Guide:Golem strategies

Golem is the Hardmode boss at the end of the Lihzahrd, also called the Jungle Dungeon. It is summoned by using the Lihzahrd Power Cell upon the altar. It can be summoned multiple times consecutively. It has high HP, high defense, and multiple limbs and phases.

Armor
It's advised to arrive in updated sets for your preferred specialization: Shroomite armor, Turtle armor, Spectre Armor. At minimum one would want Chlorophyte armor or Hallowed Armor. Regardless of specialization one may prefer to don Turtle armor for the fight due to its high mitigation which is extremely useful for the Golem fight assuming you do not utilize the wall trick.

Accessories
Mobility is important due to the multiple ways damage is being dealt in the fight. Shiny Red Balloon and it's equivalents and advancements are very useful. Flight is not to be underestimated either, but may be dropped if one can jump multiple times as many of the random arenas tend to be small. Charm of Myths is recommended since there is a lot of damage being passed around without a wall so multiple potions may be necessary if you lack dodging skills. The natural regeneration will also allow you to take advantage of easier phases of the fights. Star Veil and/or Obsidian Shield may also be useful to negate the chance of being clipped by multiple projectiles. Avenger Emblem and other increased damage emblems/accessories are very useful for quickly ending the 'hard' phases of the fight given the longer they last the bigger room for error.

Melee
Melee is a decent way of fighting the Golem although end-game gear will be required. The Chlorophyte Partisan is extremely useful when using the wall strategy detailed further down. Even range/casters may also consider utilizing the benefit that it offers the fight by means of its platform penetrating spore cloud. Vampire Knives is also another recommended melee item that is good for the fight as the healing helps quite a bit, although the healing will not be sufficient to sustain the whole fight. The Death Sickle and the Turtle Armor means you can (excluding the Temple Key) kill it using pre-Plantera gear.

Ranged
At the very, very minimum, Megashark coupled with Crystal bullets is recommended with the ranged helmet of Hallowed Armor. Better gear/guns like the Candy Corn Rifle or the Stake Launcher will also work, though this will be a tough fight. The way of Walling off yourself (see below) is severely recommended to minimize damage taken, though you should make a gap in the wall to shoot the Golem at.

Shroomite Armor and a Chlorophyte Shotbow with Cursed Arrow or better arrows make quick work of the Golem. Shroomite Armor with a Flamethrower is extremely effective in the first part of the battle as it's large projectile deals high damage to the whole boss.

Magic
This way of fighting is the easiest of all and is recommended.

Spectre armor coupled with magic items like the Magnet Sphere, Bat Scepter, Nimbus Rod, Rainbow Gun, Shadowbeam Staff and such items will allow for great sustain. You could literally take ALL the hits from the Golem and be completely fine while killing it with great efficiency, although it is not recommended due to obvious reasons, such as relatively lower defense when compared to melee/ranged armors.

If you do not have Spectre armor, Hallowed Armor with its headgear is also a good armor to go with, although you do not get the healing and so you have to dodge attacks and chug potions occasionally. Lower-tier weapons recommended are Crystal Storm, Cursed Flames, and Rainbow Rod.

Potions
Greater Healing Potion are a given since a lot of damage can potentially be encountered. Increasing your damage with Archery Potion or Magic Power Potion is very helpful. Regeneration Potion and Mana Regeneration Potion are not to be underestimated since they can be effective in the 'safer' phases. Ironskin Potion will provide bonus mitigation which is particularly valuable.

Terrain Preparation
If this is your first tussle with the Golem then you will not possess the pickaxe capable of shaping the dungeon's blocks so your customization is limited. The arena that the Golem fight occurs in is also varied in width/height. For safety reasons you can and should use whatever pickaxe that you do have and remove all of the trap buttons as these can be hazardous in the fight. There are four ways you can customize the default arena to make the fight much easier.
 * 1) Create a small wall blocking dividing the entrance and the arena leaving an opening for your weapon/magic/projectiles to get through. This becomes more difficult if your default layout has the entrance in the ceiling.
 * 2) Create a much larger wall that divides the arena on either side of the altar leaving an opening at the top for you to leap through post-spawn and a spot for your weapon/magic/projectiles.
 * 3) Utilizing either of the above strategies, but sealing the weapon hole and using the Chlorophyte Partisan.
 * 4) An assortment of small walls scattered through out the arena.

The walls need only be one block thick. The importance of these walls are that they will block the Golem's punches, halt his movement/jumps/flight, and destroy the spawned fireballs. They do not block eye lasers.

Parts
The Golem composed of four parts and two phases.
 * Right Arm and Left Arm will constantly extend to try to hit the ceiling that throws down rocks
 * Golem Head will spew two fire balls frequently that bounce and use finger lasers that increase in size when its HP lowers.
 * Golem Body, utilizes frequent lunges at you.

Phase One
Once summoned the Golem will move around attempting to hit you while using its fists to punch at you slowly. The head will also constantly spit two fireballs that will bounce around the arena. The arms and head are the only damageable parts this phase - the head (15000 HP) being the kill spot while destroying the arms merely removes punches from the fight. As its head hit points dwindles (to precisely half) the Golem will begin adding eye lasers to the mix. They begin at average intervals, but as the head hit points dwindles even more the lasers hasten in frequency by a large margin. When the head hit points reaches zero the second phase begins.

Phase Two
In phase two the body will jump around at you attempting to hit you. If the arms still exist they will punch you with a much faster speed compared to phase one. During this the head will be floating around as well also capable of harming you. In this phase the body (8000 HP) is the kill target (and only if the arms are destroyed). As the body hit points dwindles the head will begin firing lasers again and also will begin hastening as the body hit points lowers.

Normal fighting
There isn't much to say about this. Try to move around, dodge punches and don't get jumped on.

Walling In
This is a reccommended strategy for those who do not over gear the fight, are melee, or having trouble with their respective specialization. In this strategy you will want to wall up the center of the arena on one side of the altar. Once you summon the Golem leap over the wall (which should have a hole at the very top 3 squares large - just enough for you to fit in). Once on the other side the Golem is completely incapable of hitting you with its body, jumps, punches, and fireballs (a rare few MAY sneak through your jump hole). You must have the Chlorophyte Partisan for the fight. The spore cloud it propels allows you to hit through the wall. The cloud hits multiple times and will hit multiple targets. Given the relative ease of the phase at this point allows you to take it at your leisure and control the fight if you take some residual damage. Once the eye lasers begin they WILL penetrate the wall and must be flat out tanked or dodged. Luckily, early on they are exceptionally easy to dodge, but as the HP dwindles and they become much more frequent it gets a bit more difficult, however jumping high and dropping will help dodge. Once beat phase two begins.

In phase 2 the head will float up and try to get on your side - it can't if walled correctly (a 3 height hole). The body's jumps will also be blocked by the wall. Once again the start of the phase is harmless. Take this time to let potions come off cooldown, regenerate your health/mana, rebuff if needed, and make sure you are fully healed before you push the body hit points low enough to cause fast lasers again.

In both laser portions of both phases is the only time you will take damage and it is dealt very fast. If you are having trouble dodging (it can get pretty difficult!) and/or simply taking too much damage from the lasers you make consider Warding reforges or utilizing accessories that give a longer invulnerability window. Ideally, wearing the Turtle armor allows you to essentially tank a good majority of the lasers that you have to while just unleashing your attacks so range/mage specializations who are attempting this strategy may consider turtling up if their dodge skills are lacking.

Spike Traps
Using this technique renders the Golem incredibly easy to kill and expands on the strategy explained above involving separating the arena into two parts. First, bring wire and a wrench with you before you enter the temple. Once inside you must collect all the spike traps you find and bring a few of the pressure plates you disabled with you on your way down. After you've completed the partitioning of the arena into two separate quadrants, line the ceiling of the quadrant you want the Golem in with the spike traps you've collected. The arena may already have wired traps that you've disabled and if the wire in place matches the kind you brought with you then all the better. Either way, connect all the spike traps with your wire and run the wire to the other side of the arena. On the side you wish to remain while fighting the Golem place your pressure plates. Every few seconds as you step on the plate a hail of spikes will fall from the ceiling, bouncing repeatedly until they disappear.

Once you've summoned the Golem and he's on the side with the spike traps, fly or jet over to the other side of the arena. The strategy now is simple, just jump up and down repeatedly in place, activating the pressure plate every few seconds and releasing wave after wave of spikes onto the Golem. The only time you will come under fire is when the head begins shooting lasers. It's recommended to have wings equipped. If you have wings just fly higher once the lasers start, allowing yourself to fall back down onto the plate. Most of the Golem's lasers will miss you as you move up and down. If you have no easy means to dodge the lasers (wings, jet pack, boots) then running back and forth will work, although there's a good chance you'll take more damage.

Once you have this strategy in place and working it becomes incredibly easy to farm the Golem. You can also create torture room trap that will kill Golem pretty easily.This trap is more efficient than simple spike trap because if you connect 1 second timer to traps you do not need step on pressure plates.Connect fire,spiky balls and spear trap to 1 second timer and enjoy.

Leaf blOWNer
You need full spectral, magic cuffs, some greater healing potions, and leaf blower. Go left and right shooting golem with the leaf blower and receive damage for mana. Aim for the hands first, then the head. Follow this and you can kill golem over and over again.

Boxed in Method
Build a 5 tall platform 3 blocks above the lizard alter that spans across the entire room of the alter. Be sure that you have a way to move upwards to this platform. When this is built go up and make a 1 block thick box on the platform above the alter that is roughly large enough to hold the golem head. Summon Golem and if build correctly you will have golems head stuck in the top of the building and his body in the 3 block tall passage underneath. Simply just break his hands and then his head. Though after you kill Golem's head the first time he will be able to shoot laser through blocks. Kill it's body and then your finished. This method is the easiest and least painful that I have found. Enjoy!

Flyingpanda's Coward Strategy
This method of beating the Golem is recommended for players who don't have epic gear to just flat out attack the Golem. First build a small room on the ceiling of the alter room and have a two block hole so you can enter.Once the Golem has awoke fly to the room on the ceiling and fill in one of the two blocks in the entry hole.Start firing at the Golem through the hole with a megashark, a hallowed repeater, or a possessed hatchet(if Golem has been beat and has dropped a possessed hatchet). When the Golem has reached its second stage get break out of the room on the ceiling. Once out of the room you can do one of two things. If you have a pigmy staff and/or a possessed hatchet, run to the hallway next to the alter room and send out your pigmy if you have one to attack the Golem. If you have a possessed hatchet attack him with it from the hallway. If you don't have either of those, just get a megashark and attack him while dodging his attacks. When the Golem head starts shooting lasers, the battle becomes an all out brawl.

minionated's super coward strategy
build a room that is 25 blocks wide and 30 blocks tall, with the lihzard altar in the center of the room. make sure you have a 3~5 block passageway beneath the room, spanning the length of it. activate the altar, and run to either the top of the room (it has no ceiling) and attack while jumping around on the top, or go to the below chamber if you have a weapon that can attack through walls, like holy arrows or a nettle burst. given enough range, you can attack and kill the golem without ever having to move. when the head detaches, don't move or look in a different direction, as this will cause it to become active and start attacking you, but if you run enough you really shouldn't have too much of a problem.