So I was making a Battle Smith for lvl 6 and then paid attention to the specific stats generated by DnDBeyond for the Steel Defender.  But when I looked at the Force-Empowered Rend the Hit and Damage were 1 off.

Now according to the stat block in Steel Defender

Force-Empowered Rend. Melee Weapon Attack: your spell attack modifier to hit, reach 5 ft., one target you can see. Hit: 1d8 + PB force damage.

Now my character has 20 Int so the spell attack modifier is +5.  PB at level 6 is +3.  However on my character sheet SD is only showing +4 to hit and 1d8+2 for damage.

Am I misinterpreting the stat block or is this a potential bug?

I've also tried adjusting this for a lvl 20 character, the numbers remained unchanged.  Then switched to Improved Steel Defender, the numbers remain unchanged.

(small note: I did just install Beyond 20.  Could this extension be causing me problems?)

I believe I have read that it is a bug of sorts. A remnant of the UA block, if I remember correctly. I am sure someone will correct me if I am misremembering. 

Yeah there's a bug with the Steel Defender. A similar thing happened to me when 1st Artificer my character became level 5. The best fix to this (that I know of) is to make custom actions and ability checks on your character sheet. 

thanks you guys.  I just wanted to double check that i'm not misinterpreting.  =)

The speed at which they fix things is a bit underwhelming. Still waiting on a way to add spell buffs like Haste that isnt using homebrew items.

So I tried to add my steel defender's force empowered rend as a custom attack.  Everything looks great except that in order to have my spell bonus to hit I need to make the stat INT, which is automatically translating to my INT as damage as well.  So I'm pretty sure I'm supposed to have 1d8+3 for damage, but my INT is +5 and that's what's showing up on the damage.  If I add "Fixed damage" to the stat block it just adds that to the INT modifier.  If I don't choose a stat I don't get a hit modifier.  Am I missing something?  I'm pretty new to D&D Beyond so I could just be not understanding something.  Help please!  (I'm the "custom spell" option because to hit is supposed to be my spell modifier.  Should I be using "General" or "Weapon" instead?)

Yeah I thought about this. The fix I came up with is to make TWO custom actions for Force Empowered Rend. One action represents Roll to HIT and the 2nd action represents Roll for DAMAGE. It should look like the way it is shown on my character sheet (look at bonus actions).

https://ddb.ac/characters/48605378/n7fj2Y

Quote from Sionann_vch_Ioan >>

So I tried to add my steel defender's force empowered rend as a custom attack.  Everything looks great except that in order to have my spell bonus to hit I need to make the stat INT, which is automatically translating to my INT as damage as well.  So I'm pretty sure I'm supposed to have 1d8+3 for damage, but my INT is +5 and that's what's showing up on the damage.  If I add "Fixed damage" to the stat block it just adds that to the INT modifier.  If I don't choose a stat I don't get a hit modifier.  Am I missing something?  I'm pretty new to D&D Beyond so I could just be not understanding something.  Help please!  (I'm the "custom spell" option because to hit is supposed to be my spell modifier.  Should I be using "General" or "Weapon" instead?)

 You should be able to add a negative modifier to result in the needed number. Or you could clear it with your DM to use the full number. I personally don't think it will change too much in the long run to allow that, but others may disagree.

EDIT: Sorry, this was for weapons only, come to find out. Perhaps homebrewing a weapon would solve it. I try it out myself as well.

BUMP

This is still a bug. My poor artificer player has to keep remembering to add a point to damage (he keeps forgetting which helps my monsters LOL).

I made a homebrewed magic long sword called "Force Empowered Rend" with three modifiers:

• Damage - Force
• Ignore Weapon Property - Versatile
• Weapon Property - Light

After adding it to my inventory, I added customizations:

• Damage Bonus (whatever it should be for my level)
• Checked Dual Wield (because it's a BA attack)
• Display as Attack (so it shows up)

I also made a custom stat block with Google Sheet that anyone can use with this link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gNHEOWDZECINmb5seiIRAMSrWvDh5KT9BsWwOetp0PE/edit?usp=sharing

It makes a clean printed sheet for table use.

These are all really fascinating workarounds (especially those from AndredSkratch and Jordan_Jor_Jordan); I've also added a Steel Defender as an extra, but that does not seem to adjust the bonuses or HP correctly. Additionally, there are two different definitions for the Steel Defender - one's in the Artificer definition (linked by Plucky54) and the other is here.

Does anyone know if there are any plans to actually fix this? As a new player, most of what DnD Beyond does is great; unfortunately, it makes gaps like this a lot more frustrating.

Thanks!

Quote from plucky54 >>

Now my character has 20 Int so the spell attack modifier is +5.  PB at level 6 is +3.  However on my character sheet SD is only showing +4 to hit and 1d8+2 for damage.

Am I misinterpreting the stat block or is this a potential bug?

 Ignoring the bug for a moment to say that your spellcasting ability modifier is +5, your proficiency bonus is +3, which means your spell attack modifier is actually +8.

Quote from AndredSkratch >>

I made a homebrewed magic long sword called "Force Empowered Rend" with three modifiers:

• Damage - Force
• Ignore Weapon Property - Versatile
• Weapon Property - Light

After adding it to my inventory, I added customizations:

• Damage Bonus (whatever it should be for my level)
• Checked Dual Wield (because it's a BA attack)
• Display as Attack (so it shows up)

I also made a custom stat block with Google Sheet that anyone can use with this link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gNHEOWDZECINmb5seiIRAMSrWvDh5KT9BsWwOetp0PE/edit?usp=sharing

It makes a clean printed sheet for table use.

AndredSkratch - Could you please let me know if you would you be interested in some modifications to the spreadsheet? I've updated the columns to allow tracking the Steel Defender's current HP, and made some minor improvements in the "data" tab. You could also either add the stat sheet for the Improved SD on the main tab, or create a new one for it.

I also think this is definitely something where you should add an attribution link in it, as I think it's pretty useful.

Thanks, bard_hedge. yes, I'd love to see your modifications. 

AndredSkratch,

Here's a link to the updated version; please let me know what you think: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1c-XMG6obDjWbbjFkkRo6Od50Idqb6b93fAnXoU_ZZgA/edit?usp=sharing

Also, while looking into the regular vs. improved Steel Defender, I noticed you already had that covered :)

Thanks again for such a useful tool!