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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

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PFS StandardIron Golem

Traditionally crafted into the forms of giant suits of armor or powerful animals, iron golems are products of exquisite artistry and skill. Their articulated joints and sturdy armored bodies require great care and mathematical precision to craft, and regular cleaning and oiling ensure they don’t rust over the ages. With proper care, iron golems can remain in good shape for thousands of years, being passed down for generations, as long as they aren’t destroyed by meddlesome adventurers. In addition to their incredible strength, iron golems possess a potent toxic breath weapon that is often more than enough to dispatch entire groups of opponents.

Recall Knowledge - Construct (Arcana, Crafting): DC 33
Unspecific Lore: DC 31
Specific Lore: DC 28

Elite | Normal | Weak
Proficiency without Level

Iron GolemCreature 13

Legacy Content

Uncommon N Large Construct Golem Mindless 
Source Bestiary pg. 188
Perception +8; darkvision
Skills Athletics +17
Str +8, Dex -1, Con +4, Int -5, Wis +0, Cha -5
AC 21; Fort +13, Ref +8, Will +9
HP 190; Immunities bleed, death effects, disease, doomed, drained, fatigued, fire, healing, magic (see below), mental, necromancy, nonlethal attacks, paralyzed, poison, sickened, unconscious; Resistances physical 15 (except adamantine)
Golem Antimagic harmed by acid (6d10, 2d8 from areas and persistent damage); healed by fire (area 2d8 HP); slowed by electricity Vulnerable to Neutralize Poison Casting neutralize poison on the golem deactivates its Breath Weapon for 1 minute. Vulnerable to Rust Magical rusting effects, like a rust monster’s antennae, affect the iron golem normally.
Speed 20 feet
Melee [one-action] fist +15 [+10/+5] (magical, reach 10 feet), Damage 3d10+12 bludgeoningBreath Weapon [two-actions] (arcane, necromancy, poison) The iron golem exhales poisonous gas in a 10-foot radius centered on the corner of one of the iron golem’s squares. The gas persists for 1 round. Any creature in the area (or that later enters the area) is exposed to the iron golem’s poison. The golem can’t use its Breath Weapon again for 1d4 rounds.Inexorable March [one-action] The iron golem Strides up to its Speed, pushing back each creature whose space it moves into and damaging them if they try to stop its movement. A creature can attempt to bar the way by succeeding at a DC 24 Fortitude save. On a critical success, the resisting creature takes no damage; otherwise, it is damaged as if hit by the golem’s fist.Iron Golem Poison (poison) Any drained value from this poison is reduced by 1 every hour. Saving Throw DC 20 Fortitude; Maximum Duration 4 rounds; Stage 1 2d6 poison and drained 1 (1 round); Stage 2 4d6 poison and drained 2 (1 round); Stage 3 8d6 poison and drained 3 (1 round).

Sidebar - Treasure and Rewards Iron Golems

An iron golem can be melted down for scrap or traded to fire giants for repurposing into armor for a Large creature.

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.