Totems

Totems are Props and a Game Mechanic that were added to Dead by Daylight with Patch 1.3.0.

Overview

All Trials spawn with 5 Totems in random location, usually hidden against environmental objects and in nooks and crannies.

Depending on the Perks that are used (or not) by the Players participating in the Trial, Totems will appear in one of 3 possible states:

• Default as a Dull Totem.
• Cursed as a Hex Totem (a Rekindled Totem is equivalent to this state).
• Blessed as a Boon Totem.

Interactions

There are 4 possible ways to interact between Players and Totems.
2 of them require having certain Perks equipped:

• Cleansing
• Blessing
• Snuffing
• Rekindling

Cleansing

This interaction is only available to Survivors

Cleansing is available on Dull Totems and Hex Totems.

Survivors can walk up to either type of Totem and perform the Cleansing interaction, which by default takes 14 seconds to complete.
If this action is interrupted it will result in any partial progress being reset.

Once the interaction is completed, the Totem breaks apart into its constituent parts.
If it was a Hex Totem, this will trigger a map-wide thunderclap sound effect and remove the Hex Curse from it (which usually disables the associated Hex Perk).
Cleansing all Totems in the environment will prevent any new Hexes from being applied to them, as cleansed Totems cannot be (re-)hexed.

Blessing

This interaction is only available to Survivors

Blessing is available on all Dull Totems and Hex Totems, if the Survivor has a Boon Perk equipped.

Survivors with Boon Perks equipped can walk up to either type of Totem and perform the Blessing interaction, which by default takes 14 seconds to complete on Dull Totems, and 28 seconds (double, Blessing a Hex Totem applies an Action Speed penalty of -50 %) to complete on Hex Totems.
If this action is interrupted it will result in any partial progress being reset.

Once the interaction is completed, a map-wide thunder-roar sound effect is triggered, and the effects of the Boon Perks equipped by the Survivor performing the Blessing radiate from the newly created Boon Totem.
Blessing a Hex Totem has the same effects as Cleansing, except that instead of breaking apart the Totem, it will instead transform it into a Boon Totem.

Snuffing

This interaction is only available to Killers

Snuffing is available to all Killers by default.

A Killer can walk up to any Boon Totem and snuff it out, which takes 1 second to complete.

Snuffing out a Boon Totem removes its blessing and transforms it back into a Dull Totem.
If the Killer is using the Perk Shattered Hope, this interaction will instead break the Totem apart into its constituent parts, as if a Survivor had cleansed it.

Rekindling

This interaction is only available to Killers

Rekindling is available on all cleansed Totems, if the Killer has the Perk Hex: Pentimento equipped.

A Killer can walk up to any cleansed Totem and rekindle it, which takes 1 second to complete, transforming it into a Rekindled Totem, which looks slightly different to a regular Hex Totem, but otherwise behaves identically, with two exceptions (see below).

Totem Types

There are 4 different types of Totems:

Dull Totems

Dull Totems are unlit Totems found in random locations throughout the environment.

Unless the Killer uses any Hex Perk, or Hex: No One Escapes Death or Hex: Plaything prior to their activation, all Totems will be Dull Totems at the start of the Trial.

Hex Totems

Hex Totems are a special kind of Totem, identifiable by the lit candles underneath them.

If the Killer uses any Hex Perk (with the exceptions of Hex: No One Escapes Death, Hex: Plaything, Hex: Face the Darkness, or Hex: Two Can Play, which will not light their potential Totems until their activation), a randomly chosen Dull Totem will become a Hex Totem at the start of the Trial.

Each Hex Perk is tied to its own Hex Totem.
Neither the Killer nor the Survivors have any means to discern, which Hex is associated with which Hex Totem.

The destruction of a Hex Totem is accompanied by a distinct map-wide audio cue of a thunderclap.

Boon Totems

Boon Totems are another special kind of Totem, identifiable, and differing from Hex Totems, by a bluish shimmer emanating from the candles underneath them, as well as an audible drone sound effect whenever someone is within their range (24 metres).

Boon Totems cannot be cleansed, only snuffed.

The creation of a Boon Totem is accompanied by one of 3 distinct map-wide audio cues of a thunder-roar, similar to that of a destroyed Hex Totem, but less explosive.

Rekindled Totems

Rekindled Totems are a secondary form of a Hex Totem.
The only way to create them is by using the Hex Perk Hex: Pentimento, which allows the Killer to rekindle the broken remains of a cleansed Totem.

Rekindled Totems work the same as a Hex Totem, with the sole two differences that once they are cleansed again, The Entity will completely remove the broken remains from the environment, making any further interaction impossible, and that Survivors cannot bless them.

Unlockables

Survivor Perks

	Better than New	You are an expert in combat medicine. Patients leave your care reinvigorated. Completing a Healing action on another Survivor grants them the following benefits until they receive damage again: Increases their Action speeds for Blessing, Cleansing, Healing, and Unlocking by 12/14/16 %.
	Boon: Circle of Healing	A Boon that offers comfort amidst the terror. Press and hold the Active Ability button on a Dull or Hex Totem to bless it and create a Boon Totem. Soft chimes ring out in a radius of 24 metres. All Survivors benefit from the following effects when inside the Boon Totem's radius: Increases the Altruistic Healing speeds by 50/75/100 % when not using a Med-Kit. If a Survivor is injured, their Aura is revealed to all other Survivors. Survivors can only be affected by one instance of Boon: Circle of Healing at a time. Only one Totem can be blessed by your Boon Perks at a time and all of their effects are active on the same Boon Totem. "Try this, it is better than anything you'll find in a pharmacy." — Mikaela Reid
	Boon: Dark Theory	"Your obsessive study of the paranormal has given you unprecedented knowledge of other Realms and planes of existence." Press and hold the Active Ability button on a Dull or Hex Totem to bless it and create a Boon Totem. Soft chimes ring out in a radius of 24 metres. All Survivors benefit from the following effects when inside the Boon Totem's radius: Grants a +3 % Haste Status Effect. This effect lingers for 2/3/4 seconds after leaving the Boon Totem's range. Only one Totem can be blessed by your Boon Perks at a time and all of their effects are active on the same Boon Totem.
	Boon: Exponential	When it seems like your number is up, you consider ways to recalculate the odds. Press and hold the Active Ability button on a Dull or Hex Totem to bless it and create a Boon Totem. Soft chimes ring out in a radius of 24 metres. All Survivors benefit from the following effects when inside the Boon Totem's radius: 90/95/100 % bonus to the Recovery speed. Unlocks the Self-Recovery ability, allowing you to fully recover from the Dying State. Only one Totem can be blessed by your Boon Perks at a time and all of their effects are active on the same Boon Totem. "It is not our time to die... probably." — Jonah Vasquez
	Boon: Illumination	"Your keen insight is something best shared with others." Press and hold the Active Ability button on a Dull or Hex Totem to bless it and create a Boon Totem. Soft chimes ring out in a radius of 24 metres. All Survivors benefit from the following effects when inside the Boon Totem's radius: The Auras of all Chests and Generators are revealed to you in blue. Increases your Action speeds for Blessing and Cleansing by 6/8/10 % while you have a lit Boon Totem. Survivors can only be affected by one instance of Boon: Illumination at a time. Only one Totem can be blessed by your Boon Perks at a time and all of their effects are active on the same Boon Totem. "A shift in reality. Heavy with hidden meanings." — Return
	Boon: Shadow Step	A Boon that conceals the truth. Press and hold the Active Ability button on a Dull or Hex Totem to bless it and create a Boon Totem. Soft chimes ring out in a radius of 24 metres. All Survivors benefit from the following effects when inside the Boon Totem's radius: Scratch Marks are suppressed. Auras are hidden from The Killer. Both effects linger for 2/3/4 seconds after leaving the Boon Totem's range. Only one Totem can be blessed by your Boon Perks at a time and all of their effects are active on the same Boon Totem. "Stick to the shadows and cover your tracks." — Mikaela Reid
	Calm Spirit	Animals seem to trust you as they often stay calm in your presence. Prevents Crows from being alerted by your proximity and flying off, unless they are being stepped on. Suppresses the urge to scream from any cause at all times. Suppresses all noises related to unlocking Chests, and cleansing or blessing Totems. Reduces the Interaction speeds with Chests and Totems by 40/35/30 %.
	Clairvoyance	There is an intrinsic energy in you that sees beyond your vision. After cleansing or blessing a Totem, Clairvoyance activates: While empty-handed, press and hold the Use Item button to unlock your full Aura-reading potential for up to 8/9/10 seconds, allowing you to see the Auras of the following environmental objects within 64 metres: Chests Exit Gate Switches Generators Hatch Hooks "Does anyone else see that? Just me?" — Mikaela Reid
	Counterforce	You know how to withstand an enemy stronger than you, and it starts with hunting down and knocking out their support. You cleanse Totems 20 % faster. Gain another, stack-able 20 % Cleansing Speed bonus per cleansed Totem. After cleansing a Totem, the Aura of the Totem farthest from you is revealed to you for 2/3/4 seconds. "I don't mind a little detective work." — Jill Valentine
	Detective's Hunch	Unlocks potential in your Aura-reading ability: Each time a Generator is completed, Detective's Hunch triggers its effect: The Auras of the following objects within 32/48/64 metres of your location are revealed to you for 10 seconds: Chests Generators Totems When carrying a Map, any objects revealed by Detective's Hunch are automatically added to it. "Are you able to tell us where you were last night?" — Detective David Tapp
	Hardened	Live long enough, and survival will run in your blood. After unlocking a Chest and either blessing or cleansing a Totem, Hardened activates: Suppresses the urge to scream from any cause and instead causes the Aura of the Killer to be revealed to you for 3/4/5 seconds. "Got to keep quiet. That thing is still out there." — Lara Croft
	Inner Strength	You look inwards and trust your instincts when you feel lost and alone. Each time you cleanse a Totem, Inner Strength activates: You are automatically healed 1 Health State while hiding inside a Locker for 10/9/8 seconds when injured or suffering from the Deep Wound Status Effect. Inner Strength does not activate if you currently suffer from the Broken Status Effect. "All this time I've been trying so hard to pretend like everything's fine, but it's not." — Nancy Wheeler
	Mirrored Illusion	A familiar spell made unfamiliar in this corrupted landscape. After repairing Generators for a total of 20 %, Mirrored Illusion activates: Press the Active Ability button when next to either a Chest, Exit Gate, Generator, or a Totem to spawn a Static Illusion that lasts for 40/50/60 seconds. Mirrored Illusion deactivates after triggering successfully. "Just... stay there... perfect!" — Baermar
	Overzealous	Fighting back against the Ravage motivates and inspires you. After cleansing or blessing a Totem, Overzealous activates: Dull Totem: Increases your Repair speed by 8/9/10 %. Hex Totem: Increases your Repair speed by 16/18/20 %. Overzealous deactivates after losing a Health State by any means. "The Ravage senses us. We need to work fast." — Haddie Kaur, Ravages of the Abyss Episode 9
	Resilience	You are motivated in dire situations. Increases the Action speeds for the following interactions by 3/6/9 %: Blessing or Cleansing Totems. Healing yourself or other Survivors. Opening Exit Gates. Repairing Generators. Sabotaging Hooks. Searching Chests. Unhooking other Survivors. Vaulting Windows. "Focus, even in these desperate times."
	Small Game	"You have the undeniable capability to sense danger." Projects an invisible cone in the direction you are looking with a Detection angle of 45 ° and a range of 8/10/12 metres: Triggers an audio cue when detecting any type of Totem within it. This effect has a cool-down of 14/12/10 seconds after use. Each time a Totem is cleansed, Small Game gains +1 Token, up to a maximum of 5 Tokens: Reduces the Detection angle of the cone by a stack-able -5 ° per Token, up to a maximum of -25 °. "Nope." — Andy, The Lost Tapes
	Spine Chill	An unnatural tingle warns you of impending doom. Whenever the Killer is within 36 metres of your location and looking at you with a clear Line of Sight, Spine Chill activates: Warns of the Killer's proximity and their potential awareness of your location by lighting its icon. Increases your Action speeds for Blessing, Cleansing, Gate-Opening, Healing, Repairing, Sabotaging, Unhooking, and Unlocking by 2/4/6 %. This effect lingers for 0.5 seconds after the Killer loses Line of Sight or exits the Activation range. "There is a voice that doesn't use words. Listen.." — Sassy, The Lost Tapes

Killer Perks

	Dominance	The power you wield over the land strikes terror in the hearts of all who cross your path. The first time each Chest and each Totem are interacted with by a Survivor, Dominance triggers its effect: Calls upon The Entity to block it for 8/12/16 seconds. The Aura of the blocked Prop is revealed to you in white. "Tragic, is it not? How powerless you must feel." — Dracula
	Hex: Blood Favour	A Hex that gains the favour of The Entity when blood is spilt. Whenever a Survivor loses a Health State by any means, Hex: Blood Favour triggers its effect: Blocks all upright Pallets within 24/28/32 metres of that Survivor's location at the time for 15 seconds. Blocked Pallets cannot be dropped. All effects of the Hex Perk persist until its Hex Totem is cleansed or blessed. "It would be no leap of the imagination to suggest that the Trials are a biological response of sorts." — Journal of Talbot Grimes
	Hex: Crowd Control	A Hex that ensures those lesser than you are properly herded. Whenever any Survivor performs a Rushed action to vault a Window, Hex: Crowd Control triggers its effect: Permanently blocks the last 3/4/5 Windows to all Survivors. Any successive trigger unblocks the oldest Blocked Window. All effects of the Hex Perk persist until its Hex Totem is cleansed or blessed. "You have no control. People like you never did." — Ji-Woon Hak
	Hex: Devour Hope	A Hex rooting its power on hope. The false hope of Survivors ignites your hunger. Whenever a Survivor is rescued from a Hook while you are at least 24 metres away, Hex: Devour Hope is granted +1 Token, up to a maximum of 5 Tokens: 2 Tokens: Grants a 3/4/5 % Haste Status Effect for 10 seconds after 10 seconds of having hooked a Survivor. 3 Tokens: Causes all Survivors to suffer from a permanent Exposed Status Effect. 5 Tokens: Grants the ability to kill all Survivors by your own hand. All effects of the Hex Perk persist until its Hex Totem is cleansed or blessed. "If you do nothing, you have their blood on your hands. If you save them, her hunger grows."
	Hex: Face the Darkness	You make an example of one of your victims, forcing their allies to become awed by your power. Whenever you injure a Survivor by any means, if there is still a Dull Totem remaining on the Map, Hex: Face the Darkness activates and lights it, cursing that Survivor: Causes all other Survivors to scream every 35/30/25 seconds, if they are outside of the Terror Radius, revealing their Auras for 2 seconds each time. Hex: Face the Darkness deactivates once the Cursed Survivor either enters the Dying State or is fully healed, which extinguishes the Totem. Hex: Face the Darkness is disabled for the remainder of the Trial, if a Survivor manages to cleanse its Hex Totem. "I shall make an example of one. These mewling worms will never know peace." — Tarhos Kovács
	Hex: Fortune's Fool	"A Hex that toys with a victim's suffering." Each time you hook a Survivor for the first time, if there is at least one Dull Totem in the environment, Hex: Fortune's Fool activates and lights a Hex Totem: Causes that Survivor to suffer permanently from the Oblivious Status Effect. Blocks their Hex Totem from being cleansed by any other Survivor for 90 seconds. The Aura of their Hex Totem is revealed to the Cursed Survivor within 24/20/16 metres. All effects of the Hex Perk persist until its Hex Totem is cleansed or blessed.
	Hex: Haunted Ground	At the start of the Trial, Hex: Haunted Ground spawns 2 Hex Totems in the environment. When either Hex Totem is blessed or cleansed by a Survivor, the following effects apply: Causes all Survivors to suffer from the Exposed Status Effect for 40/50/60 seconds. Transforms the second Hex Totem into a Dull Totem. "Her home become profane."
	Hex: Huntress Lullaby	A Hex rooting its power in despair. Your hunt is an irresistible song of dread which muddles your prey's attention. Increases the default Progression penalty incurred by Failed Skill Checks by 2/4/6 %. This only affects Healing and Repairing actions. Whenever a Survivor is hooked, Hex: Huntress Lullaby grows in power and gains +1 Token, up to a maximum of 5 Tokens: Increasingly shortens the time between an affected incoming Skill Check appearing and triggering its audio cue beforehand: 1 Token: -14 % 2 Tokens: -28 % 3 Tokens: -42 % 4 Tokens: -56 % 5 Tokens: Suppresses the audio cue altogether. All effects of the Hex Perk persist until its Hex Totem is cleansed or blessed. "That song, it drives me crazy!"
	Hex: No One Escapes Death	A Hex rooting its power on hope. You are animated by the power of your Hex Totem when the Survivors are on the verge of escaping. Once the Exit Gates are powered, if there is still a Dull Totem remaining in the environment, Hex: No One Escapes Death activates and lights it: Grants a 2/3/4 % Haste Status Effect. Causes all Survivors to suffer from the Exposed Status Effect. Once the Status Effect is revealed to Survivors, Hex: No One Escapes Death triggers the following effect: The Aura of its Hex Totem is revealed to all Survivors within 4 metres. This range gradually expands to 24 metres over the course of 30 seconds. Hex: No One Escapes Death remains inactive if no Dull Totems are available. All effects of the Hex Perk persist until its Hex Totem is cleansed or blessed. "And the beast became faster and more powerful as if The Entity's shadowy whips were lashing at its back."
	Hex: Nothing but Misery	"You've been driven to the absolute depths of pain, and now you're ready to inflict that pain on others." After damaging Survivors a total of 8 times with Basic Attacks, a random Dull Totem becomes a Hex Totem, cursing all Survivors: Survivors damaged by a Basic Attack suffer from a -5 % Hindered Status Effect for 10/12.5/15 seconds. All effects of the Hex Perk persist until its Hex Totem is cleansed or blessed. "All of the liabilities of this world are due to the inadequacies of the person involved." — Ken Kaneki
	Hex: Pentimento	"You reveal the true power of the Totems, hidden within their remains." Unlocks potential in your Aura-reading ability: The Auras of cleansed Totems are revealed to you in white. Press the Interaction button over the remains of a cleansed Totem to resurrect it as a Rekindled Totem. For each Rekindled Totem, Hex: Pentimento gains +1 Token, up to a maximum of 5 Tokens: 1 Token: Reduces the Action speeds for Healing and Repairing by -20 %. 2 to 5 Tokens: Increase the strength of the Action Speed penalty by a stackable 1/2/3 % per Token, up to a maximum of 24/28/32 %. Survivors cursed by Hex: Pentimento see the Auras of Rekindled Totems within 16 metres. Once Hex: Pentimento has reached its limit of 5 Tokens, it calls upon The Entity for the following effect: Blocks all Rekindled Totems for the remainder of the Trial. Totems may only be rekindled once per Trial, with The Entity consuming the remains of Rekindled Totems once they are cleansed. All effects of the Hex Perk persist until its Hex Totem is cleansed or blessed. "Though a pentimento is an inherently concealed piece of art, there is something to be said of the desire to discover that which is beyond." — A Guide to Art & Process (1961)
	Hex: Plaything	THIS PERK WAS RETIRED (This Unlockable can no longer be obtained and stockpiles can no longer be used. It will not return to the Game.) Identical to Hex: Fortune's Fool. "We came. Now you must come with us. Taste our pleasure." — Pinhead
	Hex: Retribution	A Hex that lashes out upon its destruction. Those who cross you will be punished. Whenever a Survivor blesses or cleanses a Totem, the following effects apply: Causes that Survivor to suffer from the Oblivious Status Effect for 35/40/45 seconds. The Auras of all Survivors are revealed to you for 15 seconds after completing the interaction. All effects of the Hex Perk persist until its Hex Totem is cleansed or blessed. "Bloody fool, you pulled the trigger on yourself." — Caleb Quinn
	Hex: Ruin	A Hex that affects the Generator Repair progress of all Survivors. Whenever a Generator is not being repaired by a Survivor, it will immediately and automatically regress its Repair progress at 50/75/100 % of the normal Regression speed. All effects of the Hex Perk persist until its Hex Totem is cleansed or blessed. "A curse is upon you. It will cause your ruin."
	Hex: The Third Seal	A Hex that hinders the Survivors' Aura-reading abilities. The last 2/3/4 Survivors you hit with a Basic or Special Attack suffer permanently from the Blindness Status Effect. All effects of the Hex Perk persist until its Hex Totem is cleansed or blessed. "She touched your skin, you bear the witch's mark!"
	Hex: Thrill of the Hunt	A Hex rooting its power on hope. The false hope of Survivors fills you with excitement and strengthens your Totems. Start the Trial with 5 Tokens, one per Totem: Reduces the Action speeds for Blessing and Cleansing by a stack-able 8/10/12 % per Token, up to a maximum of 40/50/60 %. Hex: Thrill of the Hunt loses -1 Token whenever a Totem is cleansed. All effects of the Hex Perk persist until its Hex Totem is cleansed or blessed.
	Hex: Two Can Play	"A Hex that teaches those who mess with you a lesson." Anytime you are stunned or blinded by any Survivor a total of 4/3/2 times, and if there is not yet a Hex Totem already associated with Hex: Two Can Play and there is at least one Dull Totem remaining in the Trial Grounds, Hex: Two Can Play activates on a random Totem: Blinds all Survivors who stun or blind you for 1.5 seconds. This does not affect carried Survivors. All effects of the Hex Perk persist until its Hex Totem is cleansed or blessed. "From now on, no more Mr Good Guy." — Chucky
	Hex: Undying	A Hex which maintains the vile powers that flow throughout the Trial. The Auras of Survivors within 2/3/4 metres of any Dull Totem are revealed to you. When another Perk's Hex Totem is cleansed or blessed, its Hex is transferred to the Hex: Undying Totem, including any accumulated Tokens, disabling Hex: Undying instead. All effects of the Hex Perk persist until its Hex Totem is cleansed or blessed.
	Hex: Wretched Fate	You see your victim from afar and resolve to prolong their suffering. After a Generator is completed, Hex: Wretched Fate activates and lights a random Dull Totem, cursing the Obsession: Reduces their Repair speed by 27/30/33 %. The Aura of the Hex Totem is revealed to them within 12 metres. "So toil, mortal, toil! Your effort will be for naught!" — Dracula
	Shattered Hope	To capture your prey, you must first extinguish their hope. Instead of snuffing Boon Totems you destroy them. Destroying a Boon Totem this way reveals the Auras of all Survivors that were within its range at that moment for 6/7/8 seconds. "Nothing is permanent here. Nothing except our endless perdition." — Unknown, Notebook
	Thanatophobia	Their courage fades in the face of their undeniable mortality. Each injured, dying, or hooked Survivor afflicts Survivors with a stack-able 1/1.5/2 % Action Speed penalty to Repairing, Sabotaging, and Cleansing, up to a maximum of 4/6/8 %. Increases the Action Speed penalty by a further 12 %, if there are 4 Survivors, who are either injured, dying, or hooked at the same time. "She plays with us and revels in our pain."

Change Log

Patch 2.5.0

• Improved the hiding spots of Totems as new interaction mechanics allow them to be placed closer to other objects.

Trivia

• In the Game files, Hex Totems are referred to as "Hex Bags".
• In rare cases and due to bugs, it has occurred that some iterations of the largest Maps spawned an additional sixth Totem.
• Killers who have a unique Hatch closing animation will use that when snuffing a Boon Totem, except The Dredge, which uses an attack animation.
• If a Survivor is (self-)healing thanks to Boon: Circle of Healing and a Skill Check appears while the Killer is snuffing the Totem, that Skill Check will automatically fail.
• There are only a handful of Perks with the ability to increase one's Blessing speed.

Video

Ash blessing a Dull Totem	Yun-Jin blessing a Hex Totem
Snuffing a Boon Totem	A Killer snuffing a Boon Totem, from Survivor POV

Gallery

• 

  A Dull and a Hex Totem in comparison.
• 

  A lit Hex Totem.
• 

  Yun-Jin blessing a Hex Totem.
• 

  Yun-Jin cleansing a Hex Totem.
• 

  A lit Boon Totem.
• 

  The blue-ish HUD overlay emanating from the Boon Totem.
• 

  A lit Boon Totem's blue-ish Aura.
• 

  A Hex Totem blocked by The Entity.

Props
Alarm Clocks	Barrel	Bear Traps	Breakable Walls	Cages
Chests	Control Stations	Crown Pillar	Crows	Dark Mist
Drones	Exit Gates	Generators	Glyphs	Hatch
Hooks	Jigsaw Boxes	Lockers	Masquerade Pillar	Memory Shards
Moonlight	Pallets	Paper Lanterns	Pools of Devotion	Pumpkins
Snowmen	Supply Cases	Totems	TVs	Visceral Cankers
Windows