Pass me from soul to soul, / soldier to herder, herder to beast, beast to soil / until I am everywhere. / Then pass me those souls.
—Totem inscription (translated)

Cursed Totem

Activated abilities of creatures can't be activated.

"Sorry, Great One, but did I hear correctly? I'm to entrust this powerful artifact to our *worst* researchers?"
—Flesdrim, Cabal servant

Modern Horizons 2

World Championship Decks 2000

Classic Sixth Edition

Players can't play activated abilities of creatures.

Pass me from soul to soul / soldier to herder, herder to beast, beast to soil / until I am everywhere. / Then pass me those souls.
—Totem inscription (translated)

Mirage

Players cannot play any creature abilities requiring an activation cost.

Activated abilities contain a colon. They're generally written “[Cost]: [Effect].” Some keywords are activated abilities and will have colons in their reminder text.

Activated abilities of noncreature permanents that would make them become creatures (such as a Vehicle's crew ability) can still be activated. Once they become creatures, any abilities they have cannot be activated.

Cursed Totem doesn't stop players from activating abilities of creature cards that aren't on the battlefield, such as cycling or unearth.

Cursed Totem stops players from activating mana abilities of creatures.

Other abilities of creatures, including static abilities and triggered abilities, are unaffected.