The Copper Golem, added in Minecraft’s 2025 updates (Java Edition 1.21.9 snapshots and Bedrock Edition 1.21.110 previews), is a handy little mob that sorts items between copper chests and wooden or trapped chests. But, since it’s made of copper, it oxidizes over time and can turn into a statue if you don’t wax it. Once it’s a statue, it’s just a decoration and stops working. If you want to keep your Copper Golem sorting items and avoid it becoming a statue, this guide will show you how to stop oxidation and fix it if it’s already started. Let’s dive into preventing your Copper Golem from turning into a statue in Minecraft!
Understanding Copper Golem Oxidation
Copper Golems, like copper blocks in Minecraft, go through oxidation when exposed to air, changing their look and function in four stages:
- Unoxidized: Bright orange, works perfectly.
- Exposed: A bit green with spots, moves slower but still sorts.
- Weathered: Mostly green with brown patches, barely functional.
- Oxidized: Fully teal-green, stops moving, and has a 0.58% chance per tick to become a statue (about 8.62 seconds on average).
Oxidation takes around 7 hours of gameplay (21–23 in-game days) to fully complete. When the golem turns into a statue, it drops any items it’s holding and freezes in one of four poses: standing, sitting, running, or star. To keep your Copper Golem active for item sorting, you need to stop this oxidation process.
How to Stop a Copper Golem from Turning into a Statue
The easiest way to keep your Copper Golem from becoming a statue is to stop oxidation. Here’s how to do it with simple steps for Minecraft players:
Step 1: Get a Honeycomb
You’ll need a honeycomb to wax your golem. Here’s how to grab one:
- Shear a Bee Nest or Beehive: Use shears on a nest or hive at honey level 5 to get 3 honeycombs.
- Stay Safe: Place a campfire under the nest to calm bees, or use a dispenser with shears to avoid getting stung.
Step 2: Wax the Copper Golem
With a honeycomb in hand:
- Click on the Golem: Right-click (or tap on mobile) the Copper Golem with the honeycomb.
- What Happens: The wax locks the golem in its current state, stopping oxidation completely. Your golem stays active and won’t turn into a statue.
Key Tips:
- Wax Stays Until Scraped: The wax keeps oxidation at bay unless you scrape it off with an axe.
- Watch Out for Axes: Copper Golems might run if you hold an axe near them, so switch tools when approaching.
- Crafting Note: Even if you build a golem with a waxed copper block, the golem and its chest won’t be waxed. You still need to apply the honeycomb manually.
Reversing Oxidation on a Copper Golem
If your Copper Golem is already turning green or has become a statue, you can fix it. Here’s how to reverse oxidation and restore your golem in Minecraft.
Reversing Oxidation Before Statue Transformation
If the golem is in the exposed, weathered, or oxidized stage but hasn’t turned into a statue:
- Use an Axe: Right-click the golem with any axe to scrape off one oxidation stage at a time (e.g., weathered to exposed).
- Wax It: After scraping, use a honeycomb to stop oxidation from starting again.
- Lightning Option: A lightning strike (from weather or a Channeling-enchanted trident) instantly resets the golem to unoxidized. Be careful, though—lightning can start fires!
Restoring a Copper Golem Statue
If your golem is already a statue:
- Scrape the Statue: Use an axe to scrape it 2–5 times until it’s bright orange (unoxidized).
- Bring It Back: One more axe strike revives the statue into a working Copper Golem, ready to sort items again. It keeps any name tag but loses items it dropped when it turned into a statue.
- Wax Right Away: Apply a honeycomb immediately to prevent oxidation from restarting.
Tips for Managing Copper Golems
- Wax Early: Wax your Copper Golem as soon as you craft it to avoid oxidation hassles.
- Check Their Color: If you skip waxing, watch for green spots to catch oxidation early.
- Keep Them Sheltered: Placing golems indoors slows oxidation slightly, but waxing is the only sure fix.
- Redstone Uses: Let some golems turn into statues for cool redstone builds (each pose gives a different signal strength), but wax the ones you need for sorting.
Why Keep Copper Golems Active?
Copper Golems are awesome for automating item storage in Minecraft. They:
- Move up to 16 items from copper chests to wooden or trapped chests.
- Only deposit items in empty chests or ones with matching items, perfect for organized storage.
- Work in a 65×17×65 block area, tracking up to 10 chests before resetting after a 7-second break.
By preventing oxidation, you keep your Copper Golem sorting items smoothly, making your Minecraft base more efficient.
Conclusion
Keeping your Copper Golem from turning into a statue in Minecraft is easy: grab a honeycomb, wax the golem, and stop oxidation in its tracks. If it’s already oxidizing or a statue, use an axe to reverse the process and wax it afterward. By acting fast and waxing early, you’ll ensure your Copper Golem stays active, sorting items like a pro.
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