2025 Monster Manual to Introduce Male Versions of Hags, Medusas, and Dryads

The upcoming Monster Manual will feature artwork depicting some creatures like hags and medusas in both genders, a first for Dungeons & Dragons. In the "Everything You Need to Know" video for the upcoming Monster Manual, designers Jeremy Crawford and Wesley Schneider revealed that the new book would feature artwork portraying both male and female versions of creatures like hags, dryads, satyrs, and medusas. While there was a male medusa named Marlos Urnrayle in Princes of the Apocalypse (who had a portrait in the book) and players could make satyr PCs of either gender, this marks the first time that D&D has explicitly shown off several of these creatures as being of both male and female within a rulebook. There is no mechanical difference between male creatures and female creatures, so this is solely a change in how some monsters are presented.

In other news that actually does impact D&D mechanics, goblins are now classified as fey creatures (similar to how hobgoblins were portrayed as fey creatures in Monsters of the Multiverse) and gnolls are now classified as fiends.

Additionally, monster statblocks include potential treasure and gear options, so that DMs can reward loot when a player character inevitably searches the dead body of a creature.

The new Monster Manual will be released on February 18th, 2025.

 

[dave2008]

Indeed. And it's something I've always have a problem with.

View attachment 391586
Is this mechanical bull a cool creature? Yes, indeed.

Is there a reason to call it a gorgon? Sure, it adhere to an obscure early 17th century source, but it's totally different of what people imagine gorgons to be with their current knowledge of classical culture. If you say "in the room, a gorgon attacks you" nobody will picture a four-legged, metallic bull. Using the gorgon name in is case is silly.

It's tantamount to calling a terrifying, fire immune monster a gazebo. It might lead to misunderstanding.

Actually I would argue most people know what a medusa is than that in mythology Medusa was a gorgon.

Personally I am happy that D&D is its own weird thing and not just a mockery of Greek mythology (and I really like Greek mythology).

 

[dave2008]

I previously preferred "coot," but "geezer" is a lot of fun.

I do think the whole category has gotten more and more problematic as time has gone on. Maybe there's some better monster name for the category that doesn't rely on ageism.

Its funny, I've never had an issue with separating a fictional monster name from IRL usage of the term. I'm not saying that it is not an issue, but it just never bothered me.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

Actually I would argue most people know what a medusa is than that in mythology Medusa was a gorgon.

Personally I am happy that D&D is its own weird thing and not just a mockery of Greek mythology (and I really like Greek mythology).

What I found confusing when I first got into D&D is how it did certain monsters fairly accurately (Cyclopes, Centaurs, Satyrs), others took the name of an individual and applied it to the whole species (Minotaurs, Medusa), and others just stole the name and made a completely different creatures (Lamia, Gorgons). Learning that it was taken from a different source explains why it ended up this way, but part of me still wishes that Lamias, Medusae, and Gorgons were called something else.

 

[Jfdlsjfd]

Actually I would argue most people know what a medusa is than that in mythology Medusa was a gorgon.

Mythology is one of the topic of intense interest for children, along with dinosaurs, ancient Egypt and learning pokemon cards by rote. Plus, it's the topic of many introductory text in Latin/Greek classes in middle school and up (the historical authors are too complicated to be studied before the end of high school, so the texts are constructed in the manual, and it makes for fun short stories). While I am sure many/most people forget their declensions right after ending high school, the imagery stays longer. And basically everyone knows Medusa, Euryale and Stheno as being sisters.

 

[dave2008]

Mythology is one of the topic of intense interest for children, along with dinosaurs, ancient Egypt and learning pokemon cards by rote. Plus, it's the topic of many introductory text in Latin/Greek classes in middle school and up (the historical authors are too complicated to be studied before the end of high school, so the texts are constructed in the manual, and it makes for fun short stories). While I am sure many/most people forget their declensions right after ending high school, the imagery stays longer. And basically everyone knows Medusa, Euryale and Stheno as being sisters.

I have always loved mythology and invested time in it, but it was not particularly popular, well know, or studied when I was in school (of course that 32+ years ago). However, I am 100% sure you are wrong about "basically everyone" knowing medusa had sisters, let alone there names were Euryale and Stheno (or that they had gold bird bodies with razor sharp feathers).

People who like something tend to think others like and are knowledgeable about it too. You see the same issue with sports fans. Your knowledge and love is not as universal as you think.

 

[Jfdlsjfd]

It's studied in school. I distinctly remember a teacher sighing at us in last year of high school for not remembering Stheno's name (everyone got Medusa, most Euryale and there was less hands raised after that). Sure classical studies are no longer a mandatory topic after the introduction courses in middle school, but I'd say it's much better remembered than you think, at least in 30yo+ people.

Educational systems may vary with country, though, so maybe in places where classical studies isn't part of the core curriculum it's less widely known.

 

[Azzy]

I am always angered by "Medusas."

It used to bother me when I was a kid because I read a lot of Greek mythology before I got into D&D, but I've just come to except it.

That is like "Draculas".

I'm reminded of Puscifer's "Conditons of My Parole":

"Shoulda dumped my gat into the Verde
But what if she's a zombie or a Dracula?
I better hang on to this"

The song is definitely not Eric's Grandma-friendly, so I won't link it.

 

[Peter BOSCO'S]

Something tells me that WotC is allergic to making playable dog races for whatever reason.

Traveller called "dibs" first. They're the Vargr.

 

[dave2008]

It's studied in school. I distinctly remember a teacher sighing at us in last year of high school for not remembering Stheno's name (everyone got Medusa, most Euryale and there was less hands raised after that). Sure classical studies are no longer a mandatory topic after the introduction courses in middle school, but I'd say it's much better remembered than you think, at least in 30yo+ people.

Educational systems may vary with country, though, so maybe in places where classical studies isn't part of the core curriculum it's less widely known.

I think your taking your experience in school and assuming it is common. It is not. I have lived with a HS teacher for most of my adult life and have an inordinate amount of friends that are teachers (middle, high, and college) from all over the USA. Mythology is not generally a required subject. If it is offered at all, it is usually elective. That means a good portion of the USA public is simple not introduced to the actual myths. That is why most people think Medusa had a snake body (and had no sisters).

 

[Jfdlsjfd]

A snake body ? Honestly I have never heard this one. Where does it come from?

Edit: maybe they mix with Echidna (I'd say she is even more obscure than Medusa's sisters, so it's quite unlikely?