Crystal Golem

Crystal Golem
Class	Challenge
Family	Creatures
Base Stats
Health	125
Attack	45
Special	20
Armor	45
Speed	15
Abilities
Enemy Ability	Onslaught
Self Ability	Nexus

"Crystallized abomination feasting on magic."

Abilities

	Icon	Description	Power
Enemy Ability	File:Icon Onslaught.png	Onslaught Sends a bolt that damages a random target. An additional bolt is sent for every charge on the user. Charges are used up in the process of making this attack.	Damage 85%
Self Ability	File:Icon Nexus.png	Nexus Removes all buffs and debuffs on the battlefield and converts them into charges.	Charge 2

Strategy

Crystal Golems are one of the most difficult enemies in the game. They effectively prevent you from using effects until they are dead, and unlike Disenchanters, not even effects applied to them are safe. This incapacitates heroes who rely heavily on effects (such as Hildie and Zivko) and can leave you a sitting duck against other enemies. Try to avoid generating any effects and simply attack it until it dies.

The Golem won't use its Nexus if the amount of enemy-owned buffs and debuffs is larger than party's.

On the turn the Golem is about to use Onslaught after gathering charges, it can't use Nexus again. Use this turn to set up some defenses, like Hildie's Protect and (especially) Nadia's Riposte.

Ephrem's Piercing Strike is effective for overcoming the golem's high Armor.

Summoning abilities such as Erzsie's Skull Seed are extremely helpful against Crystal Golems, as they are both an additional source of damage and a potential tank for hits from Onslaught. Try to avoid minions that generate effects, however.

In a pinch, a Prism or Ephrem's Pure Force Rune can be used to negate the golem's charges. This will likely be enough to let you defeat the golem safely, but it requires using a limited resource.

Beware of Nadia and Witch, who cannot take any action without generating an effect (though those effects are helpful for taking down the golem). It is recommended for Nadia to use her Rune abilities to avoid generating effects; Flashbang will buy you extra time to beat down the golem, and Assassin's Blade is useful for finishing it off due to its piercing damage. Wild Thing should dissipate rage with Primal Scream or Call of the Wild after attacking.

Though it requires creating an effect, Erzsie's Hypnotize can buy you more time, which is especially important if generating effects is unavoidable.

Diverter makes this enemy into a joke; Time Warp will make the golem gather a huge number of charges, which can then be Shattered for massive damage. Other heroes should generate as many effects as possible to facilitate this.