Phasmophobia Tarot Cards: Complete Guide to All Effects and Meanings
Phasmophobia Tarot Cards are a cursed possession that can dramatically change your ghost investigation. This guide covers all 10 card types, their effects, draw chances, and strategies to use them effectively while avoiding deadly mistakes.
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If you've ever pulled a card from the Tarot deck in Phasmophobia and watched your sanity plummet—or worse, triggered an immediate cursed hunt—you know how powerful and unpredictable this cursed possession can be. Phasmophobia Tarot Cards are one of the most exciting and dangerous tools available to ghost hunters. Each deck contains 10 randomly generated cards, and each card can either help you complete your investigation or put you in grave danger. Understanding every card's effect, draw chance, and strategic use is essential for any serious player. This guide explains everything you need to know about Phasmophobia Tarot Cards, from how to find them to how to use them wisely.
What Are Phasmophobia Tarot Cards?
Phasmophobia Tarot Cards are one of seven cursed possessions in the game. Unlike standard tools like the EMF Reader or Spirit Box, cursed possessions come with high risk and high reward. The Tarot Cards appear as a small deck of cards that players can pick up and draw from. Each deck contains exactly 10 cards, randomly selected from 10 possible card types. The random nature means you might draw multiple copies of the same card in one deck, or you might never see certain rare cards at all.
When you draw a card, it triggers a specific effect. Some effects are helpful, like restoring your sanity or teleporting the ghost back to its room. Others are dangerous, like starting a cursed hunt or instantly killing the player. The card burns up after use, displaying a colored flame that indicates which card was drawn. Once all 10 cards are used, the deck disappears, and all future hunts in that contract last 20 seconds longer. This makes the Tarot Cards a double-edged sword: they can give you crucial advantages, but they also carry permanent consequences.
The Tarot Cards are a favorite among experienced players because they add an element of luck and strategy to every investigation. Whether you're trying to locate the ghost room quickly or need a last-minute resurrection for a fallen teammate, understanding the full potential of each card is key to mastering this cursed possession.
How to Find and Use Tarot Cards in Phasmophobia
Finding Phasmophobia Tarot Cards requires a bit of luck and a good eye. At the start of each contract (except on Insanity difficulty), the game randomly selects one cursed possession to spawn on the map. There is a 1 in 7 chance that the Tarot Cards will be chosen. They can appear on any map, from small houses like Tanglewood Street Drive to large locations like the Sunny Meadows Mental Institution.
Tarot Cards look like a small rectangular deck with a swirling black-and-white pattern on the front. They are usually found on the floor, on tables, or on other flat surfaces. Once you spot the deck, walk up to it and press the interact button (E on PC) to pick it up. You can then draw a card by right-clicking or pressing the secondary interact button. Each draw consumes one card from the 10-card deck.
Important usage rules to remember:
- Draw only inside the investigation area. Tarot Cards cannot be drawn outside the building. If you try, nothing will happen.
- Do not draw during a hunt. All cards drawn during an active hunt will automatically turn into The Fool, which has no effect. You waste a card and gain nothing.
- Take a photo before using the deck. Once all 10 cards are drawn, the deck disappears. If you need a photo for your investigation objectives, snap it before drawing.
- Cards can be drawn in any order. You can stop after any number of draws and come back later, as long as cards remain in the deck.
Understanding these mechanics helps you avoid common mistakes and get the most out of every deck you find.
Complete List of Phasmophobia Tarot Cards and Their Effects
There are 10 distinct card types in Phasmophobia Tarot Cards. Each has a unique effect, a specific draw chance, and a characteristic burn color. Below is the complete breakdown of every card you can pull.
The Tower (20% Draw Chance)
Effect: Doubles all ghost activity for 20 seconds. The ghost will interact with objects, doors, and electronics more frequently. This can help you gather evidence or locate the ghost room if you're uncertain.
Burn Color: Blue
Strategy: Use The Tower when you need more activity to identify the ghost type or complete objectives. Pair it with a D.O.T.S. Projector for best results.
The Wheel of Fortune (20% Draw Chance)
Effect: Either restores 25% sanity (green burn) or removes 25% sanity (red burn). The outcome is random.
Burn Color: Green (sanity gain) or Red (sanity loss)
Strategy: This card is a gamble. If you're already low on sanity, drawing it could push you into dangerous territory. Use it when you have sanity pills as backup.
The Fool (17% Draw Chance, 100% During Hunts)
Effect: Appears as another random card before turning into The Fool. No actual effect occurs.
Burn Color: Light Purple
Strategy: The Fool is essentially a wasted draw. It's most common during hunts, so avoid drawing then. Outside of hunts, it's a minor nuisance.
The Devil (10% Draw Chance)
Effect: Triggers a ghost event targeting the nearest player. Ghost events are scares that don't kill you but can reveal the ghost's appearance.
Burn Color: Pink
Strategy: Use The Devil to force a ghost event for photo opportunities or to confirm the ghost model. Be ready for a sudden scare.
Death (10% Draw Chance)
Effect: Initiates a cursed hunt. This hunt ignores normal cooldowns and sanity thresholds, so it can happen at any time.
Burn Color: Purple
Strategy: This is one of the most dangerous cards. Always have a hiding spot in mind before drawing. Smudge sticks and crucifixes can help you survive.
The Hermit (10% Draw Chance)
Effect: Teleports the ghost back to its ghost room and traps it there for 1 minute. The ghost cannot leave during this time.
Burn Color: Cyan
Strategy: Excellent for locating the ghost room on large maps. Use it to buy time for setting up equipment or to escape a dangerous situation.
The Sun (5% Draw Chance)
Effect: Sets the player's sanity to 100%.
Burn Color: Yellow
Strategy: A fantastic card that fully restores your sanity. Use it when your sanity is critically low to avoid being hunted.
The Moon (5% Draw Chance)
Effect: Sets the player's sanity to 0%.
Burn Color: White
Strategy: The opposite of The Sun. This card is very dangerous because low sanity makes you the ghost's primary target. Immediately take sanity pills or return to the van.
The High Priestess (2% Draw Chance)
Effect: Revives a randomly chosen dead player at their corpse. If no one is dead, it will revive the next player who dies. Multiple cards do not stack.
Burn Color: Light Yellow
Strategy: Extremely rare but potentially game-saving. If a teammate has died, drawing this card can bring them back. It's worth the risk in desperate situations.
The Hanged Man (1% Draw Chance)
Effect: Instantly kills the player who drew the card. There is no warning and no way to avoid death unless the Friendly Ghost custom difficulty is enabled (in which case it becomes The Fool).
Burn Color: N/A (player dies immediately)
Strategy: The rarest and deadliest card. Drawing The Hanged Man means instant death. Only draw cards if you're prepared for this outcome. If you're playing with friends, they can try to revive you with The High Priestess, but the odds are very low.
Strategic Tips for Using Tarot Cards Effectively
Using Phasmophobia Tarot Cards effectively requires a balance of risk and reward. Here are practical strategies to maximize benefits and minimize dangers.
- Draw early in the investigation. If you find the Tarot Cards early, you have more time to recover from negative effects. A cursed hunt at the start is easier to survive than one after you've already taken damage.
- Use The Hermit to find the ghost room. On large maps, The Hermit is invaluable. It teleports the ghost back to its room and traps it there, giving you a clear location to investigate.
- Save The Sun for emergencies. If your sanity is low and you're being hunted, The Sun can save your life by restoring full sanity. Don't waste it early.
- Prepare for Death. Before drawing any card, identify a hiding spot. If you pull Death, you'll need to hide immediately. Smudge sticks and crucifixes can also help.
- Coordinate with your team. If you're playing multiplayer, let your team know before you draw. They can prepare for a possible hunt or ghost event. If someone dies, another player can try to draw The High Priestess.
- Use The Devil for photos. Ghost events triggered by The Devil are excellent opportunities for ghost photos, which count toward your objectives.
These tips can turn a risky deck into a powerful asset. Always remember that the Tarot Cards are unpredictable, so never rely on them as your primary strategy.
Common Mistakes to Avoid with Phasmophobia Tarot Cards
Even experienced players can make mistakes with Phasmophobia Tarot Cards. Avoid these common pitfalls to keep your investigation on track.
- Drawing during a hunt. This is the most common mistake. All cards drawn during a hunt become The Fool, which does nothing. You waste a card and gain no benefit. Always wait until the hunt ends.
- Using cards outside the investigation area. Tarot Cards only work inside the building. Drawing them outside does nothing, and you lose a card. Stay inside when you draw.
- Forgetting to take a photo. The Tarot Cards deck counts as a cursed possession for photo objectives. If you use all 10 cards, the deck disappears and you miss your chance. Take a photo before drawing.
- Drawing all 10 cards unnecessarily. Once all cards are used, future hunts last 20 seconds longer. If you don't need the cards, leave some in the deck to avoid this penalty.
- Ignoring the burn color. The burn color tells you which card was drawn. Pay attention so you know what effect just happened. For example, a red burn from The Wheel of Fortune means you lost sanity.
- Drawing without a plan. Always have an escape route or hiding spot before you draw. The Death card can appear at any time, and being unprepared means certain death.
Avoiding these mistakes will make you a more effective ghost hunter and help you survive longer.
How Tarot Cards Compare to Other Cursed Possessions
Phasmophobia Tarot Cards are one of seven cursed possessions, each with unique mechanics. Understanding how they compare helps you choose the right tool for your strategy.
Ouija Board: The Ouija Board allows you to ask questions about the ghost, such as its age or location. It's predictable and safe if used correctly, but it drains sanity with each question. Tarot Cards are more random but can have more dramatic effects.
Voodoo Doll: The Voodoo Doll lets you force ghost interactions by sticking pins into it. Each pin push drains sanity and triggers an interaction. It's more controllable than Tarot Cards but lacks the high-risk, high-reward potential.
Haunted Mirror: The Haunted Mirror shows the ghost room when you look into it, but it drains sanity rapidly. It's useful for locating the ghost but dangerous if used too long. Tarot Cards offer more variety in effects.
Summoning Circle: The Summoning Circle summons the ghost to a specific location when lit. It's great for photo opportunities but triggers a cursed hunt after a short time. Tarot Cards are less predictable but don't force a hunt every time.
Music Box: The Music Box plays a melody that attracts the ghost and forces it to walk toward the box. It's useful for luring the ghost but can start a hunt if the box is dropped. Tarot Cards are more versatile but also more random.
Monkey Paw: The Monkey Paw grants wishes with severe consequences. Each wish has a specific effect and a downside. Tarot Cards are simpler but equally dangerous.
Tarot Cards stand out because of their complete randomness. No other cursed possession offers such a wide range of possible outcomes, from instant death to full sanity restoration. This makes them exciting but also the most unpredictable tool in your arsenal.
Frequently Asked Questions About Phasmophobia Tarot Cards
Can Tarot Cards be reused?
No. Each deck contains exactly 10 cards. Once all cards are drawn, the deck disappears and cannot be used again.
Can The Hanged Man be avoided?
No, unless you have the Friendly Ghost custom difficulty option enabled. In that case, The Hanged Man becomes The Fool and does nothing.
Does crossplay affect how Tarot Cards work?
No. Phasmophobia supports crossplay between PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Tarot Cards work the same way on all platforms. The mechanics are identical regardless of which system you play on.
Can you draw Tarot Cards in VR?
Yes. VR players can pick up and draw Tarot Cards using the interact button. The effects are the same as in non-VR mode.
Do Tarot Cards work on all maps?
Yes. Tarot Cards can spawn on any map, from small houses to large institutions. The spawn location varies by map.
What happens if you draw The High Priestess when no one is dead?
The card will revive the next player who dies. It does not stack, so drawing multiple copies will not give multiple revives.
Can you take a photo of the Tarot Cards after using them?
No. Once all cards are used, the deck disappears. Take your photo before drawing any cards.
Are Tarot Cards worth the risk?
Yes, if used strategically. The potential benefits—like full sanity restoration or resurrection—can turn a losing investigation into a win. However, the risks are real, so always prepare for the worst.
Further exploration of Phasmophobia's cursed possessions will reveal even deeper strategies. Whether you're a beginner or a veteran ghost hunter, mastering the Tarot Cards adds a thrilling layer of unpredictability to every investigation. Use them wisely, and they may just save your life.
For entertainment purposes only. The content on this page is based on interpretive traditions and should not be considered professional advice. Outcomes are not guaranteed. Always consult a qualified professional for medical, legal, or financial matters.