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:

 

[Shardstone]

This might be the best looking monster manual ever made. I am thoroughly impressed with WotC's decision to go all in on the art here. Finally, this is a book I think will be worth every penny for the art alone.

 

[Riley]

Another shout out to The Monster Overhaul...

Sold. Thanks, Whizbang!

(Actually, you sold me on it a fair while back - but the printed version was out of stock then; it is in stock now!)

 

[Chaltab]

I will say, if I have any complaint it's that I'm not a big fan of the Empyrean art. It feels like a really cosmic MCU take, and I prefer the more subtly divine aspect of the old version.

 

[Reynard]

The more I look at this zombie piece, the more I like it.

View attachment 391478

Ditto these dryads. They give me seriously dangerous fey vibes -- which is the way the fey should feel every time, IMO

Dryads (including a male dryad):
View attachment 391481

 

[dave2008]

While many of these are good, the gold dragon makes it so painfully clear how stumpy and underwhelming the new wings look. I get what they were trying to do with it. It just doesn't look good. It looks silly and weak, not like the literal most impressive subspecies of dragon.

I really love the new (old really) gold dragon; however, I do wish the had gone more retro and gotten rid of the wings all together and just had a frill. The image below is pretty close, just reduce the leading edge about half and it is near perfect for me.

 

[dave2008]

I will say, if I have any complaint it's that I'm not a big fan of the Empyrean art. It feels like a really cosmic MCU take, and I prefer the more subtly divine aspect of the old version.

I agree with that.

 

[Saracenus]

As an aside, I didn't find out until recently that Ursula K. LeGuin lived about a mile or so away from me and I never knew. Man, I wished I did when she was still alive.

Yeah, she was a Portlandler (by way of Berkley, California). When I was pursuing my first degree (History) at Portland State University, way back in the day, I had a class taught by her husband Charles. I also took a Scifi and Fantasy Literature class (just for fun) where one of LeGuin's books was part of the syllabus (Left Hand of Darkness). I never got to meet her personally, unfortunately. The poet William Stafford (an amazingly kind man that I met a couple of times) was from our city and Beverly Cleary (my middle school is now named after her) was from here as well though she moved to California. So we traded Cleary for LeGuin.

 

[dave2008]

Let's just all agree that Tyler Jacobson's art is up there with the best: Easley, Elmore, Otis, Caldway, Parkinson, et. al. AFAIC, he is the face of 5e art.

Personally I think a lot of his work is better than Easley, Elmore, Otis, Caldway, Parkinson, et. al. However, like all artist (those old ones too), not every piece is a masterpiece. I some of his work more than others, just like I did with Elmore, Easley, Caldwell, and Parkinson (I never liked Otis' style).

 

[Jensaarai]

I will say, if I have any complaint it's that I'm not a big fan of the Empyrean art. It feels like a really cosmic MCU take, and I prefer the more subtly divine aspect of the old version.

Don't think I saw the Empyrean posted here; what's the art?

 

[dave2008]

yup.

FYI, that is the same artist that did the cover of the 2024 PHB, DMG, and MM.