Steam warrior Steamwarriors ( a . k . a . steam warriors ) are mechanic s who take their skills to the battlefield by building walking suits of phlogiston - powered armor . Though the armor of most steamwarriors takes on a generally humanoid form , a suit ' s functions are as individualized as its pilot . The only activity most steamwarriors enjoy more than using their armor in combat is tinker ing with it between battles , improving old functions and adding new ones . Some were born to steam , gifted with the measures of mechanics and systems , and possessed with an unquenchable thirst for invention . Among those inventors are individuals who push their creations to the limits of technology , testing them in battle , and relying on them for their survival . These are the steam warriors . Some might crudely explain that steam warriors are mechanics who trudge from place to place in phlogiston - powered armor . Ask a steam warrior what his calling is , and he ' ll tell you of the thrill of battle , the sound of metal clashing against monster scales , and the surge of adrenaline as a whirring blade slices through metal , flesh , or bone . To a steam warrior , life is more than just the surge of phlogiston through a steam plant , or the thrum of engines driving weapons of destruction . To a steam warrior it ' s all being behind the controls of a massive monolith of powered iron , and seeking to destroy any enemy that crosses his path . Steam warriors are often innovative souls who customize and build their own suits of steam - powered armor . Still , many are willing to pay a tinker his worth in coin to have the armor modified to exacting specifications . While a steam warrior might know the inner workings of his armor intimately , he doesn ' t need to be a skilled tinker in order to use it . Relying on the expertise of others has become more and more commonplace as gnomish and goblin technology becomes more available to agents of both the Horde and the Alliance . These gladiators of steam and steel cross the fields of war like massive myrmidon s , intent on dealing out punishment with any of a variety of weapons strapped to their armor . The excitement of combat , the power at their fingertips , and the massive weapons they wield are motive enough for others to respect their capabilities , but steam warriors go beyond the simple armor they wear . In battle steam warriors are fearless and resolute , capable of enduring the withering fire of musket , spell or arrow . Their skill at piloting their steam armor allows them to move gracefully and with tremendous speed , reacting faster than one would think possible . While others might simply wear and operate steam armor , steam warriors are their armor , merging with it using a combination of skill and concentration - controlling it as easily as a master swordsman wields his blade . Steam Warriors in the World : Steam warriors in Azeroth are a rare and often mercenary sort . As could be expected , the races that are more technologically inclined are the ones most likely to become steam warriors . Among the Alliance , gnome s and Ironforge dwarves take up the iron mantle of the steam warrior . Gnomish steam warriors tend to be much more involved in the construction and design of their armor , while dwarves are usually more concerned with their armor ' s weapons . In the end , both prove excellent steam warriors . Human s have been know to become steam warriors as well , although they are quite rare . Elven steam warriors are almost unheard of . Amid the Horde , the few who have the knowledge and inclination to become steam warriors are mostly hired goblin mercenaries , although , oddly enough , troll s also seem to take to the life of a steam warrior . Orc s and tauren rarely find themselves concerned with the mechanical , and thus rarely pursue the steam warrior ' s path . Goblins excel at the craft of steam , and they produce some of the most devastating and cunning steam warriors alive . For a goblin , steam armor is simply an extension of the desire to attain power . Becoming a steam warrior for a goblin is as much a part of attaining status as it is a decent way to make money . These goblin steam warriors hire themselves out for a price , seeking the highest bidder and working with little regard for diplomacy or future relation . Many steam warriors form chapters or guilds , congregating in groups and sharing their technical expertise and backing each other up in combat . These cadres often become elite mercenary units serving either the Alliance or Horde , or even splitting off to form independent factions willing to serve either affiliation . Goblin s are notorious for forming these groups , luring in outsiders , and then stealing their technological expertise for their own use . Most of Azeroth ' s denizens view steam warriors with a combined sense of wonder and fear . Steam armor is an impressive and intimidating sight . The sheer strength of the armor , combined with its portable arsenal , is a source of speculation , terror and awe to those who have never seen such things . Those who have seen steam warriors in action know that the best course is to get out of the way . Whether an ally or an enemy , steam armor has the tendency to harm anyone outside the suit who gets too close . Most steam warriors see themselves first as warrior s and second as tinker s . Their armor is built for war , and they enjoy using it as an instrument of battle . Most see themselves as the vanguard of a new era of knight s and inventor s , striding into battle within their phlogiston - powered suits . The steam warrior is not a common sight . Cadres often number less than a dozen , and the resources required to keep armor combat - ready can be significant drain . In the wars plaguing Azeroth , the steam warrior has yet to have made a significant impact — although many feel that their time is soon to come .