Creature Reference Back to Creatures

Clay Golem

Large · Construct · CR 9 · Unaligned

Source. 5e 2014 Rules

14 (natural armor)

133 (14d10+56)

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

DEX

-1

CON

INT

-4

WIS

-1

CHA

-5

Overview

Category Monsters

Subcategory Golems

Size Large

Type Construct

Alignment Unaligned

XP 5000

Initiative Bonus -1

Movement

Walk 20 ft (6.1 m)

Swim 10 ft (3 m)

Climb 10 ft (3 m)

Crawl 10 ft (3 m)

Senses

Darkvision 60 ft (18.3 m)

Passive Perception 9

Languages

understands the languages of its creator but can't speak

Resistances & Immunities

Damage Immunities

acid, poison, psychic; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks not made with adamantine weapons

Condition Immunities

charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned

Environments

Arctic or Tundra Caves Coast Desert Forest or Jungle Grassland or Plains Hills Laboratory Lake Mountain Ocean Ruins Sewer Shadowfell The Abyss Astral Plane Elysium Ethereal Plane Feywild Hell Material Plane Plane of Air Plane of Earth Plane of Fire Plane of Water Swamp or Marsh Temple Badlands Tomb Underworld Urban

Traits

Acid Absorption

Whenever the golem is subjected to acid damage, it takes no damage and instead regains a number of hit points equal to the acid damage dealt.

Berserk

Whenever the golem starts its turn with 60 hit points or fewer, roll a d6. On a 6, the golem goes berserk. On each of its turns while berserk, the golem attacks the nearest creature it can see. If no creature is near enough to move to and attack, the golem attacks an object, with preference for an object smaller than itself. Once the golem goes berserk, it continues to do so until it is destroyed or regains all its hit points.

Immutable Form

The golem is immune to any spell or effect that would alter its form.

Magic Resistance

The golem has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Magic Weapons

The golem's weapon attacks are magical.

Actions

Haste

Cost 1

Until the end of its next turn, the golem magically gains a +2 bonus to its AC, has advantage on Dexterity saving throws, and can use its slam attack as a bonus action.

Multiattack

Cost 1

The golem makes two slam attacks.

Slam

Cost 1

+8 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 2d10 thunder damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (2d10 + 5) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or have its hit point maximum reduced by an amount equal to the damage taken. The target dies if this attack reduces its hit point maximum to 0. The reduction lasts until removed by the greater restoration spell or other magic.

About Clay Golem

Clay Golem is a large construct with a Challenge Rating of 9. It has a unaligned alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 14 and possesses 133 hit points (derived from 14d10+56).

Clay Golem has communication capabilities including understands the languages of its creator but can't speak. This allows it to interact verbally with various creatures and characters.

GM Tips: Using Clay Golem

2 tips available

When using Clay Golem in your D&D 5e campaign, consider these tactical approaches:

Significant Threat: Challenging for parties of levels 5-10
Epic Potential: Consider legendary actions for memorable battles

Player Guide: Facing Clay Golem

2 strategies available

When your party encounters this creature, keep these strategies in mind:

Significant Threat: Prepare spells and resources
Team Coordination: Coordinate attacks and defenses

Encounter Building Calculator

Standard Party Encounter (4-5 characters):

This creature is a medium encounter for a party of 4 characters of level 9.

Solo Encounter:

A single character of level 12 (up to level 20) can face this creature in a medium to hard encounter.

Experience Point Thresholds:

Medium: 9,000 XP
Hard: 13,500 XP
Deadly: 18,000 XP

Based on D&D 5e Dungeon Master's Guide encounter building guidelines. CR roughly equals party level for medium encounters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the challenge rating of Clay Golem?: Clay Golem has a Challenge Rating of 9, making it appropriate for parties of level 9.0.
What type of creature is Clay Golem?: Clay Golem is a Large Construct, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Clay Golem speak?: Clay Golem can communicate in understands the languages of its creator but can't speak.