Choosing a golem in Diablo 2: Resurrected is one of the most critical decisions a player can make. They can only have one out at a time, so, generally speaking, the Necromancer is going to dump 20 points into one golem and won't ever even summon the rest.
This decision changes the entire complexion of the build. There are only four selections, each that promise to be worth it for a certain kind of build. So between Diablo 2: Resurrected's clay, fire, blood, and iron golems, which one comes out on top? Here is the breakdown of each one, so players can decide for themselves if they agree with this analysis.
Updated on December 11th, 2021 by Hodey Johns: The right golem for the right situation can make all the difference in the world. Unfortunately, there just plain aren't enough skill points to make each golem look fantastic. Ultimately, the gamer will have to pick one and stick with it through thick and thin. So the task of choosing which golem to take along for the ride is of great importance. Nothing is worse than burying so many points into the wrong skill; it makes players feel shorthanded for the rest of the game. The guide has been updated with charts to help players see the difference between each golem at its maximum level.
The Worst - Blood Golem
|
Blood Golem Level |
20 |
|
Hit Points |
201 |
|
Defense |
80 |
|
Damage |
45 -122 |
|
Life Leech |
138% |
|
Mana Cost |
101 |
After maximizing a mercenary's potential, players will be badly disappointed at how this companion is nowhere close to as good as their last one. The idea of the Blood Golem is that its life leech, which gives itself 70% of the life stolen and the Necromancer the other 30%, will keep the Necromancer healed up.
There are two major problems with this. First is that the Blood Golem, which does 55-147 damage at level 20, is too weak for this healing to really matter. At 210 life, it can't even keep itself alive for very long. Second, to be valid at all, it requires massive point investments into all three other golems, at which point it would be even weaker than the other selections.
Situationally Useful - Fire Golem
|
Fire Golem Level |
20 |
|
Hit Points |
328 |
|
Defense |
235 |
|
Fire Damage |
411 - 476 |
|
Holy Fire |
34 - 36 |
|
Attack Rating |
140 |
|
Fire Damage Absorption |
88% |
|
Mana Cost |
240 |
The Fire Golem actually absorbs and is healed by enemy fire damage, making it the best of the four selections against these kinds of enemies. Its base damage is, by far, the best of the four golems, so a full investment will make this the best DPS partner in the game.
But seeing this as the last skill in the tree and thinking that this means it must be the "best" choice is one of many rookie mistakes committed when playing the game. A maximum investment means it really has to have a heavy investment in the other golems to stay alive and to land its powerful blows.
Honorable Mention - Iron Golem
|
Fire Golem Level |
20 |
|
Hit Points |
321 |
|
Base Defense* |
855 |
|
Base Damage* |
7 - 19 |
|
Attack Rating |
140 |
|
Return Damage |
420% |
|
Mana Cost |
35 |
*Damage and defense are subject to increase based on the item used to create the Iron Golem.
The Iron Golem can potentially be the best golem in the game, but it has a huge caveat. Its base damage and attack are both pitifully low, so for it to really shine, it must be created from a metallic weapon. The better the weapon, the better the golem.
To compete with the Clay Golem and become a valuable damage-dealer, it needs to be made from one of the best Runewords in the game. This iIron Golem is a pricy investment and its death can be catastrophic. And when it dies, there are no refunds. Its defense is pretty good, but as a feature build, it will want the bonuses from the Fire and Clay Golem as well.
The Best - Clay Golem
|
Clay Golem Level |
20 |
|
Hit Points |
765 |
|
Defense |
20 |
|
Damage |
15 - 38 |
|
Attack Bonus |
440 |
|
Slows Enemies |
63% |
The Clay Golem is hard to beat. Unlike the rest, its life scales naturally, so it becomes the best tank even without needing the defensive boosts from the iron golem. Its damage is painfully low, almost as low as the iron golem created from armor, but that's not the Clay Golem's primary function.
It slows enemies that it hits, from 11% at level 1 to 63% at level 20. That's as powerful as other skills on their own. And the Clay Golem won't be missing because it has a scaling attack rating that doesn't need any help from other golems to make it the most accurate.
Diablo 2: Resurrected was released on September 23rd, 2021, and is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.