Dungeons & Dragons Emu Steel Defender Miniature

This is a highly detailed miniature of a Emu Steel Defender.

This model was created by MZ4250 who makes amazingly accurate models of the Monster Manual creatures and provided by Commercial License.

An Emu Steel Defender in Dungeons & Dragons is a creative variation of the standard Steel Defender, a magical construct available to Artificers who choose the Battle Smith subclass. By default, a Steel Defender is a medium-sized, mechanical companion designed to assist its creator in both combat and utility tasks. The idea of an "Emu Steel Defender" is not found in the official rules but arises from homebrew content or imaginative reskinning of the base creature. Essentially, it’s a Steel Defender that has taken the form of a large, emu-like automaton, blending whimsical flavor with mechanical functionality.

The Battle Smith gains the Steel Defender at 3rd level, and the stat block for the construct is provided in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything. Although it has no official emu variant, a player or DM might describe the Steel Defender as resembling a tall, flightless bird with mechanical legs, a plated chassis shaped like a feathered body, and sensors or lenses where its eyes would be. Its movement speed would remain 40 feet as normal, matching the base stats, and it would retain its bite or slam attack depending on how the emu design is flavored.

The key point is that this emu form does not alter the Steel Defender’s mechanics unless the DM agrees to allow additional traits. As with all Steel Defenders, the emu version shares your initiative count, acts on your turn, and follows your commands. It can use its reaction to impose disadvantage on an attack against a nearby ally with its Deflect Attack feature, and it can be repaired with a spell slot or the Mending cantrip.

Choosing an emu as its form adds thematic uniqueness. It could fit into a campaign setting where animal-shaped constructs are common, or it could reflect the eccentricity of the artificer who designed it. While it remains mechanically identical to any other Steel Defender, its roleplay and aesthetic potential are significant. Whether it's stomping into battle with metallic screeches or serving as a loyal robotic mount, an Emu Steel Defender offers a quirky yet fully functional companion that’s sure to stand out in any party.

33.57mm tall at 32mm scale.