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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

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PFS StandardGlass Golem

Crafted of hardened glass and held together by magically treated lead, glass golems are both deadly guardians and works of exquisite art. Glass golems most often protect grand cathedrals or opulent palaces—testaments to the wealth and power of those they serve, or once served. Once spurred into action by the commands of their creators, glass golems are quicker and more agile than most other golems. Their sharp, blade-like limbs can easily sever veins and arteries, creating wounds that bleed profusely.

Of all the various types of golems, the glass golem is the one most akin to a work of art. Just as powerful aristocrats might use an ice golem for temperature regulation or a wood golem as an ego-boosting statue, a glass golem's colorful glass construction can elevate the beauty of any chamber by its mere presence.

Recall Knowledge - Construct (Arcana, Crafting): DC 26
Unspecific Lore: DC 24
Specific Lore: DC 21

Elite | Normal | Weak
Proficiency without Level

Glass GolemCreature 8

Legacy Content

Uncommon N Large Construct Golem Mindless 
Source Bestiary 2 pg. 131 2.0
Perception +6; darkvision
Skills Acrobatics +8, Athletics +11, Stealth +6
Str +5, Dex +4, Con +5, Int -5, Wis +0, Cha -5
AC 18; Fort +9, Ref +8, Will +6
HP 135; Immunities bleed, death effects, disease, doomed, drained, fatigued, healing, magic (see Golem Antimagic below), mental, necromancy, nonlethal attacks, paralyzed, poison, sickened, unconscious; Resistances physical 10 (except adamantine or bludgeoning)
Golem Antimagic harmed by sonic (6d6, 2d6 from areas or persistent damage); healed by fire (area 2d6 HP); slowed by coldVulnerable to Shatter A glass golem is affected by the shatter spell as though the golem were an unattended object.Spell Reflection [reaction] (abjuration, arcane) Trigger The glass golem is targeted by a spell; Effect The glass golem positions its magical, reflective surfaces to turn the spell back on the caster. It tries to counteract the spell by attempting an Acrobatics check for its counteract check. If it successfully counteracts the spell, the effect is turned back on the caster.
Speed 25 feet
Melee [one-action] bladed limb +12 [+8/+4] (agile, magical, versatile P), Damage 2d6+8 slashing plus 1d6 bleedDazzling Brilliance [two-actions] (evocation, light, visual) The glass golem creates waves of scintillating luminosity that cast bright light in a 60-foot emanation (and dim light for the next 60 feet). The light lasts until the start of the glass golem's next turn, after which the glass golem can't use Dazzling Brilliance for 1d4 rounds. A creature within the bright light or that enters the bright light must attempt a DC 15 Will save.
Success The creature is unaffected.
Failure The creature is dazzled for 1 round.
Critical Failure The creature is blinded for 1 round and then dazzled for an additional 4 rounds.

Sidebar - Treasure and Rewards Glass Golem Components

The destruction of a glass golem often leaves nothing behind but a pile of tiny shards of crystal and lead. However, if larger pieces survive, the crystal can be sold to glass merchants or skilled crafters who can turn them into glittering works of art.

All Monsters in "Golem"

NameLevel
Adamantine Golem18
Alchemical Golem9
Carrion Golem4
Clay Golem10
Crystal Sentinel13
Flesh Golem8
Fossil Golem12
Glass Golem8
Guillotine Golem18
Ice Golem5
Iron Golem13
Mithral Golem16
Obsidian Golem16
Quantium Golem20
Solar Glass Golem11
Stone Golem11
Wood Golem6

Golem

Source Bestiary pg. 184
Crafted of base materials and then magically animated into a powerful guardian, the legendary golem is a living construct that mindlessly obeys its creator's commands— often continuing to do so for years or even centuries after its creator's death. There exist two known methods of animating a golem. The traditional method involves harvesting and implanting an elemental soul or essence within the newly crafted host statue, a procedure seen as vile and blasphemous to those who value the sanctity of the soul; evil or amoral golem crafters tend to prefer this method. The other, less disreputable technique involves siphoning pure positive energy into the statue to artificially imitate the creation of a soul. The result does not give the golem a true soul and is generally a more costly and time-consuming method of creation. Regardless of the method used, the resulting golem functions the same. A golem's unique animating force leaves it susceptible to certain forms of magic, but apart from these few weaknesses, it is impervious to magic and difficult to damage with weapons.

Golems work best in play as foes to vanquish rather than allies to accompany player characters on adventures. The process of creating a golem is time-consuming, expensive, and difficult, and only the most talented spellcasters or artisans can even hope to accomplish such an undertaking. While certain magical texts—so-called “golem manuals”—are said to aid golems crafters, for the most part the creation of a golem should be something left in the hands of the Game Master.

Golems have components that can be harvested as trophies or magical components; the value depends on the golem in question. Examples of components that can be harvested from golems are listed in the sidebars.

Golem Antimagic

A golem is immune to spells and magical abilities other than its own, but each type of golem is affected by a few types of magic in special ways. These exceptions are listed in shortened form in the golem's stat block, with the full rules appearing here. If an entry lists multiple types (such as “cold and water”), either type of spell can affect the golem.
  • Harmed By Any magic of this type that targets the golem causes it to take the listed amount of damage (this damage has no type) instead of the usual effect. If the golem starts its turn in an area of magic of this type or is affected by a persistent effect of the appropriate type, it takes the damage listed in the parenthetical.
  • Healed By Any magic of this type that targets the golem makes the golem lose the slowed condition and gain HP equal to half the damage the spell would have dealt. If the golem starts its turn in an area of this type of magic, it gains the HP listed in the parenthetical.
  • Slowed By Any magic of this type that targets the golem causes it to be slowed 1 for 2d6 rounds instead of the usual effect. If the golem starts its turn in an area of this type of magic, it's slowed 1 for that round.
  • Vulnerable To Each golem is vulnerable to one or more specific spells, with the effects described in its stat block.