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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

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PFS StandardIce Golem

Ice golems are either carved from massive blocks of ice, or pieced together from individual components that are then fused together through heat and refreezing. In most cases, the resulting shape is little more than a crude approximation of a humanoid form, but given the right talent, an ice golem could be an exquisitely carved statue of a mythical creature, famous persona, or even a deity.

While ice golems most frequently serve as guardians in freezing climates, the magic that holds an ice golem together keeps it from melting in warmer temperatures. This, combined with the fact that ice golems lie on the lower end of the scale as far as cost and difficulty to create, gives these constructs unusual features that puts them in great demand. The rich and powerful in hot, arid regions often commission ice golems not only as guardians for their estates and vaults, but for comfort—the presence of an ice golem standing quietly sentinel in the corner of a room can help to keep the chamber at a comfortable temperature. The truly decadent use ice golems as servants to keep drinks cold.

Recall Knowledge - Construct (Arcana, Crafting): DC 22
Unspecific Lore: DC 20
Specific Lore: DC 17

Elite | Normal | Weak
Proficiency without Level

Ice GolemCreature 5

Legacy Content

Uncommon N Medium Cold Construct Golem Mindless 
Source Bestiary 2 pg. 129 2.0
Perception +4; darkvision
Skills Athletics +10
Str +5, Dex +0, Con +4, Int -5, Wis +0, Cha -5
AC 16; Fort +10, Ref +6, Will +4
HP 80; Immunities bleed, cold, death effects, disease, doomed, drained, electricity, fatigued, healing, magic (see Golem Antimagic below), mental, necromancy, nonlethal attacks, paralyzed, poison, sickened, unconscious; Resistances physical 5 (except adamantine and bludgeoning)
Golem Antimagic harmed by fire (4d6, 1d10 from areas or persistent damage); healed by cold (area 1d6 HP); slowed by waterIcy Demise (arcane, cold, evocation) When an ice golem is destroyed, its body explodes in a blast of frigid air and razor-sharp ice, dealing 2d6 slashing damage and 2d6 cold damage to creatures in a 20-foot emanation, with a DC 14 basic Reflex save.Vulnerable to Endure Elements An ice golem can be targeted with endure elements even if it's not willing. If it is targeted, for 1 round it can't use Breath Weapon or benefit from creeping cold, and its fist attack doesn't deal cold damage.
Speed 25 feet
Melee [one-action] fist +10 [+5/+0] (magical, versatile P), Damage 2d6+7 bludgeoning plus 1d6 coldBreath Weapon [two-actions] (arcane, cold, evocation) The ice golem exhales a blast of freezing mist that deals 6d6 cold damage in a 30-foot cone (DC 17 basic Reflex save). It can't use Breath Weapon again for 1d4 rounds.Creeping Cold (arcane, cold, evocation) When the ice golem gets a critical hit with a fist Strike, the target also takes 2d6 persistent cold damage and is slowed 1 for 1 round.

Sidebar - Treasure and Rewards Ice Golem Components

When destroyed, the magic sustaining an ice golem's form quickly dissipates. Unless it is in a freezing environment, the golem's shattered remains soon melt completely away. Still, the animating magic can linger in shards of ice that resist melting; these may fetch a good price from wealthy folk to preserve foods or chill beverages. Pieces of ice that are captured and magically preserved or allowed to melt in sealed containers can also be sold to scholars who may be able to divine arcane secrets from the once magically animated materials.

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.