Finding every single totem for the ghost hunter in tomb raider (2013) reboot is honestly one of those "love it or hate it" gaming moments. You’re stuck in the Coastal Forest. It’s dark. It’s raining. You can hear the wind howling through the trees, and somewhere up in the canopy, there’s a small, skull-adorned wooden charm swinging in the breeze. If you don’t know exactly where to look, you’ll spend forty minutes running in circles around the same patch of dirt while Lara Croft shivers in the cold. It’s frustrating.
Most people miss the first one because they're too focused on the deer.
The Ghost Hunter challenge is one of the earliest "non-story" tasks the game throws at you. It’s a collectible challenge, which basically means you have to find and shoot ten hidden totems scattered throughout the Coastal Forest. Completing it gives you a nice chunk of XP, which is vital early on for unlocking those survival skills that actually keep you alive when the Solarii start shooting. But these totems aren't just sitting on crates. They’re hanging from branches, tucked under bridges, and hidden in rocky crevices where the lighting is just dim enough to make them blend into the bark.
Why the Coastal Forest is a Nightmare for Completionists
The Coastal Forest is split into two main sections: the upper area where you first learn to hunt, and the lower area where you meet back up with Whitman. Most players make the mistake of thinking they can just come back later with better gear. While that's true—you can always fast travel back to a base camp—it's way more efficient to snag them while you're already there.
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There's no map marker for these. Survival Instinct helps, sure. When you ping your "detective vision," the totems glow with a faint yellow outline, but only if they are within your direct line of sight. If a totem is tucked behind a thick pine branch or under the floorboards of a ruin, Survival Instinct won't do a thing for you until you're standing almost directly under it.
Tracking Down the Ten Totems
Let's get into the actual locations because hunting for the ghost hunter in tomb raider totems is mostly about verticality.
The first one is usually found near the initial campsite. If you look at the large rock formations near where you found the bow, there’s a totem dangling from a tree limb overhanging the stream. It’s small. If you aren't looking up, you’ll walk right past it. This is the game's way of telling you to stop looking at the ground.
Another one is tucked under the porch of the small wooden shrine you encounter before reaching the gate. This one is particularly nasty because the shadows in this game are quite deep. You have to crouch or angle yourself just right to see the silhouette against the dark wood. Honestly, the hit detection is pretty forgiving; as long as your arrow hits the general area of the hanging charm, it'll shatter.
- Near the waterfall. There’s a totem hanging under the rock ledge where the water drops.
- The "Bridge Totem." When you reach the broken bridge leading toward the temple, look underneath the wooden slats.
- South of the first base camp. It’s high up in a tree that looks exactly like every other tree.
- Near the bunker entrance. Look at the roofline of the crumbling stone structure.
One of the trickiest ones is located in the northern part of the forest, near a massive fallen log. You have to walk across the log to reach a higher platform, and the totem is dangling right behind a cluster of leaves. It’s a "blink and you'll miss it" type of placement.
The Strategy for Quick Cleanup
If you’re trying to speedrun this or just want the XP boost quickly, stop running. Seriously. The motion blur in Tomb Raider (especially if you're playing the Definitive Edition or the PC version with TressFX on) can make small objects like totems vanish into the background textures.
Walk. Use your bow's zoom feature.
When you get to the area with the wolves—the part where the music gets all tense and the shadows start jumping—take a second to clear the predators first. There is nothing more annoying than trying to line up a shot on a dangling totem only to have a wolf chew on Lara's leg. Once the area is clear, stand in the center of the clearing and do a full 360-degree sweep with Survival Instincts active.
Common Misconceptions About the Ghost Hunter Challenge
A lot of players think they need the rifle or the handgun to do this. You don't. In fact, using the bow is better because it’s silent. You don't want to alert every scavenger in the vicinity just because you're doing a bit of light "ghost hunting."
Another myth is that you can "lock yourself out" of this challenge. You can't. Even after you finish the main story and the credits roll, you can use the Fast Travel system to return to the Coastal Forest base camp. The totems will still be there, swinging in the wind, waiting for an arrow. However, by the end of the game, the XP reward feels like pocket change compared to what you get for killing high-level enemies, so it's best to do it early.
Technical Glitches to Watch Out For
Sometimes, a totem won't break. It’s rare, but it happens. If you shoot a totem and it swings wildly but doesn't shatter, it's usually a physics bug. The best fix is to move to a different angle. If you're shooting from directly below, the arrow might be clipping through the "hitbox" of the skull. Try moving ten feet back and taking the shot at a 45-degree angle.
Also, keep an eye on your map. While the map doesn't show the totems, it does show your challenge progress in the bottom corner. If it says 9/10 and you’ve searched the whole forest, check the area near the gate where you meet Dr. Whitman. There’s a totem hanging off a branch right near the stairs that many people ignore because they're triggered by the cutscene.
Actionable Steps for Success
- Brighten your screen: If your Gamma settings are too low (which the game encourages for "atmosphere"), you literally won't see the dark wood of the totems against the dark trees. Turn it up until the shadows are greyish-black.
- Listen for the "Thwack": When a totem breaks, there is a distinct sound effect and an on-screen notification. If you don't see "+10 XP" (or whatever the current multiplier gives you), you missed.
- Prioritize the "Birdseye" Skill: If you're struggling, invest your first few skill points into the Survivor tree. The skills that enhance Survival Instincts will make these items glow much brighter and from a further distance.
- Check the underpasses: 80% of the totems in the Ghost Hunter challenge are either "high in the sky" or "under a bridge." Very few are at eye level.
- Don't waste arrows: If you're low on ammo, remember there are bundles of arrows leaning against almost every crate and rock in the forest. Loot those before you start sniping collectibles.
Once you nail that tenth totem, the "Challenge Complete" banner pops up, and you can finally head toward the Mountain Temple knowing you've squeezed every bit of value out of the forest. It’s a small task, but for those of us who need that 100% completion stat, it’s the first real hurdle in Lara's journey.
Now, go grab that last one hanging by the waterfall and get out of the woods.