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Razorwire Golem, the Shredder of Forgotten Battlefields

Razorwire Golem, the Shredder of Forgotten Battlefields
Create

The Razorwire Golem stands over eight feet tall, a twisted mass of coiled, rusting razorwire, steel plating, and serrated hooks. Its body constantly shifts with an eerie metallic rasping as tensioned wires twist and contract, giving it the unsettling illusion of breathing. Blades embedded in its frame reflect light like predator’s eyes, and its “face” is a crude mockery of humanity, sculpted from shattered helm fragments and rusted nails. Every movement leaves behind strands of razorwire, like the shed skin of a monstrous spider.


Behavior

Silent and relentless, the Razorwire Golem is a creature of mechanical instinct and embedded programming. It does not sleep or eat, and it does not communicate. It responds aggressively to movement or sound, launching into a frenzy of slicing lashes and constricting loops. It exhibits no fear or hesitation, and fights until destroyed or its target ceases moving. When inactive, it coils into a static, barbed mass indistinguishable from a trap or ruined structure.


Habitat

Often found in desolate wastelands, rust-choked ruins, or abandoned fortifications, the Razorwire Golem favors environments where metal decay and neglect reign. Some have been discovered guarding long-forgotten vaults, military stockpiles, or cursed battlegrounds where magic and machinery once met. Its presence often indicates failed experiments in arcane warfare or forbidden technomancy.


Modus Operandi

The Razorwire Golem attacks by extending and flinging razorwire tendrils toward prey, aiming to entangle, lacerate, and immobilize. Once a creature is ensnared, it reels them in with brutal force, slicing them with every inch of movement. It can also anchor itself and lash out in wide arcs, functioning like a living perimeter defense system. It often lies in wait, hidden among twisted wreckage, until a victim enters range.


Motivation

The Razorwire Golem has no soul, only purpose. Created as a weapon of containment and slaughter, it obeys the last command etched into its core—guard, kill, repeat. Some scholars believe that fragments of the souls of battlefield dead, bound unwillingly during its forging, drive it to seek unending conflict in a parody of the wars that birthed it.


  • Razorwire Golem 5e
  • Razorwire Golem, Pathfinder
Razorwire Golem, the Shredder of Forgotten Battlefields
Create

Large Construct, Unaligned
Challenge: 6 (2,300 XP) • Proficiency Bonus: +3


Armor Class

17 (natural armor)

Hit Points

123 (13d10 + 52)

Speed

30 ft., climb 20 ft.


Abilities

STRDEXCONINTWISCHA
19 (+4)14 (+2)18 (+4)3 (−4)10 (+0)3 (−4)

Saving Throws

Con +7, Wis +3

Damage Resistances

Bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks

Damage Immunities

Poison, psychic

Condition Immunities

Blinded, charmed, deafened, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, poisoned

Senses

Darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 30 ft., passive Perception 10

Languages

Understands the languages of its creator but cannot speak


Traits

Constructed Nature.
The Razorwire Golem doesn’t require air, food, drink, or sleep.

Razor Terrain.
As the golem moves, it leaves behind a trail of razorwire that creates difficult terrain for non-constructs in a 10-foot line. Any creature that moves through this terrain for the first time on a turn takes 5 (1d10) slashing damage. The razorwire remains for 1 minute or until cleared (clearing requires a DC 15 Dexterity check with thieves’ tools or appropriate tools and takes 1 minute).

Coiled Ambush.
While motionless and curled, the golem is indistinguishable from scrap or battlefield debris. A creature must succeed on a DC 17 Intelligence (Investigation) check to recognize it as a threat.

Magic Resistance.
The golem has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.


Actions

Multiattack.
The Razorwire Golem makes two Razor Lash attacks. If both attacks hit the same target, the target must make a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be grappled (escape DC 15).

Razor Lash. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target.
Hit: 12 (2d8 + 3) slashing damage. The target must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or begin bleeding, taking 5 (1d10) slashing damage at the start of its next turn. This bleeding can be stopped with a DC 10 Wisdom (Medicine) check or magical healing.

Wire Whirl (Recharge 5–6).
The golem spins in place, lashing wires in all directions. Each creature within 15 feet must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 21 (6d6) slashing damage on a failed save or half as much on a successful one. Creatures that fail the save are restrained until the end of their next turn.

Reel and Rend (1/Day).
The golem targets a creature it is grappling. That creature must make a DC 16 Constitution saving throw or take 27 (6d8) slashing damage as the wires constrict. On a successful save, the creature takes half damage and is no longer grappled.


Reactions

Lash Reflex.
When a creature ends its turn within 10 feet of the golem, the golem can make one Razor Lash attack against it.


Combat Tactics

  • Ambush Setup: Begins encounters hidden as debris using Coiled Ambush. It strikes when prey approaches within reach.
  • Battlefield Control: Uses Razor Terrain to shape combat zones and punish movement.
  • Target Isolation: Focuses on lightly armored or high-threat targets, using grapples and Reel and Rend to eliminate them.
  • Area Denial: Activates Wire Whirl when surrounded or when controlling space is essential.

Adventure Hook

In the rusted carcass of a war-forged citadel, soldiers vanish one by one—torn limb from limb by something that doesn’t bleed, doesn’t rest, and remembers the war better than they do.

Razorwire Golem, the Shredder of Forgotten Battlefields
Create

This towering mass of jagged steel wires and blades has a roughly humanoid form. A tangled ball of wires near its center pulsates with a heart-like cadence.

Originally from The Book of Fiends

Designed By Aaron Loeb, Erik Mona, Chris Pramas, and Robert J. Schwalb

Razorwire golems are ancient remnants of the great construct armies that helped demons gain dominion over the Abyss in their prehistoric war with the ghaeles. Few remain in existence. Razorwire golems serve the oldest and most powerful demon princes as estate guardians or battlefield terrors.

Whether defending a treasure hoard or taking the lead in a charge, their ability to swiftly and emotionlessly flay the skin from an enemy has granted them respect among demons, souls, and mortals alike. A razorwire golem stands 10 feet tall but weighs just 200 pounds, since most of its space is air. Razorwire golems have total control overthe shape of their bodies, and can explode outwards in loops of razor-sharp metal, or contract to a space no larger than 2 feet on a side.

Golem, Razorwire
Large construct (Extraplanar)
Hit Dice14d10+30 (107 hp)
Initiative+4
Speed30 ft. (6 squares), Climb 30 ft.
Armor Class28 (-1 size, +4 Dexterity, +15 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 24
Base Attack/Grapple+10/+18
AttackRake +13 melee (2d6+4)
Full Attack4 rakes +13 melee (2d6+4)
Space/Reach10 ft./15 ft.
Special AttacksImproved grab, constrict 2d6+4, rush, trip
Special QualitiesBlindsight 60 ft., construct traits, damage reduction 10/adamantine, immunity to bludgeoning and magic, vulnerability to rust
SavesFort +4, Ref +8, Will +6
AbilitiesStrength 19, Dexterity 19, Constitution -, Intelligence -, Wisdom 15, Charisma 4
Skills
Feats
EnvironmentThe Abyss
OrganizationSolitary or gang (2-4)
Challenge Rating11
TreasureNone
AlignmentAlways chaotic evil
Advancement15-21 HD (Large); 22-42 HD (Huge)
Level Adjustment

Combat

Razorwire golems attack in a straightforward fashion, grabbing and constricting foes until they drop. They are dogged pursuers, rushing after fleeing opponents to make trip attacks. Because of their construction, razorwire golems cannot run.

Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, the razorwire golem must hit a Medium or smaller creature with a rake attack. If it gets a hold, it can constrict.

Constrict (Ex): A razorwire golem deals automatic rake damage with a successful grapple check against Medium or smaller creatures.

Rush (Ex): Once per minute, the razorwire golem can take a move action to move at a speed of 60 feet, or Climb at 40 feet.

Trip (Ex): A razorwire golem that hits with a rake attack can attempt to trip the opponent as a free action without making a touch attack or provoking an attack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent cannot react to trip the golem.

Blindsight (Ex): Razorwire golems can ascertain prey by vibration within 60 feet.

Immunity to Bludgeoning (Ex): Bludgeoning weapons, even magic ones, deal no damage to a razorwire golem. The golem likewise is immune to falling damage.

Immunity to Magic (Ex): Razorwire golems are immune to all spells,spell-like abilities, and supernatural effects, except as follows. Fire-based effects (including heat metal) haste them for 1 round, and cold-based effects slow them for 1 round. The spells make whole and fabricate compress a razorwire golem into a space no more than 5 feet on a side, so that it loses reach and improved grab for 1d3 rounds.

Vulnerability to Rust (Ex): A razorwire golem is affected normally by rust attacks, such as that of a rust monster or a rusting grasp spell.

Skills: Razorwire golems have a +8 racial bonus on Climb checks and can always choose to take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or threatened.

Construction

The exact method of constructing razorwire golems has been lost to time, and many demon princes would go to great lengths to reward the person who rediscovered it for them. What is known is that a razorwire golem’s body is spun from 400 pounds of mithral-alloyed steel, which costs 1,500 gp. The creator must mummify the decapitated head of a ghaele in a bundle of barbed cords and wires that, when finished, serves as the golem’s ‘heart.’ (The secret of this mummification has not yet been found.) Assembling the body requires a successful Craft (metalworking or weapon smithing) check (DC 19).

CL 16th; Craft Construct, Blade Barrier, geas/quest , haste, limited wish, polymorph any object, caster must be at least 16th level; Price 88,500 gp; Cost 45,750 + 3,480 XP.

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