How to Get a Totem of Undying in Minecraft: Complete Guide to Woodland Mansions and Evokers

The Totem of Undying is one of Minecraft's most valuable items, providing a literal second chance at life when you're about to die. To fully appreciate why these items are so coveted, learn more about what is a totem of undying and its origins. This golden artifact can save you from certain death, making it an essential item for any serious Minecraft player venturing into dangerous territories. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore everything you need to know about obtaining these life-saving totems, from finding Woodland Mansions to defeating the formidable Evokers that guard them.

What is a Totem of Undying?

Before diving into acquisition strategies, it's important to understand what makes the Totem of Undying so special. Our detailed guide on what does the totem of undying do explains all the mechanics and benefits. When held in your main hand or offhand, this item will automatically activate upon taking fatal damage. For comprehensive usage strategies, check out how to use totem of undying effectively., restoring you to 1 health point and providing temporary buffs including Regeneration II, Absorption II, and Fire Resistance I. The totem is consumed upon use, making each one a precious resource that could mean the difference between losing hours of progress and continuing your adventure.

Understanding Woodland Mansions: Your Primary Source

Woodland Mansions are the primary and most reliable source of Totems of Undying. These massive, dark oak structures spawn rarely in Dark Forest biomes and are home to various hostile Illagers, including the Evokers that drop the coveted totems.

Locating Woodland Mansions

Finding a Woodland Mansion requires patience and proper preparation. The most reliable method is to trade with a Cartographer Villager to obtain a Woodland Explorer Map. Here's how to get one:

1. Find a Cartographer Villager: Look for villagers with white aprons in villages, or convert an unemployed villager using a Cartography Table.

2. Level up the Cartographer: Trade paper and glass panes to increase their level to Journeyman (level 3).

3. Purchase the Explorer Map: At Journeyman level, Cartographers will offer Woodland Explorer Maps for 14 emeralds and a compass.

The map will show the location of the nearest Woodland Mansion, which could be thousands of blocks away from your current position. The mansion appears as a brown building icon on the map, and you'll need to travel to the indicated area to find it.

Comprehensive Woodland Mansion Exploration Strategies

Successfully exploring a Woodland Mansion requires careful planning and systematic approach. These structures are dangerous, multi-level buildings filled with hostile mobs and complex room layouts.

Pre-Exploration Reconnaissance

Before entering the mansion, circle the perimeter to identify all entrances and get a sense of the building's layout. Woodland Mansions typically have:

• Multiple floors: Usually 2-3 levels with different room types
• Various entrances: Main doors, balconies, and sometimes broken walls
• Different wing configurations: No two mansions are identical

Room-by-Room Exploration Strategy

Adopt a systematic approach to ensure you don't miss any Evokers or valuable loot:

1. Start from the bottom floor: Work your way up methodically
2. Clear each room completely: Light up areas with torches to prevent mob respawning
3. Mark explored areas: Use blocks or signs to track your progress
4. Check for secret rooms: Some rooms have hidden areas behind walls

Key Room Types to Prioritize

Focus on these high-priority rooms that are more likely to contain Evokers:

• Large ceremonial rooms: Often contain Evokers performing rituals
• Prison cells: May have trapped Evokers or Vindicators
• Library rooms: Frequently spawn Evokers among the bookshelves
• Dining halls: Large spaces where multiple Illagers congregate

Essential Preparation and Equipment Selection

Proper preparation is crucial for surviving Woodland Mansion exploration and successfully defeating Evokers. Your equipment choices can make the difference between success and disaster.

Armor and Protection

Diamond or Netherite Armor: Full protection is essential. Prioritize:

• Protection IV enchantment: Reduces overall damage
• Unbreaking III: Extends armor durability
• Mending: Repairs armor using experience orbs

Shield: Absolutely critical for blocking Evoker fangs and Vindicator axes. Enchant with:

• Unbreaking III: Increases shield durability
• Mending: Automatic repair from experience

Weapons and Combat Gear

Sword (Diamond/Netherite):

• Sharpness V: Maximum damage output
• Looting III: Increases Totem drop rates from Evokers
• Unbreaking III and Mending: Durability and repair

Bow with Arrows:

• Power V: Increased arrow damage
• Infinity: Unlimited arrows with one arrow in inventory
• Unbreaking III: Extended bow life

Crossbow (Alternative):

• Quick Charge III: Faster reload speed
• Multishot: Fire three arrows simultaneously
• Piercing IV: Arrows pass through multiple enemies

Support Items and Supplies

• Food: Golden apples, cooked beef, or other high-saturation foods
• Potions: Healing, Strength, and Fire Resistance potions
• Torches: Plenty for lighting and preventing mob spawns
• Building blocks: For creating temporary shelters or escape routes
• Ender Pearls: Quick escape option in emergencies
• Milk buckets: Remove negative potion effects

Combat Strategies for Fighting Evokers

Evokers are among Minecraft's most dangerous hostile mobs, wielding powerful magic attacks that require specific counter-strategies.

Understanding Evoker Attacks

Fang Attack: Evokers summon a line of fangs that emerge from the ground, dealing significant damage. These fangs:

• Follow a predictable straight-line pattern
• Can be blocked with shields
• Cannot spawn on certain blocks like stairs or slabs

Vex Summoning: Evokers can summon 2-4 Vexes, small flying mobs that:

• Phase through blocks
• Deal substantial melee damage
• Have limited lifespan (30-119 seconds)
• Are vulnerable to Smite enchantment

Effective Combat Techniques

Shield Strategy: Keep your shield up at all times when facing Evokers. The fang attack can be completely negated with proper shield positioning.

Hit-and-Run Tactics:

1. Approach the Evoker while blocking
2. Strike quickly when in range
3. Retreat immediately to avoid counterattacks
4. Repeat until defeated

Environmental Advantages:

• Use doorways to limit Evoker movement
• Fight on stairs or slabs where fangs cannot spawn
• Create elevated positions for bow attacks

Dealing with Vexes:

• Prioritize killing Vexes immediately when summoned
• Use area-of-effect attacks if possible
• Retreat to confined spaces where Vexes have less maneuvering room

Practical Tips for Finding and Navigation

Successful Woodland Mansion exploration requires good navigation skills and situational awareness.

Navigation Essentials

Coordinate Tracking: Always know your position using F3 (Java Edition) or by crafting maps. Record important coordinates:

• Mansion entrance location
• Your base/spawn point coordinates
• Any valuable room locations

Waypoint System: Create visible landmarks:

• Place torches in consistent patterns
• Use colored wool blocks as markers
• Build temporary bridges or platforms for reference points

Efficient Exploration Patterns

Systematic Grid Method:

1. Divide the mansion into sections mentally
2. Complete one section before moving to the next
3. Use consistent movement patterns (always turn right, for example)
4. Mark completed areas clearly

Emergency Procedures:

• Always carry materials for emergency shelters
• Keep escape routes identified
• Never venture too far from known safe areas
• Maintain full health and hunger before engaging enemies

Maximizing Totem Collection

Looting Enchantment: This is crucial for increasing Totem drop rates. Evokers have a base 1/1 (100%) chance to drop a Totem, but Looting can provide additional chances for multiple drops. For large-scale collection, consider building how to make a totem farm for automated gathering.

Thorough Exploration: Don't leave until you've found all Evokers. Large mansions can contain 3-5 Evokers, meaning multiple Totems per expedition.

Raid Events: After clearing a mansion, you might trigger a raid in nearby villages, which can spawn additional Evokers with more Totem opportunities.

Alternative Methods and Advanced Strategies

While Woodland Mansions are the primary source, there are additional ways to obtain Totems of Undying:

Raids: Participating in village raids can spawn Evokers during later waves. This method is more accessible but less predictable than mansion exploration.

Outpost Farming: Some advanced players create raid farms near Pillager Outposts to repeatedly trigger raids and farm Evokers for Totems.

Conclusion

Obtaining Totems of Undying requires significant preparation, combat skill, and exploration patience. The journey to acquire these life-saving items will test your Minecraft abilities, but the reward of having a safety net against death makes the effort worthwhile. Remember to prepare thoroughly, explore systematically, and approach each Evoker encounter with respect for their dangerous abilities.

With proper preparation and the strategies outlined in this guide, you'll be well-equipped to successfully navigate Woodland Mansions, defeat Evokers, and build a collection of Totems of Undying. Remember, you cannot make a totem of undying through crafting, making these acquisition methods your only option. that will keep you safe during your most dangerous Minecraft adventures. Whether you're exploring the Nether, fighting the Ender Dragon, or simply mining in dangerous areas, having a Totem of Undying in your inventory provides invaluable peace of mind and protection against unexpected death.