Golem

File:Golem info.png

***"The mighty Golem loves to soak up damage! When destroyed, it explodes and splits in two. The resulting Golemites have one-fifth the Golem's strength and hitpoints."***

* **Summary**
	+ The Golem is unlocked once the Dark Barracks is upgraded to level 4.
	+ The Golem is the most expensive Dark Elixir troop.
	+ Golems are extremely powerful tanking units that, upon death, split into two smaller Golemites that continue to do damage.
	+ Both Golems and Golemites do splash damage, similar to Balloons and Lava Hounds, when destroyed.
	+ {{#vardefine:TroopName|Golems}}{{#vardefine:DefenseType|specific defense types}}{{#var:TroopName}} prioritize defensive structures above all other targets, and will bypass all other types of enemy buildings and troops while any defenses remain on the battlefield. This is true even if they are under attack by enemy Clan Castle troops, heroes or Skeleton Trap skeletons. Note that like all troops that prioritize defenses, {{#var:TroopName}} do not consider the Clan Castle to be a defense regardless of whether or not it contains enemy troops, but do consider the defending Grand Warden to be a defensive building.
	Once all defenses are destroyed, {{#var:TroopName}} become like any other troop with no preferred target; they will attack the nearest building to them regardless of type, and will turn and attack enemy units if they become aware of any nearby.

* **Offensive Strategy**
	+ A good strategy is to release Golems and wait until all splash damage defenses like Mortars and Wizard Towers fire on them then release units like Archers and Barbarians.
	+ Since the Golems do small amounts of damage themselves, it´s important that they are backed up by high damage-dealing troops, like Wizards or Witches.
	+ Golems aren't affected by Spring Traps. However, when one becomes two Golemites, the Golemites will be affected by Spring Traps if they encounter them.
	+ If possible, destroy the Inferno Tower that is set on Single Target Mode as quickly as possible. Otherwise, they will wipe out your Golems. However, this is usually preferable to the Inferno Tower targeting a P.E.K.K.A, Barbarian King, or Archer Queen. A Freeze Spell can be used to temporarily disable the Inferno Tower and "reset" its damage. If the Inferno Tower is set on Multiple Target Mode, it will not be much of a problem to the Golem, although it is still a nuisance to the troops attempting to use the Golem as a meatshield.
* **Defensive Strategy**
	+ Golems, similar to Giants and Lava Hounds, are very high-health units that can be used to soak up fire (meat shields). Make sure that the Golem is in the middle or in range of most of your defenses, as the Golem can distract attacking troops very effectively for a considerable amount of time. Even when overwhelmed, the Golem does a surprising amount of splash damage, enough to kill all Tier 1 and most Tier 2 troops (including lower-level Giants), as well as even Hog Riders. Any remaining attackers will then have to deal with the two Golemites as well.
	+ Golems tend not to be in Clan Castles due to their high storage space, 30, which fills up a Level 5 Clan Castle by itself. Additionally, its damage output as well as speed are very low and its health can be undermined by Wizards. However, they potentially make good distractions, especially against the likes of Witches and Tier 1 troops.

* **Upgrade Differences**
	+ The Golem undergoes a significant graphic change at level 5.
		- Initially, the Golem is a light gray shaded rock.
		- At level 3, the Golem's rocky exterior changes shade from a light gray to a darker gray.
		- At level 5, the Golem gains purple, crystal-like spikes, quite similar to those on the level 3 Wizard Tower, and his entire body gains a purple/gray color.

* **Trivia**
	+ The Golem was added in the 17 Apr 2013 update.
	+ Golems, Balloons and Lava Hounds are the only troops that deliver splash damage upon dying. This is in contrast to the Wall Breaker, which dies upon delivering splash damage.
	+ The Golem and Lava Hound are the only two troops that can fill a level 5 Clan Castle by themselves.
	+ Among all Elixir and Dark Elixir Troops, the Golem is the only troop such that you can't queue three of them into the level of Barracks that just unlocked it.

For additional statistics and information, see the Unit Calculators page.

File:New Dark Elixir Troop The Golem