Steel Watcher

Steel Watchers are a non-playable Construct race in Baldur's Gate 3. Steel Watchers are characterised by their imposing size and ability to self-destruct. They almost exclusively appear in the city of Baldur's Gate.

A Steel Watcher guardian Wyrm's Rock Fortress

Involvement

Created by Enver Gortash to serve him, Steel Watchers uphold the law in the city of Baldur's Gate. Steel Watchers are formidable foes with large amounts of health and multiple Resistances.

If exploring the Steel Watch Foundry it will be revealed that the Watchers are not fully mechanical; rather, they are hybrids of technology and necromancy. Each unit is built around a zombie whose brain has been removed, infected with a Mind Flayer Tadpole, and preserved in vats at the Foundry, where Banite cultists can use them to remotely control the corresponding Watcher.

With the exception of Steel Watcher Titan, Steel Watchers will gain the condition Detonation Impending! when their hit points are low. This is caused by the passive feature Failsafe Protocol. The explosion will deal 4d12+26Fire damage in an area around the Watcher. This attack ignores resistance and immunity to Fire damage. Target will still take half damage on a successful Dexterity saving throw.

If the party defeats Gortash without dealing with the Foundry and hasn't defeated Orin yet, the Steel Watchers will be taken over by the Netherbrain who will make them ignore the party and not assist the Flaming Fist in combat, in order to aid the party in defeating Orin. On top of that, the Netherbrain will blow up the Foundry and the Iron Throne. Once the party also defeats Orin, however, the Netherbrain will turn on the party and all the Steel Watchers will be hostile to the party, which will drag the Flaming Fist into combat as well.

Types of Steel Watchers

Related literature

How to Build a Watcher

Related quests

Related items

Enriched Infernal Iron
Gontr Mael, can be looted from the Steel Watcher Titan
Hellfire Engine Crossbow
Immiscibility of Fluids
Infernal Iron
Steelwatcher Helmet
Watcher Greatsword

Notes

Karlach's heart is a prototype engine for the Steel Watchers.
During the quest Disable the Steel Watch several Hellfire Watchers and a special Steel Watcher Titan can be found in Steel Watch Foundry.

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