Totem of undying in Minecraft is the single item that can save you from a fatal hit, whether that’s a fall from a cliff, a lava mistake, or a losing fight against a boss. Unlike most gear, you can’t craft it or buy it from a villager. This guide covers exactly where it comes from, how to farm it reliably, and how to make sure it actually saves you when it matters.
TL;DR
- A totem of undying only drops from Evokers, with a guaranteed 100% drop rate.
- Evokers spawn in Woodland Mansions or during village raids.
- Raids are the faster, renewable method once you’ve found a village.
- The totem must be held in your main hand or off-hand to work, not just in your inventory.
- When activated, it restores 1 HP and grants Regeneration II, Fire Resistance I, and Absorption II.
- Looting does not affect the drop chance, since it’s already guaranteed.
Where Totems of Undying Come From
Totems of undying cannot be crafted, traded, or found in loot chests. The only source is killing an Evoker, a spellcasting illager. Every Evoker drops exactly one totem of undying on death, and this drop rate is not affected by Looting since it’s already guaranteed. The challenge isn’t the drop chance, it’s finding and surviving an Evoker fight in the first place.
Method 1: Woodland Mansions
Evokers spawn naturally inside Woodland Mansions, rare structures found in dark forest biomes. If you haven’t located one yet, check our guide on how to find a Woodland Mansion in Minecraft. Once inside, hunt down the Evokers in their dedicated rooms and kill them for a guaranteed totem each. The downside is that mansion Evokers don’t respawn once killed, so you’ll need to find an entirely new mansion for more totems using this method.
Method 2: Village Raids (Faster and Renewable)
Raids are the more efficient way to farm totems long-term. To trigger one, you first need the Bad Omen status effect, which comes from drinking an Ominous Bottle or defeating a Pillager Captain for their banner. Ominous Bottles can be farmed from trial spawners, so our guide on how to find trial chambers in Minecraft is a good place to stock up.
Once you have Bad Omen active, walk into any village with a bell to start a raid. Evokers commonly appear in the later waves alongside other illagers, and defeating each one drops another totem. Since raids can be repeated at the same village, this method is fully renewable, letting you build up a stockpile of totems over time.
Gearing Up for the Fight
Evokers aren’t pushovers. They summon flying Vexes that can pass through walls, and higher raid waves bring stronger illagers alongside them. Bring a strong weapon and check our guide to the best sword enchantments in Minecraft before heading in. Solid armor matters just as much, so consider upgrading to netherite armor if you’re planning to farm raids repeatedly. A permanent buff from a beacon also makes raid farming much smoother, especially with Strength or Resistance active while you clear each wave.
How to Use a Totem of Undying
Holding a totem in your inventory or hotbar does nothing on its own. It only works if it’s actively held in your main hand or off-hand. Most players keep one permanently in the off-hand as insurance, since that slot doesn’t need to be selected to trigger.
When you take damage that would otherwise kill you while holding a totem, it activates automatically. The totem then:
- Restores you to 1 HP instead of letting you die.
- Removes all existing negative status effects.
- Grants Regeneration II for 45 seconds.
- Grants Fire Resistance I for 40 seconds.
- Grants Absorption II for 5 seconds.
The totem is consumed the moment it activates and can only save you once. It works in every difficulty, including Hardcore mode, though it won’t save you from void damage or the kill command.
Best Practices for Carrying Totems
- Keep one in your off-hand at all times. This guarantees it triggers even if you’re mid-combat with a sword selected.
- Carry a backup in your hotbar. For boss fights like the Wither or Warden, having a second totem ready to swap in adds an extra layer of safety.
- Don’t kill villagers during a raid. This fails the raid instantly and stops Evokers from spawning for that attempt.
- Avoid maxing Bad Omen for speed. A higher Bad Omen level scales raid difficulty and can throw Ravagers at you immediately if you’re not geared for it.
Why You Need a Totem of Undying
Whether you’re fighting the Wither, exploring the deep dark, or just being careless around lava, a totem of undying is the difference between a close call and a lost world in Hardcore mode. Stocking up through raid farming means you’ll rarely be without one when it counts.
Minecraft is available across platforms if you want to plan your raid farming on the go. Grab it through the Google Play Store or the Xbox Store. For official patch notes and update details, check the official Minecraft website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I craft a totem of undying?
No. It cannot be crafted, traded, or found in loot chests. The only source is killing an Evoker.
What’s the drop rate for a totem of undying?
Evokers have a 100% drop rate for the totem of undying, and this is not affected by Looting enchantments.
Where do I find Evokers?
Evokers spawn inside Woodland Mansions in dark forest biomes, or during village raids once you have the Bad Omen effect active.
Why didn’t my totem save me?
The totem only works if it’s held in your main hand or off-hand at the moment of fatal damage. If it’s sitting in your inventory or an unselected hotbar slot, it won’t activate.
Does a totem of undying protect against fall into the void?
No. It saves you from most fatal damage, but it does not prevent death from void damage or the kill command.
