Guide: All Totem of Defiance pieces locations in Avowed

Like Dawnshore before it, the Emerald Stair has a totem with six pieces scattered to the winds that you need to track down in order to assemble the full work. It’s well worth doing as you get some hefty bonuses for each piece you collect, but that’s easier said than done. You get almost no direction in finding these objects, and even once you get the scroll that gives you clues, they can be frustratingly vague.

We’ll go through each piece of the totem, showing you where to find it so you can complete the quest and get your boons.

If you want to know about the other totems in Avowed, then check out our guide for all Totem of Righteous Rulership Pieces too.

Totem of Defiance Base

The Totem base can be found in the Shrine to Skaen, found in the west of the Emerald Stair atop a high cliff face that you can access by climbing up from The Delemgan Glade, a location you’ll need to go to during the main story.

Effigy Necklace

This totem is found in Naku Tedek. This is another location you’ll visit as part of the story, with it opening up into a dungeon when you progress far enough along the main questline. The totem is in the depths of this dungeon so check every nook and cranny.

Idol of Covert Plots

The idol is in a broken house in the Grim Wetlands, just east of the Infested Camp. You’ll need to head into the camp and use the tree roots branching out from the cliff to access the building via the roof.

Idol of Violent Rebellion

You’ll find this idol at the Ranger Headquarters directly east of Fior mes Iverno, towards the edge of the Emerald Stair map. You’ll need to parkour all the way to the top of the tower to find it resting on some boxes.

Idol of Secret Hatred

Your next idol is in the Ancient Grotto, a cave that you can find northwest of Naku Tedek. You’ll need to go there to complete one of the Emerald Stair’s bounty quests, and you can find the idol by jumping in the water and swimming through the underwater passages.

Obsidian Prayer Beads

Like the Effigy Necklace, these beads are in The Delemgan Glade, in the area just before you talk to the guardian there. Go up the ramp on the north side of the area and follow the path around, then climb up on the thick tree branch to get atop the ruins, where the beads are lying next to a corpse.

Sacrificial Dagger

The final piece is in the Abandoned Farms north of Fior Mes Iverno. On the north face of the second building from the right, you’ll see a note attached to a door with a dagger – that dagger is the totem you’re looking for.

Totem of Defiance Effects

With all six pieces placed in the base, you can activate it at your party camp to receive the following passive effects:

• Furious Frenzy – Second Wind casts Flurry of Blows
• The Slave’s Patience – +2 Constitution, +2 Dexterity
• Hidden Hand – Increases your damage against unaware enemies by 25%
• Kill the Master – Increases your damage against “skull” enemies
• Bitter Thoughts – Critical Hits deal high poison accumulation
• A Vengeful Victim – After taking damage from an enemy, your next attack within 10 seconds deals +20% of the original damage you received.