Sister of steel In this time of conflict , members of both gender s take up sword and axe and shield and march to the frontlines . However , due to long tradition , more men than women become soldier s . As conflicts continue , men become noticeably scarcer in Stormwind , Ironforge , and other Alliance cities . More and more , women perform the tasks traditionally reserved for men , such as working at the forge . The sisters of steel are just such a group of female blacksmith s . Long experience at the forge toughens the sisters ' skin and strengthens their muscles to the point where they can plunge their hands into fire without wincing , and blades rebound from their flesh . Some whisper that these abilities are due to more than just a mundane connection to the forge — that strange and ancient magic is at work . Some sisters claim that they benefit from the blessings of Khaz ' goroth , the titan shaper and forger of the world . When the need arises , the sisters of steel lift the weapons they forged and move out to combat their enemies . The first sisters of steel were Ironforge dwarves , and most members are dwarves . Their allies are glad for their aid , though a bit bemused at their powers . The fact that a few human and gnome women belong to their ranks proves false the idea that their abilities stem from dwarf - only phenomenon . Whatever the case , the sisters ' allies are glad to stand by their sides . Their enemies view them with a healthy mixture of respect and fear . In these troubled days many sisters routinely leave their forges to patrol areas around Ironforge , crushing trogg s and other enemies of their people . Some travel farther afield , supporting the Alliance on distant battlefronts . Others , knowing their strength in combat and seeking to enhance their smithing skills , travel the world in search of rare materials . Sisters of steel excel at soaking up damage and dishing it out . They wade into melee combat , smashing their enemies with maces and axes as bullets and blades glance off their stonelike skin . The sisters of steel are staunch members of the Alliance , but the rare defector is possible . The sister of steel has " Skin of Steel " . Her skin looks to be made of steel or rock , and indeed at least part of her body is a form of rocky and / or metallic flesh . The sister of steel ' s weight doubles . As she trains , the time spent training and at forges adds muscle mass , and she becomes stronger . Soon , the sister of steel ' s impressive skin causes blows to glance away , reducing the damage or negating it entirely . As the sister of steel continues her transformation into stone , she has an increased chance of blocking critical strikes against her , and soon arrows simply rebound off her skin . Note that as this is a supernatural ability , it is negated in an " anti - magic field " or similar effect . If the sister of steel loses her skin of steel ability ( temporarily or permanently , for whatever reason ) , she also loses much of the protection she had gained through transformation , reverting to her original self . In time a sister of steel surpasses her mortality through " Steelflesh Ascendance " and becomes a being of living stone and metal . Her type changes from humanoid to elemental . She gains immunity to poison , sleep effects , paralysis and stunning . She is not subject to critical hits at all . She no longer needs to eat , sleep , or breathe . Her weight doubles ( in total , she weighs eight times her original weight ) . Unlike most other living creatures , the sister of steel no longer has dual nature — her soul and body form one unit . If she is slain , no soul is set loose . Spells that restore souls to their bodies such as raise dead , reincarnate , and resurrection , don ' t work on her . It takes a different magical effect , such as limited wish es , wish es , miracle s , or true resurrection to restore her to life .