Golems immune to detect magic?

[Moff_Tarkin]

Simple question, will detect magic allow you to see golems? That is, will it let you know that the big Iron statue on the other side of the room is magical. I imagine it would but our DM claims that because Golems are immune to magic that they are immune to detect invisibilty.

He may be right, but that just sounds wrong to me. That logic would make golems pretty powerful. You could never scry or detect object on one. And if you had an invisible golem, you couldent use see invisibility or invisiblity purge on it.

 

[hong]

Golems are "immune" to detect magic because they're a creature, not an ongoing magical effect. Their magic immunity has nothing to do with it.

 

[gnfnrf]

Detect Magic does not allow spell resistance to apply, so (a minor school of disagreement aside) a golem's magic immunity does not prevent it from being detected.

However, it is not entirely clear that golems radiate magic. There is good evidence for this (Golems are created with an item creation feat, have minimum caster levels, and detect magic notes that elementals and outsiders do not radiate magic without mentioning constructs) but no direct statement to my knowledge.

There is also evidence against this. Golems are creatures, and according to the FAQ, are not affected as spell effects and magic items by such things as antimagic fields or mordenkainen's disjunction.

EDIT: Apologies, forgot to add last paragraph.
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gnfnrf

 

[PallidPatience]

Detect magic also doesn't note that humanoids and animals are not detected. /needlessly pedantic

 

[gnfnrf]

Detect magic also doesn't note that humanoids and animals are not detected. /needlessly pedantic

But you'd think, if there was one type to call out, construct would be it, right? The one that there are actually rules to make by magic? It's not a perfect argument, I know (also, note I edited my post above, I forgot to add the counterargument and I thought nobody had responded yet), but unlike humanoids, which a reasonable person wouldn't suspect might radiate magic, constructs are on top of the list.

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gnfnrf

 

[Moff_Tarkin]

Well even if golems dont show up to detect magic its not because of the logic the DM is following right? Somthing that effects me, like see invisibility, isnt hindered by an invisible wizard with magic resistance or immunity is it?

 

[pawsplay]

It does not appear to me that druid's wildshape is detectable, nor a golem. Spells only.

 

[TheGogmagog]

Simple question, will detect magic allow you to see golems? That is, will it let you know that the big Iron statue on the other side of the room is magical. I imagine it would but our DM claims that because Golems are immune to magic that they are immune to detect invisibilty.

Pardon me if I read the whole post. No, a golem with a magic affect somehow or invisible, is not immune from detect magic or detect invisibility. I believe that is the conclusion of most of the posters above, aside from hammering the point that creatures usually don't radiate magic even constructs or 'Magical Beasts'.

 

[Deset Gled]

However, it is not entirely clear that golems radiate magic. There is good evidence for this (Golems are created with an item creation feat, have minimum caster levels, and detect magic notes that elementals and outsiders do not radiate magic without mentioning constructs) but no direct statement to my knowledge.

I normally revert back to the text of Antimagic Field for proof that golems are not magic themselves:

The spell has no effect on golems and other constructs that are imbued with magic during their creation process and are thereafter self-supporting (unless they have been summoned, in which case they are treated like any other summoned creatures). Elementals, corporeal undead, and outsiders are likewise unaffected unless summoned. These creatures’ spell-like or supernatural abilities, however, may be temporarily nullified by the field.

Golems are created through magic, but are not magic after the initial creation. They would not be seen by Detect Magic. There is nothing about them, though, that would render them immune to See Invisibility.

Also, the golem would probably have a "lingering aura" of magic for awhile. The creation of one probably counts as a "strong" aura, but I could see an argument for it to be "overwhelming" as well.

 

[Presto2112]

I normally revert back to the text of Antimagic Field for proof that golems are not magic themselves:


Golems are created through magic, but are not magic after the initial creation. They would not be seen by Detect Magic. There is nothing about them, though, that would render them immune to See Invisibility.

Also, the golem would probably have a "lingering aura" of magic for awhile. The creation of one probably counts as a "strong" aura, but I could see an argument for it to be "overwhelming" as well.

As an analogy, think about baking a pie. It's created by heat, but is not thereafter permanently hot.

So maybe golems could radiate magic for a half hour or so after they're created, until they've cooled on the windowsill.