Protects all allies from physical damage under a certain limit. Triggers "Earthen Wall."
Description
Golem is an optional level 3 summon in Final Fantasy V. It is a protective summon that uses Earthen Wall, an ability that shields the party from incoming physical damage up to a certain damage limit.
Golem can be used via Summon and Call once obtained, and also via Magic Lamp. With the latter two, the summoner uses no MP.
Obtained[]
Golem is acquired during a battle in Drakenvale, but not by defeating him. Initially, Golem attacks the party as ???, wherein he will attack and then escape. Golem can be found further on the mountain attacked by a Bone Dragon and a Zombie Dragon, now as Golem and will ask for help. The battle is a fixed encounter in the screen with bones lying on the grass. If the party defeats the other monsters, Golem joins as a summon.
Golem can also be fought in Interdimensional Rift (waterfall area) if not obtained from Drakenvale.
Stats[]
| Ability | MP cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Earthen Wall | 18 | Protects against physical damage up to a limit, based on the caster's level. |
Golem sets up a wall around the party, blocking incoming physical damage against them. The amount of protection provided is calculated in the following formula:
If summoned again when the party already has the Earthen Wall, the second casting misses.
Use[]
Golem using Earthen Wall (Pixel Remaster).
Golem performs the ability Earthen Wall when used, negating a large amount of physical damage aimed at the party. This is a great way to guard against many bosses, or powerful enemies that use an onslaught of physical attacks. As such, Golem is one of the most useful summons, crucial to use in many battles, especially around the time he is acquired.
Later in the game, as the party gains other ways to block physical damage and enemies' physical damage scales faster than Golem's protection, Golem becomes less reliable overall. Instead, the party can rely on means such as Shirahadori, Cover, Image and Blink, as well as Protect to avoid incoming physical damage. Guard and Hide also avoid physical damage, but the character cannot take other actions during them. Golem's protection nonetheless lasts for a good period of time throughout the game, but the party is no longer able to depend on it. It is possible to use both Image and Golem at the same time for maximum protection.
Late into the game with Dualcast available, the player can give it as well as the Summon command to a character and use Golem alongside a different summon to make more use of their turn. Summoned alongside Carbuncle, the summoner can protect the party against both physical and magical damage in one turn. Summoned alongside a damaging summon, the player can both protect their party and attack the enemies in one go.
Golem also protects against physical attacks that would inflict ailments, making it a good summon to use atop Drakenvale against the Dragon Flowers. Against Omniscient in the Fork Tower, the party can inflict the boss with berserk, and then summon Golem to defend against their attacks.
Gallery[]
Etymology[]
In Jewish and medieval folklore, a golem is an animated anthropomorphic being, magically created from inanimate matter. The word was used to mean an amorphous, unformed material (usually out of stone and clay) in Psalms and medieval writing. Adam, the first man created by God in the Holy Bible, was a golem since he was created from dust and sand. Having a golem servant was seen as the ultimate symbol of wisdom and holiness, with stories of prominent Rabbis owning golems throughout the middle ages. In modern times, the word golem, sometimes pronounced goilem in Yiddish, has come to mean one who is slow, clumsy, and generally dimwitted.