Ghost Hunts are the most dangerous part of every investigation in Demonology. While collecting evidence helps you identify the ghost, surviving a hunt often gives you even more clues about what you’re dealing with. During a hunt, each ghost can behave differently, making this mechanic one of the best ways to narrow down the ghost type.
If you’re new to Demonology or want to learn how to intentionally trigger hunts, this guide explains everything you need to know, including how hunts work, what causes them, and the best methods to start one safely.
What Is a Ghost Hunt in Demonology?
A Ghost Hunt is a phase where the ghost stops interacting with the environment and begins actively searching for players to eliminate. Once the hunt starts, several things happen immediately:
- The building’s main entrance locks.
- Lights begin flickering throughout the map.
- Flashlights and electronic equipment become unreliable.
- Voice and radio communication stop working in multiplayer.
- The ghost starts roaming the building looking for nearby players.
If the ghost sees you during this time, escaping can be extremely difficult unless you already have a safe hiding spot prepared.
Although hunts are dangerous, they’re also one of the best ways to identify a ghost. Many ghost types have unique hunting behaviors that don’t appear during normal investigations. Some ghosts move much faster than others, while some become more aggressive under certain conditions. Paying attention to these behaviors can help you determine the ghost even when evidence is limited. Experienced players often trigger hunts on purpose to gather this extra information.
How Ghost Hunts Start Naturally
Normally, a ghost hunt begins when your team’s average Energy drops to around 50% or lower. As your energy decreases, the ghost becomes more aggressive and eventually gains the ability to start hunting at any moment. Several things reduce your Energy over time, including:
- Staying inside the building for long periods.
- Walking through dark rooms.
- Remaining close to the ghost room.
- Experiencing ghost events.
- Playing on higher difficulties.
On Nightmare difficulty, investigations become even harder because the ghost room can change locations during the match.
How to Force a Ghost Hunt
If you don’t want to wait for your Energy to decrease naturally, you can use cursed objects to trigger what’s known as a Cursed Hunt. These special items are hidden somewhere around the investigation area. Below are all currently known methods.
Umbra Board
The Umbra Board is one of the easiest and safest ways to force a hunt. Simply interact with the board and choose the question: “Where is your room?”
After a short countdown, the board breaks and immediately starts a Ghost Hunt. Because the hunt begins almost instantly, make sure you’ve already chosen a hiding place before using the board.
For many players, this is the most reliable method for intentionally triggering hunts.
Summoning Circle
The Summoning Circle guarantees a Ghost Hunt, but it comes with a heavy penalty. To activate it, you’ll need a lighter. Once you have one, light all five candles surrounding the circle. Each candle consumes roughly 10% of your team’s Energy, meaning you’ll lose around half your Energy before the ghost even appears.
After the final candle is lit, the hunt begins immediately. This method is excellent if you’re prepared, but it’s much riskier than using the Umbra Board.
Music Box
The Music Box serves two different purposes during an investigation. When activated, you can carry it around the map while listening for the ghost. As you approach the ghost room, the ghost will begin humming along with the music, helping you locate its position.
However, using the Music Box for too long drains your Energy rapidly. Once your Energy reaches zero, the music reverses and immediately triggers a Cursed Hunt. Because of this, it’s recommended to already know your escape route before using the Music Box.
Fortune Teller
The Fortune Teller works differently from the other cursed objects. Each time you interact with it, it randomly reveals a fortune. One possible message reads:
“They Come For You Now.”
Receiving this fortune causes a Ghost Hunt to begin shortly afterward. Since the result is completely random, this isn’t a dependable method if you’re specifically trying to force a hunt.
Which Method Is the Best?
For most players, the Umbra Board is the easiest and safest choice.
It doesn’t require your Energy to be low, it’s simple to activate, and you can prepare before starting the hunt.
The Summoning Circle offers a guaranteed hunt as well, but the large Energy cost makes it much more dangerous.
Meanwhile, the Music Box is useful if you’re still searching for the ghost room, and the Fortune Teller is better viewed as a random bonus rather than a consistent strategy.
Tips for Surviving Ghost Hunts
Before intentionally starting a hunt, it’s a good idea to prepare yourself.
Here are a few tips that can improve your chances of surviving:
- Locate a hiding spot before triggering the hunt.
- Keep your flashlight usage to a minimum if necessary.
- Learn the map layout so you can escape quickly.
- Don’t stay near the ghost room longer than needed.
- Watch how the ghost behaves during the hunt to gather identification clues.
Ghost Hunts are one of the core mechanics that make Demonology so exciting. They transform a quiet investigation into a tense survival experience while also providing valuable information about the ghost you’re facing. Whether you’re waiting for a natural hunt or using cursed objects to trigger one yourself, understanding how hunts work will greatly improve your chances of identifying the ghost and making it out alive.