All Totems in The Forge (March 2026) Ultimate Guide

Updated by Priyanshu Sagar
November 29, 2025
Gaming Guides

The Forge is a challenging game mode that requires strategic thinking and resource management. Totems are powerful artifacts that provide various buffs and abilities to help players survive and thrive in this hostile environment. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through every totem available in The Forge, their effects, how to obtain them, and the best strategies for using them effectively.

Totem Category	Number of Totems	Primary Function	Best Use Case
Offensive	8	Damage dealing	Boss fights
Defensive	6	Protection	Survival phases
Utility	7	Resource management	Exploration
Special	5	Unique effects	Specific scenarios

Understanding The Forge and Totem System

Before diving into specific totems, it’s essential to understand how The Forge works and how the totem system integrates with gameplay mechanics.

The Forge is a procedurally generated dungeon crawler where players must navigate through increasingly difficult levels while managing resources, fighting enemies, and collecting artifacts. Totems serve as the primary power-up system in this game mode, providing temporary or permanent bonuses that can significantly impact your run.

Each totem belongs to one of four categories: Offensive, Defensive, Utility, or Special. Players can equip multiple totems simultaneously, with certain combinations creating powerful synergies. Understanding how to effectively use these totems is crucial for success in The Forge.

Offensive Totems: Unleashing Your Power

Offensive totems focus on increasing your damage output and combat effectiveness. These are essential for clearing rooms quickly and defeating powerful bosses.

1. Flame Totem

The Flame Totem is one of the first offensive totems most players encounter. When activated, it creates a field of fire around your character, dealing continuous damage to nearby enemies.

Effect: Creates a 5-meter radius fire field dealing 15 damage per second
Duration: 30 seconds
Cooldown: 2 minutes
Location: Found in Level 2-3, often near lava pools
Best Use: Crowd control against weaker enemies

The Flame Totem is particularly effective in narrow corridors where enemies cannot easily escape the damage area. Pair it with the Frost Totem to create a devastating combination that slows enemies while burning them.

2. Lightning Totem

The Lightning Totem summons electrical bolts that strike random enemies in the vicinity, dealing high burst damage.

Effect: Summons 3 lightning bolts every 5 seconds, dealing 50 damage each
Duration: 45 seconds
Cooldown: 3 minutes
Location: Level 4-5, typically in areas with metallic objects
Best Use: Single target damage against tough enemies

Lightning Totem excels at eliminating priority targets quickly. Use it against armored enemies or those with special abilities that pose a significant threat.

3. Venom Totem

The Venom Totem applies a potent poison to your attacks, causing enemies to suffer damage over time.

Effect: Adds 30 poison damage over 10 seconds to all attacks
Duration: 60 seconds
Cooldown: 2.5 minutes
Location: Level 3-4, often hidden in mushroom groves
Best Use: Wearing down high-health enemies

Venom Totem is particularly effective against bosses with large health pools. The poison effect stacks, allowing you to accumulate significant damage over extended fights.

4. Shadow Totem

The Shadow Totem grants you stealth capabilities and increases critical hit chance for a limited time.

Effect: Grants invisibility for 5 seconds and +30% critical hit chance for 45 seconds
Duration: 45 seconds
Cooldown: 3 minutes
Location: Level 5-6, found in dark corners or behind secret walls
Best Use: Initiating combat with high burst damage

Use the Shadow Totem to position yourself advantageously before engaging tough enemies. The initial invisibility allows you to get close without taking damage, while the increased critical hit chance maximizes your opening damage.

5. Boulder Totem

The Boulder Totem summons rolling boulders that knock back and damage enemies in their path.

Effect: Summons 3 boulders that travel in straight lines, dealing 40 damage and knocking back enemies
Duration: Instant
Cooldown: 2 minutes
Location: Level 2-4, typically in mountainous or cave areas
Best Use: Creating space and crowd control

Boulder Totem is excellent for managing enemy positioning and creating breathing room when overwhelmed. Use it to push enemies into environmental hazards or to break up large groups.

6. Arrow Totem

The Arrow Totem creates a volley of arrows that rain down in a targeted area.

Effect: 20 arrows fall in a 10-meter radius, each dealing 25 damage
Duration: Instant
Cooldown: 2.5 minutes
Location: Level 3-5, often found near archer training areas
Best Use: Area damage against grouped enemies

Arrow Totem provides excellent area coverage, making it ideal for clearing rooms with numerous weaker enemies. Time it carefully to maximize the number of enemies caught in the effect.

7. Meteor Totem

The Meteor Totem calls down a massive meteor that deals devastating damage in a large area.

Effect: Single meteor dealing 200 damage in a 15-meter radius
Duration: Instant
Cooldown: 5 minutes
Location: Level 6-7, usually in open areas or near celestial altars
Best Use: Extreme damage against bosses or large enemy groups

Meteor Totem has the longest cooldown but delivers unparalleled damage. Save it for critical moments, such as boss fights or when surrounded by elite enemies.

8. Blade Totem

The Blade Totem summons rotating blades around your character, damaging any enemies that come too close.

Effect: 6 blades orbit the player, dealing 20 damage per hit
Duration: 40 seconds
Cooldown: 3 minutes
Location: Level 4-6, found in armories or combat training areas
Best Use: Personal defense while focusing on other tasks

Blade Totem provides excellent personal defense, allowing you to focus on objectives or other enemies without worrying about close-range threats.

Defensive Totems: Surviving The Forge

Defensive totems focus on increasing your survivability through damage reduction, healing, and protective effects.

1. Shield Totem

The Shield Totem creates a protective barrier that absorbs incoming damage.

Effect: Generates a shield that absorbs 300 damage
Duration: Until destroyed or 60 seconds
Cooldown: 2.5 minutes
Location: Level 2-3, found in guard posts or defensive positions
Best Use: Surviving burst damage from powerful attacks

Shield Totem is invaluable when facing enemies with high burst damage capabilities. Activate it just before taking heavy damage to maximize its effectiveness.

2. Healing Totem

The Healing Totem gradually restores your health over time.

Effect: Restores 5 health per second
Duration: 30 seconds
Cooldown: 3 minutes
Location: Level 3-4, typically near springs or in medical bays
Best Use: Recovering health between combat encounters

Use Healing Totem during brief lulls in combat to recover health without using valuable healing items. It’s most effective when you can avoid taking damage while it’s active.

3. Ironskin Totem

The Ironskin Totem temporarily increases your physical damage resistance.

Effect: Reduces incoming physical damage by 50%
Duration: 45 seconds
Cooldown: 3 minutes
Location: Level 4-5, found in blacksmiths or armories
Best Use: Facing physically strong enemies or traps

Ironskin Totem is essential when facing enemies with powerful physical attacks or navigating trap-filled areas. Pair it with the Shield Totem for maximum defensive capability.

4. Warding Totem

The Warding Totem provides protection against magical damage and negative status effects.

Effect: Reduces magical damage by 50% and grants immunity to status effects
Duration: 40 seconds
Cooldown: 3 minutes
Location: Level 5-6, often found in magical laboratories or ancient libraries
Best Use: Fighting magic-wielding enemies or traversing hazardous magical areas

Warding Totem is indispensable in later levels where magical enemies become more common. It also protects against environmental hazards like poison clouds or cursed areas.

5. Stone Totem

The Stone Totem temporarily turns you to stone, making you immune to all damage but unable to move or attack.

Effect: Complete immunity to all damage and effects, but unable to act
Duration: 5 seconds
Cooldown: 2 minutes
Location: Level 3-5, found in gargoyle-infested areas or ancient ruins
Best Use: Surviving unavoidable high-damage attacks

Stone Totem serves as an emergency panic button when facing attacks that cannot be avoided through normal means. The short duration requires precise timing to be effective.

6. Reflection Totem

The Reflection Totem creates a barrier that reflects a portion of incoming damage back to attackers.

Effect: Reflects 30% of incoming damage back to attackers
Duration: 30 seconds
Cooldown: 2.5 minutes
Location: Level 5-7, found in mirror chambers or illusionary realms
Best Use: Facing enemies with high damage output

Reflection Totem turns enemies’ strength against them, making it particularly effective against powerful single attackers. Combine it with damage-reduction effects for maximum survivability while still dealing damage.

Utility Totems: Mastering The Forge

Utility totems provide various non-combat benefits that enhance your exploration, resource management, and overall effectiveness in The Forge.

1. Light Totem

The Light Totem illuminates dark areas and reveals hidden secrets.

Effect: Creates light in a 20-meter radius and reveals hidden passages
Duration: 60 seconds
Cooldown: 1.5 minutes
Location: Level 1-3, found in dark corridors or near torches
Best Use: Exploring dark areas and finding secrets

Light Totem is essential for navigating the darker levels of The Forge and uncovering hidden treasures. Many secret areas are completely invisible without proper illumination.

2. Speed Totem

The Speed Totem temporarily increases your movement speed.

Effect: Increases movement speed by 50%
Duration: 30 seconds
Cooldown: 2 minutes
Location: Level 2-4, found in open areas or near wind sources
Best Use: Quickly traversing large areas or escaping danger

Speed Totem provides excellent mobility, allowing you to explore more efficiently or escape dangerous situations. It’s also useful for completing time-sensitive challenges.

3. Treasure Totem

The Treasure Totem increases the likelihood of finding valuable items and resources.

Effect: Doubles the chance of finding rare items for the duration
Duration: 45 seconds
Cooldown: 3 minutes
Location: Level 3-5, found in treasure rooms or near merchant areas
Best Use: Before opening chests or defeating enemies that drop valuable loot

Activate Treasure Totem just before opening chests or defeating high-value enemies to maximize your rewards. The effect stacks with other item-finding bonuses.

4. Compass Totem

The Compass Totem points toward the nearest objective or unexplored area.

Effect: Shows direction to nearest objective or secret
Duration: 90 seconds
Cooldown: 2.5 minutes
Location: Level 2-4, found in navigation rooms or near maps
Best Use: When lost or searching for specific objectives

Compass Totem helps navigate the often confusing layout of The Forge, ensuring you don’t miss important areas or objectives. It’s particularly useful in the larger, more complex levels.

5. Magnet Totem

The Magnet Totem attracts nearby items and resources to you.

Effect: Pulls items within 15 meters toward you
Duration: 60 seconds
Cooldown: 2 minutes
Location: Level 3-5, found in storage areas or near resource deposits
Best Use: Collecting resources from hard-to-reach places

Magnet Totem simplifies resource collection, especially in cluttered environments or when items are in dangerous locations. It’s invaluable for efficient resource management.

6. Time Totem

The Time Totem temporarily slows down time for everything except you.

Effect: Slows time by 50% for enemies and projectiles
Duration: 10 seconds
Cooldown: 3 minutes
Location: Level 5-7, found in temporal anomalies or clockwork areas
Best Use: Dodging complex attack patterns or solving timed puzzles

Time Totem provides a significant advantage in combat and puzzle-solving, giving you extra time to react or complete objectives. The short duration requires strategic timing.

7. Teleport Totem

The Teleport Totem allows you to instantly teleport to a previously visited location.

Effect: Teleports to last activated checkpoint
Duration: Instant
Cooldown: 4 minutes
Location: Level 4-6, found in magical laboratories or near portals
Best Use: Quick escape or returning to safe areas

Teleport Totem serves as both an escape mechanism and a convenience tool, allowing you to quickly return to safety or previously explored areas without backtracking.

Special Totems: Unique Effects and Strategies

Special totems provide unique effects that don’t fit neatly into the other categories. These often have situational uses but can be game-changing when used correctly.

1. Doppelgänger Totem

The Doppelgänger Totem creates a duplicate of yourself that fights alongside you.

Effect: Creates a clone with 50% of your health and damage
Duration: 45 seconds
Cooldown: 4 minutes
Location: Level 5-7, found in illusionary realms or magical mirrors
Best Use: Increasing damage output and distracting enemies

Doppelgänger Totem effectively doubles your combat presence, allowing you to deal more damage while the clone draws enemy attention. Use it against tough enemies or when outnumbered.

2. Elemental Totem

The Elemental Totem grants your attacks random elemental effects.

Effect: Adds random elemental effect (fire, ice, lightning, poison) to attacks
Duration: 60 seconds
Cooldown: 3 minutes
Location: Level 4-6, found at elemental convergence points
Best Use: When facing enemies with varied weaknesses

Elemental Totem provides versatility against different enemy types, allowing you to exploit various weaknesses without changing equipment. The random nature adds unpredictability to your attacks.

3. Sacrifice Totem

The Sacrifice Totem consumes some of your health to provide a powerful temporary boost.

Effect: Sacrifices 30% current health to gain +50% damage and speed for 30 seconds
Duration: 30 seconds
Cooldown: 2 minutes
Location: Level 5-7, found in altars or ritual sites
Best Use: When you have excess health and need a quick power boost

Sacrifice Totem offers a risk-reward tradeoff, providing significant power at the cost of health. Use it when you can afford the health loss or when you have healing available.

4. Chaos Totem

The Chaos Totem applies random effects to nearby enemies and yourself.

Effect: Applies random buff or debuff to all entities in 20-meter radius
Duration: Instant
Cooldown: 3 minutes
Location: Level 6-7, found in areas of magical instability
Best Use: When you’re willing to risk negative effects for potential powerful positive ones

Chaos Totem is unpredictable but can turn the tide of battle in your favor with lucky effects. It’s best used when you’re in a desperate situation and willing to take risks.

5. Rebirth Totem

The Rebirth Totem grants you an extra life, reviving you if you die.

Effect: Automatically revives you with 50% health if you die within 5 minutes
Duration: 5 minutes
Cooldown: 10 minutes
Location: Level 6-7, found in sacred groves or life shrines
Best Use: Before attempting particularly dangerous sections or boss fights

Rebirth Totem provides a safety net for risky situations, allowing you to push your limits without permanent consequences. It’s especially valuable in the later, more difficult levels of The Forge.

Advanced Totem Strategies

Now that we’ve covered all the totems in The Forge, let’s discuss some advanced strategies for combining and using them effectively.

Synergistic Totem Combinations

Certain totem combinations create powerful synergies that can dramatically enhance your effectiveness:

Offensive Barrage: Combine Lightning Totem, Arrow Totem, and Meteor Totem for devastating area damage. Start with Meteor Totem for initial impact, follow with Arrow Totem for sustained area damage, and use Lightning Totem to eliminate remaining tough enemies.
Immortal Warrior: Pair Shield Totem, Ironskin Totem, and Healing Totem for incredible survivability. Activate Shield Totem when taking heavy damage, use Ironskin Totem against physical attackers, and deploy Healing Totem during lulls in combat.
Speed Demon: Combine Speed Totem, Time Totem, and Blade Totem for high mobility and defense. Use Speed Totem for rapid movement, activate Time Totem when facing complex attack patterns, and let Blade Totem protect you while repositioning.
Treasure Hunter: Use Treasure Totem, Magnet Totem, and Light Totem together for maximum resource gain. Activate Treasure Totem before opening chests, use Light Totem to reveal hidden areas, and deploy Magnet Totem to easily collect all resources.
Elemental Master: Pair Elemental Totem with Doppelgänger Totem and Venom Totem for diverse damage types. The Doppelgänger will also benefit from the Elemental Totem’s effects, while Venom Totem adds consistent damage over time.

Positioning and Timing Strategies

Effective totem usage often comes down to proper positioning and timing:

Preemptive Activation: Activate defensive totems like Shield Totem or Ironskin Totem just before entering dangerous rooms or engaging tough enemies.
Environmental Advantage: Use offensive totems like Flame Totem or Boulder Totem to push enemies into environmental hazards or trap them in unfavorable positions.
Resource Management: Save utility totems like Treasure Totem or Compass Totem for when they’ll provide maximum benefit, rather than using them as soon as they’re available.
Cooldown Stacking: Keep track of your totem cooldowns and plan their usage to ensure you always have something available for emergencies.
Totem Combos: Learn which totems work well together and plan your usage accordingly. Some combinations have synergistic effects that are greater than the sum of their parts.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even experienced players can make mistakes when using totems. Here are some common pitfalls to avoid:

Wasting Powerful Totems: Don’t use high-impact totems like Meteor Totem or Rebirth Totem on weak enemies or non-threatening situations.
Poor Timing: Activating defensive totems too early or too late can render them ineffective. Learn to anticipate when you’ll need them most.
Ignoring Synergies: Using totems in isolation without considering potential combinations limits their effectiveness.
Overreliance on One Type: Focusing exclusively on offensive, defensive, or utility totems creates vulnerabilities. A balanced approach is usually more effective.
Poor Positioning: Even the most powerful totems can be ineffective if used from a poor position. Always consider your surroundings when activating totems.

Totem Acquisition and Upgrade Paths

Understanding how to acquire and upgrade totems is essential for long-term success in The Forge.

Basic Acquisition Methods

World Spawns: Most basic totems can be found scattered throughout The Forge’s levels. They typically appear in specific biomes or near relevant environmental features.
Enemy Drops: Certain enemies have a chance to drop specific totems upon defeat. Elite enemies and mini-bosses have higher drop rates.
Chest Rewards: Treasure chests throughout The Forge may contain totems, with higher-tier chests offering better chances for rare totems.
Merchant Purchases: Some merchants in The Forge sell totems, though their inventory rotates and prices can be high.
Quest Rewards: Completing specific challenges or quests often rewards totems, including some that can’t be obtained through other means.

Upgrade Mechanisms

Totems can be upgraded to enhance their effects:

Experience System: Using totems grants them experience, eventually leading to level-ups that improve their effects.
Enhancement Materials: Special materials found in The Forge can be used to upgrade totems at specific workstations.
Fusion System: Combining duplicate totems can create upgraded versions with enhanced effects.
Challenge Completion: Completing specific challenges with a totem equipped can unlock permanent upgrades for that totem.
Special Events: Limited-time events may offer opportunities to upgrade specific totems beyond their normal limits.

Prioritizing Upgrades

With limited resources, it’s important to prioritize which totems to upgrade first:

Playstyle Focus: Upgrade totems that align with your preferred playstyle first to maximize immediate benefits.
Utility Totems: Upgrading utility totems like Light Totem or Compass Totem often provides consistent value throughout a run.
Synergistic Pairs: Focus on upgrading totems that work well together to create powerful combinations.
Crowd Control: Upgrading area-of-effect totems like Flame Totem or Arrow Totem can help manage groups of enemies more effectively.
Boss-Specific Totems: If you consistently struggle with certain bosses, prioritize upgrading totems that counter their specific mechanics.

Platform-Specific Considerations

The Forge is available on multiple platforms, and there are some platform-specific considerations for totem usage:

PC/Mouse and Keyboard

Quick Keybinding: Take advantage of the ability to bind totems to specific keys for rapid activation.
Precise Targeting: Use the mouse for precise targeting of totems like Arrow Totem or Meteor Totem.
Mod Support: Some PC versions support mods that can enhance or modify totem functionality.
Interface Customization: Customize the UI to display totem cooldowns and information most effectively for your playstyle.

Console/Controller

Button Mapping: Utilize controller button mapping features to ensure important totems are easily accessible.
Quick-Select Menus: Learn to navigate quick-select menus efficiently for totem usage during combat.
Auto-Targeting: Take advantage of controller auto-targeting features for totems that require aiming.
Vibration Feedback: Use controller vibration as an additional cue for totem activation and cooldowns.

Mobile/Touch

Gesture Controls: Learn specific gestures for quick totem activation without navigating menus.
UI Optimization: Customize the touch interface to ensure totem buttons are easily accessible without obstructing gameplay.
Battery Considerations: Some totem effects can be resource-intensive; monitor battery usage during extended sessions.
Network Stability: Ensure stable connection when using online features related to totem acquisition or upgrades.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many totems are there in The Forge?

There are currently 26 totems in The Forge, divided into four categories: Offensive (8), Defensive (6), Utility (7), and Special (5). The developers occasionally add new totems in updates, so this number may increase over time.

Can I use multiple totems simultaneously?

Yes, you can equip up to 4 totems simultaneously, typically one from each category. Some advanced players specialize in using multiple totems from the same category for focused strategies, though this requires careful planning.

How do I unlock rare totems?

Rare totems can be unlocked through several methods: completing high-level challenges, defeating elite enemies, finding them in secret areas, or purchasing them from special merchants that appear in later levels. Some rare totems also have specific unlock conditions related to gameplay achievements.

Do totem effects stack?

In most cases, similar totem effects do not stack (e.g., using two damage-boosting totems won’t double the damage bonus). However, different types of totems often have synergistic effects when used together. Some special totems are specifically designed to stack with others.

What happens if I die while using a totem?

When you die, all active totem effects end immediately. However, some totems like the Rebirth Totem can prevent death or provide benefits upon dying. Any totems you had equipped remain in your inventory for your next attempt.

Can I sell or trade totems?

Basic totems can be sold to merchants for currency, but rare and special totems typically cannot be traded or sold. Some special events may allow limited trading between players, but this is not a standard feature.

How often are new totems added to The Forge?

The developers typically add new totems with major content updates, which usually occur every 3-4 months. Limited-time events may also introduce temporary totems that can sometimes be permanently unlocked through special challenges.

Are there any totems that are considered overpowered?

Some totems like the Meteor Totem and Rebirth Totem are considered very powerful due to their game-changing effects. However, they typically have long cooldowns or specific conditions that balance their power. The game’s meta evolves over time as players discover new strategies and combinations.

Can I customize the appearance of my totems?

Yes, The Forge offers cosmetic customization for totems through unlockable skins and effects. These are purely visual and don’t affect functionality. They can be obtained through achievements, special events, or microtransactions.

Do totems work differently in PvP mode?

In PvP mode, some totem effects are modified to maintain balance. For example, damage-dealing totems typically deal reduced damage against other players, and certain defensive totems have decreased effectiveness. The specific adjustments are detailed in the PvP mode description.

Conclusion

Mastering the totem system in The Forge is essential for success in this challenging game mode. With 26 different totems to discover, upgrade, and master, there’s always something new to learn and experiment with.

Remember that the most effective players don’t just focus on individual totems but understand how they work together to create powerful combinations. Experiment with different setups, pay attention to the specific challenges of each level, and don’t be afraid to try unconventional strategies.

As The Forge continues to evolve with new updates and content, the totem system will likely expand and change. Stay engaged with the community, keep an eye on patch notes, and continue refining your totem strategies to stay ahead of the curve.

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