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A render of an Annihilator Totem.

"Ir Anûk pulled a sword star out of the sky. Together the wizards charged it with killing power and made an annihilator totem, which they used to smash the Vex"

— Books of Sorrow

Annihilator Totems are Hive constructs found in Crota's netherworld, the Basilica and the Chamber of Suffering that appear to act as security measures. However the Totem itself would find use in the hands of Oryx's Sisters, where in the Savathûn's Lucent Brood they would use them as Ritual Conduits, and in Xivu Arath's Horde they would see use to be instruments of War and sound her Overwhelming Battlesong.

History

They were created by the Deathsinger twins Ir Halak and Ir Anûk to battle the Vex when they invaded Oryx's Ascendant Realm, the High War, after Crota accidentally cut a hole through space and time. Even after the death of Crota, Oryx and the Daughters who made the totem, it would find use in the hands of other broods as powerful tools for their schemes whether it be as Instruments of War under Xivu Arath, or as Ritual Conduits in the hands of the Hive of the Moon or Savathûn's light empowered brood

Gameplay

In Crota's End, four Totems play a part during the Bridge encounter, two on either side of the Bridge. When Guardians attempt to form the Bridge from either side, the two Totems on the same side will begin to charge up, and will eventually release a blast of energy that kills all Guardians. Annihilator Totems can be suppressed by a Guardian standing in close proximity to them, allowing the Bridge to form without Guardians perishing. When three Guardians have successfully crossed, they start forming the Bridge from the other end.

In King's Fall, when the Brand of the Weaver/Unraveler is picked up, the nearby Annihilator Totems begin to charge and will cause a wipe if allowed to discharge. Like in Crota's End, Guardians must stand on the Totems in order to suppress them, but Guardians must alternate whom stands on the Totems based on who is holding the brands.

In Pit of Heresy, there is one totem found in the Chamber of Suffering and functions just like it does in any other appearance. If allowed to discharge it wipes the team.

The Totems would appear in PsiOps Battleground: Moon as Ritual Totems glowing with blue light but without the killing effect. The Totems appear again in The Descent but as War Totems that maintain the Overwhelming Battlesong when they are active instead of killing the Guardian.

List of appearances

• Destiny
  • The Dark Below (First appearance)
  • The Taken King
• Destiny 2
  • Shadowkeep