Golem, Clay
- Armor Class
- -2 [21] (m)
- Hit Dice
- 11
- Attacks
- Strike (1d6+2)
- Special
- magic weapons to hit, golem immunities, berserk, wounds resist healing
- Move
- 6
- HDE/XP
- 13/2,300
Description
Clay golems are made of clay, naturally, and thus may be any natural clay color; generally, one will be grayish in color, but common clay containing iron oxide may be used which results in a red, brown, or even orange clay golem. They are usually unclad, but some golem- makers choose to put a leather belt, girdle, or apron on their creation. A clay golem weighs about 600 pounds.
Wounds inflicted by a clay golem do not heal normally; worse, magical healing cures only 1 point per die rolled (but add all bonuses normally). Thus, a Cure (Cause) Light Wounds spell heals just 2 points.
Golems
Golems are constructs created from non-living matter and animated by magic. They are mindless and immune to sleep, charm, hold, mind reading, telepathy, and other mind-affecting magic.
Golems cannot be harmed by non-magical weapons unless an individual entry says otherwise. A golem may also have material-specific spell interactions, vulnerabilities, or immunities, as described in its entry.
A golem must be given explicit verbal instructions, and the controller must be within 60 feet to command it. If not actively commanded, it follows the last instructions it was given; if attacked, it defends itself but usually does not pursue fleeing attackers. A controller can delegate command, but the creator's commands take precedence.
Once a golem attacks in combat, there is a cumulative 1% chance each round that it becomes berserk. A berserk golem attacks any creature in range, choosing randomly if there are several, and continues seeking new victims if current targets are killed or driven away. The chance resets to 0% only after the golem spends a full round inactive, neither attacking nor being attacked.
The creator may try to calm a berserk golem by spending one round speaking firmly to it and succeeding on a saving throw against magic. If the attempt fails, the golem turns on its creator. If a berserk golem cannot attack anyone for 5 rounds, it becomes inactive again, unless it is pursuing its creator.
Use each individual entry as the source of truth for weapon requirements, spell interactions, material vulnerabilities, breath weapons, grapples, and other exceptions.
See Also
Other creatures in the Golem category: Golem, Amber, Golem, Bone, Golem, Bronze, Golem, Chain, Golem, Crystal, Golem, Flesh, Golem, Glass, Golem, Gold, Golem, Hay, Golem, Household, Golem, Iron, Golem, Lead, Golem, Purifier, Golem, Rope, Golem, Stone, Golem, Straw, Golem, Tin, Golem, Web, Golem, Wood.
Source note: This creature is converted from Basic Fantasy Role-Playing Game, 4th Edition Release 142, © 2006–2025 Chris Gonnerman. The Basic Fantasy textual material is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International; this page adapts that creature to White Box.