The steel defendor can look like whatever you want it to. Personally i tend to envision it as energy coated claws (or pure energy claws) slashing at an opponent. However it is also worded carefully specifically so you can choose what it looks like
What exactly the weapon looks like is going to be heavily dependant on what form your Steel Defender takes. The default art is that of a Mastiff type dog, in which case it would probably be a biting attack. But there's nothing to say you can't have your Steel Defender take the form of a Jaguar, which could use it's claws just as easily as it's jaws.
Or your Steel Defender might be a Zergling, in which case it's definitely talons (claws). Or perhaps a pygmy Ultralisk, which would use it's Kaiser Blades. Then again, you might have fashioned it after a miniature Centaur, wielding a Naginata. Or a Minotaur with a battle ax, able to use either the ax or it's horns.
Or maybe it looks like a walking junkyard, with all manner of apengedes and exposed cogs and whirling blades sticking out in all directions. The section about how you make your Steel Defender is pretty clear that you can let your imagination run wild and take on whatever visual form you want. The only limitations are what is put down in the stat block for what it's statistics are and what actions it is able to take.
Yea it could bite - or claw - or turn one of it's claws into a spike and stab - or tail-whip - or headbutt. Literally anything you can think of. At the end of the day as long as it's doing the damage the mechanics say it does - how it does it is largely up to you.
My warforged artificer was a sailor, so his steel defender is a mechanical monkey. The rend from it is a bite, a slap, or a tail attack depending on the effect I'm going for at the moment.
Steel Defenders are pretty interesting because they're just so customizable... I've never heard of a single person whose Steel Defender is the big metal Mastiff that is used in the creature's official art.
I think making the attack be Force Damage instead of any of the mundane damage types (Bludgeoning, Slashing, Piercing) was done so that you won't feel obligated to give it a specific attack to match that damage type. If all Steel Defenders, by default, dealt Slashing damage then most people would feel that they need to give them a big knife or claws or something. Force, meanwhile, is probably the least-defined of all the magics... it's not clearly tied to any particular element or phenomenon... I think that's partly why many players feel comfortable flavoring Eldritch Blast to really fit their character type. Obviously anything can be reflavored, but the fact that it's just "force" means it could, visually, be just about anything.
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So, since posting in this thread earlier I've actually started playing as a Battlesmith Artificer, and my own Steel Defender is a treasure chest that walks on mechanical tendrils... think like the Guardians from Breath of the Wild. Anyway, it attacks by having the lid pop open and then a boxing glove on a spring shoots out and punches whoever it's attacking.
It’s damage is melee and it’s magical, but is it a bite or a claw or what?
D&D since 1984
The text reads:
Force-Empowered Rend. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target you can see. Hit: 1d8 + 2 force damage.
D&D since 1984
To rend means to tear into two or more pieces, usually with claws or teeth. So a claw or a bite attack makes sense.
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The steel defendor can look like whatever you want it to. Personally i tend to envision it as energy coated claws (or pure energy claws) slashing at an opponent. However it is also worded carefully specifically so you can choose what it looks like
It's Force damage so even a punch from an automaton-looking creature would be fine. Make it look however you wish.
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Highest 41: brocker2001 (#11,285).
Yahtzee of 2's: Emmber (#36,161).
Lowest 9: JoeltheWalrus (#312), Emmber (#12,505) and Dertinus (#20,953).
What exactly the weapon looks like is going to be heavily dependant on what form your Steel Defender takes. The default art is that of a Mastiff type dog, in which case it would probably be a biting attack. But there's nothing to say you can't have your Steel Defender take the form of a Jaguar, which could use it's claws just as easily as it's jaws.
Or your Steel Defender might be a Zergling, in which case it's definitely talons (claws). Or perhaps a pygmy Ultralisk, which would use it's Kaiser Blades. Then again, you might have fashioned it after a miniature Centaur, wielding a Naginata. Or a Minotaur with a battle ax, able to use either the ax or it's horns.
Or maybe it looks like a walking junkyard, with all manner of apengedes and exposed cogs and whirling blades sticking out in all directions. The section about how you make your Steel Defender is pretty clear that you can let your imagination run wild and take on whatever visual form you want. The only limitations are what is put down in the stat block for what it's statistics are and what actions it is able to take.
Thanks. This helps.
For reference here is the Steel Defender in question:
D&D since 1984
Yea it could bite - or claw - or turn one of it's claws into a spike and stab - or tail-whip - or headbutt. Literally anything you can think of. At the end of the day as long as it's doing the damage the mechanics say it does - how it does it is largely up to you.
Mega Yahtzee Thread:
Highest 41: brocker2001 (#11,285).
Yahtzee of 2's: Emmber (#36,161).
Lowest 9: JoeltheWalrus (#312), Emmber (#12,505) and Dertinus (#20,953).
My warforged artificer was a sailor, so his steel defender is a mechanical monkey.
The rend from it is a bite, a slap, or a tail attack depending on the effect I'm going for at the moment.
Mine is dog-like and has a face full of whirling metal teeth. The DM lets me have Advantage on Intimidate checks if he yawns...
Steel Defenders are pretty interesting because they're just so customizable... I've never heard of a single person whose Steel Defender is the big metal Mastiff that is used in the creature's official art.
I think making the attack be Force Damage instead of any of the mundane damage types (Bludgeoning, Slashing, Piercing) was done so that you won't feel obligated to give it a specific attack to match that damage type. If all Steel Defenders, by default, dealt Slashing damage then most people would feel that they need to give them a big knife or claws or something. Force, meanwhile, is probably the least-defined of all the magics... it's not clearly tied to any particular element or phenomenon... I think that's partly why many players feel comfortable flavoring Eldritch Blast to really fit their character type. Obviously anything can be reflavored, but the fact that it's just "force" means it could, visually, be just about anything.
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My Gnomish Battle Smith's Steel Defender is a ram, and its rend is a headbutt.
The form of the construct and its attacks is up to you.
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile.
Mine is built to look like a triceratops, and the Force Rend looks like 3 corkscrew beams bursting from it's 3 horns.
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D&D since 1984
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I would imagine a crackling force field around its teeth and claws.
My steel defender resembles a spider and I just describe it as a battering ram on its back
So, since posting in this thread earlier I've actually started playing as a Battlesmith Artificer, and my own Steel Defender is a treasure chest that walks on mechanical tendrils... think like the Guardians from Breath of the Wild. Anyway, it attacks by having the lid pop open and then a boxing glove on a spring shoots out and punches whoever it's attacking.
Watch Crits for Breakfast, an adults-only RP-Heavy Roll20 Livestream at twitch.tv/afterdisbooty
And now you too can play with the amazing art and assets we use in Roll20 for our campaign at Hazel's Emporium