Staying alive is as important as dealing damage. These are the core survival items in 1.20+ PvP and how they actually behave.

Totem of Undying

• Must be held in your main or off hand when you would die. It then triggers automatically, setting you to 1 heart and giving Regeneration and Absorption.
• It is consumed on use – one totem, one save. Good players “re-tot” instantly after a pop.

Golden apples

• A normal golden apple gives Absorption and short Regeneration – craftable from 8 gold ingots and an apple.
• The enchanted golden apple (“notch apple”) is far stronger – Absorption, Regeneration, Fire Resistance and Resistance – but has no crafting recipe since 1.9. It is only found in loot, which is why it is rare and valuable.

Practical notes

• Absorption hearts (yellow) stack on top of your health and soak damage first.
• Eating locks you in place briefly, so heal on your terms, not mid-combo.