Golems are creatures that are animated from different elements. They appear frequently in Diablo series.
Lore
Golems are magically shaped from inanimate matter and animated by magic, constantly supported (fueled, in a manner of speaking) by creator's own soul. This link is usually taxing, so most mages can only hold one golem at a time. As such, golems wither and die when their creator is slain, and lack free will. However, some powerful mages (Adria included) have given a certain degree of freedom and independent power sources to their golems, allowing them to remain active even after their creator's death, and also allowing to bypass the one golem limit.
The golem's properties depend greatly on what material was used to shape it: earth (sand, stone or clay), poison, fire, blood or metal. Note that Elementals are different from golems.
Having a golem servant is seen as the ultimate symbol of wisdom, but mostly that of the necromantic arts. Being able to create a creature from inanimate substances shows that a person is indeed in charge of the cycle of life, being able to bend it to the user's will. This is something Necromancers are quite hubrisly proud of.
Diablo I
Golems were introduced in Diablo I, where they could be summoned by using the Golem spell or an item with golem charges, like the Rod of Onan. There was only one type of golem in Diablo I. It was used most often by Sorcerers as tanks and sometimes Rogues with high magic. The Golems could not follow you downstairs and therefore self-destructed into clumps of rock as soon as you hit the stairwell. To train a Golem at level 1 required 81 magic.
Diablo II
The Golems were revamped in Diablo II, in which they could be summoned by the Necromancer as one of his minions.
There are four variations of the Golem in Diablo II.
- Low leveled necromancers can summon a Clay Golem, which is a well rounded monster who can take good damage before its destruction.
- The Blood Golem is the second variation, which is a literal mass of blood and organs whose life is tapped directly into his master's, allowing him to heal master by attacking enemies.
- The third version is the Iron Golem. This version is strong and tough, and the Iron Golem's strength lies in his Thorn Damage. This Golem is very powerful against Melee attackers.
- The final version is the Fire Golem, a entity of living flame. The Fire Golem causes massive fire splash damage similar to the Paladin's Holy Fire Aura, causing monsters in the area to passively burn.
You can only have one Golem of any type at any time. Once you summon a new Golem, the old one will immediately disappear. You do not need a monster corpse to summon Golems although the Iron Golem requires an item. Golems have a fixed defense, but their Life and damage increase on Nightmare, and again on Hell Difficulty.
Diablo III
Only Necromancers can use the Command Golem spell in Diablo III (type of the golem summoned depends on skill rune), but many monster types are also dubbed golems:
- Sand Dwellers were originally called Sand Golems, but were changed to demons instead. However, some variations, like Eternal Guardians, are specifically stated to be magically shaped.
- Flesh Golems are Adria's creations of blood and earth.
- Flesh Gorgers are massively raised from blood and clay.
- Flesh Hurlers are created with noxious swamp fumes, giving them poison infusion.
- Flesh Shamans are made with the Witch's own blood, allowing them to use magic.
- Gargantuan skill fulfills similar role for Witch Doctors.
Trivia
- Golems originally come from Jewish folklore.