Steel defenders were the construct companions of Artificers, built in various forms and designed to be adaptable. Constructed for mobility and protection, steel defenders perfectly obeyed the commands of their creators, and were often built to resemble beasts. Infusions of Evocation magic allowed steel defenders to attack with force, which they could also employ to protect their creators and other allies. As they were often used in tense battlefield situations, they were made to be mobile, and most had the ability to magically see in the dark.
Steel defenders were built for adaptability, and as a result, were less durable than many other forms of constructs, such as Clockwork Stone Defenders. This was belied by a limited ability to repair themselves, and they could be repaired in full by their artificer partners provided they had enough time and material.