Delving into the Mystery: What is a Death Totem in Merge Dragons?
A Death Totem in Merge Dragons is a specific 2×2 building that, when tapped, produces a significant amount of “dead things”, typically around 30 or more. It’s a key element in progressing through certain levels and chains, often associated with the more morbid aspects of the game’s lore and gameplay. It’s not an item to be harvested for typical resources like coins or wood, but rather a producer of elements within the undead or darker merge chains. These “dead things” fuel other merges, allowing players to create more advanced items.
The lore behind the Death Totem is shrouded in mystery, presented in the game as a potent symbol of misfortune and punishment. It’s said that merely gazing upon the totem can suction out the soul of the living, making it a truly ominous artifact within the game world. It appears in myth and legend more as a curse for the wicked or unlucky than a tool. Unlike regular structures, the Death Totem is not a building you can “create” in the typical sense, but rather one you’ll encounter in specific levels and challenges.
The Totem’s Role in the Game
The Death Totem’s practical function is to provide a concentrated burst of items essential for progressing through the dead-related merge chains, such as graves, sporewood, and other necromantic elements. This contrasts significantly from other game elements that are produced from seeds or plants. By tapping a Death Totem, you will quickly produce a large number of the “dead things” you need. It is a shortcut that can significantly reduce the time spent accumulating these items by alternative methods.
While it can sometimes appear that there is no direct benefit in tapping the Death Totem (because the resulting products need to be merged before they can have any clear use), it is actually an extremely efficient way to produce large quantities of the required dead items.
Finding Death Totems
The precise location of Death Totems is not fixed, and you will generally encounter these in specific levels of the game. One example is Death Totem #6, which is found in Chapter 9. These totems can be important factors in completing certain quests and clearing areas within levels, especially those with lots of Dead Land and require the merge of many of the “dead” items for completion. Because Death Totems are not farmable objects, they are usually a rare and very useful item in the levels in which they appear.
The Secret Totem Grid
While Death Totems are found across the game’s different maps, there is a specific area related to these totems: the Secret Totem Grid. This is a special level located between Totem Shire 11 and 12, marked on the map with a Fresh Stones icon. The Secret Totem Grid is unique because it is full of Super Dead Land, which can be a challenging environment to clear, but the use of the Death Totem can make this task much faster.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Death Totems in Merge Dragons
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Death Totems in Merge Dragons, to deepen your understanding of this fascinating element:
What is the purpose of the “dead things” produced by Death Totems?
The “dead things” produced by Death Totems are essential for merging into higher-level items within the undead or necromantic chains. These include graves, sporewood, and other similar items that are integral to clearing Dead Land and completing specific game challenges.
How can I get a Death Totem?
You cannot produce a Death Totem in your camp. They appear in certain levels throughout the game, often in the context of clearing Dead Land or achieving specific objectives. They are often situated in the most challenging maps and require players to carefully manage their dead-related items.
Is there a “best” way to use a Death Totem?
The best way to use a Death Totem is to tap it when you have sufficient space to receive all the produced items and when you are ready to start merging the items it drops to create higher-level items. Using a Death Totem will often lead to a large chain reaction of merges, so having the space to make those merges is extremely important.
How do I access the Secret Totem Grid?
The Secret Totem Grid is unlocked as a specific level on the main game map, located between Totem Shire 11 and 12. It’s marked with a Fresh Stones icon and is a unique area filled with Super Dead Land.
What are Grimm Trees, and are they related to Death Totems?
Grimm Trees are a type of tree that spawns Grimm Seeds and Necromancer Grass. While not directly related to Death Totems in terms of generation, they provide items that often intersect with the undead merge chains where the Death Totem’s production is important. They also occasionally produce Grimm Chests which can contain further dead-related items.
Do I need Life Orbs to use Death Totems effectively?
You need Life Orbs to heal Dead Land, which will generally be the space where you will find a Death Totem. So Life Orbs can be used to clear the area to access it and to clear the space in which you will be merging its products. You can also use Life Orbs to heal the Dead Land where you will merge the objects produced by a Death Totem. Therefore, they are an important tool for Death Totem management.
How do I obtain items from Haunted Houses, and how does it relate to Death Totems?
Haunted Houses (level 5 and above) have a chance of dropping Fresh Graves, which is one of the items produced by the Death Totem. This, as with Grimm Trees, also forms a useful path to obtaining items that intersect with the Death Totem’s productions, although Haunted Houses produce at a much slower rate than the Death Totem.
What is Dead Land, and why is it important?
Dead Land is the area of land that is greyed out and has items stuck on it. This is a challenge as you have to heal it with Life Essence before you can clear the space. It is also frequently the location in which Death Totems are found.
What are Shadow Trees, and how are they related to Death Totems?
Shadow Trees are another source of items that can be used to merge into other dead-related items, however they generally produce Grass which is a basic resource that can be a less efficient path to the merge items. They are not directly related to the Death Totems but can also produce items that are useful for managing areas of dead land.
How do I get Tombstones in Merge Dragons?
Tombstones (graves) can be created by killing Zomblins, opening Dragon Egg Chests/Dragon Nest Vaults harvested from Grimm Trees, tapping Haunted Houses, or receiving them as Level Rewards. These are all associated with the same “dead” merge chains that are directly related to Death Totems.
What is the most useful Wonder in Merge Dragons, and how does it compare to a Death Totem?
Stonehenge (Wonder #5) is considered one of the best Wonders because of its ability to produce Rock Dragon Eggs/Nests and Zomblins. While the Death Totem only produces specific “dead things,” Stonehenge offers a wider array of resources, making it more versatile long term.
Do wonders do anything, and is a Death Totem considered a wonder?
Wonders can be tapped for various goodies, but unlike the Death Totems, are not producers of dead-related items. A Death Totem is not considered a wonder, it is a specific building with a specific production output.
Why is it essential to understand merge chains in relation to Death Totems?
Understanding merge chains is crucial because it helps you efficiently use the “dead things” from Death Totems to create higher-level items. The products of a Death Totem are not useful until they have been merged and understanding the patterns of merging can save time and resources.
Are there autumn trees or mystic trees related to the Death Totem?
Autumn Trees are purely decorative and cannot be harvested, whereas Mystic Trees can produce Mystic Plants and Mystic Shrooms. These items have no relationship to the products of the Death Totem.
Is the mystery key related to the Death Totem?
The Mystery Key unlocks clouded land by dragging the corresponding object into its silhouette. This object has no relation to Death Totems and generally comes from a different merge chain, although it does allow you to gain access to new items and areas.
By understanding the role of the Death Totem in Merge Dragons, players can better navigate the game’s challenges, clear Dead Land, and advance through the more obscure elements of the game. It’s more than just an item; it’s a key to unlocking the secrets of the undead realms within the game.