Complete Guide to Locating All Totem of Defiance Pieces in Avowed
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The Avowed Totem of Defiance is ideal for enhancing stealthy Ranger builds, but you’ll need to explore the Emerald Stair to gather seven fragments to construct it. Some fragments are easy to find, while others are hidden in perilous areas. Prepare yourself for various foes throughout the Living Lands in Avowed to complete this totem. Below, I’ve outlined the locations of all the Totem of Defiance pieces in Avowed. You can also check out a solid Ranger build to utilize this totem in my best Avowed builds.
To kick off your quest for the Totem of Defiance, purchase the Fragments of the Offering quest item from Lluisa Mercel at the Farmer’s Market. This will initiate your scavenger hunt for the seven necessary pieces. Be cautious: most fragments are located on the treacherous western side of the region, so ensure you upgrade your gear in Avowed to Exceptional quality (or close to it) beforehand. Also, remember to enable the “Compass – God Shrine Totem Pieces” option in the UI menu, as it’s off by default.
Once you’ve gathered the core of the Totem of Defiance and placed it at your Avowed Party Camp, you can start adding any totem pieces you find, unlocking unique buffs with each addition until the totem is complete. While there are several totems to discover and construct—like the Avowed Totem of Rightful Rulership—you can only have one active at a time.
If you’re ready to hunt, here’s where to find all seven pieces of the Totem of Defiance in Avowed:
“To find the totem of the Quiet Slave, an ancient tower you must brave.”
On the western side of Emerald Stair lies the Delemgan Glade, nestled between two cliffs. The core of the Totem of Defiance is located on the northern cliff. To reach it, fast travel to the Plateau Junction beacon and head southwest past the Godless Sinkhole. At the cliff’s end, you’ll spot a crumbling tower, the Shrine to Skaen. Climb to the top to find the Schemer’s Offering totem base.
“Left alone in fallow fields, the ritual blade thirsts for skin freshly peeled.”
The Sacrificial Dagger is likely the easiest totem part to locate and can be found early in Emerald Stair. Head to the abandoned farms on the north side of the map and check behind the larger building on the east side, near the “F” in “Farms” on the map. You’ll discover the dagger pinned to a wall with a note.
“In a place of worship amidst moldering rot, this idol continues to scheme and plot.”
The Idol of Covert Plots is hidden within a ruined church on the west side of the Grim Wetlands, near the Infested Camp. You’ll need to take a longer route to access it. Start by heading south along the cliff wall until you find a gate that can be opened with a lockpick.
Once inside, go right and up the hill, leading you to the sporeling-infested camp. At the cliff’s edge, you’ll see a broken bridge that connects to a hole in the church’s roof. Jump across, drop down, and collect the idol from the shrine. You can then unbar the main doors to exit.
“In a damp hollow its sibling waits full of rage, while its previous owner decays with age.”
The Idol of Secret Hatred is located within the Ancient Grotto, a small dungeon with two entrances. I recommend using the lower entrance in the cliff of the river chasm for easier access to the idol.
Once inside, bear right and crawl through a small tunnel. You’ll emerge in a cave with a skeleton clutching the idol.
“From on high the third surveys the land, sowing the seeds of revolt near at hand.”
The Idol of Violent Rebellion for the Totem of Defiance can be found in the Ranger Headquarters tower at the eastern edge of the Emerald Stair map. Start by climbing the south side of the tower, ascending to a ladder that leads to a hole in the wall. Continue climbing until you reach the top, where the idol is embedded in a wooden box.
“In a verdant glade where old ruins crumble, you will find beads dark and umbral.”
From where you obtained the core, cross the tree root bridge into the glade. In the main clearing, look for ruins atop a cliff formation to the west. The prayer beads are located on these ruins, but you’ll need to navigate through the archway to the right to reach them.
Follow the path up and around to the left, go under the tree root arching over the path, then turn around and climb onto it. From there, you can ascend to a rock ledge and leap to the balcony on the ruined wall, where a skeleton lies next to the prayer beads.
“Hidden in ruins of heathens long gone, the octet of skulls sings its silent song.”
The Effigy Necklace is the only totem piece that requires some progress in the main quest to access. You need to have the “Ancient Soil” quest, which involves exploring the Nadu Tedek ruins. After some magical adra events, a door will open, granting you access to the depths of Nadu Tedek.
Once you reach the bottom of the spiral staircase, enter the hallway and turn left. Have Giatta activate the shock switch on the wall to open the door ahead. Proceed into the next room and climb onto the tree branch by freezing the water to create a platform, then hop up to the upper level. The necklace can be found on a table here.
Aside from the core, each fragment of the Totem of Defiance provides enhancements to your combat abilities, Avowed Attributes, or other aspects. If you’re looking to boost your ranger skills, stealth, and poison damage, this is a great totem to activate.
Here are the buffs provided by the Totem of Defiance in Avowed:
Each main region in Avowed has a totem to collect, giving you various options for buffs. While hunting for totem pieces, keep an eye out for treasure map locations for additional loot, such as the Woedica’s Inheritance and Intimidating Feline Codpiece maps in Dawnshore.
