If you're a fan of Phasmophobia, then you've likely encountered the Survival of the Fittest Weekly Challenge—a nerve-wracking experience that pushes your skills to the limit. This challenge strips away the usual tools and comforts, leaving you to face the unknown with only your wits and a few unconventional gadgets.
Survival of the Fittest takes place at 42 Edgefield Road, a cramped and eerie house map that adds to the tension. Without the ability to gather traditional evidence, you'll need to rely on the ghost's behavior and movement patterns to deduce its identity. From the moment you arrive, you'll notice the absence of familiar tools like Ghost Writing Books and DOTs Projectors, replaced instead by equipment like the Parabolic Microphone and Salt.
Screenshot via The Escapist
To succeed, pay close attention to the ghost's unique traits. For instance, the Parabolic Microphone can distinguish between a Banshee's scream or a Myling's footsteps. Placing Salt on the floor can confirm if you're dealing with a Wraith, while lighting Firelights can reveal an Onyro. If you're still unsure, refer to a comprehensive guide detailing the behaviors of ghosts without evidence.
Related: All Weekly Challenges in Phasmophobia, Listed
The challenge begins with zero sanity, leaving you vulnerable to ghost hunts, and no setup time—just five seconds to prepare. Even worse, sanity cannot be restored, despite being provided with two Sanity Medications. This adds immense pressure to your investigation. Despite these challenges, the ghost remains highly active throughout, providing frequent events that can help you piece together its identity.
Most doors start partially open, complicating your efforts to track the ghost's location. However, the fuse box is functional and powered on, offering a rare advantage. Additionally, all nine hiding spots in the house are accessible, giving you options to evade the ghost during hunts.
Screenshot by The Escapist
Your sole Cursed Possession for this challenge is the Monkey Paw, which can burn incorrect evidences and ghost types in your Journal when used to "wish for knowledge." However, this comes at a steep price: blindness, deafness, and a Cursed Hunt. For solo players, this strategy requires careful coordination, as one member can act as a distraction.
Accessing Challenge Mode is straightforward. Start by selecting Singleplayer or Multiplayer in the Main Menu, then navigate to the Difficulty Settings. Scroll to Challenge Mode, apply it, and head to the Maps board to choose 42 Edgefield Road. Completing the challenge three times earns you full credit, regardless of whether you successfully identify the ghost.
The Weekly Challenge resets every Monday at Midnight UTC, with North American players able to join on Sunday evening at 5:00 pm Pacific Time, 6:00 pm Mountain Time, 7:00 pm Central Time, and 8:00 pm Eastern Time. To qualify for the $5,000 base reward, ensure your investigation is completed before the server reset.
Phasmophobia is available now on PC.