Tarot cards within the horror game Phasmophobia serve as cursed possessions that introduce significant risk and reward dynamics to gameplay. Among these, the Wheel of Fortune card is a prominent example of the game’s gamble-based mechanics. Unlike traditional divination practices where the Wheel of Fortune represents cyclical change and fate, within the context of Phasmophobia, it functions as a direct modifier of the player's sanity levels. This article analyzes the specific mechanics, probabilities, and strategic considerations associated with the Wheel of Fortune card, drawing exclusively from the provided game documentation.
Mechanics of the Wheel of Fortune Card
The Wheel of Fortune is one of ten distinct tarot cards available in the Phasmophobia deck. As a cursed possession, interacting with the deck carries inherent risks. When a player draws the Wheel of Fortune, the outcome is binary and determined immediately upon the card's combustion.
Effect and Trigger Upon drawing the card, it initiates a sanity shift for the player who performed the draw. The specific effect—whether beneficial or detrimental—is signaled by the color of the flame produced as the card burns. * Green Flame: If the card burns green, the player gains 25% sanity. * Red Flame: If the card burns red, the player loses 25% sanity.
This mechanic places the Wheel of Fortune in a high-stakes category. A positive outcome can delay or prevent ghost hunts by restoring a substantial portion of sanity, while a negative outcome can rapidly accelerate the danger level, potentially dropping the player immediately into a vulnerable state.
Probability of Draw The likelihood of drawing the Wheel of Fortune from a shuffled deck is documented as 20%. This relatively high probability means that players encountering the tarot cards have a significant chance of triggering this specific sanity modifier, necessitating an understanding of its potential impact on the session's progression.
Strategic Implications for Gameplay
The binary nature of the Wheel of Fortune requires players to weigh the potential benefits against the risks before drawing.
Sanity Management Sanity is a critical resource in Phasmophobia, directly influencing the ghost's behavior and the likelihood of a hunt. The Wheel of Fortune offers a volatile method of managing this resource. * Risk Mitigation: Players with low sanity may be tempted to draw in hopes of the green outcome. However, the 20% chance of drawing the card combined with the unknown burn color creates a dangerous gamble. * Hunt Triggers: A red outcome (loss of 25% sanity) can be catastrophic if the team's average sanity is already low, as it may trigger a hunt immediately.
Comparative Value When comparing the Wheel of Fortune to other tarot cards in the deck, its utility is strictly limited to sanity fluctuation. Unlike "The Tower" (which forces ghost activity and events) or "The Hermit" (which traps the ghost), the Wheel of Fortune offers no direct control over the ghost's physical location or state, other than the indirect influence of sanity levels.
Table of Wheel of Fortune Attributes
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Card Name | The Wheel of Fortune |
| Draw Chance | 20% |
| Green Effect | Gain 25% Sanity |
| Red Effect | Lose 25% Sanity |
| Burn Color Indicator | Green for gain, Red for loss |
| Category | Cursed Possession / Sanity Modifier |
Risk Assessment and Player Experience
The documentation highlights that tarot cards are "cursed possessions" implying that the default expectation should be risk. The Wheel of Fortune exemplifies this by offering a 50/50 chance of improvement or degradation (assuming equal probability of green vs. red outcomes, though the specific ratio of green to red probabilities is not explicitly defined in the provided chunks, the mechanic is described as a binary gain or loss).
Players are advised that the card functions as a pure gamble. There is no skill-based interaction or method to influence the burn color. Therefore, the decision to draw rests entirely on the player's current tolerance for risk and their standing regarding the ghost's hunting threshold.
Conclusion
In the context of Phasmophobia, the Wheel of Fortune tarot card serves as a high-risk sanity modifier. With a 20% draw chance, it offers players the opportunity to either restore 25% of their sanity or lose the same amount, indicated by green or red combustion respectively. While it can serve as a lifeline for players with critically low sanity, the potential for a red outcome necessitates caution, as it can precipitate a ghost hunt. Understanding this mechanic allows players to make informed decisions when interacting with the game's cursed possessions.