D&D (2024) D&D Marilith Is Far More Bestial In 2025

The new 2025 Monster Manual has all-new art, and one major change is the depiction of the marilith. Up until now, the marilith has been depicted as a six-armed humanish female from the waist up; while in the 2025 book, the picture is far more bestial in nature.

Not only is the imagery more demonic, it also features the creature in action, simultaneously beheading, stabbing, and entwining its foes with its six arms and snake-like tail.

Left 2025 Marilith / Right 2014 Marilith​

 

[dave2008]

They seem to have removed the human aspect from a lot of monsters that used to have it. Like, that marilith looks like a giant collection of scab tissue with six arms now, the sphinx has become just a big cat with wings, etc.

While I agree, the manticore still has a monstrously human appearance (I was happy to see that it stayed close to the 2014 design which I liked a lot):

 

[Henadic Theologian]

The new Marilith looks absolutely awful, when I first saw the art, I had no clue it was a Marilith. I which WotC would stop doing stuff like this.

 

[SkidAce]

I don't normally mind re-imaginations, but that rand the full spectrum from like to "whut?" in one fell swoop.

Does the 2025 MM have the flavor of "devils" are more humanish, and "demons" are monstrous? That could be why.

Or the idea that monstrous makes it okay to kill. (I hope thats not the sole reason.)

 

[Bae'zel]

The Marilith miniature that I have (from the Massive Darkness board game) still looks like the previous versions (humanoid woman top). So while I don't mind the art direction, I'm still using that mini (and my previous interpretation). Nothing wrong with this new genderless scary monster version though.

 

[dave2008]

Does the 2025 MM have the flavor of "devils" are more humanish, and "demons" are monstrous? That could be why.

Yes, this is precisely what they are doing (with some exceptions). They talked about this in the fiends video IIRC

 

[Scribe]

Yeah....no.

This is a Marilith.

 

[dave2008]

The new Marilith looks absolutely awful, when I first saw the art, I had no clue it was a Marilith. I which WotC would stop doing stuff like this.

While I am not 100% sold on this new design, I am absolutely in favor of WotC taking a new look at old designs for monsters. Designs that fit the theme are more important to me than slavishly following a "tradition." In fact, we really should be able to accept all kinds of demons designs for the same type. Demons a creatures of chaos and the idea that they all look the same has always been silly. I know I will use all versions posted in this thread in my games.

So, I strongly hope WotC continues to do stuff like this, even if I don't like all of the results.

 

[Scribe]

While I am not 100% sold on this new design, I am absolutely in favor of WotC taking a new look at old designs for monsters. Designs that fit the theme are more important to me than slavishly following a "tradition." In fact, we really should be able to accept all kinds of demons designs for the same type. Demons a creatures of chaos and the idea that they all look the same has always been silly. I know I will use all versions posted in this thread in my games.

So, I strongly hope WotC continues to do stuff like this, even if I don't like all of the results.

Nah. D&D is what it is, because it has history. To ignore or overwrite that, damages the brand more than anything.

Without the tradition, the inertia, the weight of decades? Well, best to not open up what happens when they diverge from those things too much.

 

[dave2008]

Yeah....no.

This is a Marilith.

Already beat you to the punch (sort of), see post #8

However, I am all for adding more variety to marilith design (demons as a whole really). The new one isn't my favorite, but it will lead demonic hordes along with the other types represented in post #8 as well. The more variety the better IMO, these are demons of chaos after all!

 

[SkidAce]

I could move the marilith to the devilish side of the fiend family.