This Phasmophobia Ghost Identification Guide exists for the moments when Phasmophobia stops being polite. When your EMF refuses to beep and When the ghost ignores DOTS.
When the Spirit Box pretends it doesn’t work. Instead of guessing, this guide teaches you how to read the ghost itself — its movement, behavior, hunt patterns, and reactions — so you can still identify it even with little or no evidence.
Think of this as learning the ghost’s body language.
Phasmophobia Ghost Identification Guide 2026
Do not try to memorise everything.
No one does. Not even veterans.
Instead:
You observe.
You test.
You compare what you see to these behaviors.
Then the ghost gives itself away.
Speed changes, sanity thresholds, hunt patterns, sound behavior, roaming logic, door behavior, and special reactions are your real evidence.
Banshee
A Banshee is obsessed with a single player.
Everything it does revolves around that person.
If one teammate keeps getting hunted while others are ignored, that’s your first red flag.
Banshee hunts are based only on the target’s sanity — not the team average — which means hunts can start while everyone else still feels safe.
Listen with a Parabolic Microphone.
If you ever hear a strange scream that does not sound like normal ghost audio, that is a Banshee revealing itself.
It also performs singing ghost events far more often than normal and loves to drift silently toward its chosen target without leaving EMF.
Dayan
This ghost reacts to how you move.
If players are walking or running near it, it becomes faster and hunts earlier.
If everyone freezes and stands still, it slows down dramatically.
You will literally feel the ghost lose momentum when you stop moving — something no other ghost does.
If you see the ghost slow down when you stand still, you are dealing with a Dayan.
Deogen
If hiding does absolutely nothing, this is your ghost.
A Deogen always knows where you are. Lockers, closets, furniture — none of it matters.
It will rush toward you at insane speed and then slow to a crawl when it reaches you, almost as if it’s stalking you rather than trying to kill you.
If the Spirit Box ever produces heavy breathing instead of words, that seals it.
When hiding fails but looping works, the ghost is Deogen.
Demon
If hunts start while your sanity is still high, you are likely dealing with a Demon.
Crucifixes feel weaker.
Smudge sticks feel shorter.
And hunts feel unfairly frequent.
That’s because Demon cooldowns are shorter and incense protection ends sooner.
If the ghost feels “too aggressive for your sanity,” trust your instinct.
Gallu
This ghost has moods.
Some hunts it feels slightly faster, hunts earlier, and seems more resistant to crucifixes.
Other times it becomes slow, hunts later, and interacts with salt heavily.
If salt suddenly stops working after the ghost stepped in it earlier — you have triggered its enraged state.
Gallu is the only ghost that clearly changes personality mid-investigation.
Goryo
If DOTS only appears on camera and never to your eyes, you are facing a Goryo.
It refuses to leave its room much.
It refuses to show DOTS unless you’re not physically there.
It behaves quiet, stubborn, and territorial.
DOTS camera-only behavior is the giveaway.
Hantu
A Hantu becomes terrifying in cold rooms and slow in warm ones.
If breaker is off and breath is visible during hunts, you already have your answer.
No other ghost reveals freezing breath while hunting.
Jinn
This ghost loves electricity.
If breaker stays on unnaturally long and hunts feel faster when it sees you in powered rooms, that is Jinn behavior.
It also drains sanity aggressively when interacting near the breaker.
Mare
Lights are the key.
If the ghost hunts early in darkness but becomes shy in bright rooms — that is a Mare.
It also turns lights off aggressively and almost never turns them on.
Mimic
If you see ghost orbs but everything else feels wrong — never rule out Mimic.
It copies other ghosts constantly.
Orbs always exist for Mimic even when not listed as evidence.
If nothing makes sense but orbs are present, suspect Mimic.
Moroi – The Cursed One
If someone suddenly loses sanity faster than normal after talking to the ghost, they are cursed.
Moroi becomes insanely fast when sanity drops.
If incense barely delays it, Moroi is your ghost.
Myling – The Silent Killer
If footsteps vanish at short distance during hunts, that silence is intentional.
A Myling hides its sound to get close.
If the hunt suddenly feels unnervingly quiet, you are not imagining it.
Obake – The Shapeshifter
Watch the ghost blink.
If it briefly changes shape mid-hunt or leaves strange fingerprints, Obake has revealed itself.
Obambo – The Timer Ghost
Sometimes it hunts extremely late.
Sometimes ridiculously early.
That is because it cycles between calm and aggressive states every two minutes.
If the hunt thresholds feel random but rhythmic, you’ve found your ghost.
Oni – The Manifestation
If the ghost appears fully and frequently during events and drains sanity heavily, that is an Oni.
They are loud, bold, and visible.
Onryo – The Candle Killer
Candles delay it — until they don’t.
If blowing out candles starts triggering hunts, Onryo is preparing to kill.
After deaths, candles almost guarantee hunts.
Phantom – The Vanisher
If photos make the ghost disappear instantly, you are facing a Phantom.
They also drain sanity just by being near.
Poltergeist – The Thrower
If objects explode across the room violently and repeatedly, Poltergeist is active.
The room will look like a tornado hit it.
Raichu – The Electronic Predator
If electronics trigger hunts early and make the ghost faster, Raichu is nearby.
Turn equipment off and watch it slow.
Revenant – The Sprinter
Slow when calm.
Unstoppable when it sees you.
Revenant’s speed change is dramatic and unmistakable.
Shade – The Shy One
If the ghost refuses to interact while you are in the room, and hunts very late, you are dealing with a Shade.
They hate being watched.
Spirit – The Smudge Tester
If incense locks the ghost down for a long time, Spirit is the answer.
Thaye – The Aging Ghost
Starts terrifying.
Becomes harmless over time.
If the ghost gets noticeably slower and less aggressive as the game continues, it is literally aging.
Twins – The Double Interaction Ghost
If interactions happen in two separate locations almost back-to-back, the Twins are active.
Wraith – The Floater
If salt never gets stepped in, and random EMF appears near players, Wraith is watching.
Yokai – The Voice Hunter
Talking near it triggers hunts early.
During hunts it struggles to hear you unless you are very close.
Yurei – The Door Slammer
If a door slams shut without shaking and your sanity suddenly drops — that was a Yurei.
They also can touch the front door outside hunts, which no other ghost can do.