Tempest Totems add a tougher mini-boss encounter to Monster Totem hunting and can yield unique items difficult to find elsewhere.
PC / Global, with Ashes of Malmouth, Forgotten Gods and Fangs of Asterkarn
WHERE & HOW TO FARM
Where to farm
Monster Totems across Cairn, including dungeon areas, while playing Ascendant Mode. Totems are also a Forgotten Gods feature.
In Ascendant Mode, any Monster Totem has a chance to upgrade into a Tempest Totem. Activating one releases powerful enemies and a mini-boss; defeating the encounter gives a stronger loot opportunity, including a chance at unique items that can be hard to obtain elsewhere. There is no special route: existing totem hunting areas remain valid, and the useful loop is to find, activate, clear, and collect. Do not assume that a totem upgrade or a particular item will appear each time.
Fangs of Asterkarn and an eligible character to play Ascendant Mode.
Forgotten Gods for Monster Totems.
A build prepared for powerful spawned enemies and a mini-boss.
Optional: Bloodbound Totem material at Kurn to increase Tempest Totem encounter chances.
Enable Ascendant Mode from the main menu with a level 100 Ultimate character.
If you want to improve the upgrade chance, offer Bloodbound Totem material at Kurn’s Ascension Altar.
Follow a Monster Totem route you already know or explore a campaign area with totems.
Activate each totem and clear the spawned enemies, staying alert for a Tempest upgrade.
When the upgrade occurs, defeat the additional enemies and mini-boss before collecting loot.
Inspect the reward for useful gear and any unique items that fit your build.
Continue to other totems only while the encounter remains safe and worthwhile.
Farming tips
All your established totem routes can work; the upgrade is attached to the totem system, not a special map route.
Avoid combining too many altar offerings if the added monster strength makes the mini-boss unsafe.
Repeat, collect and use
Repeatable across totems while playing Ascendant Mode. A Tempest upgrade and its unique drops are chance-based; no individual totem guarantees either.
Common mistakes
Expecting a Tempest at every shrine: continue to other totems if no upgrade appears.
Searching for Tempest Totems without Forgotten Gods’ Monster Totems: unlock that system first.
Assuming the stronger chest or item is guaranteed: collect the variable reward and keep farming only if the target remains useful.
When to stop or switch
Stop after getting the desired unique or when the mini-boss risk outweighs the possible loot; switch off the Bloodbound offering or return to ordinary campaign farming.
