Flesh Golem
Medium Construct · · CR 5
- Construct
- Medium
- Tier 2
Flesh Golem, CR 5, fills the medium construct role with neutral disposition. Sourced from Monster Manual (5e 2014) and Monster Manual (5.5e 2024).
Stat Block
- Challenge Rating
- 5
- Type
- Construct
- Size
- Medium
- Alignment
- —
- Speed
- —
- Habitats
- —
- Sources
- Monster Manual (5e 2014), Monster Manual (5.5e 2024)
Ecology
Flesh Golems are constructed from corpses, animated by elemental spirits bound through necromantic ritual. They have no biological needs in the traditional sense, but they crave electricity (which heals them) and fear fire (which disrupts their bindings). They cannot reproduce, each one a unique creation requiring weeks of stitching, alchemy, and ritual lightning. Most are made from a dozen or more donor corpses.
Behaviour
Dim, loyal, and prone to confused rage, Flesh Golems obey their creator absolutely until the binding wavers. The animating spirit retains shadowy memories of all donor souls, sometimes whispering or weeping when alone. They are strongest under thunderstorms, weakest in bright sunlight or fire-lit chambers. They develop affection for kind creators and hatred for cruel ones, expressed only through silent obedience or sudden Berserk fury.
Origin
First crafted by a Thayan necromancer (or Mordenkainen, or Frankenstein, depending on legend), Flesh Golems are now a mainstay of lich and necromancer households. The creation ritual requires a thunderstorm, a heartstone, and souls of recently deceased mortals. Few magical academies teach the craft openly, preferring to study less morally fraught constructs like Stone or Iron Golems.
Related Monsters
Frequently Asked Questions about Flesh Golem
- What is the challenge rating of Flesh Golem?
- Flesh Golem has a challenge rating of 5. It matches tier-2 to early-tier-3 encounter math.
- What type of creature is Flesh Golem?
- Flesh Golem is classified as a construct in D&D 5e, medium size.