Totems are equippable buffs that modify core stats and behavior. You can run two at a time, and many of them come in multiple strength tiers. The right pairing can dramatically change how you move, loot, and survive, so it’s worth planning your loadout around your objective—money runs, PvE clear, storm excursions, or high-risk boss hunts.
How to unlock and equip Totems
- Collect Fading Feathers from enemies during raids; they stack in your inventory.
- Back at your base, offer Fading Feathers at the Totem shrine (the area features summoning circles) to unlock or roll Totems.
- Equip Totems in the dedicated Totem slots; you can run two simultaneously.
Known Totems and what they do
| Totem | Effect | Use case |
|---|---|---|
| Carry Capacity (e.g., Sturdy, “Backpack”) | Increases carry weight and/or inventory slots. | Maximizes looting and reduces stamina penalties from heavy kits. |
| HP Increase | Raises maximum health. | General-purpose survivability in all content. |
| Perception | Extends perception range. | Earlier detection and situational awareness in open areas. |
| Recovery | After 10s without taking damage, gradually restores a large amount of HP; increases Hydration and Energy cost rate. | Sustained runs where you can disengage and reset between fights. |
| Ninja | Slightly reduces sound transmission distance while running. | Stealth approaches, flanks, and avoiding unnecessary aggro. |
| Fire Resistance | Grants immunity to Ignite and slightly reduces fire damage. | Hazard-heavy zones and enemies that rely on burn effects. |
| Aegis | Defensive shield-style buff (tanky focus). | Frontline survivability and brawling. |
| Physical Resistance | Reduces incoming physical damage. | Stack with Aegis for a durable, face-tank build. |
| Gun Control | Improves weapon handling/accuracy control. | Precision in unstable conditions (e.g., storm runs). |
| Damage: Assault | Boosts assault-style weapon damage. | Aggressive clearing with rifles/SMGs. |
| Headshot | Increases headshot damage effectiveness. | Marksmanship-focused play with reliable aim. |
Best Totem pairings by objective
Money runs (loot-first)
- Carry Capacity + HP Increase: The most consistent value play. The first keeps you under key weight thresholds longer, the second prevents chip damage from ending the run early.
- Alternative: Carry Capacity + Recovery if you can break line of sight for ~10 seconds to regen, and you’re comfortable managing higher Hydration/Energy usage.
Storm excursions and unstable conditions
- Gun Control + HP Increase: Weapon handling steadies shots when visibility and recoil control suffer; extra HP gives breathing room during chaotic engagements.
- Swap-in: Gun Control + Physical Resistance if you expect a lot of close-quarters trades where time-to-kill stretches.
Frontline brawler (maximum durability)
- Aegis + Physical Resistance: A reliable tank combo that lets you absorb burst damage and punish pushes.
- Flex: Replace one with Fire Resistance in burn-heavy areas to negate Ignite and cut fire chip damage.
Aggressive clears (damage-forward)
- Damage: Assault + Headshot: Melts targets when you can land shots consistently. Works well with accurate rifles and SMGs.
- Safety valve: If you’re whiffing shots or trading often, switch Headshot → HP Increase for more margin.
Stealth and scouting
- Ninja + Perception: Get closer before you’re heard, and pick up threats earlier. Great for information plays, flanking, and avoiding wasted fights.
- Swap-out: If you’re looting more than scouting, replace Perception → Carry Capacity.
When to swap Totems mid-progression
Don’t lock into one pair for every raid. Use the prep screen to tailor Totems to the zone, weather, and your goal. If you’re chasing a specific drop or quest item, take Carry Capacity early, then pivot to combat or defense once your stash milestones are met. Heading into areas with environmental hazards? Shift one slot to Fire Resistance for the duration of that push.
In longer sessions, Recovery pays off if you play around it—clear a pack, reposition, and let it tick back lost HP. If you’re running low on drinks or food, skip it; the increased Hydration and Energy cost rate will catch up fast.
Simple loadout templates
| Scenario | Primary Totem | Secondary Totem | Why it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early wipe money farming | Carry Capacity | HP Increase | Loot more, survive mistakes, stabilize economy quickly. |
| Storm or low-visibility raids | Gun Control | HP Increase | Cleaner bursts and extra buffer in unpredictable fights. |
| Boss or elite PvE push | Aegis | Physical Resistance | Soaks burst damage, enabling longer uptime in the pocket. |
| Marksman playstyle | Headshot | Damage: Assault | High payoff for accurate, controlled engagements. |
| Stealth route and recon | Ninja | Perception | Stay quiet on approach and spot threats earlier. |
| Hazard-heavy zones | Fire Resistance | HP Increase | Negates Ignite and cushions incidental damage. |
Management tips and pitfalls
- Protect your Totems: Always empty a Totem slot before equipping a new one to avoid losing it.
- Mind the tiers: If you pull a higher-tier version of a favorite Totem, swap immediately; the stat bump is meaningful.
- Plan for sustain: If you use Recovery, pack extra Hydration and food, or plan shorter routes with safe reset points.
- Objective-led picks: If the run’s goal is extraction value, Carry Capacity belongs in one slot. If the goal is pure clear, lean into Aegis/Physical Resistance or Damage-forward pairs.
The meta isn’t complicated: for most players, Carry Capacity + HP Increase is the default for profitable, low-stress raids. When the mission shifts—to storms, bosses, or stealth—swap one or both to match the moment. Two slots, one clear rule: let the objective choose the Totem, not habit.
