The Totem of Undying is one of the most valuable items in Minecraft. When held in your main hand or off-hand, it prevents death from most fatal damage (except the void, the /kill command, or certain harming effects). Upon activation it restores you to half a heart, clears status effects, and grants Regeneration II (45 seconds), Fire Resistance I (40 seconds), and Absorption II (5 seconds). The totem is then consumed.

Evokers are the only mob that drops Totems of Undying. Each Evoker always drops exactly one, and the drop rate is unaffected by the Looting enchantment. Evokers appear in two places: Woodland Mansions and village raids. Mansions give a limited, one-time supply. Raids provide a renewable and far more efficient source, which is why raid farms are the standard way to stockpile totems.

Totem Of Undying

Woodland Mansions (Limited Supply)

Woodland Mansions generate only in Dark Forest biomes and are often thousands of blocks from spawn. You can locate them with Woodland Explorer Maps bought from Cartographer villagers.

Evokers spawn in specific rooms on the second and third floors during world generation. A single mansion typically contains one to three Evokers. Once killed, they do not respawn. Clearing a mansion is a good early source of a few totems, but it is not a farming method. Come prepared with strong armor, a bow or crossbow, and milk, because Evokers summon Vexes and magical fangs that ignore armor.

Raid Farming (The Reliable Method)

Raid Farm

Raids are the best way to farm Totems of Undying. On Hard difficulty you can encounter up to five Evokers per raid (they begin appearing around wave 5 and increase in later waves). Higher-level Bad Omen effects can produce extra waves and more Evokers.

Obtaining Bad Omen

Bad Omen is no longer applied automatically by killing a Pillager Captain. Instead, you must drink an Ominous Bottle.

  • Pillager Captains (the ones carrying an ominous banner) at Pillager Outposts or in patrols drop an Ominous Bottle (levels I to V) when killed, provided they are not currently part of a raid.
  • Ominous Bottles also appear in Trial Chamber vaults and ominous vaults.

Drinking the bottle gives Bad Omen for 100 minutes. Entering a valid village while under the effect starts a raid after a short delay (Raid Omen appears first).

Basic Requirements for a Raid Farm

  • At least one villager and one bed (this creates a minimal village).
  • A controlled surface where raiders can spawn. Raiders will not spawn on leaves, scaffolding, or liquids, so these blocks help funnel them.
  • A system that moves the raiders into a kill chamber (water streams, drop holes, or trapdoors).
  • A collection system with hoppers and chests.
  • A safe, enclosed space for the villager so it cannot escape or be killed.
  • A reliable supply of Ominous Bottles (often by converting a nearby Pillager Outpost into a captain farm).

Many players build these farms over the ocean. The open water prevents unwanted mob spawns and makes it easier to control where raiders appear.

Simple Construction Outline

  1. Choose an isolated location far from other villages.
  2. Build a tall tower or elevated platform. Place the villager and bed in a fully enclosed chamber at the top (glass works well for visibility). Transport the villager carefully, often in a boat attached to a lead, and wait for night so it sleeps immediately before sealing the chamber.
  3. Create a spawn platform a short distance away or surrounding the villager area. Include openings or water channels that force raiders toward a central drop or kill zone.
  4. Below the drop, build a kill chamber. Options include a long fall for damage, magma blocks, lava blades (especially useful for Ravagers, which are too large for small openings), or a player-accessible area where you can finish them with a Looting sword for extra emeralds and XP.
  5. Place hoppers under the kill area leading to chests for automatic collection of totems, emeralds, and other drops.
  6. Optional but recommended: add lighting or spawn-proofing around the farm so only the intended raiders appear, and create a safe AFK or observation spot.

Once the farm is ready, drink an Ominous Bottle while near the villager. Raiders will spawn on the platform, fall or be pushed into the kill chamber, and drop their loot. After the raid ends, collect the totems and repeat by drinking another bottle.

Tips for Better Results

  • Play on Hard difficulty. This maximizes the number of waves and Evokers.
  • Higher-level Ominous Bottles (III to V) generally produce stronger raids.
  • Evokers summon Vexes, so keep distance or clear them quickly. Bells can make raiders glow, making them easier to track.
  • Protect your villager completely. If all villagers die, the raid fails.
  • Looting III increases emerald drops from Evokers and other illagers but does not affect the totem itself.
  • Many designs also yield large amounts of emeralds, gunpowder (from witches), iron gear, saddles, and experience. Completing raids grants the Hero of the Village effect, which improves trading.
  • Designs differ slightly between Java and Bedrock Editions and can change with updates. Search for a recent tutorial matching your version (for example, “Minecraft raid farm 1.21” or the current release) for precise block-by-block instructions and schematics.

Why Raid Farms Are Worth Building

A well-designed raid farm can produce dozens of Totems of Undying per hour along with stacks of emeralds and other useful items. Once you have a steady supply of Ominous Bottles and a working farm, you never need to worry about running out of totems again. This makes dangerous activities such as elytra flying, nether exploration, or Hardcore play far safer.

Start with a simple design if you are early in the game, then upgrade to more efficient versions later. With a bit of preparation you can turn one of Minecraft’s rarest and most useful items into a renewable resource.