To get a Totem of Undying in Minecraft, defeat an evoker. To use it, hold it in either hand—Mojang recommends the off-hand—before taking otherwise fatal damage. The totem is consumed when it saves you, and it cannot prevent every kind of death.
How to get a Totem of Undying
Defeat an evoker to obtain a Totem of Undying, according to Mojang’s item guide. Evokers can be found in woodland mansions and during raids. Mojang notes that mansion evokers appear on upper floors.
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Evokers are dangerous opponents: they cast spells that summon fangs and vexes. Prepare for the encounter rather than assuming a totem will make it safe. The totem protects its holder only if it is already held when fatal damage occurs.
How to use a Totem of Undying
- Move the totem into a hand slot before entering a dangerous situation. It will not protect you while it sits in an unselected hotbar slot.
- For the usual setup, place it in your off-hand. Mojang identifies the off-hand as the recommended way to carry it for protection.
- If damage would otherwise kill you, the totem activates automatically. You do not need to select or trigger it at that moment.
It is single-use: after activating, the totem is consumed. Carry another one if you want the same protection after the first activation.
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What happens when it activates
The totem prevents the fatal hit from killing you and grants Regeneration II, Fire Resistance, and Absorption II. Mojang’s item guide does not specify effect durations, so those timings should not be assumed across editions or versions.
What a Totem of Undying cannot prevent
Mojang explicitly says a totem will not save you from falling into the void or from a /kill command. Other edge cases may vary by edition or game version; check the mechanics for the edition you play before relying on it in unusual situations.
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- Explore randomly-generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in Creative Mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armour to fend off the dangerous mobs
Totem or shield in the off-hand?
You cannot hold a shield and a totem in the off-hand at the same time. The choice is situational:
- Choose the totem when avoiding one otherwise fatal mistake matters more than having a shield ready.
- Choose the shield when you expect to block incoming attacks and are confident you can avoid fatal damage without the totem’s one-use rescue.
A totem is a backup, not a substitute for preparation. That matters especially when fighting evokers, whose spells can add pressure from fangs and vexes.
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