Totems are structures that possess certain effects, from the ability to cast spells to summoning entities that physically attack nearby enemies. Friendly Tote
3 min read·Updated 2026-07-10·Editor score 91/100
Editor's TakeMedium91/100
Everything you need on Totem in one scan: core mechanics, priority actions, and common mistakes to skip.
Best for: Builders optimizing damage, defense, or clear speed
⚡ Pro Tips
▸Totems are placed at the location of the cursor, at the time of skill activation.
▸Link your main damage skill first — a 2-link beats two unlinked 1-links.
▸Spirit costs gate your aura count; check the spirit bar before adding buffs.
✓ Quick Checklist
☐Totems are placed at the location of the cursor, at the time of skill activation.
☐Totem placement speed determines the time it takes to summon the totem, and the time for a totem to emerge and start using its skills. It is a type of skill speed.
Totems are structures that possess certain effects, from the ability to cast spells to summoning entities that physically attack nearby enemies. Friendly Totems can be buffed by the player and allies, using other skills or ascendancy passive skills like the Warbringer's Answered Call.
Placement
Totems are placed at the location of the cursor, at the time of skill activation.
Totem placement speed determines the time it takes to summon the totem, and the time for a totem to emerge and start using its skills. It is a type of skill speed.
Totems cannot be placed in places which are marked as inaccessible by the map. If summoned on such a location, they will instead be raised at the first valid point closest to where the cursor was.
Totems require line of sight to be placed. If an object is blocking the LoS from character to cursor, the Totem is instead placed directly next to the obstructing object, on the side that is facing the character.
Totem limit
The base maximum number of totems is 1. The totem limit can be increased by:
Body Armour Soul MantleSoul MantleSacrificial MantleArmour: (288-352)Energy Shield: (86-105)Movement Speed: -4.0%Requires Level 36, 33 Str, 33 Int(80-120)% increased Armour and Energy Shield+75 to Spirit+10 to Strength+15 to Intelligence+1 to maximum number of Summoned TotemsInflicts a random Curse on you when your Totems die, ignoring Curse limitThe greatest mistakes cause sufferinglong after they have been made (+1)
Support gem Overabundance IOverabundance ISupportCategory: OverabundanceTier: 1Support Requirements: +5 DexSupports Skills which have a Limit, increasing that Limit at the cost of their duration. Only applies to restrictions that use the word "Limit".Supported Skills have +1 to LimitSupported Skills have 50% less Skill Effect DurationPlace into a Skill's Support Gem socket in the Skills Panel to apply its effects to that Skill. You cannot have multiple Support Gems of the same Category socketed within one Skill. or Overabundance IIOverabundance IISupportCategory: OverabundanceTier: 4Support Requirements: +5 DexSupports Skills which have a Limit, increasing that Limit at the cost of their duration. Only applies to restrictions that use the word "Limit".Supported Skills have +1 to LimitSupported Skills have 40% less Skill Effect DurationPlace into a Skill's Support Gem socket in the Skills Panel to apply its effects to that Skill. You cannot have multiple Support Gems of the same Category socketed within one Skill. (+1)
Notable Ancestral Artifice (+1 to melee attack totems) or noteable Artillery Strike (+1 to ballista totems)
Tactician's Ascendancy notable Cannons, Ready!
The totem limit can also be increased by generic increases to skill limits, such as Idol of UldurnIdol of UldurnCrimson AmuletRequires Level 24(2-4) Life Regeneration per second+(60-80) to maximum Life+(10-20) to DexteritySkills have +1 to Limit(40-20)% reduced Presence Area of Effect(10-15)% increased SpiritWorship of house gods was toleratedin Oriath, so long as it remained private. or Multiplying Squalls (for Siege Ballista only).
Alternatively, the Ancestral Bond keystone removes the limit, but causes each totem to reserve spirit instead.
Related skills
The following skills have the Totem gem tag:
Gem
Tier
Shockwave TotemShockwave TotemAttack, Totem, AoE, Melee, Slam, Duration, NovaTier: 3Level: (1-20)Cost: (15-103) ManaRequires: Any Martial WeaponRaise a Totem that Slams the ground around it, repeatedl
3
Artillery BallistaArtillery BallistaAttack, Totem, AoE, Projectile, Sustained, DurationTier: 7Level: (1-20)Cost: (14-95) ManaRequires: CrossbowDeploy a Ballista Totem that rains down a salvo of Pinnin
7
Spell TotemSpell TotemSpell, Totem, Duration, Conditional, MetaTier: 7Level: (1-20)Cost: (18-121) ManaCast Time: 0.50 secConsume any combination of 3 Power and/or Endurance Charges to raise a Totem th
7
Dark EffigyDark EffigySpell, Totem, AoE, Projectile, Chaos, DurationTier: 9Level: (1-20)Cost: (13-133) ManaCast Time: 1.00 secRaise a Totem that bombards enemies afflicted by Chaos damage over time De
9
Siege BallistaSiege BallistaAttack, Totem, AoE, Projectile, Fire, Duration, RepeatableTier: 9Level: (1-20)Cost: (18-121) ManaRequires: CrossbowDeploy a Ballista Totem that fires bolts skyward, to expl
9
Mortar CannonMortar CannonTotem, Grenade, Duration, MetaTier: 11Level: (1-20)Cost: (18-121) ManaRequires: CrossbowRaise a cannon Ballista Totem which uses socketed Grenade Skills, with significantly i
11
Ancestral Warrior TotemAncestral Warrior TotemAttack, Totem, AoE, Melee, Duration, Conditional, MetaTier: 13Level: (1-20)Cost: (13-91) ManaCost & Reservation Multiplier: (200-100)%Requires: One Hand M
Font of ManaFont of ManaSupport, TotemCategory: FontTier: 2Support Requirements: +5 IntSupports Skills which create Totems. Totems created by supported Skills generate a Font of Mana which will Leech
2
Font of BloodFont of BloodSupport, TotemCategory: FontTier: 2Support Requirements: +5 StrSupports Skills which create Totems. Totems created by supported Skills generate a Font of Blood which will Lee
2
Hardy Totems IHardy Totems ISupport, TotemCategory: Hardy TotemsTier: 2Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 110%Support Requirements: +5 StrSupports Skills which create Totems, causing those Totems to have
2
Urgent Totems IUrgent Totems ISupport, TotemCategory: Urgent TotemsTier: 2Support Requirements: +5 StrSupports Skills which create Totems, causing those Skills to place Totems much more quickly.Suppor
2
Reinforced Totems IReinforced Totems ISupport, TotemCategory: Reinforced TotemsTier: 3Support Requirements: +5 StrSupports Skills which create Totems. Totems created by Supported Skills have additiona
3
Splinter Totem ISplinter Totem ISupport, TotemCategory: Totemic ControlTier: 3Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 120%Support Requirements: +5 StrSupports Skills which create Totems, preventing having more
3
Urgent Totems IIUrgent Totems IISupport, TotemCategory: Urgent TotemsTier: 3Support Requirements: +5 StrSupports Skills which create Totems, causing those Skills to place Totems much more quickly.Supp
3
Hardy Totems IIHardy Totems IISupport, TotemCategory: Hardy TotemsTier: 4Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 110%Support Requirements: +5 StrSupports Skills which create Totems, causing those Totems to hav
4
Urgent Totems IIIUrgent Totems IIISupport, TotemCategory: Urgent TotemsTier: 4Support Requirements: +5 StrSupports Skills which create Totems, causing those Skills to place Totems much more quickly. T
4
Unique items
The following uniques are related to totems:
Item
Stats
Soul MantleSoul MantleSacrificial MantleArmour: (288-352)Energy Shield: (86-105)Movement Speed: -4.0%Requires Level 36, 33 Str, 33 Int(80-120)% increased Armour and Energy Shield+75 to Spirit+10 to St
36
(80-120)% increased Armour and Energy Shield+75 to Spirit+10 to Strength+15 to Intelligence+1 to maximum number of Summoned TotemsInflicts a random Curse on you when your Totems die, ignoring Curse li
Related passive skills
The following passive skills are related to totems:
Totem damage
Name
Stats
Totem Damage
15% increased Totem Damage
Carved Earth
20% increased Totem Damage6% increased Attack and Cast Speed if you've summoned a Totem Recently
Totem skill speed
Name
Stats
Totem Attack Speed
Attacks used by Totems have 4% increased Attack Speed
Totem Cast and Attack Speed
Spells Cast by Totems have 4% increased Cast SpeedAttacks used by Totems have 4% increased Attack Speed
Totem Cast Speed
Spells Cast by Totems have 4% increased Cast Speed
Ancestral Unity
Attacks used by Totems have 4% increased Attack Speed per Summoned Totem
Supportive Ancestors
25% increased Damage while you have a TotemSpells Cast by Totems have 3% increased Cast Speed per Summoned TotemAttacks used by Totems have 3% increased Attack Speed per Summoned Totem
Totem placement speed
Name
Stats
Totem Placement Speed
20% increased Totem Placement speed
Ancestral Alacrity
30% increased Totem Placement speed8% increased Attack and Cast Speed if you've summoned a Totem Recently
Ancestral Reach
25% increased Totem Placement speed50% increased Totem Placement range
25% increased Damage while you have a TotemSpells Cast by Totems have 3% increased Cast Speed per Summoned TotemAttacks used by Totems have 3% increased Attack Speed per Summoned Totem
Watchtowers
Each Totem applies 2% increased Damage taken to Enemies in their PresenceRecoup 5% of damage taken by your Totems as Life
Paths Not Taken passive skills
The following passive skills are exclusive the Oracle with The Unseen Path allocated:
Name
Stats
Totem Area of Effect
10% increased Area of Effect for Skills used by Totems
Totem Cast and Attack Speed
Spells Cast by Totems have 4% increased Cast SpeedAttacks used by Totems have 4% increased Attack Speed
Totem Cast and Attack Speed and Elemental Resistance
Spells Cast by Totems have 2% increased Cast SpeedAttacks used by Totems have 2% increased Attack SpeedTotems gain +1% to all Maximum Elemental Resistances
Totem Elemental Resistance
Totems gain +2% to all Maximum Elemental Resistances
Totem Placement Speed
30% increased Totem Placement speed
Mighty Trunk
20% increased Area of Effect for Skills used by TotemsTotems gain +3% to all Maximum Elemental Resistances
Rustle of the Leaves
Spells Cast by Totems have 6% increased Cast SpeedAttacks used by Totems have 6% increased Attack Speed40% increased Totem Placement speed
Ascendancy passive skills
The following Ascendancy passive skills are related to totems:
AscendancyClass
Name
Stats
Oracle
Totem Cast and Attack Speed
Spells Cast by Totems have 5% increased Cast SpeedAttacks used by Totems have 5% increased Attack Speed
Oracle
Unnamed Heartwood
+1 to maximum number of Summoned TotemsTotems die 6 seconds after their Life is reduced to 0
Tactician
Totem Damage
20% increased Totem Damage
Tactician
Cannons, Ready!
Skills used by Totems have 30% more Skill SpeedTotems only use Skills when you fire an Attack Projectile+1 to maximum number of Summoned Totems
Tactician
Strategic Embankments
Totems you place grant Embankment Auras
Warbringer
Totem Life
20% increased Totem Life
Warbringer
Answered Call
Grants Skill: Ancestral SpiritsTrigger Ancestral Spirits when you Summon a Totem+1 to maximum number of Summoned Totems
Warbringer
Wooden Wall
20% of Damage from Hits is taken from your nearest Totem's Life before you
Keystones
The following Keystones are related to totems:
Name
Stats
Ancestral Bond
Your Totem Limit is doubledNo Charge requirement for placing TotemsTotems reserve 75 Spirit each
Version history
Version
Changes
0.4.0
Totem Placement speed now also scales the speed at which Totems emerge.
0.3.0
In addition, we've fixed a bug where numerous supports which support skills "you use yourself" could support skills used by totems or triggered skills. These no longer do so unless they specify otherw
0.2.0f
All Totem Skills now start gaining Elemental Resistances and Chaos Resistance, scaling up with Skill level, from around Gem level 13. At gem level 20 they have +75% to all Elemental Resistances and +3
0.2.0
Fixed a bug where Ballistae could target inanimate objects.
