Totem

Totems are a type of minion, most of them being exclusive to shamans.

The four uncollectible Totems that can summoned through the shaman Hero Power Totemic Call - Healing Totem, Wrath of Air Totem, Searing Totem and Stoneclaw Totem - are usually referred to as the "basic" Totems. They can be summoned also by the upgraded Hero Power Totemic Slam and by a few other effects that explicitly refer to them in their text. Other totems are collectible minion cards which can be included in decks and played from the hand just like other minions.

Most Totems play specific, dedicated roles. Most Totems have 0 Attack and so cannot attack, although minions such as Flametongue Totem can grant them the ability to do so.

For a discussion of shaman Totem summoning tactics, see Totemic Call.

Cards that generate Totems
These cards bring new Totems into play through their card text.

Lore
Totems are unique tools used by shamans to interact with the elements, and create magical effects in the surrounding area. Totems are notable for their immobility and area of effect. Once a totem is put down, it cannot be moved, but a new totem can always be summoned to replace it. Each totem corresponds with one of four elements (Earth, Fire, Water, Wind) and only one of each elemental type can be used at a time.

Each shamanic race uses its own designs for its totems. For example, tauren use simple carven wooden totems, while goblin shamans use mechanical totems with complex moving parts. Totems are used to interact with the elements, to call upon them for assistance and invoke a specific effect.

Trivia

 * While the implementations of totems in Hearthstone and World of Warcraft differ somewhat, there are many similarities. Totemic Call's limit of one of each type of totem matches that of the WoW shaman, while the four totems summoned by the ability each represent one of the elements: Healing Totem for water, Searing Totem for fire, Stoneclaw Totem for earth, and Wrath of Air Totem for air. The endless nature of shamans' totem summoning is also reflected in the constant supply of fresh totems from the hero power, and each of the totems in Hearthstone also matches a specific totem from WoW.
 * Most of the totem cards in Hearthstone depict tauren totems, while Searing Totem features a draenei totem, and Flametongue Totem depicts a dwarven totem. Totemic Might and Draenei Totemcarver also depict draenei totems, while Earthen Ring Farseer depicts an orc shaman using tauren totems (tauren totems were originally used by all Horde shamans). While the origins of Totem Golem are unknown, it appears to be based upon tauren totems, given the horns, and the animal faces upon its body, which resemble those on tauren totem poles.