Insight is the best value 100%

I run beast, with 125/86 hoto/spirit necro…

With changes to Thorns coming with 2.4, the Life Tap/Chaos bug may no longer be an issue.

Golem damage may still not be important, but at least we won't need to actively minimize it.

Could be that potential improvements to minion AI also make the IG more relevant as an attacker, not just a bumbling aura source.

Insight is ideal.

This post was edited by addone on Jan 26 2022 03:30am

Inisght is by far the best iron golem.

I've been looking at some additional items with Crushing Blow & Slows Target I missed during my first exploration. These open up options for mercenaries to carry non-standard/new-meta weapons without being your main source of CB (Act 3 enchant for your team, Act 1 faith, Act 5 headstriker?). I didn't actually test them in game though. These might be nice to combine with an Act 1 mercenary with insight, especially when ladder starts. They are likely not the best options, but not bad options either.

Bonesnap
+200-300% Enhanced Damage (varies)
+100% Damage To Undead
40% chance of Crushing Blow
Cold Resist +30%
Fire Resist +30%

I really like Bonesnap because all of its stats are useful for the golem. The resistances work well with Summon Resist (+45-60ish) and Iron Golem's natural resistances (50%lr, 100%pr). It's a cheap way to add an elementally immune IG with 40% CB to your team. If the lifetap bug has been fixed, upped to elite and ethereal, this thing packs a punch. Add an um rune and you have the bleed to stop boss regen as well. If you find one while playing through in normal, your IG will scale well with you as you level, even into hell.

Black
+120% Enhanced Damage
40% Chance of Crushing Blow
+200 to Attack Rating
Adds 3-14 Cold Damage for 3 seconds
+10 to Vitality
15% increased Attack Speed
Magic Damage Reduced by 2
Level 4 Corpse Explosion (12 charges)
Knockback

Black is another fairly cheap and easy source of CB. The knockback will help to keep your golem alive by putting trash enemies it hits into hit recovery and creating some distance. However, not everyone likes KB.

Fleshripper
+200-300% Enhanced Damage (varies)
-50% Target Defense
25% Chance of Crushing Blow
33% Deadly Strike
50% Chance of Open Wounds
Prevent Monster Heal
Slows Target By 20%

Fleshripper gives your golem a bit of everything that might be nice to have. CB, OW and slow. The target defense reduction will help your golem to hit its targets and apply those effects.

Crushflange
+50-60% Enhanced Damage (varies)
+50% Damage To Undead
33% Chance Of Crushing Blow
Knockback
Fire Resist +50%
+15 To Strength
+2 To Light Radius

Similar to, but not as good as Bonesnap, Crushflange will be nice to level with. Your golem will likely be immune to fire, lightning and poison using this. The knockback will help to keep your golem alive by putting trash enemies it hits into hit recovery and creating some distance. However, not everyone likes KB. I wouldn't go out of my way to get it, but if you find it while playing through, why not use it?

Bloodtree Stump
+180-220% Enhanced Damage (varies)
+50% Damage To Undead
50% Chance Of Crushing Blow
All Resistances +20
+25 To Strength
+2 To Masteries (Barbarian Only)
+3 To Mace Masteries (Barbarian Only)

Very similar to Bonesnap.

Astreon's Iron Ward
+240-290% Enhanced Damage (varies)
Damage +40-85 (varies)
+50% Damage To Undead
Adds 80-240 Magic Damage
33% Chance of Crushing Blow
Slows Target By 25%
Damage Reduced By 4-7 (varies)
+2-4 To Combat Skills (Paladin Only) (varies)
+10% Increased Attack Speed
150-200% Bonus To Attack Rating (varies)

Very similar to Fleshripper.

This post was edited by katondaEU on Mar 9 2022 04:54am

Does the Iron Golem profit from the Weapon Base dmg as well? Or only from the RW boni?

For Example is an eth tresher insight better than a non-eth scythe insight?

Yes, the golem equips the item. There are many websites that will give you information on what does and doesn't apply though.

However, as has been pointed out in this thread, there is/was (unverified) a bug that applies to the IG where it will die very quick in Chaos Sanctuary if an enemy casts Life Tap on it.

For this reason, some people recommend equipping a low damage weapon so that the IG is less likely to commit buggy suicide.