Among Us: Crewmate vs. Impostor – A Comprehensive Guide

The core of Among Us lies in its compelling dichotomy: crewmates versus impostors. The fundamental difference boils down to their objectives and abilities. Crewmates aim to complete all assigned tasks or identify and eject all impostors through voting. Impostors, on the other hand, must eliminate crewmates without being detected, sabotaging the ship, and creating chaos to mask their activities. This asymmetrical gameplay is what fuels the paranoia and social deduction that make Among Us so addictively engaging.

Understanding the Roles: Crewmates

Crewmates represent the ordinary workers aboard the spaceship (or other map). Their primary purpose is straightforward: fix the ship by completing their tasks. These tasks are varied and often involve simple minigames, ranging from swiping cards to aligning engine outputs. Successful task completion contributes to the overall progress bar, leading to a crewmate victory.

However, simply doing tasks isn’t enough. Crewmates must also be vigilant. They need to observe other players, note suspicious behavior, and communicate their observations during emergency meetings or when reporting dead bodies. The ability to collaborate and share information effectively is crucial for crewmates to root out the impostor. Crewmates only have a Report button, Use button, and Map.

Key Crewmate Responsibilities:

• Task Completion: Prioritize finishing tasks to contribute to the overall victory.
• Observation: Pay close attention to other players’ movements and actions.
• Communication: Share information and suspicions clearly and concisely.
• Voting: Participate in discussions and vote based on gathered evidence.
• Stay Alive: While they can’t directly attack, staying alive is critical to doing tasks.

Understanding the Roles: Impostors

Impostors are the antagonists of Among Us. Their goal is to eliminate the crewmates before they can complete their tasks. They achieve this through a combination of stealth, deception, and sabotage. Impostors can blend in with the crewmates, pretending to perform tasks while secretly plotting their next move.

Their unique abilities set them apart: they can vent to move quickly around the map, sabotage crucial systems to create distractions and opportunities, and kill crewmates when no one is looking. Furthermore, impostors can fake tasks to appear innocent and manipulate other players.

The role demands cunning and a strategic mindset. A successful impostor must be able to lie convincingly, anticipate the crewmates’ actions, and exploit their vulnerabilities. They have a Kill button, Vent button, Sabotage button, Use button, and Map.

Key Impostor Abilities and Strategies:

• Killing: Eliminate crewmates discreetly.
• Sabotaging: Disrupt systems to create chaos and divide the crew.
• Venting: Use vents for rapid, undetectable movement.
• Faking Tasks: Mimic crewmate behavior to blend in.
• Lying and Deception: Convince others of your innocence and deflect suspicion.

Identifying the Impostor: Telltale Signs

While impostors try to blend in, certain behaviors can expose them. Recognizing these signs is essential for crewmates hoping to survive.

1. No Clear Objective: Impostors may wander aimlessly, feigning tasks without actually completing them.
2. “AFK” Behavior: Impostors might pretend to be inactive to create an alibi.
3. Random Pausing: Suspicious pauses or erratic movements can indicate an impostor planning their next move.
4. Self-Reporting a Murder: While risky, some impostors might self-report to manipulate the narrative.
5. Defending Other Impostors: Actively shielding a known or suspected impostor is a major red flag.
6. Useless Inputs During Meetings: Rambling or providing irrelevant information can be a tactic to distract from their own guilt.
7. Venting in View: This is a blatant giveaway, as only impostors can use vents.
8. Staying Away From Groups: Impostors may avoid being around too many crewmates to avoid witnesses.
9. Faking Common Tasks: Watching if someone is trying to swipe their card multiple times.
10. Not doing visual tasks: Visual tasks such as med-scan are a way to confirm who is a crewmate.
11. Quick Kills: After a meeting the kill cool down starts, but imposters can change settings to kill faster.
12. Following closely: Imposters will follow a crewmate alone so that they can kill them without being seen.
13. Not using emergency meetings: Imposters are less likely to call emergency meetings in fear of being caught.
14. Quick venting: If an imposter vents and someone quickly enters after them, that can be used to find an imposter.
15. Lacking map knowledge: Usually experienced crewmates know the maps well, so if the players don’t, they are likely to be an imposter.

The Balance of Power: Crewmate vs. Impostor Win Rates

Although crewmates have the advantage in numbers, the developers at InnerSloth have stated that impostors often win more frequently. This is due to the effectiveness of sabotage, the potential for miscommunication among crewmates, and the skill of experienced impostors in manipulating the game.

The difficulty of winning as either role often depends on the players’ skill level. Skilled crewmates who communicate effectively can quickly identify and eliminate impostors. Conversely, skilled impostors who are adept at deception and sabotage can effectively turn the tables.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What does “sus” mean in Among Us?

“Sus” is short for “suspicious.” Players use it to describe someone they suspect of being an impostor.

2. How rare is being the impostor in Among Us?

The probability of being the impostor depends on the game settings. With one impostor in a ten-player game, you have a 10% chance of being selected. With two impostors, it’s 20%, and with three, it’s 30%.

3. Which color is most often considered the impostor?

Red is often considered the most suspicious color in Among Us, likely due to its association with blood and its prominent use in promotional materials.

4. Can there be multiple impostors in a game of Among Us?

Yes, depending on the game settings, there can be one, two, or three impostors.

5. How do impostors win in Among Us?

Impostors win by either killing enough crewmates to equalize the numbers (crewmates = impostors) or by successfully sabotaging a critical system (like O2 or Reactor) without it being fixed in time.

6. Can crewmates defend themselves in Among Us?

No, crewmates cannot directly attack impostors. Their only defenses are observation, communication, and voting. However, if the visual settings are on, certain tasks like medbay scan can clear a crewmate.

7. What is the purpose of vents in Among Us?

Vents allow impostors to quickly and discreetly move around the map, facilitating rapid escapes and surprise attacks.

8. How can I improve my skills as an impostor?

Practice deception, learn the map layout, master sabotage timings, and anticipate crewmate behavior. Watching videos and learning strategies from experienced players can also be helpful.

9. How can I improve my skills as a crewmate?

Pay close attention to detail, communicate effectively with other players, and learn to recognize suspicious behavior patterns. Also, learn the maps well to identify vent locations and quick routes.

10. What are common tasks and why are they important?

Common tasks are tasks that every crewmate has, so if someone is trying to complete the task more than once, they are likely faking a task.

11. Is it always necessary to lie when playing as the impostor?

Yes, lying and deception are essential components of playing as the impostor. You need to convincingly portray yourself as a crewmate to avoid suspicion.

12. What is the best number of impostors to play with in Among Us?

Many players consider two impostors to be the ideal number, as it creates a good balance between challenge and opportunity for both sides.

13. What is the admin map and how can it be used?

The admin map shows the real-time location of players in each room. Both crewmates and impostors can use it to track player movements and identify potential discrepancies.

14. What is the Guardian Angel role?

The Guardian Angel can protect any player regardless of their role, including Impostors.

15. How do the dynamics of Among Us relate to real-world social and learning scenarios?

The game presents an environment that fosters critical thinking, communication, and teamwork. By encouraging players to collaborate, analyze situations, and strategically deduce information, the game mirrors skills used in team-building scenarios and problem-solving in classrooms and workplaces. To learn more about how games can be used for education, visit the Games Learning Society website.

The world of Among Us is built on the tension and excitement of these contrasting roles. Understanding the differences between crewmates and impostors is crucial for success in the game. Whether you are a seasoned player or just starting out, mastering these concepts will enhance your gameplay experience and help you become a more effective crewmate or a more cunning impostor. Don’t forget to visit GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more about the intersection of games and education.