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I think I first saw this monster in one of the “late” Monster Manuals for 3.x, which makes it fairly recent.

The Lore

Designed by Bane himself (“Original Design: Do Not Steal”), these living constructs are designed as long-ranging assassination engines. They seem to be his take on the “Retriever” concept pioneered by the primordials, with the main difference being that the god of war is not interested in taking prisoners.

Steel Predators are a little weaker individually, but unlike the retrievers they’re still in production. They can travel the planes in search of their target, though their means of travel is not quick enough to be a combat ability. These things just love eating magic items: the more loaded the victim, the more vigorous the pursuit. Once a steel predator kills its target it will usually devour them, items and all. They also have a bit of golem-like magical resistance that means they get stronger when they take thunder or lightning damage.

As a side effect of this refined palate, steel predator bodies are rich in residuum, which can ironically make them a target for powerful, brave or foolhardy hunters looking for a big score. When not on a mission, most steel predators hang out in Bane’s native plane of Chernoggar, patrolling it alongside platoons of bladelings.

The Numbers

Steel Predators are Large Immortal Animates with the Living Construct keyword. They’re Level 20 Elite Soldiers with 388 HP, darkvision, and a ground speed of 8. As mentioned above, they can cross planar boundaries but this ability doesn’t make it into their combat stat block. They have a +2 bonus to saves against ongoing damage (for a total of +4 when combined with their elite save bonus).

These creatures have the body structure of a big cat, and they fight accordingly, pouncing and biting with their metal jaws. Their basic bite attack marks for a turn on a hit. They can also make a Vicious Pounce that works as a charge against Fortitude, does the same damage as a bite, and knocks prone. Their multiattack ability is a bit weaker than a standard double attack, but it’s still flavorful: Snap Jaw allows the steel predator to make a bite attack. If that hits it also knocks the target prone, and the creature can make another bite attack against a different target.

Their most overtly supernatural attack is a Resonating Roar, a Close Burst 3 attack that deals heavy thunder damage, dazes, and deafens (save ends both). This is a “recharge 5+” attack, but it also recharges automatically when the predator takes thunder or lightning damage.

Finally, when an adjacent creature shifts, they can use Shifting Steel as a reaction to shift into the vacated square.

Tactics are fairly simple: pounce, roar, then keep biting with Snap Jaw until the roar recharges. This should keep the PCs quite busy while the other monsters attack them.

Sample Encounters and Final Impressions

These things look enough like xenomorphs from Aliens that I’m surprised they don’t have acid blood. Maybe that would be too on the nose.

As mentioned above, Bane often sends steel predators on remote missions. They end up working alongisde other servants of the god, or with other creatures that share the same immediate goals. In that latter case, they’re known for turning on their allies of convenience if those allies behave in a way that displeases Bane.

The example encounter is Level 21, and has 2 steel predators accompanying 2 marut castigators. The maruts are likely mercenaries hired by an agent of Bane.