Golem (SLASH'EM)

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SLASH'EM introduces numerous new golems, most of which are much more dangerous than their vanilla counterparts. This page covers those golems which are in SLASH'EM, but not in vanilla. SLASH'EM also introduces a unique golem, Frankenstein's Monster, covered on a separate page. Note that all golems in SLASH'EM are immune to drain life, including the attacks of Stormbringer.

New golems

Wax golem

Wax golems are typically seen in the early levels of SLASH'EM. Their attacks can destroy scrolls and potions, but otherwise they are not a huge threat. They drop wax candles when destroyed. This makes them potentially valuable as a non-conduct-violating source of candles in those games where Izchak's lighting store doesn't have enough.

Plastic golem

Plastic golems are another golem frequently seen in SLASH'EM's early game. They are slightly tougher than the other golems seen then, but not significantly so. They drop credit cards when destroyed.

Ruby golem

Ruby golems are the first of SLASH'EM's highly dangerous gemstone golems. They do large amounts of physical damage, and resist most magical attacks. Fortunately, they are not very fast, and any player with speed can outrun them. They always drop rubies; in general, the gemstone golems are quite useful to identify valuable gems.

Diamond golem

More dangerous than a ruby golem, as they are magic resistant on top of being stronger. They drop diamonds when destroyed. They also possess reflection.

Sapphire golem

Similar to the previous two, only still more dangerous. Their bodies also have reflection.

Steel golem

Steel golems are probably the largest threat of SLASH'EM's new golems. While they do slightly less damage than the crystal golem, they more than make up for it with their passive disenchant attack. They are sufficiently dangerous that it is difficult to use a junk weapon (such as a pick-axe) to destroy them, but they will generally be able to remove some enchantment from your main weapon if you attack them with it. Fortunately, they appear rarely enough that you should only need a couple of spare scrolls of enchant weapon or magic markers handy. They drop iron chains when destroyed.

Crystal golem

Crystal golems do massive amounts of physical damage, and their random breath weapon can occasionally be a blast of disintegration, which can be unpleasant if you don't have reflection. They are best fought alone, if possible. Destroying them produces a pile of random valuable gems. Like the sapphire and diamond golems, these also possess reflection. Note that they have intrinsic magic resistance, in the same way that a gray dragon does.

Hit points

Like in Vanilla NetHack, golems in SLASH'EM are generated with a fixed number of hit points. However, even for golems that exist in Vanilla NetHack, that number of hit points is higher in SLASH'EM, as shown in the following table:

Golem Hit points (Vanilla NetHack) Hit points (SLASH'EM)
paper golem 20 36
straw golem 20 40
wax golem 40
rope golem 30 60
plastic golem 60
gold golem 40 80
leather golem 40 80
wood golem 50 100
flesh golem 40 120
glass golem 60 140
clay golem 50 150
stone golem 60 180
iron golem 80 240
ruby golem 250
diamond golem 270
sapphire golem 280
steel golem 290
crystal golem 300
Frankenstein's Monster 400

Strategy

All of the gemstone golems are highly dangerous; a crystal golem, in one-on-one combat with a character fully prepared for SLASH'EM's lategame, can still deal 120-150 damage before being destroyed. For this reason, they are all best fought alone if at all possible. Since they are all slower than a character in speed boots, this should not be too difficult. Stoning them is a valid option, as it will turn them into less-dangerous stone golems. The dropped gemstones can be quite useful, particularly for getting wishes from gypsies, which start appearing with some frequency around the same time.