D&D 5E New Monster Manual Cover

From IGN, the cover of the 2025 Monster Manual!

@Morrus

 

[steeldragons]

1e/Reissue: dragon and unicorn

They were pegusi (and the dragon), actually.

 

[Moonmover]

Very nice action cover, but it confuses me: is that beholder an ally to the Players or an enemy the Players have not taken seriously yet?

None of the beholder's eyes are pointed at the PC's. It could have made a temporary alliance with them, because it wants all these inferior monsters out of its lair. Maybe they've appealed to its vanity and it thinks they will become its henchmen.

Or, maybe the beholder has only just silently floated up behind them while they were focused on the other monsters, and they haven't noticed it yet. Beholders can be very stealthy when they want to be.

I like this cover.

 

[MNblockhead]

I haven't commented on the other two covers but I'm going to now, they are all not good at all IMO. The other two are forgettable at best, this one put the nail in the 5E coffin for me. Again, just my opinion.

I pretty much use D&D beyond when I prep for and run games so I could hate the cover and it wouldn't make any difference to me. I don't love, but don't mind, any of the covers shown so far. What will determine whether I buy it more the overall enjoyment of the art and layout. Is the book a pleasure to read and browse, which is about the only reason I buy physical TTRPG books as most of them are just not laid out very well to use in game. I do find it weird to make a decision about buying books for a game you are already familiar with just by the cover. A great cover may catch my eye in a game store and cause me to take a look at a game I'm unfamiliar with. But I just can't see even a terrible cover (which these are not IMO) stopping me from buying a new book for a game I already like. I'm not hanging it on my wall. When its on the bookshelf, I don't see the cover. The art on the inside pages are actually more of a turn on or turn off for me than the cover when it comes to game books.

 

[MNblockhead]

and 2e too!

View attachment 366233

Yuck.


Sorry, I thought that's what we're doing here. ;-)

 

[MNblockhead]

So the game needs to be retitled to Barrows & Beholders?

Can’t wait to play some B&B this weekend on B&B Beyond.

Oh man, I really don't want players who disagree with my interpretations of the rules running to the BBB.

 

[MNblockhead]

It's even better when you rent an Airbnb for you and your friends!

A first class international section of a plan set up for gaming!? Yes please!

In Gary era TSR they bought a castle and had plans to have a gaming train. We need to modernize our gaming dreams.

 

[MNblockhead]

I think having a Beholder front and center on the MM is a far better choice than a dragon. It's one of the most unique monsters in the D&D menagerie, and one that a brand new player isn't likely to have seen before, selling the idea that the MM is chock full of new things.

So folks, which do you like better the beholder on the 2014 MM or the beholder on this one? I'm surprised how many people don't like the 2014 MM cover. I loved it. I really like the beholder on this cover. But the 2014 cover is my favorite MM cover of any edition and my second favorite beholder art. The best beholder art remains:

I'm only half joking. What I DO like about this image is that it captures the outer-realms weirdness and sense of insanity that I think of when I think of a beholder. Beholders, for me, are much more than another toothsome boss fight. They are lunatic dreams made manifest. Not just another nightmare.

...I do, however, often wonder whatever happened to the sexy beholders? What happened to those dreams?

 

[Remathilis]

They were pegusi (and the dragon), actually.

A horse is a horse, of course, of course.

 

[Parmandur]

So folks, which do you like better the beholder on the 2014 MM or the beholder on this one? I'm surprised how many people don't like the 2014 MM cover. I loved it. I really like the beholder on this cover. But the 2014 cover is my favorite MM cover of any edition and my second favorite beholder art. The best beholder art remains:

View attachment 366348
I'm only half joking. What I DO like about this image is that it captures the outer-realms weirdness and sense of insanity that I think of when I think of a beholder. Beholders, for me, are much more than another toothsome boss fight. They are lunatic dreams made manifest. Not just another nightmare.

...I do, however, often wonder whatever happened to the sexy beholders? What happened to those dreams?

View attachment 366349

I like both Begolders, but I think this overall composition says "thus is the book full of Monsters' more than the 2014 painting.

 

[Warpiglet-7]

So folks, which do you like better the beholder on the 2014 MM or the beholder on this one? I'm surprised how many people don't like the 2014 MM cover. I loved it. I really like the beholder on this cover. But the 2014 cover is my favorite MM cover of any edition and my second favorite beholder art. The best beholder art remains:

View attachment 366348
I'm only half joking. What I DO like about this image is that it captures the outer-realms weirdness and sense of insanity that I think of when I think of a beholder. Beholders, for me, are much more than another toothsome boss fight. They are lunatic dreams made manifest. Not just another nightmare.

...I do, however, often wonder whatever happened to the sexy beholders? What happened to those dreams?

View attachment 366349

I thought the 2014 MM cover was good. The dwarf warrior and beholder conveyed D&D to me…