Custom Totem Guide
Make a Custom Totem of Undying from Your Minecraft Skin
A custom Minecraft totem is a small resource pack that swaps the default Totem of Undying texture for a character made from your skin. It is popular because it feels personal without changing gameplay: the item still saves you from death, but the held icon looks like you, a friend, a server mascot, or a character you designed.
This generator keeps the workflow practical. Upload a 64x64 or 64x32 skin PNG, or load a public Java skin by username, pick a totem style, preview the result on a transparent checkerboard, then download either the PNG texture or a ready Java resource pack ZIP. Mini and full-body styles replace assets/minecraft/textures/item/totem_of_undying.png while the 3D item style also adds a small item model JSON so Minecraft can display the skin as a blocky held model.
Mini me
Best for a cute profile-style totem with a large face and readable colors.
Full body
Best when the outfit matters and you want the totem to look more like the full skin.
3D item model
Best when you want a blocky held-item model instead of a flat icon-only texture.
Version note
Minecraft resource packs use a metadata number called pack_format. Choose the closest version to your client. If the texture appears but Minecraft warns about compatibility, the pack is usually just asking for a newer metadata number.
How to Install the Custom Totem Pack
- Download: click Download Java Pack after the preview looks right.
- Move the ZIP into your Minecraft resourcepacks folder.
- Open Options, Resource Packs, then move the pack to Selected.
- Hold a Totem of Undying in game and check the texture.
Custom Totem Questions
What does a custom Minecraft totem change?
It replaces the item texture for the Totem of Undying. The item behavior stays vanilla; only the icon and held item texture change through a Java resource pack.
Can I use my Minecraft username?
Yes. Enter a Java username and the tool will try to load the public skin texture through the MC Toolbox skin lookup endpoint, then render the totem preview from that skin.
Are uploaded skins sent to MC Toolbox?
No. Uploaded PNG skins are read by your browser and drawn locally on a canvas. Username lookup requests a public skin texture, but your uploaded files are not sent to MC Toolbox.
Does this work on Bedrock Edition?
The first version exports a Java resource pack ZIP. Bedrock uses a different pack structure, so a Bedrock .mcpack export should be tested separately before adding it.
Why does Minecraft show a resource pack compatibility warning?
Minecraft checks the pack_format number in pack.mcmeta. Pick the closest version in the dropdown. If Mojang changes pack_format again, the texture path can stay the same while the metadata number is updated.
If a pack does not load, or the texture appears stretched in a specific Minecraft version, send the version and a screenshot through the contact page. Real reports help tune the generator better than guessing from screenshots.