Golem Upgrades, Config Cards & Slot Expansion

guide

Golem performance can be significantly customized through upgrade modules, behavioral config cards, and slot expansion templates that boost capacity and tactical control. Installing these specialized cards transforms standard mechanical sentries into highly focused battlefield specialists.

Fabricating the Empty Upgrade Base

All modular upgrade modules originate from the Empty Upgrade carrier card. To craft four Empty Upgrade items:

Place four Clay Ball items in the four corners of a crafting table.
Place four Iron Ingot items in the cardinal edge positions.
Position one Amethyst Shard in the center slot.

This shaped recipe yields four base upgrade plates ready to receive specialized enchantments and components.

Crafting Specialized Upgrade Cards

Surrounding an Empty Upgrade with high-tier materials infuses the card with passive abilities and stat modifications:

Diamond Upgrade: Surround one Empty Upgrade with eight Diamond gems to significantly enhance the golem base armor and offensive output.
Emerald Upgrade: Combine four Emerald gems and four Block of Emerald blocks around one Empty Upgrade to reinforce golem resilience and durability.
Golden Apple Upgrade: Surround an Empty Upgrade with four Golden Apple items and four Golden Carrot items to grant ongoing biological regeneration.
Fire Immune Upgrade: Place four Magma Cream items in a cross pattern around one Empty Upgrade to render the golem immune to fire damage and allow it to navigate lava surfaces.
Bell Upgrade: Combine one Empty Upgrade with one Bell so the golem alerts nearby allies and rings when acquiring hostile targets.
Mount Upgrade: Combine one Empty Upgrade with one Saddle to enable players to ride the golem into combat.
Float Upgrade: Combine one Empty Upgrade with a wooden boat to allow the construct to float effortlessly on water surfaces.

Expanding Upgrade Slots

By default, golem holders carry limited capacity for active upgrade modules. Expanding this capacity requires dedicated expansion templates:

Diamond Expansion Template: Crafted by placing four Diamond gems in the cardinal slots, four Empty Upgrade plates in the corners, and one Smithing Template in the center.
Netherite Expansion Template: Crafted with four Empty Upgrade cards in the corners, three Netherite Ingot bars, one Nether Star, and one Smithing Template.

To apply the expansion, combine your golem holder (such as Dog Golem Holder, Humanoid Golem Holder, or Metal Golem Holder) with one Diamond Expansion Template and one Iron Ingot in the golem slot expansion bench. This permanently unlocks additional upgrade capacity on the guardian frame.

Programming Behavior with Config Cards

Config cards dictate target selection, aggression stances, and friend-or-foe identification:

White Config Card: Crafted by placing one Metal Golem Template in the center of a crafting table surrounded by four Paper sheets on the cardinal sides.
Color Coding: You can dye config cards into 16 distinct colors by combining any config card with dyes, such as Red Config Card, Blue Config Card, Green Config Card, or Black Config Card, allowing players to coordinate separate squad behaviors.
Target Filters: By combining a Metal Golem Template and a sheet of Paper with specific catalysts, you create dedicated filters:
- Add an Iron Ingot to craft Target Filter: Default Target.
- Add a Clay Ball to craft Target Filter: Entity Type, focusing sentries on specific monster categories.
- Add an Ink Sac to craft Target Filter: Entity UUID, binding the golem to defend specific individual entities.
- Add a Book and an Ink Sac to craft Target Filter: Datapack, establishing advanced programmable target routines.