Phasmophobia Monkey Paw: All Wishes, Locations & Side Effects

The Monkey Paw is one of the most unpredictable cursed possessions in Phasmophobia. Every wish it grants comes with a consequence, and some of those consequences can end your run faster than the ghost itself. Used correctly, though, it can force ghost events, revive dead teammates, and even lock the ghost in its favorite room. Here is everything you need to know about finding it and using it without getting yourself killed.

What is the Monkey Paw in Phasmophobia?

The Monkey Paw is one of seven cursed possessions that can spawn on any given map. Because there are seven total, you have a 1 in 7 chance of finding one on any contract, according to the Phasmophobia fandom wiki. The item only spawns when the difficulty is not set to Insanity, and it can only be used while you are inside the investigation area.

The number of wishes available changes based on difficulty:

0x to 1x difficulty: 5 wishes
1.01x to 2x difficulty: 4 wishes
2.01x or higher difficulty: 3 wishes

You can tell how many wishes remain by counting the non-bent fingers on the paw. Each wish you use bends one finger down. You cannot wish for the same thing twice in a single contract.

Monkey Paw wish counter

How do you use the Monkey Paw?

Pick up the Monkey Paw and hold it in your hand. If you are using voice chat, simply speak your wish aloud. If you prefer the text-based UI or are using a controller, press your Primary Use key to open a category menu, then select the wish you want. The game recognizes specific phrases, all of which are listed in the next section.

warning

Each wish triggers a side effect immediately. Some are manageable, but several can lock doors, start cursed hunts, or permanently impair your senses for the rest of the investigation. Plan before you wish.

All Monkey Paw wishes and their side effects

Below is a full breakdown of every wish, what it does, and what you pay for it. All information is sourced from the Phasmophobia fandom wiki as cited by wikiHow.

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"I wish to trap the ghost" is one of the safest wishes for gathering evidence. The ghost cannot hunt, move, or use abilities for a full minute, giving your team a clear window to work the room.

Knowledge wish removes wrong evidence

Which wishes are actually worth using?

Not every wish is equally useful, and a few are genuinely dangerous to use without a plan.

High value:

Trap the ghost gives your team a full 60-second window to investigate without fear of a hunt. The only cost is that your current room door locks for the same duration, so make sure you are not already in the ghost's favorite room when you use it.
Activity wish doubles ghost interactions for 2 minutes, which can help confirm evidence fast. The locked exit door is a real danger if a hunt starts, so place a crucifix first.
Knowledge wish removes a wrong evidence type from your journal, which is genuinely useful on higher difficulties where evidence slots are hidden. The cursed hunt it triggers is severe, though.

Situational:

Revive a friend has a coin-flip chance of killing the wisher. Only use it if the dead player is carrying equipment you desperately need.
Sanity wish resets everyone to 50%, but the 1.5x drain rate that follows can push your team back into dangerous sanity territory faster than expected. Use it early, not as a last resort.

Avoid unless desperate:

I wish to see the ghost forces a cursed hunt immediately after the ghost event. Your vision will be impaired for the entire hunt. This is a high-risk wish with limited investigative payoff.
I wish for knowledge is powerful on paper but the obscured vision and muffled hearing it inflicts last until you die or the contract ends. On harder difficulties, that is a serious handicap.

danger

You cannot make the same wish twice. Prioritize wishes that give your team investigative advantages before spending wishes on survival.

Where to find the Monkey Paw on every map

The Monkey Paw spawns in a fixed location on each map. Here are all confirmed spawn points, sourced from wikiHow's Phasmophobia guide (updated January 2026) and Prima Games.

Small maps

Tanglewood Drive: White cabinet near the kitchen
Willow Street: White cabinet in the hallway
Edgefield Road: Upstairs in the nursery, on the changing table
Ridgeview Court: Upstairs on a desk
Grafton Farmhouse: On a desk, gripping an axe
Bleasdale Farmhouse: On top of a brown chest in the bedroom

Outdoor and medium maps

Maple Lodge Campsite: On the dock in a green camping chair
Camp Woodwind: Underneath the wooden tent, above a red and white cooler

Large maps

High School: Past the entrance, sitting on a box
Prison: Near the metal detectors
Sunny Meadows: At the bottom of the cross in the chapel

Nell's Diner

Nell's Diner is one of the newer maps added to the game. According to Prima Games, the Monkey Paw here sits on a cutting board in the kitchen. Enter the diner, turn right toward the counter, lift one of the counter doors to get behind it, then head through the door into the kitchen. Turn left as you enter and look down at the counter to find the Monkey Paw next to a large knife.

For a full breakdown of every cursed possession location across maps, the complete guide to all Phasmophobia cursed possessions and their locations at Dot Esports covers each item in detail.

Nell's Diner kitchen spawn

What are all the cursed possessions in Phasmophobia?

The Monkey Paw is one of seven cursed possessions in the game. Each contract spawns exactly one of them in a standard run, though certain custom modes or weekly challenges can change this. The full list of cursed possessions includes the Monkey Paw, Tarot Cards, Voodoo Doll, Summoning Circle, Haunted Mirror, Music Box, and Ouija Board.

If you want to understand how each possession functions and where they appear, Game Rant's overview of all Phasmophobia cursed possessions and what they do is a solid reference alongside this guide.