sanity is a crucial resource in Phasmophobia. Lowered sanity increases the likelihood of ghost events and hunts. This wish promises to restore your mental fortitude, providing resistance to the ghost’s influence and making you a more effective investigator.

The Curse/Consequence: Restoring sanity comes at a cost. The building will flicker red and start a cursed hunt immediately. This hunt will last longer than normal.

Strategies for Mitigation/Handling the Curse: Prepare for a hunt before using the wish. Make sure that you and your team have set up places to hide. Once the hunt ends, you should have high sanity.

A Call to the Supernatural: I Wish for Activity

Intended Benefit: If you are having issues finding evidence, you can wish for activity. It will cause the ghost to show itself.

The Curse/Consequence: The wish will succeed and you will see more activity, but the ghost will also begin a hunt with increased speed.

Strategies for Mitigation/Handling the Curse: Use this wish to find more evidence quickly. You and your team should stay together so that nobody gets left behind during the hunt.

Tactical Considerations: Strategic Monkey Paw Usage

The Monkey Paw is not a toy; it’s a tool that demands careful planning and execution. Here are some tactical considerations to keep in mind when considering a wish:

Team Harmony: Communication is Key

Before making a wish, consult your team. Discuss the potential benefits and risks of each option. One player’s desire for safety might be another’s path to certain doom. Impulsive wishing can disrupt team dynamics and lead to disastrous consequences. A united front is crucial when dealing with the unpredictable nature of the Monkey Paw.

The Price of Power: Risk Assessment

When is it worth the risk? The Monkey Paw is best reserved for desperate situations or on higher difficulty levels where the challenges are already stacked against you. On lower difficulties, the risks might outweigh the potential rewards. Analyze your situation carefully before invoking its powers. Is the potential benefit worth the likely consequence? If you are already in a stable position, it’s often best to leave the Monkey Paw untouched.

Tailored to the Terrain: Map-Specific Strategies

Some wishes are more effective on certain map types. For example, “I wish to be safe” might be more useful on smaller maps where escape routes are limited. Conversely, on larger maps, the increased ghost speed from “I wish for Knowledge” might be less of a factor. Consider the map layout and the ghost’s tendencies when deciding on a wish.

The Final Curse: Dealing with the Sixth Wish

Be warned, there is a cost to using the Monkey Paw too much. Should your team have the audacity to make a sixth wish on the same map, the results will be deadly. This results in all players immediately dying, regardless of where they are on the map. Consider this a final warning from the entity that imbued the Monkey Paw to begin with; tamper too much and you will pay the ultimate price.

A Word of Caution: A Concluding Reminder

The Monkey Paw is a double-edged sword. It offers the potential for power, but it demands respect and understanding. By carefully considering the risks and benefits of each wish, communicating with your team, and adapting your strategy to the specific situation, you can harness the power of the Monkey Paw to overcome even the most challenging Phasmophobia investigations. Remember, every wish has a price. Are you willing to pay it? The choices you make when using this cursed artifact could mean the difference between a successful hunt and an agonizing demise. Use it wisely, use it cautiously, and be prepared for the consequences. The ghost is always watching, and the Monkey Paw is always listening.