How Sidekick AI thinks about cursed possessions
Cursed possessions are the highest-variance mechanic in Phasmophobia. Used right, they're the biggest single bonus on a contract. Used wrong, they wipe your team. The decision tree below is how Sidekick AI coaches the call in real time.
Music Box on the kitchen counter — that's the safest cursed possession in the game and the bonus is paid out for using it without dying. Walk over, wind it, and listen for the ghost lullaby to confirm the ghost room.
The seven possessions, ranked by risk
| Possession | What it does | Risk | When to use | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Music Box | Lures the ghost while playing — sings if it's the right room | Low | Always — confirm ghost room | | Tarot Cards | Each draw triggers a random effect | Low–medium | Use 1–2 cards when stuck | | Voodoo Doll | Pin pricks attract the ghost / lower sanity | Medium | Force ghost interactions for evidence | | Haunted Mirror | Shows the ghost room when looked into; drains sanity | Medium | Quickly confirm ghost room from a safe distance | | Ouija Board | Asks the ghost questions; consumes sanity | Medium–high | When stuck on evidence and sanity > 50% | | Summoning Circle | Forces the ghost to spawn at the circle | High | Only if you have a smudge ready and an exit | | Monkey Paw | Grants a wish with a curse | Very high | Last-resort only, with a planned hiding spot |
The "should I use it" decision
You're at 55% sanity, two evidence locked, no clear third. Music Box is in the basement. Walk down, light the smudge in your pocket as insurance, wind the box, and walk out. That's a +€80 bonus and you're back upstairs in 90 seconds.
Use it if any of these are true:
- The contract bonus for "use a cursed possession" is significant relative to the run's payout.
- You're stuck on the third evidence and sanity is dropping past 50%.
- You have a teammate carrying a smudge and a crucifix as backup.
Skip it if:
- It's the first 90 seconds of the contract — you don't have evidence locked yet.
- The possession is the Monkey Paw or Summoning Circle and you're solo.
- Your sanity is already below 30% — the hunt risk compounds badly.
The Ouija Board — the most underused
Ouija Boards lose contracts because players ask too many questions. The right way to play it:
- Approach in the ghost room with at least 60% sanity.
- Ask "where are you?" — confirms the room.
- Ask "what is your age?" — narrows ghost candidates significantly.
- Walk away. Don't ask the third question unless sanity is still above 45%.
You asked two questions and the room is confirmed. Don't push the third — sanity drop here puts you in hunt range and you don't have a smudge cooldown ready.
The Monkey Paw is a contract-killer if you misread it
The Monkey Paw is the highest-payout, highest-risk cursed possession. Most experienced players never use it solo because the wishes that benefit you (location reveal, evidence confirmation) also trigger immediate hunts. With a teammate, it's a powerful tool — one player wishes, the other holds the smudge.
What Sidekick AI changes about cursed-possession runs
Cursed possessions punish bad recognition. If you don't know which possession is on the table before you touch it, you get killed by the wrong one. Vision AI identifies the possession model on screen and tells you out loud — so the moment you walk into a room with a Monkey Paw on the desk, you know to step around it instead of grabbing it on reflex.
Summary
Cursed possessions are the difference between a good Phasmophobia run and a great one — but they're also the fastest way to wipe a contract that was already paid. The discipline is knowing which possession you're holding, what your sanity is, and whether you have a smudge in reserve. Sidekick AI rides shotgun on all three.