By Alan McCoy from Dungeons & Dragons: Fundamentals
How to build challenging encounters against a Flesh Golem
Note: This has been prepared utilizing only the 5E Core Rules. The Flesh Golem can be found in the Monster Manual page 169, with additional information on Pages 167-170.
Valuable additional information can be found in Van Richten’s Guide to the Created. While this book is technically focused on the 2E ruleset, there is much that is useful in a 5E game.
The Created are a category of creature that was infused with life by the action of a being that is or was mortal. The most well-known example is the Frankenstein monster, but there are many tales based around the concept.
When you consider the “Created”; it is important to understand the mindset and purposes of the creator. What was their purpose? What did they want to accomplish? Additionally, the question “What was their flaw?” and “How did they Fail?” come to mind.
The MOST important thing about a CREATED is the mindset and purposes of its creator.
A Golem is created by using illustrations, processes and comprehensive instructions found in a “Manual of Golems” (as detailed in the DMG page 180-181).
The questions that are never raised, but in my opinion are begging for an answer are: “Who wrote the Manual of Golems? and Why?” As it is this outside influence that enabled the process, it seems likely that their purposes will have an enormous impact on the project and its outcome.
As detailed by the DMG, the process of creating a Golem, even with a Manual as guide is expensive, lengthy, and requires great devotion (easily read as obsession) to complete.
The creation of a Flesh Golem requires a minimum of 50,000 gold pieces for materials and equipment, a place to work undisturbed, and sixteen-hour days for sixty days straight. The manual is destroyed in the final ritual of creation. Knowing this, the creator has full knowledge that if they failed to follow the instructions exactly, or if any material of construction was inferior to the task, then the construction fail.
One of the many dangers involved with the construction of a Golem, is that the animating force within them can escape the control of the its creator and it will then act in accordance with its own desires.
In the case of the Flesh Golem, you have a body of adult size that contains an animating spirit with the reasoning ability of a small child. Further, this small child has no boundaries or limits to its behavior. When physically hurt, or when its purpose is thwarted, a berserk tantrum will rage. It is believed that only the presence of the Creator, acting as loving parent, can calm the creature.
Step 1) What do we know about Flesh Golems?
A flesh golem is a gristly assortment of humanoid body parts stitched and bolted together into a muscular body.
Physically a flesh golem has impressive strength (+4) and endurance (+4) but lacks grace of movement (-1).
Mentally a flesh golem has limited facilities. While they have normal perception and self-preservation capabilities, these creatures lack intelligence (-2), and have a greatly disturbed sense of self and presence (-3).
Flesh Golems are IMMUNE to damage from Lightning, Poison, and non-magical weapon (bludgeoning, piecing, slashing) attacks.
Further, damage from Lightning based attacks will heals any wounds.
Flesh Golems are immune to the Charmed, Exhausted, Frightened, Paralyzed, Petrified and Poisoned Conditions. Additionally, and specifically, they are immune to any spell or effect that attempts to modify their physical form.
Flesh Golems have Darkvision, with a passive Perception of 10.
Flesh Golems cannot speak but can understand the languages of its creator.
Flesh Golems have an aversion to fire.
Flesh Golem attacks, typically fists, are considered magical for damage purposes.
Step 2) How do they Fight?
A flesh golem can switch from a peaceful creature admiring flowers and butterflies, to a murderous behemoth an instant later.
A newly created Flesh Golem is incapable of creating a reasoned and considered plan or course of action; it simply attacks what threatens, frightens, or harms it.
When a Flesh Golem attacks, it is never a “proportional response”, it attacks until its target is demolished, not merely dead, but destroyed.
A newly created Flesh Golem will willingly and eagerly carry out the commands and desires of its creator, it will do so without subtlety or attempts at deception.
A Flesh Golem is relentless, once set on a task, it will never stop in the pursuit of that task.
A Flesh Golem, once provoked to attack, can enrage, while this is a crude analogy, it does remind me of a ‘toddler-tantrum’. Consider the fists flailing about, the twisting, this spinning, Now consider these things being done by a seven foot tall behemoth with immense strength.
Step 3) Role-Play Tips
Before employing a Flesh Golem, you must know at least the basics of where it came from and what its purpose is, these will be its motivations and will drive its actions. Additionally, what purpose did the creator intend to accomplish with this creature.
Keep in mind that price tag – 50,000 gp and 16-hour days for 60 days! No one creates a flesh golem on a whim!
You must also consider who wrote the manual and why? Demon, Devil, God, Patron, or some power unknown, they had a purpose in providing manual to the moral world.
It strikes me that many of physical and mental weaknesses of a Flesh Golem: Lack of Coordination, slowed mental processes and a lacking sense of self, are all issues that are commonly associated with infants, toddlers, and children. In time, these creatures would be able to overcome their early lack. There is room to grow and change.
Short answer: When it comes to a Flesh Golem, the Monster Manual entry is a starting pattern from which you will fashion your own unique monster. You must make it YOURS.
Aversion to FIRE: the reaction of a flesh golem to fire is fight or flight; given their confrontational nature, it is highly likely that the golem will focus on the fire-wielder for its attacks. Still, your monster may have trouble discerning the source of the attack. Fair play suggests a perception check is needed.
A Flesh Golem is relentless, once set on a task, it will never stop in the pursuit of that task, as they are immune to exhaustion, it stands to reason that they have limited need of food, water, or rest.
Step 4) Changes that should be made to the MM entry
Players create their characters efficiently; monsters should be given the same advantage.
Increase the Strength from 19 to 20. (+5).
The Charisma of 5 with its -3 modifier, can conceivably be lowered to 4 with the same -3 modifier. DMs should carefully consider situational modifiers on Charisma based skill checks.
I strongly advocate a Strength and Constitution score of 20 (+5) for the Flesh Golem.
I strongly believe that the Armor Class of 9 is far too low. This can be resolved by either thickening the skin and calling it natural armor, or by allowing the utilization of some barbarian class abilities for the Flesh Golem.
Unarmored Defense would give the Golem an AC of 14 vs 9.
The “BERSERK” mechanic is clumsy and a bit redundant. While it does offer some guidance on target selection and attempts to calm the monster, it essentially restates an inferior version of an already covered mechanic, namely the Barbarian Class RAGE. (PHB page 47-50).