Let’s be real. If you’re searching for how to make the copper golem, you’ve probably seen some incredibly convincing YouTube thumbnails. You’ve seen players placing copper blocks, sticking a lightning rod on top, and watching a little orange robot spring to life. It looks awesome. It looks official.
It’s also, unfortunately, not in the game.
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The copper golem is one of the most famous "what ifs" in Minecraft history. It lost the 2021 Mob Vote to the Allay. Because of that, there is no official, vanilla way to craft one in the standard game. If you try to build it using the logic of an Iron Golem or a Snow Golem, you’re just going to end up with a weird-looking pile of metal and a lot of disappointment.
But don't close the tab yet.
Even though the "official" version doesn't exist, the community has basically forced it into existence through mods, and there are specific technical reasons why people still talk about this mob as if it’s real. We need to talk about what happened, how the "fake" recipes work, and what you can actually do with copper if you're bored with just making stairs and lightning rods.
The Recipe That Never Was: What the Copper Golem Could Have Been
Back in 2021, Mojang pitched the copper golem as a tiny, chaotic helper. The idea was simple: you’d craft it using copper blocks, and it would wander around your base pushing copper buttons.
If it had won, the community consensus—based on how Iron Golems (four iron blocks and a pumpkin) and Snow Golems (two snow blocks and a pumpkin) work—was that the recipe would likely involve a Copper Block, a Lightning Rod, and potentially a Carved Pumpkin or a Copper Button.
How the Proposed Mechanics Actually Worked
The coolest thing about the copper golem wasn't just its look; it was the oxidation. Just like regular copper blocks, the golem would slowly turn green over time.
Once it fully oxidized? It would turn into a statue. A literal piece of decorative furniture. You’d have to hit it with an axe to scrape the rust off and "reactivate" it, or hope lightning struck its head. This "frozen statue" mechanic is actually one of the biggest reasons fans were so devastated when it lost to the Allay. We don't have many ways to create "living" statues in Minecraft without using armor stands and complex command blocks.
How to Get a Copper Golem Right Now (The Modded Way)
Since Mojang hasn't added it to the vanilla game, you have to turn to the modding community. This is where most of those "how-to" videos actually get their footage.
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If you’re on Java Edition, the most famous way to get this mob is through the Friends&Foes mod. It’s a brilliant piece of work that adds all the losers from the mob votes back into the game.
Using the Friends&Foes Mod
To make the copper golem in this mod, you don't use a crafting table. You build it in the world.
- Place a Copper Block on the ground.
- Put a Carved Pumpkin on top of that block.
- Finally, place a Lightning Rod on top of the pumpkin.
The second that rod touches the pumpkin, the blocks disappear and the golem spawns. It’s tiny. It’s cute. And yes, it will immediately start looking for buttons to press. If you have a complex Redstone contraption, this golem is basically a random number generator. It’ll trigger your doors, your lights, or your TNT cannons whenever it feels like it.
Other Modded Options
There are also Bedrock Add-ons available on various community sites like MCPEDL. These usually function as "entity overrides," meaning they might replace an existing mob (like the Vex or the Iron Golem) with the copper golem model and behavior.
Why the Allay Won (And Why People Still Regret It)
The 2021 Mob Vote was a bloodbath. The Allay won because players wanted a "sorting" mechanic. They wanted a way to pick up items without complex hopper systems.
But honestly? The Allay is hard to find. You have to go to a Pillager Outpost or a Woodland Mansion to find one. The copper golem, on the other hand, would have been "craftable." You could have made an army of them just by mining some of the most common ore in the game.
There’s a growing sentiment in the Minecraft community—especially on Reddit’s r/Minecraft—that we missed out on a superior decorative block. A "statue" that eventually freezes into place is a builder's dream.
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Real Alternatives: What You Can Actually Build with Copper
If you’re playing on a console or a server where you can’t install mods, you’re stuck with the vanilla toolkit. You can’t make the golem, but you can use copper for things that aren't just "orange wood."
The Lightning Rod "Golem" (Purely Decorative)
You can mimic the look of a golem for your garden.
- Base: Cut Copper Stairs (waxed).
- Body: A single Copper Block.
- Head: An End Rod or a Lightning Rod.
It won't move. It won't push buttons. But it captures that "steampunk" vibe that the mob vote was promising.
Redstone Randomizers
If you actually wanted the copper golem for its ability to push buttons and create randomness, you can do that with a chicken.
Basically, you put a chicken in a 1x1 hole with a weighted pressure plate. As the chicken wanders or jumps, it triggers the plate. It’s not as cute as a little copper robot, but the logic is identical.
The Fate of the Copper Golem in 2026 and Beyond
Mojang has a "vault" for lost mob vote candidates. They’ve gone on record saying that losing a mob vote doesn't mean the mob is gone forever—it just means it isn't the priority. We saw this with the Frog and the Mangrove Swamp, which lost their initial votes but were eventually added in the Wild Update.
There is a non-zero chance that a future "Industry" or "Steam" themed update brings the copper golem back. Copper is currently one of the most underutilized materials in Minecraft. Aside from the Trial Chambers added in 1.21, which gave us copper bulbs and grates, the material still feels like it’s waiting for its "big" purpose.
Actionable Steps for Your Minecraft World
Stop trying to stack blocks in vanilla and expecting a golem to appear; it's a waste of copper. Instead, follow these steps to get the experience you’re actually looking for.
- Check your version: If you are on PC (Java), download the Friends&Foes mod via Fabric or Forge. It is the most faithful recreation of the mob vote's original vision.
- Bedrock players: Search the Marketplace or community add-on sites for "Copper Golem Add-on." Be careful with third-party sites; always check reviews to ensure the pack isn't just a skin swap.
- Use Copper Bulbs: If you liked the "oxidizing" mechanic of the golem, use Copper Bulbs from the 1.21 update. They change their light level and appearance based on their oxidation state, which is the closest vanilla mechanic we have to the golem’s lifecycle.
- Save your copper: Until an official update drops, keep your copper in block form or turn it into lightning rods to protect your villager trading halls from lightning strikes.
The copper golem remains a ghost in the machine—a piece of "lost media" that exists in the game's code and concept art but not in our worlds. Until Mojang decides to open the vault, your best bet is to embrace the modding community or build a really nice statue to what could have been.