Iron Golem

{
 "title": "Iron Golem",
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 "field": "(values exceeds 1000 characters...)",
 "label": "(link to Health article, displayed as Health points)"
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 "field": "Neutral (naturally spawned)<br>Passive (player-built)",
 "label": "Behavior"
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 "field": "(values exceeds 1000 characters...)",
 "label": "Attack<br/>strength"
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 "field": "'''In (link to Java Edition article, displayed as ''Java Edition''):'''<br>\nHeight: 2.7 blocks<br>Width: 1.4 blocks<br>\n'''In (link to Bedrock Edition article, displayed as ''Bedrock Edition''):'''<br>\nHeight: 2.9 blocks<br>Width: 1.4 blocks",
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 "label": "(link to Attribute#knockback_resistance article, displayed as Knockback<br/>resistance)"
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 "field": "Near a <span class=\"nowrap\"><span class=\"sprite-file\" style=\"\">(link to File:EnvSprite pillager-outpost.png article, displayed as 16x16px|link=pillager outpost|alt=|class=pixel-image|)</span>(link to pillager outpost article, displayed as <span class=\"sprite-text\">pillager outpost</span>)</span><br>\nIn <span class=\"nowrap\"><span class=\"sprite-file\" style=\"\">(link to File:EnvSprite village.png article, displayed as 16x16px|link=Village|alt=|class=pixel-image|)</span>(link to Village article, displayed as <span class=\"sprite-text\">villages</span>)</span><br>\nWhen built by the player<br>\nWhen (link to Villager#Iron golem summoning article, displayed as summoned by villagers)‌<sup class=\" nowrap Inline-Template \" title=\"\">[<i><span title=\"This statement only applies to Java Edition\">(link to Java Edition article, displayed as JE) only</span></i>]</sup>",
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 "field": "\n* <span class=\"nowrap\"><span class=\"sprite-file\" style=\"\">(link to File:ItemSprite iron-ingot.png article, displayed as 16x16px|link=Iron Ingot|alt=|class=pixel-image|)</span>(link to Iron Ingot article, displayed as <span class=\"sprite-text\">Iron Ingot</span>)</span> \n* <span class=\"nowrap\"><span class=\"sprite-file\" style=\"\">(link to File:ItemSprite lead.png article, displayed as 16x16px|link=Lead|alt=|class=pixel-image|)</span>(link to Lead article, displayed as <span class=\"sprite-text\">Lead</span>)</span>",
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 "field": "Yes",
 "label": "Can be (link to Lead article, displayed as leashed)"
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 "label": "Can ride (link to boat article, displayed as boats)"
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 "field": "Yes‌<sup class=\" nowrap Inline-Template \" title=\"\">[<i><span title=\"This statement only applies to Bedrock Edition\">(link to Bedrock Edition article, displayed as BE) only</span></i>]</sup><br>No‌<sup class=\" nowrap Inline-Template \" title=\"\">[<i><span title=\"This statement only applies to Java Edition\">(link to Java Edition article, displayed as JE) only</span></i>]</sup>",
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 "Iron Golem Spawn Egg"
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 "images": [
 "Iron Golem.png",
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An iron golem is a buildable neutral mob that attacks monsters with its arms, knocking them into the air. Iron golems are created by villagers to patrol and protect their villages. Villager-created iron golems will retaliate against players if attacked, and are hostile to players that have low popularity or reputation with their village.

In Java Edition, villagers can summon iron golems, either when they are gossiping or every 5 seconds while panicking and the following criteria are met:

1. The villager has slept in the last 20 minutes
2. The villager has not detected an iron golem in the last 30 seconds
   • An iron golem is detected when it is within 16 blocks of the villager (±16X ±16Z ±16Y axis), and the villager scans for golems once every 10 seconds
3. The villager has not been near a summoning in the last 30 seconds
   • A villager is near a summoning when it is within 10 blocks of a villager (±10X ±10Z ±10Y axis) who successfully summons an iron golem
4. There are enough participants within 10 blocks of the villager, including the villager itself; participating villagers need to fulfill the previous 3 conditions: When gossiping, 5 or more participants are needed. When panicking, 3 or more are needed
5. A valid spawn point for the golem is found

Iron golems still spawn even when the game rule doMobSpawning is set to false.^[1]

To find a valid spawn point, up to 10 attempts are made to spawn a golem within a 17×13×17 box centered on the villager (villager block position ±8 blocks along x/z axes and ±6 blocks along y axis). A random y column is picked and then the topmost block in that column is selected that is air or liquid and has a "solid-blocking" block underneath.

The target location is then checked whether the block underneath has a solid top surface (which is not the same as "solid-blocking"). The target block and 2 blocks above must not be a full block, nor be redstone-powered, nor be rails, and the two blocks above must not be water. This means the iron golem can spawn inside 1-deep water or inside blocks like slabs, fences, and carpets (if other checks pass). Adjacent blocks are irrelevant, so golems can spawn partially inside adjacent solid blocks.^[2] However, the spawning iron golem still must not collide with any existing entities.

In Bedrock Edition, an iron golem can spawn naturally when a village first generates in the world. Iron golems also spawn in villages having at least 20 beds and 10 villagers. The golem attempts to spawn in a 17×13×17 volume, ±8 blocks horizontal and ±6 blocks vertical from the village's center block, which can be (but isn't necessarily) a bed pillow or a bell.

First, X and Z coordinates are randomly chosen within the spawn volume. Next, the highest block at those coordinates within the spawn volume is found. If it is a block with a full top surface — including glass, upside-down stairs, top slabs, hoppers (though this has varied with version), and even water (including source blocks) — and there is no obstruction above it by a block above the spawn volume, then the golem spawns there. Otherwise, the spawn attempt is canceled.

For a village to spawn iron golems, 75% of its villagers must have been able to work (reach their linked work block during a working period) in the past day ^{[needs testing in Bedrock Edition]}, and 100% of them must be linked to a bed. Additionally, the village center must be within a player's simulation distance volume.

The maximum distance the player can be from the village for iron golems to spawn can be calculated with the following formulas. These are approximate because they yield a cuboid volume, but the simulation distance volume is an octahedral shape based on taxicab distance.

Iron golems can only spawn within the player's simulation distance volume, so if a village center lies close to the border of said volume, only part of the typical 17x13x17 golem spawn volume will be eligible for spawning.

If the village's original iron golem is killed, a new one cannot spawn unless all of the conditions are met. Therefore, a small village does not regenerate an iron golem unless the village is expanded.

If the spawn conditions are met, then the chance of attempting a spawn is ¹⁄₇₀₀ per game tick, which averages to one spawn attempt every 35 seconds. Iron golems can spawn provided the 2×3×2 space above the spawn point (that is, horizontally centered on the northwest corner of the block it spawns on) contains only non-full blocks, and the block it spawns on is solid-blocking.

An additional iron golem spawns for each additional 10 villagers beyond the initial population requirement, provided that the other requirements are met.

Iron golems are created by placing four iron blocks in a T shape (as shown in the image), and then placing a carved pumpkin or jack o'lantern on top of the center upper block. The pumpkin may be placed by the player, a dispenser or an enderman, but it must be placed last. Alternatively, the blocks can be placed in any order with an uncarved pumpkin; the player can shear the pumpkin to spawn the golem.

When successfully created, the iron golem is naturally passive toward all players under all circumstances. It can, however, attack the player’s tamed wolves, if punched accidentally, but it never directly attacks the player. The constructed golem attacks hostile mobs like a naturally spawned iron golem.

The block arrangement can be placed upright, lying down, or upside-down. The four empty spaces in the diagram (above and below each of the arms) must be air blocks. Any non-air block (including blocks such as snow layers, grass, and water) present in any of the empty spaces prevent the golem from spawning.

Like other constructed mobs, iron golems always spawn facing south. Their large size may cause them to take suffocation damage from nearby solid blocks at the level of their head.

Iron golems can also be found surrounding pillager outposts, confined inside dark oak cages. When freed, they can help the player by attacking any nearby pillagers. Pillagers can technically attack iron golems in cages if they fall in, though it is unlikely that they will succeed on their own. Iron golems can also attack pillagers from within the cage due to being able to attack through 1 block walls, assuming that it sees a pillager through an air block.

Java Edition:

Bedrock Edition:

In Bedrock Edition, trading prices are unaffected by the killing of iron golems; however, village popularity decreases by 10, affecting village iron golem behavior if the popularity ranges below -15.

Iron golems wander around a village in a patrol-like fashion, staying close to buildings and other structures. Like villagers, iron golems do not wander away from a village, regardless of how they were spawned, but sometimes stand at the border of the village.

An iron golem sometimes faces a villager as if they are conversing. Iron golems can spawn poppies in their hands and offer them to villagers and copper golems. Baby villagers‌^{[Bedrock Edition only][3]} and copper golems accept the poppy offered by the iron golem. A copper golem that accepts a poppy has the poppy on top of the rod on their head. Attacking an iron golem that is not player-built while the iron golem is holding out a poppy causes it to take back the poppy and attack the player instead. If the iron golem sees a target while it is offering the poppy, it runs to attack them and inflict damage.

In Bedrock Edition, iron golems completely ignore villagers, pushing them aside while walking if a villager is in the iron golem's path, but they still offer poppies if possible.

If not within a village, iron golems slowly wander around attacking hostile mobs, (skeletons, zombies, etc.) usually making their way to a nearby village. If in that village, the iron golem doesn't leave.

Iron golems can walk up a full block height without jumping and walk over a 1 block wide hole without falling in. They avoid water, lava, fire, and cactus. Iron golems are immune to both drowning and fall damage. When in water they sink to the bottom, but can still move laterally and walk up full blocks as if they were on land.

As with most passive and neutral mobs, iron golems can be leashed. The leashed iron golem does not try to break from the lead when it sees a hostile mob, instead looking at the mob while it moves. An iron golem that is leashed in mid-air moves its arms and legs while moving. If an iron golem is leashed to a fence, it attacks hostile mobs, but does not follow them if they leave the leash range as the iron golem cannot break free from fence leads.

In Java Edition, Iron golems that aren't provoked move slower. Iron golems move faster in Bedrock Edition, as its normal walking speed is fast regardless of being provoked.

Iron golems cannot pick up weapons or armor, but the player can use NBT commands in Java Edition or the /replaceitem command in Bedrock Edition to give the iron golem weapons or armor, although the armor or weapons are not visible.

When attacking, an iron golem moves quickly toward its target and swings its arms up violently to attack, flinging the target into the air and dealing damage in a random range set by difficulty, between as low as 4.75HP👁 ❤️
× 2.375 damage on Easy difficulty and as high as 32.25HP👁 ❤️
× 16.125 damage on Hard difficulty. Iron golems cannot attack targets that are 2.75‌^{[Java Edition only]}/3‌^{[Bedrock Edition only]} or more blocks above them. As such, standing on a three block pillar will allow players to attack golems below them without taking damage themselves.

It is possible for multiple golems to hit the same target simultaneously, flinging the victim to a height proportional to the number of golems that attacked.‌^{[Bedrock Edition only][verify]}

If an iron golem attacks a group of mobs, it targets one mob to attack until that mob dies before attacking a different mob, even while being attacked by other mobs.

If the mob is flung out of sight, the iron golem attacks the next mob that attacks it. Sometimes, the iron golem might attack the nearest hostile mob if they are in groups.^[verify]

When an iron golem kills any mob, the player can obtain items dropped by the mob, but no experience orbs. An iron golem that kills a raid mob in Bedrock Edition also causes the mob to drop its raid loot, even when the mob wasn't attacked by the player before it was killed.

Iron golems never attack each other, as iron golems cannot "accidentally" hit another iron golem when attacking.

An iron golem built by a player never attacks players, even when hit or when the player attacks another villager or another golem in front of the player-built golem, though they will attack a player's tamed wolf if the wolf attacks the golem.

In Bedrock Edition, a naturally-spawned iron golem immediately becomes hostile toward a player who attacks a villager near an iron golem.

If a player has -15 popularity or less in a village, or has -100 or lower reputation with any nearby villager, naturally-spawned iron golems become hostile to that player until the player's popularity climbs above -15 and reputation with all nearby villagers goes above -100.‌^{[Java Edition only]}

A village iron golem retaliates when attacked by a player, even if the attack dealt no damage such as an ender pearl or snowball. If a village has more than one naturally-spawned iron golem and a player attacks one in front of the other(s), all iron golems of that type may become hostile to the player.‌^{[Bedrock Edition only][verify]}

Iron golems are not provoked by players who attack wandering traders.^[4]

Although they are guardians of villages, iron golems are not actually provoked when a mob attacks a nearby villager (in contrast to a player attacking a villager‌^{[Bedrock Edition only]}), given that the iron golem is not already hostile to the type of mob by default. With the exception of creepers, goats, and sulfur cubes, they are provoked when attacked by any mob, and by the presence of nearby monsters. Even if a witch accidentally throws a positive splash potion at an iron golem during a raid, this does not stop the iron golem from attacking the witch. Iron golems are ineffective against flying hostile mobs that don't venture into the iron golem's reach, such as ghasts and phantoms.

The list below contains mobs that can have hostile interactions with iron golems. The iron golem also attacks neutral mobs or hostile mobs that can attack the player, such as piglins or zombified piglins.

A naturally-spawned iron golem knows where raiding illager locations are from behind solid walls and from underground and attempts to move toward them. An iron golem created by the player or summoned by a command cannot detect raiders through obstructions. Iron golems also look up or down if the hostile mob is above or below the iron golem.

Zombies (and variants), zoglins, skeletons (and variants), spiders, cave spiders, slimes, magma cubes, withers, ravagers and illagers naturally attack iron golems on sight and may cause major damage, especially if the mobs attack in groups. In Bedrock Edition, silverfish and witches also naturally attack iron golems without provocation.

Iron golems have 100% knockback resistance from normal attacks. However, they can be knocked back by wind charges and the Wind Burst enchantment.

Iron golems have different stages of being cracked to show their health. When their health is at or above 75%, they do not have any cracks. When their health is at or above 50% but lower than 75%, some cracks appear. When their health is at or above 25% but lower than 50%, they appear more cracked. When their health is lower than 25%, many cracks are visible.

• 👁 No deterioration (75% of health remaining or more)
  
  No deterioration
  (75% of health remaining or more)
• 👁 Low deterioration (Between 74% and 50% remaining)
  
  Low deterioration
  (Between 74% and 50% remaining)
• 👁 Average deterioration (Between 49% and 25% remaining)
  
  Average deterioration
  (Between 49% and 25% remaining)
• 👁 Strong deterioration (Less than 25% remaining)
  
  Strong deterioration
  (Less than 25% remaining)

Using an iron ingot on an iron golem removes one deterioration level, or in other words, adds 25HP👁 ❤️
× 12.5 to its health, consuming the ingot.

Like villagers, iron golems in Bedrock Edition use a strategy of pathfinding that prioritizes walking on certain "low-cost" blocks.

Iron golems attempt to walk on a one-block-wide path, despite them being two blocks wide. An iron golem favors a wider path if it sees one.

Iron golems can climb ladders or vines if the ladder or vine is in its path, or if pushed onto a ladder or vine.

Java Edition:

Bedrock Edition:

Java Edition:

Bedrock Edition:

Iron golems have entity data associated with them that contain various properties.

Java Edition:

Bedrock Edition:

See Bedrock Edition level format/Entity format.

Achievements that apply to all mobs:

Advancements that apply to all mobs:

Issues relating to "Iron Golem" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

• The iron golem's holding out flowers to villagers is a reference to the ancient robots in Hayao Miyazaki's animated film Laputa: Castle in the Sky.^[18] When baby villagers notice the poppy in its hand, they slowly approach, and take the flower eventually.^[3] Iron golems do not actually pick up poppies; they spawn them in their hands.
• Another inspiration was The Iron Giant, about an extraterrestrial war machine that crash landed on Earth and found a new life as a pacifist, motivated by Superman.^[19]
• Iron golems do not get into boats or minecarts on their own, although in Bedrock Edition, pushing a minecart on rails into a golem forces it into the minecart.
• It is possible for an enderman to cause an iron golem to spawn by placing a pumpkin in the correct position on an arrangement of iron blocks previously placed by the player.
• The iron golem is a purchasable avatar item on the Xbox 360 Marketplace.
• It is impossible to spawn an iron golem holding a poppy using a command (such as summon or data). Its NBT matches with a naturally generated golem (equipment:{mainhand:{id:"minecraft:poppy",count:1}}), but does not visually update.
• The iron golem has a smaller LEGO variant exclusive from "Advent Calender 2025", as well as one of the warden.

• 👁 Creation of an iron golem
  
  Creation of an iron golem
• 👁 An iron golem offers a villager a poppy.
  
  An iron golem offers a villager a poppy.
• 👁 An iron golem offers a poppy to several baby villagers.
  
  An iron golem offers a poppy to several baby villagers.
• 👁 An iron golem attacking a spider by throwing it into the air
  
  An iron golem attacking a spider by throwing it into the air
• 👁 An iron golem attacking a witch
  
  An iron golem attacking a witch
• 👁 An iron golem attacking the player
  
  An iron golem attacking the player
• 👁 Iron golems acting strangely in a player-created village, by attempting to cross in a two-block-high gap
  
  Iron golems acting strangely in a player-created village, by attempting to cross in a two-block-high gap
• 👁 Two iron golems bump their heads in Bedrock Edition.
  
  Two iron golems bump their heads in Bedrock Edition.
• 👁 A cracked iron golem
  
  A cracked iron golem
• 👁 An iron golem attacking pillagers
  
  An iron golem attacking pillagers

• 👁 First image of iron golem
  
  First image of iron golem
• 👁 Iron Golem (texture no alpha)
  
  Iron Golem (texture no alpha)
• 👁 A recreation of the unused iron golem on the hidden pixels of the old iron golem texture revealed by disabling the alpha channel
  
  A recreation of the unused iron golem on the hidden pixels of the old iron golem texture revealed by disabling the alpha channel

• 👁 Iron golem texture file
  
  Iron golem texture file
• 👁 Low crackiness texture file
  
  Low crackiness texture file
• 👁 Medium crackiness texture file
  
  Medium crackiness texture file
• 👁 High crackiness texture file
  
  High crackiness texture file

• 👁 An iron golem in promotional artwork for the Horse Update
  
  An iron golem in promotional artwork for the Horse Update
• 👁 An iron golem in promotional artwork for Minecon 2015
  
  An iron golem in promotional artwork for Minecon 2015
• 👁 Iron golems in promotional artwork for the Village and Pillage Update
  
  Iron golems in promotional artwork for the Village and Pillage Update
• 👁 Official iron golem artwork
  
  Official iron golem artwork
• 👁 Another official iron golem artwork
  
  Another official iron golem artwork
• 👁 An iron golem alone in the rain
  
  An iron golem alone in the rain
• 👁 Villager and Iron Golem Spirit from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
  
  Villager and Iron Golem Spirit from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
• 👁 Artwork of an iron golem running, from the website for Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue
  
  Artwork of an iron golem running, from the website for Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue
• 👁 An iron golem lifting up Sunny to catch a snowball
  
  An iron golem lifting up Sunny to catch a snowball
• 👁 A copper golem reaching out past an iron golem named Dinnerbone
  
  A copper golem reaching out past an iron golem named Dinnerbone

• 👁 The Secret Iron Golem, featured in the Trails & Tales Event
  
  The Secret Iron Golem, featured in the Trails & Tales Event
• 👁 Tiny iron golem
  
  Tiny iron golem
• 👁 LEGO Minecraft iron golem
  
  LEGO Minecraft iron golem
• 👁 Lego Iron golem (old version)
  
  Lego Iron golem (old version)
• 👁 Lego iron golem from Minecraft Dungeons
  
  Lego iron golem from Minecraft Dungeons
• 👁 Lego iron golem from A Minecraft Movie
  
  Lego iron golem from A Minecraft Movie
• 👁 Official T-shirt artwork made by JINX
  
  Official T-shirt artwork made by JINX
• 👁 An official T-shirt artwork "Minecraft Heroes Crest" depicts an iron golem and an ender dragon. Made by JINX
  
  An official T-shirt artwork "Minecraft Heroes Crest" depicts an iron golem and an ender dragon. Made by JINX
• 👁 Iron golem concept art for the A Minecraft Movie
  
  Iron golem concept art for the A Minecraft Movie
• 👁 Iron golem security guard featured in 15 Year Journey
  
  Iron golem security guard featured in 15 Year Journey
• 👁 An iron golem as seen inMinecraft Dungeons
  
  An iron golem as seen inMinecraft Dungeons
• 👁 An iron golem as seen inMinecraft: Story Mode
  
  An iron golem as seen inMinecraft: Story Mode
• 👁 Iron golem minifigure by Mattel
  
  Iron golem minifigure by Mattel
• 👁 An April Fools' Easter egg with an iron golem named "Billyballong" in Java Edition 22w13oneBlockAtATime
  
  An April Fools' Easter egg with an iron golem named "Billyballong" in Java Edition 22w13oneBlockAtATime
• 👁 Skin of humanoid iron golem in 1st Birthday Skin Pack
  
  Skin of humanoid iron golem in 1st Birthday Skin Pack
• 👁 Skin of humanoid iron golem in Skin Pack 4
  
  Skin of humanoid iron golem in Skin Pack 4
• 👁 An iron golem in A Minecraft Movie
  
  An iron golem in A Minecraft Movie

• "Meet the Iron Golem" by Tom Stone – Minecraft.net, February 27, 2017.
• "Meet the Iron Golem" by Duncan Geere – Minecraft.net, September 12, 2024.