Diablo 4 Necromancer Book of the Dead Golems: Should you pick Bone, Blood, or Iron?

Golems are the last minion you unlock as a Necromancer in Diablo 4. Since each one has a completely different playstyle and abilities, which Golem is the best in Diablo 4: the Bone Golem, Blood Golem, or Iron Golem?

What is the best Necromancer Golem minion in Diablo 4?

To start, every Golem is good. They each have their own special attack that can be used to dominate the battlefield. However, some Golems are better with specific Diablo 4 Necromancer builds.

Related: Diablo 4 Necromancer Book of the Dead Skeletal Warriors: Should You Pick Skirmishers, Defenders, or Reapers?

While you’d think the Bone Golem is only good for Bone Necromancer builds, it’s actually really good for any Necromancer build that likes to fight up close and personal. The Blood Golem offers great AoE damage and can be a true tank. The Iron Golem is the biggest damage dealer and can be sacrificed for a huge boost to Critical Strike damage.

While you’d think the Bone Golem is best synergistically after looking at the best Necromancer builds, I think the best Golem is the Blood Golem. The Blood Golem’s ability to absorb damage that you would’ve taken is extremely useful. That said, the Iron Golem is great if you’re looking for more single-target damage or more opportunities to make enemies Vulnerable.

Diablo 4 Necromancer Golems – Pros and cons of the Bone Golem

The Bone Golem has an ability that gives them Unstoppable as they Taunt all nearby enemies and take 30% reduced damage for the next six seconds. I recommend using Bone Golem if you need a solid way to gather every nearby enemy to deal a massive AoE attack.

• Upgrades
  • Each time your Bone Golem takes up to 20% of its maximum life as damage, it sheds a Corpse.
  • Your Bone Golem gains 10% maximum life and the amount of Thorns they inherit from you is equal to 70% of your armor for the duration of the Taunt.
• Sacrifice
  • Gain 10% increased attack speed, but you can’t summon a Golem.

Combining the Bone Golem’s Taunt ability with the first upgrade is great because you can use your abundance of Corpses to explode nearby enemies. I would avoid the Thorns upgrade — if you want a Thorns build, check out the best Thorns Barbarian build. And I would also advise avoiding the sacrifice as there are way better Golem sacrifices than a 10% increase in attack speed.

Diablo 4 Necromancer Golems – Pros and cons of the Blood Golem

While I think the Bone Golem is a bit lackluster besides gathering all nearby enemies, the Blood Golem is a total tank. Its ability is to become Unstoppable and drain the blood of enemies in the area dealing 90% damage and healing 5% of its life for each enemy drained. Damage and healing received are tripled if only one enemy is drained.

• Upgrades
  • Your Blood Golem absorbs 15% of damage you would take.
  • While Healthy, your Blood Golem gains 25% damage reduction and 50% increased damage.
• Sacrifice
  • Your maximum life is increased by 10%, but you can’t summon a Golem.

I don’t think the sacrifice is worth losing the Blood Golem and I think the passive 15% damage reduction from the Blood Golem is just okay. The Blood Golem is a solid option, and I would definitely pick the second upgrade, especially if you are a Blood Necromancer who doesn’t struggle staying Healthy. With that upgrade, your Blood Golem is way more combat-viable as it deals more damage and can take more hits.

Diablo 4 Necromancer Golems – Pros and cons of the Iron Golem

The Iron Golem is easily the biggest hitter out of all the Golem minions. They can become Unstoppable and slam their fists into the ground, which deals 175% damage and stuns surrounding enemies for three seconds.

• Upgrades
  • Every fifth Iron Golem attack causes a shockwave that deals 40% damage to the primary enemy and to enemies behind them.
  • Your Iron Golem’s slam attack also makes enemies Vulnerable for three seconds.
• Sacrifice
  • Deal 30% increased Critical Strike damage, but you can’t summon a Golem.

Both upgrades and the sacrifice are good for Iron Golem. If you want a high-damage dealer, use the first upgrade as it’ll do more AoE damage. The second upgrade is the weakest, but if you are creating a Vulnerable-focused build, it can be really good. Lastly, I think the sacrifice is the best option, especially if you are building a Critical Strike-focused Bone Necromancer. You lose your Golem, but you gain so much more.

I recommend using the Blood Golem because I think it is the best, but all the Golems are good in their own way. The true answer is you should pick the Golem that best accentuates your build. Which, by the way, is exactly what you should do with the Seneschal Companion, too.