Medium construct, lawful evil
Armor Class 20 (natural armor)
Armor Class (suggested) 24 (natural armor)
Hit Points 207 (18d10 + 108)
Speed 40 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +5
Proficiency Bonus +7 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 (+7) | 17 (+3) | 22 (+6) | 4 (-3) | 14 (+2) | 6 (-2) |
Saving Throws (suggested) Str +12, Con +8
Skills Perception +7, Stealth +8, Survival +7
Damage Resistances cold, lightning, necrotic, thunder
Damage Immunities poison, psychic; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, stunned
Senses blindsight 30 ft., darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 17
Languages understands Modron and the language of its owner but can’t speak
Challenge 16 (15000 XP)
Innate Spellcasting. The steel predator’s innate spellcasting ability is Wisdom. The steel predator can innately cast the following spells, requiring no components:
- 3/day each: dimension door (self only), plane shift (self only)
Magic Resistance. The steel predator has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Magic Weapons. The steel predator’s weapon attacks are magical.
ACTIONS
- Multiattack The steel predator makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claw.
- Bite Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d6 + 7) piercing damage.
- Claw Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (2d8 + 7) slashing damage.
- Stunning Roar (Recharge 5-6) The steel predator emits a roar in a 60-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 19 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 27 (5d10) thunder damage, drops everything it’s holding, and is stunned for 1 minute. On a successful save, a creature takes half as much damage. The stunned creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
5th Edition Advanced Mode
Limiting the power of a character and making the overall difficulty of the game harder, does not reduce the creativity, indeed it does quite the opposite.
The Game Master has the option to use any and all of the instances proposed in this guide, or just some of them according to their preference.
It is the lack of something that move and motivate characters, not the abundance of it
Steel Predator
A steel predator is a merciless machine with one purpose: to locate and kill its target regardless of distance and obstacles. Steel predators are created by a unique modron, using a machine located in the city of Sigil. For a steep price, anyone can commission the manufacture of a steel predator and assign it a target. Once activated, the steel predator will relentlessly pursue its prey, ignoring any other creatures or hazards in its way.
Description
A steel predator resembles a large metallic cat with muscles made of iron. It has a sleek and streamlined body, covered with plates of steel that protect it from harm. Its eyes glow with a red light, and its mouth is filled with razor-sharp teeth that can tear through metal. A steel predator has four legs, each ending in a clawed paw that can slash and rend its enemies. A steel predator also has a pair of hind legs that it can use to kick or pounce on its foes.
A steel predator has a keen sense of smell that allows it to track its target across any plane of existence. It can also pinpoint the location of its prey by using its blindsight and darkvision. A steel predator can understand Modron and the language of its owner, but it cannot speak. It follows its owner’s commands without question, but it has no personality or emotions of its own.
Combat
A steel predator is a formidable opponent in combat, using its speed, strength, and agility to overwhelm its enemies. It can make three attacks per round: one with its bite and two with its claws. Its bite is especially effective at destroying objects held by creatures, such as weapons or magic items. A steel predator can also use its roar to deafen and damage nearby creatures with a blast of sonic energy. This attack is more powerful against crystalline creatures, such as glass golems or shatterkai.
A steel predator has several defenses that make it hard to harm or hinder. It has a high natural armor class that reflects most physical attacks. It is resistant to cold, lightning, necrotic, and thunder damage, and immune to poison, psychic, and nonmagical bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage. It also has magic resistance, giving it advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
A steel predator’s only weakness is its single-minded focus on its target. It will ignore any other creatures or obstacles in its way, unless they directly threaten or interfere with its mission. A steel predator will not stop until it kills its target or is destroyed itself.
Habitat / Society
A steel predator does not have a natural habitat or society of its own. It is an artificial construct that is created by a modron named Xixixixixix (or Six for short), who operates a machine shop in Sigil called the Steel Foundry. Six is a rogue hexton who was exiled from Mechanus for creating the first steel predators and unleashing them on his superiors. He now sells his services to anyone who can afford his price, which ranges from 50,000 to 100,000 gold pieces per steel predator.
A steel predator’s owner can assign it a target by providing Six with a name, a description, and an item that belongs to or was touched by the target. Six will then activate the steel predator and send it on its way. The owner can also give the steel predator additional commands or instructions, such as whether to kill the target quickly or slowly, or whether to bring back proof of the kill.
A steel predator can travel across any plane of existence to reach its target, using portals or planar gates that Six provides or creates for it. A steel predator can also sense the presence of metallic magic items on its target or nearby creatures, and will try to destroy them with its bite before consuming them. A steel predator does not need to eat anything else besides metal.
Ecology
A steel predator has no natural role in the ecology of any plane. It is an unnatural creature that disrupts the balance of life wherever it goes. It does not care about the consequences of its actions, nor does it have any allies or enemies among other creatures. It only cares about fulfilling its mission and satisfying its hunger for metal.
A steel predator poses a serious threat to anyone who crosses its path, especially if they possess metallic magic items that attract its attention. A steel predator will not hesitate to attack anyone who stands in its way or tries to stop it from reaching its target. A steel predator will also not spare anyone who is associated with or protects its target, unless instructed otherwise by its owner.
A steel predator can be destroyed by powerful magic or weapons that can bypass its defenses. However, even if a steel predator is killed, it may not be the end of the threat. Six may have created more than one steel predator for the same target, or he may have a backup plan to revive or replace the fallen one. The only way to ensure that a steel predator will not come back is to find and destroy Six and his machine shop, or to convince him to call off the hunt.