Snow Golem

Template:Future

Snow Golem
Health
Behavior	Does not exist
Spawn	Anywhere the Player chooses
Damage	0

A Snow Golem (previously known as a Snowman) is an upcoming mob which was first mentioned by Notch on September 21st, 2011 to appear in Beta 1.9. The Snow Golem is the game's first "utility mob", defined by Notch as any player created mob. You will be able to create Snow Golems, using Pumpkins and Snow Blocks. Snow Golems will throw snowballs at enemy mobs and will melt in warmer Biomes. In cold biomes, they will not melt when lava is near them, unless they fall in it. As Snow Golems move, they leave a trail of snow on the ground (but not in deserts nor in the Nether). Once killed, the Snow Golem will drop multiple Snowballs.

Behavior

A group of Snow Golems throwing snowballs at a spider.

Snow Golems will not attack the player. However, they will throw snowballs at hostile mobs, provoking them. This gives them an almost suicidal nature - snowballs do not do damage, but they attract enemies which can kill it or the player. In Beta 1.9 Pre-release, Snow Golems sometimes forget to attack monsters. Snow golems have good pathing skill; they will not attempt to jump off cliffs or into lava. They will attempt to path towards hostile mobs, and even go through open doors to reach them.

Creating

To create a Snow Golem, the player must vertically stack two Snow Blocks on the ground, then place a Pumpkin on top of it. They are not made on the Crafting Table. They are only created when the pumpkin is placed last. Pistons cannot create Snow Golems because they cannot push pumpkin blocks. Snow Golems can also be created using a Jack-O-Lantern, although there is no visual difference. Endermen are also capable of creating Snow Golems by placing the necessary blocks, although it is extremely rare..

Uses

Farming

Because Snow Golems leave a constant trail of snow as they move, it is possible to farm that snow. However, due to their behavior of attacking hostile mobs, it would be wise to ensure the Snow Golem is in an enclosed, safe place before beginning. The simplest method is to create a 1x1 hole that is 2 blocks deep, and to put both the player and the Snow Golem in. Then the player would look straight down and farm the snow that is produced. This creates an infinite amount of snow in the shortest time possible, because the instant the snow breaks, another one spawns in its place. Beware that snow will eventually melt in non-snowy biomes.

Lure

Snow Golems can also be used to lure hostile mobs into traps intended for them. This can create a better flow of mob drops for the player to collect, speeding up mob harvesting. This can be something such as fencing in Snow Golems just beyond the trap's entrance, having the mobs wander in as they attempt to attack the Snow Golems and dying.

The player can also fence in multiple Snow Golems 2 wide above a pit of lava 2 deep. As this won't melt them, they will be free to provoke mobs into falling into the trap, passively protecting the player's work area. These methods can also keep mobs from hiding around the player's home.

Distance Triggering

By placing a Pressure Plate inside the fenced area mentioned above, the Snow Golem can be used to activate traps as well. Note that Creepers, Spiders, Cave Spiders, Skeletons, Jockeys, and Magma Cubes are not advised for this.

Gallery

• SnowmanMob1.png

  First screenshot of this mob released by Notch September 21st, 2011.

• Snowgolem-pre.jpg

  Snow Golem in the Beta 1.9 Pre-release.

• Snowgolemarmy.png

  Army of Snow Golem attacking a skeleton.

• 

  Snow Golem with a moon in the background.

• SnowGolemWithSun.png

  Snow Golem with a setting sun in the background.

• Golem Island.png

  An island full of Snow Golems.

Bugs

• Snow Golems do not leave snow trails in Mushroom Biomes and on Tall Grass.
• Snow Golems can be built in The Nether. This would not appear to be intended, considering other forms of water either melt or evaporate there.
• In SMP, Snow Golems do not make a sound when throwing a snowball.

-- 1.9 Pre-release v2 bugs --

• Snow Golems will fire at the player if he is holding Wheat (for Breeding). And don't stop attacking until they take damages.
• Snow Golems can be set in "love mode" like amical mobs. When in this mode, they will stop firing snowballs for a moment.
• Snow Golems will fire at others Snow Golems in "love mode". This stop the "love mode", but they continue firing like on the player.

Trivia

• If a Snow Golem attacks an Enderman that is attacking you the Enderman will lose it's aggro against you.
• Snow Golems are the second mob the player can spawn themselves. The first one is Chickens spawning from Eggs thrown by the player.
• Notch originally planned to call this mob Snowmen. However, very soon after revealing the name, he came upon an entry by the Reddit user "Cuttleman" stating he would call them Snow Golems. Notch immediately decided to change their title to this.
• Four Snow Golems throw snowballs at a fast enough rate to continuously push a Zombie back.
• On Reddit, Notch stated that the Snow Golem is the first "Utility Mob"; a mob that the player can create for their own convenience.
• Snow Golems are not affected by fall damage.
• Snow Golems wear their Pumpkin as a hat. Their actual Snowman-type head is hidden beneath it.
• If a Snow Golem is lit on fire, it will speed up and move toward a water source.
• Snow Golems do not attack aggressive wolves which attack the player.
• Snow Golems will attack Zombie Pigmen regardless of whether or not they attacked the player. This will only turn the specific Zombie Pigman aggressive toward only the Snow Golem.
• In The Story of Mojang, Notch briefly mentions about adding "snowmen that throw snowballs."
• Snow golems appear to be able to survive creeper explosions.
• The throwing sound is actually the Bow firing sound, even though Snowballs have their own throwing sound.

References

Entities 

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