So Much Art From the 2025 Monster Manual

Here's some preview art from the 2025 Monster Manual, courtesy of Wizards of the Coast's "Everything You Need to Know Video" on the new book.

A classic Faceless Stalker:

A demon of some kind:

Arch-Hags:

Some kobolds:

A Nalfeshnee, perhaps?

A revenant:

Blue dracolich:

Death Knight:

Death tyrant:

Chimera:

Githyanki (with the central warrior recreating a classic pose):

A mummy lord:

A marrow:

A balrog balor:

Mimics:

While I'm tempted to say a tressym, this actually might be a new sphinx design:

Bone fiend:

Sladd:

Rust monster:

Platinum(?) dragon:

Bronze dragon:

Hezrou, perhaps?

Fire giant, not Karlach:

Cloud giants:

Zombies:

Red dragon:

Hags (including a male hag):

Dryads (including a male dryad):

Horned devil:

Incubus and succubus:

Vampires:

Vampire:

Colossus:

Spirit naga:

Copper dragon:

White dragon:

Blue dragon:

Gold dragon:

Black dragon:

 

[LordEntrails]

A classic Faceless Stalker:

But it has a face...

 

[Upper_Krust]

We have only seen a few statblocks so far and the balor is not one of them. Personally I hope the balor doesn't have LA and just hits really, really hard in its action!

I think I watched Esper's video on the Balor vs Pit Fiend recently and the Pit Fiend won handily.

 

[dave2008]

That looks like a video game render. I kind of hate it.

I am not as fond of digital renders compared to digital painting either. However, my dislike doesn't climb anywhere close to hate!

 

[dave2008]

I think I watched Esper's video on the Balor vs Pit Fiend recently and the Pit Fiend won handily.

I have no idea what this means. I assume you are talking about the 2014 versions?

 

[Jensaarai]

At least the 5.5e Kobold is better-looking than the PF2 Kobold.

I'll hear no guff about my precious lizard-shark babies

 

[Reynard]

I am not as fond of digital renders compared to digital painting either. However, my dislike doesn't climb anywhere close to hate!

I don't know. it really rubs me the wrong way for print D&D. I think this may finally be my real grognard break point.

 

[ezo]

I'm glad that MM2024 art follows PHB2024, as in, it sucks completely.

Should those undead/demons/devils be scary of just be laughed at?

I'm with you. I know this has been a "love-fest" thread, but you aren't alone.

The art is too washed out for my tastes, and although I get the social-pressure direction the art has to take, I'm not a fan of it. But, I won't be buying any of these books so I won't be looking at it.

I guess the point is the art works for the people who want to use it (the 2024 materials)?

yeah, the death knight was the worst one by far from what I have seen, I hope much of the loss of detail is due to video compression, guess we will know in a month

That is a good point about the washed-out feel I'm seeing here. IRL the colours might be much more dynamic.

 

[Jensaarai]

and although I get the social-pressure direction the art has to take, I'm not a fan of it.

I'm halfway interested what you think the "social pressure" is here.

 

[Horwath]

I'm with you. I know this has been a "love-fest" thread, but you aren't alone.

The art is too washed out for my tastes, and although I get the social-pressure direction the art has to take, I'm not a fan of it. But, I won't be buying any of these books so I won't be looking at it.

I guess the point is the art works for the people who want to use it (the 2024 materials)?


That is a good point about the washed-out feel I'm seeing here. IRL the colours might be much more dynamic.

the visually it's just off for me.
it's too cartoon-ish, to pastel-ish in style, low detail, lazy, like someone got 2 days before printing and said: we need 200 arts for the book to 3 artists.
Now get to work!

like the whole game is marketed towards 9 year old kids.

 

[dave2008]

I don't know. it really rubs me the wrong way for print D&D. I think this may finally be my real grognard break point.

Like I said, not my favorite style, but not anywhere near a breaking point. I can still appreciate the designs even if it is not my favorite method of creating them. A lot of MtG artist seem to use 3d renders to some extent and people go crazy over how good their art is. That is why I imagine it has filtered over to D&D more. They are different products and I would be fine if they approached the art differently