Golem, Dragonhide

This massive, hunched monstrosity has a hide that appears to be a mix of reptilian scales of various colors.

Dragonhide Golem CR 16

XP 76,800
N Huge construct
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +26

DEFENSE

AC 31, touch 10, flat-footed 29 (+2 Dex, +21 natural, –2 size)
hp 155 (21d10+40)
Fort +7, Ref +9, Will +7; DR 15/adamantine and magic; Immune construct traits, magic

OFFENSE

Speed 50 ft.
Melee bite +31 (2d8+12), 2 claws +31 (2d6+12), tail slap +26 (2d6+18)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.
Special Attacks berserk, breath weapon (copper, red), powerful tail, rampage

STATISTICS

Str 34, Dex 14, Con —, Int —, Wis 11, Cha 1
Base Atk +21; CMB +35; CMD 47
SQ draconic grafts (dragonlike senses, grafted head [copper], powerful tail)

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Berserk (Ex)

When a dragonhide golem enters combat, there is a cumulative 2% chance each round that the lingering primal presence in its draconic grafts overwhelms the golem, causing it to go berserk. It takes 1 minute of inactivity by the golem to reset the golem’s berserk chance to 0%; alternatively, the creator can offer the golem a tribute of coins and gems in an attempt to calm the lingering draconic presence. For every 500 gp offered in tribute, the golem’s berserk chance is lowered by 1%. Once berserk, the uncontrolled golem goes on a rampage, attacking the nearest living creature or smashing some object smaller than itself if no creature is within reach, then moving on to spread more destruction.

The golem’s creator, if within 60 feet, can try to regain control by speaking firmly and persuasively to the golem, requiring a successful DC 25 Charisma check.

Breath Weapon (Su)

A dragonhide golem’s breath weapon depends on the type of dragon whose head was grafted onto the creature, as summarized on the table below.

Regardless of type, a dragonhide golem’s breath weapon deals 20d6 points of damage and is usable once every 1d4 rounds. A target that succeeds at a DC 22 Reflex save takes half damage. The save DC is Constitution-based and includes a +2 racial bonus.

To determine a dragonhide golem’s breath weapon randomly, roll 1d10 and consult the table below.

d10 Head Type Breath Weapon
1 Black 100-foot line of acid
2 Blue 100-foot line of electricity
3 Brass 100-foot line of fire
4 Bronze 100-foot line of electricity
5 Copper 100-foot line of acid
6 Gold 50-foot cone of fire
7 Green 50-foot cone of acid
8 Red 50-foot cone of fire
9 Silver 50-foot cone of cold
10 White 50-foot cone of cold

Draconic Grafts

Dragonhide golems have several draconic grafts upon their giant bodies to enhance their abilities and defenses. Most dragonhide golems have three draconic grafts; however, the creator can add any number of additional grafts, with each additional graft beyond the third increasing the cost of the golem by 15,000 gp. For every two additional grafts beyond the third, the golem’s CR increases by 1. Unless otherwise noted, each draconic graft can be selected only once. Draconic grafts are chosen from those presented below.

Dragonlike Senses (Ex)

The dragonhide golem has darkvision out to 120 feet and blindsense out to 60 feet. It can see four times as well as a human in dim light and twice as well in normal light, and it receives a circumstance bonus on Perception checks equal to 5 + the golem’s number of Hit Dice. This replaces the golem’s standard darkvision of 60 feet and low-light vision.

Elemental Aura (Su)

The dragonhide golem’s body is surrounded by an aura of acid, cold, electricity, or fire, dealing 2d6 points of energy damage to all creatures within 10 feet of the golem at the start of its turn. The type of energy damage must be the same as one of the golem’s breath weapons. This aura can be activated or dismissed as a free action. If the golem has more than one type of breath weapon, it can select the energy type each round.

Full-Body Scales (Ex)

The dragonhide golem’s body is fully encased in a thick layer of dragon scales, increasing its natural armor bonus by 2 and granting it immunity to a single type of energy (and possibly a vulnerability as well), as determined by the type of dragon the scales are taken from. Silver or white dragons grant immunity to cold, but also vulnerability to fire. Blue or bronze dragons grant immunity to electricity. Brass, gold, or red dragons grant immunity to fire, but also vulnerability to cold. If a dragonhide golem is immune to cold and fire, it loses vulnerability to cold and fire. This draconic graft can be selected any number of times. Each time this draconic graft is selected, it gains an additional +2 natural armor bonus and an additional energy immunity (and possibly a vulnerability as well).

Graft Head (Su)

The dragonhide golem’s head is formed from one additional type of dragon. Each time this draconic graft is selected, it gains a different type of breath weapon, although the breath weapon is still usable only once every 1d4 rounds. This draconic graft can be selected any number of times.

Powerful Tail (Ex)

The dragonhide golem gains a tail attack usable as a secondary attack. It deals 1–1/2 times its Strength modifier on damage rolls with its tail attack.

Wings (Ex)

A pair of dragon wings are grafted onto the golem’s back, granting a fly speed of 100 feet with clumsy maneuverability. This draconic graft can be selected up to four times. Each additional time this draconic graft is selected, it improves the golem’s fly speed by 50 feet and its maneuverability by one step, to a maximum fly speed of 250 feet with good maneuverability.

Immunity to Magic (Ex)

A dragonhide golem is immune to any spell or spell-like ability that allows spell resistance. In addition, certain spells and effects function differently against this creature, as noted below.

  • A flesh to stone spell slows a dragonhide golem (as the slow spell) for 2d6 rounds, with no saving throw.
  • A rage spell increases a dragonhide golem’s chance to go berserk by 50%, with no saving throw.

Rampage (Su)

Whenever a dragonhide golem goes berserk, its draconic grafts are temporarily empowered. It gains a +8 enhancement bonus to Strength, a +4 enhancement bonus to Dexterity, and a +4 enhancement bonus to natural armor. This effect ends when the golem’s berserk chance is reset to 0%.

ECOLOGY

Environment any
Organization solitary or gang (2–4)
Treasure none

A dragonhide golem is a terrifying humanoid monstrosity created from the body of a giant with all manner of parts from dragon corpses grafted onto it.

Construction

A dragonhide golem’s body is often built from the corpse of a Huge giant. The draconic grafts are harvested from the bodies of one or more dragons, depending on the dragon’s size and the number of grafts to be used. Typically, the process requires no less than one dragon of Huge size, two of Large size, or four of Medium size. Special unguents made from dragon’s blood and magical bindings worth 9,000 gp are also required for the grafting process.

CL 16th; Price 209,000 gp

CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS

Feats Craft Construct; Spells create greater undead, form of the dragon I, geas/quest, limited wish; Special creator must be caster level 16th; Skill Check(s) Craft (leather) or Heal DC 21; Cost 109,000 gp

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Construct Handbook © 2018, Paizo Inc.; Authors: Brian Duckwitz, Andrew Hoskins, Nathan King, Kris Leonard, Luis Loza, Adrian Ng, Tom Phillips, Alex Riggs, and Nicholas Wasko.

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