diff --git a/Source/missiles.cpp b/Source/missiles.cpp
index adc0736dd..793b98481 100644
--- a/Source/missiles.cpp
+++ b/Source/missiles.cpp
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ bool MonsterMHit(int pnum, int monsterId, int mindam, int maxdam, int dist, miss
 		monster.flags |= MFLAG_NOHEAL;
 
 	if (monster.hitPoints >> 6 <= 0) {
-		M_StartKill(monsterId, pnum);
+		M_StartKill(monster, pnum);
 	} else if (resist) {
 		PlayEffect(monster, 1);
 	} else {
@@ -2156,13 +2156,14 @@ void AddGolem(Missile &missile, const AddMissileParameter &parameter)
 
 	int playerId = missile._misource;
 	Player &player = Players[playerId];
+	Monster &golem = Monsters[playerId];
 
-	if (Monsters[playerId].position.tile != GolemHoldingCell && &player == MyPlayer)
-		M_StartKill(playerId, playerId);
+	if (golem.position.tile != GolemHoldingCell && &player == MyPlayer)
+		M_StartKill(golem, playerId);
 
 	UseMana(player, SPL_GOLEM);
 
-	if (Monsters[playerId].position.tile == GolemHoldingCell) {
+	if (golem.position.tile == GolemHoldingCell) {
 		std::optional<Point> spawnPosition = FindClosestValidPosition(
 		    [start = missile.position.start](Point target) {
 			    return !IsTileOccupied(target) && LineClearMissile(start, target);
diff --git a/Source/monster.cpp b/Source/monster.cpp
index 91117b1a7..60e415525 100644
--- a/Source/monster.cpp
+++ b/Source/monster.cpp
@@ -1300,7 +1300,7 @@ void CheckReflect(int monsterId, int pnum, int dam)
 	monster.hitPoints -= mdam;
 	dam = std::max(dam - mdam, 0);
 	if (monster.hitPoints >> 6 <= 0)
-		M_StartKill(monsterId, pnum);
+		M_StartKill(monster, pnum);
 	else
 		M_StartHit(monster, pnum, mdam);
 }
@@ -1388,10 +1388,11 @@ void MonsterAttackPlayer(int monsterId, int pnum, int hit, int minDam, int maxDa
 		int mdam = (GenerateRnd(3) + 1) << 6;
 		monster.hitPoints -= mdam;
 		if (monster.hitPoints >> 6 <= 0)
-			M_StartKill(monsterId, pnum);
+			M_StartKill(monster, pnum);
 		else
 			M_StartHit(monster, pnum, mdam);
 	}
+
 	if ((monster.flags & MFLAG_NOLIFESTEAL) == 0 && monster.type().type == MT_SKING && gbIsMultiplayer)
 		monster.hitPoints += dam;
 	if (player._pHitPoints >> 6 <= 0) {
@@ -3924,15 +3925,12 @@ void StartMonsterDeath(Monster &monster, int pnum, bool sendmsg)
 	MonsterDeath(monster, pnum, md, sendmsg);
 }
 
-void M_StartKill(int monsterId, int pnum)
+void M_StartKill(Monster &monster, int pnum)
 {
-	assert(static_cast<size_t>(monsterId) < MaxMonsters);
-	Monster &monster = Monsters[monsterId];
-
 	if (pnum == MyPlayerId) {
 		delta_kill_monster(monster, monster.position.tile, *MyPlayer);
-		if (monsterId != pnum) {
-			NetSendCmdLocParam1(false, CMD_MONSTDEATH, monster.position.tile, monsterId);
+		if (&monster != &Monsters[pnum]) {
+			NetSendCmdLocParam1(false, CMD_MONSTDEATH, monster.position.tile, monster.getId());
 		} else {
 			NetSendCmdLoc(MyPlayerId, false, CMD_KILLGOLEM, monster.position.tile);
 		}
diff --git a/Source/monster.h b/Source/monster.h
index ff0c09d6d..73b9ce4ee 100644
--- a/Source/monster.h
+++ b/Source/monster.h
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ void M_GetKnockback(Monster &monster);
 void M_StartHit(Monster &monster, int dam);
 void M_StartHit(Monster &monster, int pnum, int dam);
 void StartMonsterDeath(Monster &monster, int pnum, bool sendmsg);
-void M_StartKill(int monsterId, int pnum);
+void M_StartKill(Monster &monster, int pnum);
 void M_SyncStartKill(int monsterId, Point position, int pnum);
 void M_UpdateRelations(const Monster &monster);
 void DoEnding();
diff --git a/Source/player.cpp b/Source/player.cpp
index 62b6836de..eb8193adb 100644
--- a/Source/player.cpp
+++ b/Source/player.cpp
@@ -957,7 +957,7 @@ bool PlrHitMonst(int pnum, size_t monsterId, bool adjacentDamage = false)
 	}
 #endif
 	if ((monster.hitPoints >> 6) <= 0) {
-		M_StartKill(monsterId, pnum);
+		M_StartKill(monster, pnum);
 	} else {
 		if (monster.mode != MonsterMode::Petrified && HasAnyOf(player._pIFlags, ItemSpecialEffect::Knockback))
 			M_GetKnockback(monster);
@@ -3139,9 +3139,9 @@ void SyncPlrKill(Player &player, int earflag)
 void RemovePlrMissiles(const Player &player)
 {
 	if (leveltype != DTYPE_TOWN && &player == MyPlayer) {
-		auto &golem = Monsters[MyPlayerId];
+		Monster &golem = Monsters[MyPlayerId];
 		if (golem.position.tile.x != 1 || golem.position.tile.y != 0) {
-			M_StartKill(MyPlayerId, MyPlayerId);
+			M_StartKill(golem, MyPlayerId);
 			AddCorpse(golem.position.tile, golem.type().corpseId, golem.direction);
 			int mx = golem.position.tile.x;
 			int my = golem.position.tile.y;