Copper golems have recently entered the Minecraft world, and they’ve got players scratching their heads—what exactly do they do, and how can you use them? This isn’t just another passive mob; copper golems come with a unique set of behaviors that add a fresh layer of interaction to your Minecraft experience. From item transport to fascinating oxidation mechanics, let’s break down everything you need to know about this shiny new companion!
What Is a Copper Golem?
The copper golem isn’t just a simple creature; it’s a buildable passive mob that interacts with the game world in some very specific ways. Made of copper—an element with some interesting in-game properties—this mob takes on a few jobs that add fun and utility to your builds. But unlike other golems, copper golems do not protect players from hostile mobs. Instead, they offer a unique set of skills focused around item storage and transport.
This guide will cover what a copper golem does, how it behaves, and how you can incorporate it into your Minecraft world.
Spawning Your Copper Golem: How Does It Appear?
Building a copper golem is a simple yet fun process. To make one, you’ll need a block of copper (which can be in any oxidation stage, or even waxed), and a carved pumpkin or jack o’lantern.
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Place the copper block.
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Then, place the carved pumpkin or jack o'lantern on top (the pumpkin must be placed last, no matter how it’s done).
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When created, the copper block is replaced with a copper chest, and the copper golem spawns at the position of the carved pumpkin.
Interestingly, the oxidation level of the copper golem matches that of the block of copper you used to create it. Waxing the copper block will prevent oxidation, keeping your copper golem looking shiny and fresh for as long as you like!
What Does a Copper Golem Do in Minecraft?
Chest Interactions and Item Transportation
At the core of the copper golem’s abilities is its interaction with chests. When not holding anything, the golem seeks out nearby copper chests (or regular chests and trapped chests) and takes up to 16 of the first items it finds. It examines each chest for three seconds before moving on to the next one, and it can remember up to 10 chests it has already visited.
Once the copper golem is holding an item, it seeks out chests to deposit it in, looking for an empty chest or one containing the same type of item. It carefully places the item in the frontmost available slot. If a chest is occupied by another entity (such as a cat), it moves on to the next available one.
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Item type: Copper golems will only deposit items in a chest if the chest contains the same type of item.
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Stacking behavior: If the item is stackable, it avoids adding it to existing stacks unless it’s the frontmost available slot.
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Memory: The copper golem will “forget” which chests it has visited after 7 seconds of wandering if it can’t find a suitable chest.
The Oxidation Process
One of the most interesting features of the copper golem is how it oxidizes over time. Just like copper blocks, the golem goes through four stages of oxidation, from its shiny, orange appearance to a weathered greenish hue. However, the process isn’t irreversible—if you don’t like the look, you can use an axe or a lightning bolt to remove one stage of oxidation at a time.
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Non-waxed copper golems begin to oxidize after about 7 hours (420-460 minutes or 21-23 in-game days).
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As the oxidation progresses, the golem’s appearance changes:
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Exposed: green spots appear.
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Weathered: full greenish color with brown spots.
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Oxidized: full teal with several green spots.
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Once fully oxidized, the copper golem has a chance of transforming into a copper golem statue. This is where things get even more interesting—if the golem is fully oxidized and not waxed, it can freeze into a random pose and drop any items it’s holding. Waxing the golem prevents this transformation.
Pop-Pop! A Poppy Interaction
If an iron golem offers a poppy to a copper golem (during the day), the copper golem can take the poppy and place it on top of its lightning rod. This gesture is symbolic, and it also opens up another feature: the copper golem can be sheared to drop the poppy it’s holding. Alternatively, it will drop the poppy when it becomes a copper golem statue.
Additional Fun Behaviors
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Movement: Copper golems wander around passively, avoiding obstacles and hazards. They can open and close non-iron doors, and they occasionally spin their heads or stare at players.
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Water interaction: Unlike many mobs, the copper golem doesn’t drown in water; it simply sinks to the bottom and can still move laterally like other non-swimming mobs, such as iron golems.
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No fall damage: Much like iron golems, copper golems don’t take fall damage and avoid walking off drops that could harm them.
Drops and How to Interact With Your Copper Golem
When a copper golem dies, it drops copper ingots (1-3 ingots with 100% drop chance). It also has a unique shearing interaction where, if it has a poppy, shearing the golem will drop the poppy.
Special Item Restoration
If the copper golem is transformed into a statue, you can use an axe to reanimate it, restoring any items it was holding prior to the transformation.
How to Prevent Your Copper Golem From Becoming a Statue
Since the golem will naturally turn into a statue if left unchecked, you can keep your copper golem in working order by waxing it with a honeycomb. This prevents the oxidation process and preserves both its function and appearance.
The Future of Copper Golems in Minecraft
The copper golem introduces a lot of new possibilities to Minecraft, especially for players who love redstone and automated storage systems. While it might not be a combat-focused golem like the iron or snow golems, its ability to organize and manage items can be an invaluable asset in more peaceful builds. It adds yet another layer of complexity to Minecraft's gameplay, allowing for unique interactions with the environment that we haven’t seen in previous mobs.
Conclusion
So, what do copper golems do in Minecraft? In essence, they’re quirky little helpers who are useful for item transportation, organizing chests, and adding a touch of whimsy to your world with their oxidation mechanics. Whether you’re a redstone enthusiast or just looking for a fun new addition to your base, the copper golem has plenty to offer.
What’s your favorite feature of the copper golem? Will you use one to help organize your storage system or simply enjoy its quirky transformations? Let us know in the comments!