Pool of Madness haunted totems: how unlocking works

Haunted totems are unlockable powerups in Pool of Madness, and you unlock them through the ritual loop: upgrade your cue from collected parts, complete the ritual and pick up new powerups and totems along the way. That is how the official Steam page, as checked on 2026-11-11, describes them.

What the totems are and where they fit

The store page groups them in one line: "unlock new powerups and haunted totems, complete the ritual and get ready for the next terror." It treats totems as a distinct layer of the run's power curve rather than as a starting loadout. The page does not list individual totems, their effects or a fixed number, so do not expect a totem roster there.

Their role is clearest from the pitch itself. Pool tables are altars, and the cue and gun are the instruments of the liturgy. The ritual is meant to draw out void horrors, and each cleared ritual is supposed to leave you better equipped for the next one. Haunted totems sit in that reward slot: you don't bring them to a ritual, you come out of one with them.

The unlock loop in order

1. Play the ritual

   Pot balls on the altar-table. A ritual can be procedurally generated or one of the hand-built customs, which the developer's updates and the MIXED News write-up both mention.

2. Pocket the equipment ball

   A special equipment ball occasionally appears in rituals and drops a cue part when potted. Parts are split into tip, shaft and wrap, and each adds an effect.

3. Reforge your cue

   Assemble the parts you found. The developer's Steam notes describe an Equipment screen for combining the three slots, so a better cue makes the next ritual easier, or at least different.

4. Complete the ritual and collect

   Finishing the ritual is the point where the page says powerups and haunted totems get unlocked. Prepare for the next terror, then repeat.

The expected result is a stronger build going into the next ritual. If the totem reward does not show after a clear, check that you actually finished the ritual rather than bailing out with the Orbcaster, the gun used to shoot or pull balls when a shot goes wrong.

Next steps

• Pool of Madness cue upgrades covers the tip, shaft and wrap system that feeds the ritual loop totems sit in.
• Pool of Madness powerups explains the broader reward layer totems belong to.

FAQ

How do you get haunted totems?

Play rituals, upgrade your cue from collected parts and complete rituals to unlock new powerups and haunted totems.

Can you start a run with haunted totems?

The official page presents them as unlocks earned through completed rituals, not as starting gear.

Are the totems the same as powerups?

The store text lists "new powerups and haunted totems" together as unlock rewards, without saying whether every totem counts as a powerup.

Can you play the Pool of Madness haunted totems content in a demo?

A Steam Next Fest demo and later playtests existed, but the developer has not said whether the demo includes totem unlocks.

Check note: this page relies on the official Pool of Madness Steam page and the Steam store listing, plus the MIXED News preview of the game. Individual totem names, effects and unlock conditions remain unconfirmed.