Does Mark of Submission Work with Totems in Path of Exile?
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The Straight Answer: Mark of Submission and Totems
The short answer is yes, Mark of Submission can work with totems, but with crucial caveats. The core mechanic of Mark of Submission is that it applies a linked curse when you hit an enemy. Totems, functioning as proxies for the player, can indeed trigger the “on hit” component of Mark of Submission. However, it is essential to understand the nuances of how totems and curses interact to make this setup effective. Mark of Submission itself does not inherently apply curses, it enables the curse to be applied on hit. The curse application relies on the linked curse gem. If a totem makes an attack or cast and has a linked curse to Mark of Submission, the curse will be applied, provided all other conditions for curse application are met.
Understanding Totem Mechanics and Curse Application
How Totems Function
In Path of Exile, totems are deployable structures that act on behalf of the player. They use your stats, meaning they benefit from your offensive and defensive attributes. Critically, totems use the player’s skills as if the player were using them, taking into consideration any buffs, debuffs, or equipment modifiers. This is why the “on hit” aspect of Mark of Submission interacts with totems.
Curse Application with Totems
Totems don’t inherently benefit from auras or on-self effects, instead, they apply them to you. When totems hit, the “on hit” effect of Mark of Submission is triggered. The curse will only be applied if the totem’s attack or spell has a linked curse gem attached to the skill they are using and if the target is not curse immune. This is different from a Curse on Hit item implicit which applies the curse to the totem. It’s crucial to understand that a curse is applied directly as the result of the skill linked to the Mark of Submission, via the totem.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Totems and Related Mechanics
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the interaction between totems and various game mechanics:
1. Can totems apply curses if they are not linked to a Curse gem?
No. Totems themselves don’t inherently apply curses. They need to be using a skill gem linked with a Curse gem, and then Mark of Submission if you want the totem to apply a curse on hit.
2. Does “Curse on Hit” as a modifier on gear work with totems?
Yes, “Curse on Hit” modifiers on gear do work with totems. If a totem hits an enemy, it will apply the associated curse, as the curse is inherent to the item and not reliant on a skill gem linked to it. This is different from the way Mark of Submission works.
3. Does the Champion Ascendancy’s taunt work on totems?
Yes. Taunts can be applied by totems because they are considered targetable proxies, just like the player, but unlike traps or mines. The taunt expires when the totem expires.
4. Do “on-hit” effects apply to totems?
“On-hit” effects apply to totems similarly to how they would apply to the player if they were the source of the hit. However, if the “on hit” effect is self-beneficial (e.g. life gain on hit), the totem gains the life, not the player, unless specific mechanisms are in place like Chieftain node or Trolltimber.
5. Does Point Blank work with totems?
Yes, Point Blank works with totems. Point Blank calculates damage falloff based on the distance from the projectile’s origin. The totem is the origin of the projectile so the distance is calculated from the totem.
6. Does Multistrike support affect totem attacks?
Yes, Multistrike now affects totem attacks, allowing them to repeat their attack sequence.
7. Do Totems benefit from “Life gain on Hit” when they attack?
Yes, but the life gain goes to the totem, not the player. The player does not receive the health unless there are specific items or passives that allow totems to grant life to the player.
8. Do skills used by totems use my stats?
Yes, skills used by totems use the player’s stats, including equipment, passives, buffs, and debuffs. Totems act as a mirror for the player’s abilities, inheriting their power.
9. Does Faster Casting affect totem cast speed?
Yes, Faster Casting increases the speed of the summoning spell and the cast speed of totems but does not affect how quickly you place down totems.
10. Does Arcane Surge apply when placing totems?
No, placing totems does not contribute towards gaining the Arcane Surge buff. You must spend mana with skills that are not related to totems in order to gain Arcane Surge.
11. Can totems generate Frenzy charges?
No, totems cannot utilize or generate frenzy charges. Similarly to power charges, totems cannot utilize them directly.
12. Does action speed affect totem summoning speed?
Yes, action speed affects the summoning speed of totems, as it influences all animated actions, including placement speed.
13. Can totems leech life back to the player?
Not by default. Any leech from a totem goes to the totem itself, not the player. There are two exceptions: using the Chieftain node “Hinekora, Death’s Fury” or using the “Trolltimber” shield, which allows totems to leech life to the player.
14. Do totems count as minions?
No, totems are not considered minions. This means they do not benefit from minion-specific modifiers like “increased Minion Damage”. Auras projected by totems will, however, still affect the player’s allies.
15. Can totems save the player from instant death effects like the void?
No, totems cannot save the player from instant death effects such as void damage, the /kill command, or similar effects. They are not designed to prevent that type of death.
Conclusion: Totems, Mark of Submission, and Curses
In summary, Mark of Submission can enable curses applied by totems, provided the totem uses a skill gem linked to a Curse gem. Understanding the nuances of totem mechanics, on-hit effects, and curse application is crucial for optimizing builds in Path of Exile. Totems are powerful tools that can effectively apply curses through Mark of Submission and “Curse on Hit” items, but they operate under a unique set of rules that players should be aware of. By understanding these rules, players can fully utilize their totems to apply curses and enhance their build effectiveness in Path of Exile.