I’ve been playing Phasmophobia for years now, and let me tell you – nothing quite prepares you for your first Blood Moon weather encounter. When I first stumbled into a contract with that eerie red sky and creepy atmosphere, I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into. If you’re here because you’ve experienced the same confusion, don’t worry – I’m going to break down everything you need to know about this rare and challenging weather condition.
What Exactly is Blood Moon Weather?
Blood Moon weather is one of the rarest weather conditions you can encounter in Phasmophobia. Unlike regular weather types that just affect visibility or sound, Blood Moon fundamentally changes how the entire contract plays out. When you load into a Blood Moon contract, you’ll immediately notice the distinctive red sky with a full moon hanging overhead, accompanied by a constant light rain that persists throughout the entire investigation.
I remember my first Blood Moon contract vividly. I was investigating Brownstone High School (of all places) when I noticed everything had a reddish tint. At first, I thought my graphics settings were messed up, but then I realized something was seriously different about this ghost hunt.
The Game-Changing Effects of Blood Moon Weather
Blood Moon weather isn’t just for show – it comes with three major effects that completely alter your investigation strategy:
1. Your Sanity Drains Twice as Fast
This is probably the most brutal effect of Blood Moon weather. Your passive sanity drain rate is increased by a whopping 100%, meaning you lose sanity twice as fast as you normally would. I learned this the hard way when I went from 100% sanity to below 50% in what felt like just a couple of minutes, even with lights on!
What’s particularly tricky is that lights don’t completely prevent sanity drain like they do in normal weather. Instead, they only slow it down. This means you can’t just camp in a lit room and expect to maintain your sanity. You need to be much more strategic about when and where you use your light sources.
2. Ghosts Become Significantly Faster
During hunts, ghosts move 15% faster than they normally would. Now, 15% might not sound like much, but trust me – you’ll notice the difference. I’ve had ghosts that I could normally outrun suddenly catching up to me in no time during Blood Moon contracts.
Some players in the community even swear that the speed increase feels more like 25%, though the official numbers say 15%. Either way, you’ll need to adjust your escape routes and hiding strategies because your usual tactics might not cut it anymore.
3. Better Rewards for Your Trouble
Here’s the silver lining – Blood Moon contracts pay 10% more than regular contracts. It’s the game’s way of saying “hey, sorry for making your life miserable, here’s some extra cash.” While 10% might not seem like a lot when you’re just starting out, it can really add up when you’re grinding for expensive equipment or trying to build up your bank account.
Additional Weather Characteristics
Beyond the three main effects, Blood Moon weather has some other characteristics that affect your investigation:
Visual and Audio Effects
- Illumination: Modest – it’s not completely dark, but it’s not bright either
- Vision: High – you can actually see pretty well despite the red tint
- Noise disruption: Medium – the light rain creates some background noise
- Temperature: 13°C (55.4°F) – this puts it in the same temperature group as Clear and Fog weather
Ghost Behavior Changes
From my experience and what I’ve gathered from the community, Blood Moon doesn’t just affect the numbers – it changes how ghosts behave overall:
- More aggressive activity: Ghosts seem to initiate more events and interactions
- Frequent room changes: Ghosts tend to move between rooms more often
- Increased hunt frequency: Once your sanity drops below 50%, hunts can trigger almost immediately
- Dramatic behaviors: I’ve seen ghosts do things I’d never witnessed before, like walking backwards or rotating their heads
- Red glowing eyes: Many players report seeing ghost eyes glow red during Blood Moon events
How Rare is Blood Moon Weather?
Let me be straight with you – Blood Moon weather is extremely rare. According to the Phasmophobia Wiki, it only has a 2% chance to replace whatever weather was randomly selected for your contract. This means you could play dozens or even hundreds of regular contracts before ever encountering one naturally.
The rarity makes sense when you consider how dramatically it changes the gameplay. Blood Moon weather essentially turns a regular contract into something more like a weekly challenge – high risk, high reward, and definitely not for beginners.
How to Get Blood Moon Weather?
If you’re eager to experience Blood Moon weather without waiting for the RNG gods to smile upon you, there are a few ways to make it happen:
Custom Games
The easiest way to guarantee Blood Moon weather is to create a custom game. In custom mode, you can manually select Blood Moon weather, allowing you to practice and prepare for when you eventually encounter it in a regular contract.
Weekly Challenges
Sometimes, the weekly challenge modes will feature Blood Moon weather. These are great opportunities to experience Blood Moon conditions with some structure and potentially earn extra rewards.
Crimson Eye Event
During the annual Crimson Eye event (usually around Halloween), Blood Moon weather becomes much more common. Certain maps will have this weather type active each day of the event, giving you plenty of chances to experience it.
Survival Strategies for Blood Moon Contracts
After surviving (and sometimes failing) numerous Blood Moon contracts, I’ve picked up some strategies that can help you make it out alive:
1. Prioritize Sanity Management
With your sanity draining twice as fast, you need to be much more aggressive about managing it:
- Use sanity pills early and often
- Keep lights on in rooms you’re actively investigating
- Don’t linger in the investigation area longer than necessary
- Consider bringing multiple sanity pills for longer contracts
2. Adjust Your Hunt Response
Faster ghosts mean you need to rethink your escape plans:
- Identify hiding spots before you need them
- Practice quick routes to safe rooms
- Don’t assume you can outrun the ghost like you normally would
- Consider using smudge sticks more aggressively to create escape opportunities
3. Streamline Your Investigation
With increased sanity drain, you don’t have time to waste:
- Focus on gathering evidence efficiently
- Use equipment that gives you quick, clear readings
- Don’t be afraid to make educated guesses if you’re running low on sanity
- Consider bringing equipment that helps identify ghosts quickly, like the motion sensor or sound sensor
4. Team Coordination is Key
If you’re playing with a team, communication becomes even more important:
- Assign roles and stick to them
- Keep each other updated on sanity levels
- Coordinate your movements to avoid getting separated
- Have a plan for when hunts occur
Equipment Recommendations for Blood Moon Contracts
Based on my experience, here’s what I recommend bringing for Blood Moon contracts:
Essential Equipment
- Sanity Pills: Bring extras – you’ll need them
- Strong Flashlight: The extra illumination can help offset the moderate lighting
- Smudge Sticks: Crucial for escaping faster ghosts
- Crucifix: Place them strategically since ghosts hunt more frequently
Helpful Additions
- Motion Sensors: Great for tracking ghost movement when it’s changing rooms frequently
- Sound Sensors: Can help you identify the ghost room more quickly
- Thermometer: Still useful for finding the ghost room, especially since temperature readings aren’t affected by weather
- Photo Camera: The 10% bonus makes it worth grabbing those extra photo opportunities
2025 Common Mistakes to Avoid
I’ve made plenty of mistakes during Blood Moon contracts, and I’ve seen other players make them too. Here are some common pitfalls to watch out for:
1. Underestimating the Sanity Drain
The biggest mistake I see players make is treating sanity management the same way they do in normal contracts. Remember – your sanity drops twice as fast, so you need to be much more proactive about managing it.
2. Assuming Normal Ghost Behavior
Blood Moon changes how ghosts behave. Don’t be surprised if a normally passive ghost becomes extremely aggressive, or if you experience events you’ve never seen before.
3. Poor Team Coordination
In team games, poor communication can be deadly during Blood Moon contracts. Make sure everyone knows the plan and understands the increased risks.
4. Bringing the Wrong Equipment
Some equipment becomes less effective during Blood Moon weather. For example, relying solely on lights to prevent sanity drain won’t work as well as it normally does.
Is Blood Moon Weather Worth It?
This is a question I get asked a lot, and my answer is: it depends. For experienced players looking for a challenge and better rewards, Blood Moon contracts can be a lot of fun. The increased difficulty makes victories feel more earned, and the extra cash is always nice.
However, if you’re new to Phasmophobia or still learning the basics, Blood Moon weather can be incredibly frustrating. The increased difficulty curve is steep, and you might find yourself dying more often than not.
My advice? Practice in custom games first. Get comfortable with the mechanics and effects before attempting Blood Moon contracts in your regular playthrough. Once you understand how to adapt your strategies, you’ll find that Blood Moon weather adds an exciting new dimension to the game.
FAQ
Q: How often does Blood Moon weather occur in regular contracts?
A: Blood Moon weather is extremely rare, with only a 2% chance to replace the randomly selected weather for any given contract.
Q: Can I force Blood Moon weather to occur?
A: Yes! You can create custom games and manually select Blood Moon weather, or play during the Crimson Eye event when it’s more common.
Q: Does Blood Moon weather affect all ghost types the same way?
A: Yes, the effects (increased sanity drain, faster ghost speed, and better rewards) apply to all ghost types equally during Blood Moon weather.
Q: Are there any special items or equipment that work better during Blood Moon weather?
A: While no equipment works specifically better, sanity pills, smudge sticks, and crucifixes become more essential due to the increased difficulty.
Q: Does Blood Moon weather affect evidence gathering?
A: Blood Moon weather doesn’t change what evidence ghosts leave, but the increased activity and frequency of events can make evidence gathering faster if you’re quick about it.
Q: Can I complete all objectives during a Blood Moon contract?
A: Yes, but it’s more challenging due to the increased sanity drain and more frequent hunts. You may need to prioritize objectives and be prepared to leave some incomplete if your sanity gets too low.
Q: Is Blood Moon weather available on all maps?
A: Yes, Blood Moon weather can occur on any map, though some players report it seems more common on larger maps like Brownstone High School or Asylum.
Q: Does the time of day affect Blood Moon weather?
A: No, Blood Moon weather is independent of the in-game time cycle and will maintain its red sky and effects throughout the entire contract.
Q: Are there any achievements related to Blood Moon weather?
A: While there aren’t specific achievements for Blood Moon weather itself, completing contracts during Blood Moon conditions counts toward regular achievements and can help you earn money more quickly.
Q: Should beginners attempt Blood Moon contracts?
A: I’d recommend beginners get comfortable with normal weather conditions first. Practice in custom games to understand the effects before attempting Blood Moon contracts in regular play.
Final Thoughts
Blood Moon weather is one of Phasmophobia’s most interesting features. It takes the familiar ghost hunting formula and turns it on its head, creating a uniquely challenging experience that tests your skills in new ways. While it can be frustrating at first, learning to adapt to Blood Moon conditions will make you a better all-around player.
Remember, the key to surviving Blood Moon contracts is preparation and adaptation. Understand the effects, adjust your strategies, and don’t be afraid to retreat if things get too dangerous. With practice, you’ll start to see Blood Moon weather not as a threat, but as an exciting opportunity to test your skills and earn better rewards.
Have you encountered Blood Moon weather in your Phasmophobia adventures? I’d love to hear about your experiences and any strategies you’ve discovered. Drop a comment below and let me know how you handle this challenging weather condition!