How to Make an Iron Golem Friendly in Minecraft: A Comprehensive Guide
The towering Iron Golem is a formidable presence in Minecraft, a protector of villages, and a potential ally to the player. However, their behavior can sometimes be confusing. Are they always friendly? Can you tame them? This article breaks down everything you need to know about making an Iron Golem friendly, addressing common questions and misconceptions along the way.
The Core of Iron Golem Friendliness
The short answer to how you make an Iron Golem friendly is this: Build it yourself. An Iron Golem that you have created will always be friendly toward you, regardless of your actions around villagers. On the other hand, naturally spawned Iron Golems, found in villages or at pillager outposts, are a different story. These golems are neutral mobs that can turn hostile if you damage them or upset the villagers they are protecting.
The key here is player-made vs. naturally spawned. Understanding this distinction is crucial to managing your interactions with Iron Golems. Let’s dive deeper into the mechanics.
The Two Types of Iron Golems
There are fundamentally two types of Iron Golems you’ll encounter:
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Player-Created Golems: These are the golems you personally construct using four iron blocks arranged in a T-shape and a carved pumpkin placed on top. These golems are inherently friendly toward their creator and will never become hostile unless directly provoked by the player.
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Naturally Spawning Golems: These golems appear in villages or pillager outposts, protecting the villagers. They are initially neutral towards players, but their behavior is tied to the player’s reputation or popularity with the villagers they are protecting.
How Reputation Affects Golems
The core concept that determines whether a naturally spawned Iron Golem will be friendly towards you is your village reputation. If your reputation with the villagers falls below a certain threshold, the Iron Golems will become hostile.
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Positive Reputation: If you trade regularly with villagers, your reputation increases. This makes naturally spawned Iron Golems less likely to attack you, acting as passive protectors instead of enemies.
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Negative Reputation: If you harm villagers in any way (attacking, injuring, or killing them), your reputation decreases. If your reputation falls below -15, the Iron Golems will become hostile and attack you on sight. This is a permanent change that will not be easily fixed.
How to Manage Your Reputation
Maintaining a positive reputation with villagers is simple and essential for coexisting peacefully with naturally spawned Iron Golems. Here’s what you should be doing:
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Trade: The most reliable method for improving your village reputation is trading with villagers. Every successful trade increases your standing within the village. Focus on trading for any and all needed items.
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Avoid Negative Actions: Actions like attacking villagers, injuring baby villagers, or killing villagers will dramatically lower your reputation. Avoid these actions at all costs.
What if a Naturally Spawned Golem is Hostile?
If an Iron Golem has turned hostile due to a low reputation, trading with the villagers is the primary solution. However, keep in mind that going from a reputation lower than -15 to a positive value requires a lot of trading to avoid any attacks. You must also avoid attacking the golem because each hit and eventual death lowers your village reputation further.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Iron Golem friendliness, providing further insights and clearing up some common misconceptions:
1. Can you tame an Iron Golem?
No, Iron Golems cannot be tamed in the traditional sense. However, player-built Iron Golems are always friendly and loyal to you, effectively acting as a “tamed” companion.
2. How do I make a naturally spawned Iron Golem stop attacking me?
To stop a hostile naturally spawned Iron Golem from attacking, you must raise your reputation with the villagers. Trade with them to increase your reputation and cause the golem to go back to a neutral state.
3. Can you make a spawned Iron Golem not mad at you?
Yes, you can make a naturally spawned Iron Golem stop being hostile by increasing your reputation to a positive value. However, you cannot easily reset it if your reputation is under -20.
4. How does attacking a villager affect your reputation?
Attacking a villager will decrease your reputation with the village, making the Iron Golems more likely to attack you. Specifically, you will lose 1 point for hitting a villager, 2 for killing one, 3 for attacking a baby, and 5 for killing the Iron Golem itself.
5. Do Iron Golems follow you if they are friendly?
Iron Golems do not naturally follow players unless they are player-created. You will need to use a lead to guide them or create a fenced area to contain them.
6. What happens if I hit my own Iron Golem?
If you hit a player-built Iron Golem, it will become hostile toward you. Unfortunately, this will cause your crafted golem to attack and can only be solved by creating a new golem. There is no peaceful method of regaining their trust.
7. Do Iron Golems get angry at me if I kill a different Iron Golem?
Killing a naturally spawned Iron Golem will decrease your reputation in the village, leading to other Iron Golems potentially turning hostile. Each death will lower it by 5 points, therefore it is more advisable to stay away from their sight if hostile.
8. Can Iron Golems open doors?
No, Iron Golems cannot open doors or gates. However, they can be placed in such a way that a door can open through them due to their height and length.
9. Do Iron Golems take fall damage?
Interestingly, Iron Golems do not take any fall damage. This makes them robust and able to pursue enemies regardless of height differences.
10. Can you attract Iron Golems?
No, you cannot attract Iron Golems peacefully. They will follow you if you attack them, but it is not recommended. Moving them via water streams or using a lead are the more favorable options.
11. Can you give Iron Golems items?
While you can throw a poppy at an Iron Golem and they will pick it up, this doesn’t affect their friendliness or behavior. It’s more of an aesthetic interaction.
12. What are Iron Golems weak to?
Iron Golems are strong but can be taken down by swords, bows, and arrows. They are not specifically vulnerable to any particular element. Creepers are the only mob that they will not attack.
13. How can you kill an Iron Golem quickly?
The most effective way to kill an Iron Golem is by using a sword or bow and arrows. Enchantments can make this process even faster.
14. Why do Iron Golems drop poppies?
Iron Golems spawn with poppies in their hands and will often gift them to villagers, specifically baby villagers. This is meant to symbolize the friendly nature of the relationship between golems and villages.
15. How do I make an Iron Golem?
To make an Iron Golem, you need four iron blocks arranged in a “T” shape and a carved pumpkin on top. Place the pumpkin on the top block of the “T.” This will cause the blocks to coalesce into the desired mob.
Conclusion
Making an Iron Golem friendly in Minecraft largely comes down to understanding their mechanics. Player-built Iron Golems are always loyal, while naturally spawned ones require you to maintain a positive reputation with the villagers they protect. By trading, avoiding negative interactions, and respecting the village, you can ensure that Iron Golems remain your powerful allies instead of your imposing enemies. Understanding the differences between these two types is essential to getting along peacefully.