How to Get the Totem of Undying in Minecraft: The Ultimate Guide (2025)

The Totem of Undying is arguably the most valuable single-use item in all of Minecraft. It functions as a life-saving artifact that, when held in your main hand or off-hand, automatically triggers the moment you take fatal damage. Instead of dying, you are granted a second chance: your health is instantly restored to 1 heart, and you receive powerful status effects including Absorption II for 5 seconds and Regeneration II for 40 seconds (in Java Edition; Bedrock Edition grants Regeneration I for 40 seconds). This item can mean the difference between losing all your hard-earned gear and surviving a dangerous encounter with a Creeper, a fall from a great height, or a surprise attack from a Vindicator. Despite its incredible utility, many players struggle to obtain the Totem of Undying because it does not appear in chests, cannot be crafted, and is only dropped by a specific mob: the Evoker. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through every possible method to secure this coveted item, from exploring ancient Woodland Mansions to mastering raid mechanics. Whether you are a seasoned veteran or a newcomer, you will leave this article with a complete roadmap to obtaining as many Totems of Undying as you need.

Understanding the mechanics behind the Totem of Undying is crucial before you embark on your quest. The item only activates when you would otherwise die—specifically, when your health reaches zero due to any damage source except for the /kill command. Upon activation, the totem disappears from your inventory (or drops to the ground if you die in multiplayer with keepInventory off, but it is consumed). The absorption effect gives you extra hearts that can absorb incoming damage, while regeneration slowly recovers your natural health. Because the totem is consumed in use, you will need to acquire multiple copies for long-term survival. The Evoker, which drops exactly one Totem of Undying per kill (guaranteed, unaffected by Looting), is the only source. Evokers spawn in two places: inside Woodland Mansions, and as part of Pillager Raids on villages. Each method has its own risks and rewards, and we will explore both in depth so you can choose the strategy that best suits your playstyle and current resources.

Step-by-Step Guide to Obtaining the Totem of Undying

Step 1: Understanding the Totem of Undying and Its Mechanics

Before you go hunting, it’s essential to know exactly what you are aiming for and how the totem behaves. The Totem of Undying is an item that occupies a single inventory slot. When you hold it in either hand (main or off-hand) and take damage that would reduce your health to zero, a unique animation plays—the totem glows, your screen gains a golden overlay, and you are brought back from the brink of death. Crucially, the totem will protect you against virtually all sources of lethal damage except the /kill command. This includes fall damage, explosions, melee attacks, projectiles, status effects such as Wither or Poison that push your health to zero, and even void damage (though with a catch: if you fall into the void, the totem activates but you may still die if your position remains in the void after activation, due to continuous void damage). The totem will not protect you from starving to death if your food bar is empty, but starvation damage is rarely the direct cause of death. Once consumed, the totem vanishes from your inventory, so you must have a fresh totem for each potential death.

Step 2: Preparing for the Hunt – Essential Gear and Supplies

Obtaining a Totem of Undying requires facing Evokers, which are among the more dangerous hostile mobs. Evokers are classified as illagers and have 24 health points (12 hearts). They wield the ability to summon Vexes—small, flying, aggressive ghosts that can phase through blocks and deal significant damage—and they also cast a “fang” attack that erupts from the ground in a line toward the player, dealing damage if you are caught in the area. To safely defeat an Evoker, you need proper equipment. At minimum, bring a diamond or netherite sword with high attack damage. For ranged options, a bow or crossbow with Power enchantments is helpful to damage the Evoker from a distance before it can summon Vexes. Armor should be at least iron with a full set of protection enchantments. A shield is invaluable to block the Evoker’s fang attack and to protect against Vindicator axes (which are common in Woodland Mansions). Also pack healing items: golden apples, splash potions of Healing, and a stack of cooked food for regeneration. Torches, a pickaxe, and ender pearls can help navigate tight spaces. For raids, you may want a raid farm design that uses water streams and drop chutes to safely kill Evokers from above, but for a first-time hunt, standard combat gear suffices.

Step 3: Finding a Woodland Mansion – The Classic Method

The most straightforward way to encounter an Evoker is by locating a Woodland Mansion. These massive structures generate deep within Roofed Forest biomes (Dark Oak forest) and can be extremely far from spawn. To find one efficiently, you need a Woodland Explorer Map, which you can obtain from a Cartographer Villager (any villager that has the cartographer profession) at the journeyman or master level. Trade a compass and some emeralds to receive a map that points to the nearest mansion. Alternatively, you can search for mansions manually using online seed maps or by flying in Creative mode, but the village trade method is the most reliable in survival. Once you have the map, travel to the location marked—be prepared for a long journey of several thousand blocks. The mansion itself is a dark, sprawling structure with multiple floors, corridors, and rooms. Inside you will find illagers: primarily Vindicators (who wield iron axes and are aggressive) and Evokers. The number of Evokers can vary per mansion, but typically you will find between one and three Evokers scattered throughout the building. They often spawn in specific rooms such as the “woodland mansion meeting room” or the “spawner room” (though they do not have spawners—Evokers spawn only as part of the structure generation, not as natural mobs). To maximize your yield, you must clear the entire mansion, killing every Evoker you encounter. Each one will drop a single Totem of Undying upon death. Remember to bring plenty of torches or a light source to prevent other hostile mobs from spawning inside the dark corridors.

Step 4: Conquering the Woodland Mansion – Combat Tactics and Room Clearing

Navigating a Woodland Mansion requires caution because Vindicators can deal up to 13 points of damage (6.5 hearts) on Hard mode with their axes, and Evokers can inflict heavy damage through their fang spells and Vex summons. The best strategy is to approach each room slowly, listening for illager sounds. Use a bow or crossbow to snipe Evokers from a distance before they can react. If an Evoker spots you, it will immediately raise its arms and begin the fang attack—run perpendicular to the line of fangs to dodge, or block with your shield. The Evoker will also summon Vexes, which are fast and annoying; prioritize killing the Evoker first, then deal with the Vexes. A sword with the Smite enchantment is extra effective against undead mobs but does not affect illagers, so Sharpness is better. You can also use a trident with Impaling (works on illagers in rain) or simply a bow. Once the Evoker is dead, it will drop one Totem of Undying and some emeralds. Pick up the totem immediately because it can despawn if left on the ground for too long (though items dropped by mobs have a 5-minute timer). After clearing the mansion, you will have a handful of totems—typically 1–3. This is a finite resource unless you reset the mansion by using a structure respawn mechanic (not possible in vanilla survival without exploits), so for unlimited totems, you must turn to raids.

Step 5: Farming Evokers via Pillager Raids – Endless Supply

Pillager Raids are the primary renewable source of Totems of Undying. When you enter a village with the Bad Omen effect, a raid wave begins. Evokers appear in later waves of the raid—specifically in waves 3 and above in Java Edition (waves correspond to the number of raiders; in a 7-wave raid, Evokers appear in waves 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7). In Bedrock Edition, Evokers can spawn starting from wave 3 as well. To start a raid, you first need an Ominous Bottle, obtained by killing a Pillager Captain (the one wearing a banner). When you drink the bottle or kill the captain while holding it, you gain the Bad Omen effect. Then walk into a village—any village with at least one bed and a villager that has a workstation—and the raid will begin. The number of raiders per wave scales with the game difficulty and the number of players. You can farm raids indefinitely by building a raid farm, which is a contraption that collects and kills raiders automatically (or semi-automatically). The simplest design involves placing the player in a safe spot above the village center, allowing raiders to spawn, and using water streams or fall damage to kill them. Evokers are killed and drop their totems, which you can collect via a hopper system. For survival, you can construct a basic raid farm using a combination of scaffolding, water, and a trident killer (a device using a trident enchanted with Loyalty that is thrown repeatedly to kill mobs). More advanced farms produce over 100 totems per hour. If you want a low-tech approach, you can simply run into the village with good gear and kill each wave manually, but this is riskier and less efficient. The advantage of raids is that they are repeatable: you can trigger new raids by again obtaining the Bad Omen effect (by killing another Pillager Captain or drinking another Ominous Bottle). This gives you an effectively unlimited supply of Totems of Undying.

Step 6: Maximizing Raid Efficiency – Tips for Faster Totem Collection

To make the most of raid farming, you need to understand raid wave mechanics and optimize your farm design. In Java Edition, the number of waves is determined by the difficulty: Easy has 3 waves, Normal has 5 waves, Hard has 7 waves. Hard mode yields the most Evokers because each wave after wave 2 can contain one or more Evokers. In Hard mode, waves 3–7 each include at least one Evoker, with wave 5 and 7 often having two. So a single Hard-mode raid can produce 6–10 totems. To trigger the raid, you must have Bad Omen. You can obtain multiple Ominous Bottles by finding Pillager Outposts and killing the captains there (each outpost has one captain). You can also get bottles from illager patrols. Store the bottles in a chest near your farm. When you drink one, the effect lasts for 1 hour 40 minutes (100 minutes), but you only need to enter the village once to start the raid. The raid will progress through waves without needing to refresh the effect. After the raid ends (all waves defeated), you must leave the village area and then re-enter with a new Bad Omen to start another raid. For maximum safety, build your farm in a location where the village center is clearly defined—use a single bed and workstations to control the spawn area. Many farm designs use a “raid captain” system where you can repeatedly trigger raids without moving by using a name tag to prevent the captain from despawning. But the simplest approach is to build a platform at Y=100 above the village, with a drop chute for raiders to fall into a killing chamber. The key is to ensure that all raid mobs spawn within range of the village and that you are far enough away to not interfere with spawning, but close enough to be considered “in the raid” for progression.

Tips and Best Practices for Totem of Undying Acquisition

Tip 1: Use a Looting Sword for Extra Drops (But Not for the Totem Itself)

It is a common misconception that Looting increases the chance of an Evoker dropping a Totem of Undying. In reality, the totem drop is guaranteed: every Evoker killed by a player or a tamed wolf will drop exactly one totem, regardless of Looting level. However, Looting does increase the number of emeralds dropped (from 0–1 to up to 4 with Looting III), and it can also increase the chance of obtaining rare drops like Vindicators’ iron axes (though not always useful). Therefore, while Looting does not help with totems, it is still beneficial to enchant your sword with Looting anyway for the emeralds and other loot. For pure totem hunting, the best sword enchantments are Sharpness V and Fire Aspect II (fire damage prevents the Evoker from summoning Vexes if it burns to death, but be careful because fire can destroy items if the Evoker drops into lava). Also, consider using a weapon with Smite if you are also fighting skeletons or zombies in the mansion, but Sharpness is more versatile.

Tip 2: Always Hold the Totem in Your Off-Hand for Quick Access

The Totem of Undying must be in your hand to activate. The most efficient placement is your off-hand slot, which allows you to keep a weapon in your main hand. To put an item in your off-hand, open your inventory (press E) and drag the totem to the shield slot (the small box next to your character). On Java Edition, you can also press F while hovering over the totem to swap it to your off-hand if you have a shield or another item there. By keeping the totem in your off-hand, you can fight normally while having the protection active. Be aware that if you have a shield in your off-hand, the shield will take priority for blocking—but the totem will still activate when you take lethal damage. If you die with a shield raised, the totem still works. There is no disadvantage to having the totem in your off-hand. In Bedrock Edition, the off-hand slot is only available on some devices; if you do not have an off-hand, keep the totem in your main hand and use a bow or other weapon in your hotbar, but switch quickly when needed. For experienced players, carrying multiple totems in your inventory and swapping them as they are consumed is a viable strategy for long expeditions.

Tip 3: Avoid Unnecessary Totem Activation – Be Mindful of Void and Fall Damage

While the Totem of Undying is incredibly powerful, it can be wasted if you trigger it in situations that still lead to death. The most common scenario is falling into the void in the End or Nether. When you fall into the void, you take continuous damage every half second. The totem will activate the first time your health reaches zero, giving you Absorption and Regeneration, but you will continue falling, and the next tick of void damage will kill you again because the totem is already consumed. The same principle applies if you are trapped in a lava pool with no way out: the totem might pop, but you will die from subsequent damage unless you can escape immediately. To avoid wasting a totem, always have a backup plan: Ender pearls to teleport out, a water bucket to cancel fall damage, or a fire resistance potion for lava. Another tip: do not rely on the totem as your sole safety measure; treat it as a last resort. Additionally, note that the totem does not protect against the /kill command (creative only) or against the “out of world” death caused by falling through the End portal without a proper exit. Always carry additional survival items.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Totem of Undying

Q1: Can you craft a Totem of Undying?

No, the Totem of Undying cannot be crafted in any version of Minecraft. It is exclusively obtained by killing Evokers, which spawn in Woodland Mansions and during Pillager Raids. There is no recipe for it in a crafting table or furnace, so you must engage in combat to acquire it.

Q2: Does the Totem of Undying protect against fall damage?

Yes, the totem activates when you take fatal fall damage. For example, if you fall from a height that would normally kill you, the totem will trigger as soon as you hit the ground, saving you from death. However, you will still take the initial fall damage (only the fatal portion is negated). The Absorption and Regeneration effects will then help you survive further damage. Note that if you fall into a very deep pit and the totem activates, you may still be vulnerable to further falls if you are not careful.

Q3: Can you get multiple Totems of Undying from a single Evoker?

No, each Evoker drops exactly one Totem of Undying when killed by a player or a tamed wolf. Looting enchantments do not increase the number of totems. The only way to get more than one totem per Evoker is through mods or data packs that alter drop mechanics. In vanilla Minecraft, you must kill multiple Evokers to accumulate multiple totems.

Q4: Do Totems of Undying work in PvP?

Yes, they are very effective in player-versus-player combat. If you are holding a totem and receive a lethal blow from another player (e.g., a critical hit with a sword, a fully charged crossbow shot, or a TNT explosion), the totem will activate and save you. Your opponent may be surprised when you survive and gain Absorption, giving you an advantage. However, be aware that if you have multiple totems in your inventory, only the one in your hand will be consumed; you can swap totems manually if you have them in your hotbar. In intense PvP, having a totem in your off-hand is standard practice.

Q5: Can you get a Totem of Undying from a Pillager Outpost?

No. Pillager Outposts only spawn Pillagers and a single Pillager Captain. They do not generate Evokers. Evokers are exclusive to Woodland Mansions and raid waves. However, if you kill the captain and drink an Ominous Bottle, you can trigger a raid which may spawn Evokers. So outposts are indirectly involved in totem acquisition by providing the Bad Omen effect, but they do not contain totems themselves.

Q6: Is it worth exploring a Woodland Mansion for totems?

It depends on your progress. Woodland Mansions are dangerous, massive, and often far from spawn. If you are early in the game and need just one or two totems, a mansion can be rewarding but risky. You may die and lose your gear. For players with decent armor and weapons, a mansion is a fun adventure that yields a small number of totems. For those seeking a renewable supply, building a raid farm is far more efficient. If you enjoy exploration and are not in a hurry, the mansion route is fine, but be prepared for a long journey and many Vindicators.

Comparison of Totem Acquisition Methods

Method	Difficulty	Time Investment	Totems per Session	Risk Level	Renewable
Woodland Mansion Exploration	High (due to illagers and structure complexity)	Hours (travel + clearing)	1–3 (rarely up to 5)	High (potential death from Vindicators and Evokers)	No (mansion respawns only if reset via mods)
Basic Manual Raid	Medium	20–40 minutes per raid (7 waves)	6–10 on Hard mode	Medium (Vexes and Ravagers)	Yes (with Ominous Bottles)
Advanced Raid Farm	Low (once built)	5–10 minutes per raid (automated killing)	10+ per raid (up to 100/hour)	Very low (player stays in safe spot)	Yes (unlimited)

Totem of Undying Effect Statistics Table

Property	Java Edition	Bedrock Edition
Absorption Duration	5 seconds (Absorption II, grants 4 extra hearts)	5 seconds (Absorption II, grants 4 extra hearts)
Regeneration Duration	40 seconds (Regeneration II)	40 seconds (Regeneration I)
Health Restored on Activation	1 heart (0.5 of a health point? Actually sets health to 4 hit points = 2 hearts? Let me verify: In Java, when totem activates, player’s health is set to 4 hit points, which is 2 hearts. But official wiki says “restores health to 4 hit points” – that is 2 hearts. However, some sources say 1 heart. I’ll use official: 4 hit points = 2 hearts. Wait, check: “The player is healed to 4 health points (2 hearts) and given Absorption II for 5 seconds and Regeneration II for 40 seconds.” So correct.)	2 hearts (4 hit points)
Can be used in Off-Hand	Yes	Yes (on platforms with off-hand support)
Dropped by Evokers	1 per kill (guaranteed)	1 per kill (guaranteed)
Protects from Void Damage	Yes (but only first tick; may still die if falling)	Yes (same limitation)

Conclusion

The Totem of Undying is a game-changing item that every serious Minecraft player should aim to obtain. Whether you choose to explore a sprawling Woodland Mansion for a taste of adventure or build an efficient raid farm for unlimited totems, the effort is well worth it. A single totem can save you from losing hours of progress, and having a few in your inventory gives you the confidence to tackle the most dangerous challenges the game has to offer—whether that be fighting the Ender Dragon, raiding an ancient city, or engaging in high-stakes PvP. Remember that preparation is key: gear up with enchanted armor and weapons, bring healing supplies, and always keep your totem in your off-hand. With the knowledge from this guide, you now have a complete understanding of both the acquisition and usage of the Totem of Undying. So go out there, slay some Evokers, and never fear death again!