Updated 25 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, minecraft.net and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
Copper Golems in Minecraft: How to Build and Use Them
Build a copper golem by placing a carved pumpkin or jack o'lantern on a block of copper. The copper block becomes a copper chest, and the golem takes items out of copper chests and puts them into nearby wooden chests that are empty or already hold that item: a simple sorting helper. Unless waxed, it slowly oxidizes into a statue.
How do you build one?
Place a block of copper of any oxidation stage, then put a carved pumpkin or jack o'lantern on top last. The block becomes a copper chest next to the new golem. Added in The Copper Age (1.21.9); see The Copper Age.
How does it sort items?
- When empty-handed, it visits copper chests and takes up to 16 of the first item it finds.
- It then looks for a wooden or trapped chest that is empty or already contains that item, and stores it there.
- It spends 3 seconds looking into each chest.
- It opens normal doors on its way, but not iron doors.
- For full automation, item sorters are still faster; see item sorters.
What happens when it oxidizes?
It passes through exposed, weathered and oxidized stages, then turns into a copper golem statue and drops what it holds. Use honeycomb to wax it and stop this, or an axe to scrape oxidation off. An axe on an unwaxed, unoxidized statue brings it back to life. Copper basics: copper and oxidation.
Other copper golem facts
12 health; it sinks in water but does not drown. Iron golems sometimes give it a poppy, which you can shear off. Other golems: iron golems and golems.
Frequently asked questions
How do you stop a copper golem turning into a statue?
Wax it with honeycomb.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.