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]

I know, and the trend that its part of.

What is the trend here though?

 

[Scribe]

This stance makes me said, I am glad WotC doesn't share it. I want as much new and different art and ideas as possible.

Cool.

Look, I hated 2e planescape art, it actively turned me away from the game.

OK, so you absolutely get it.

I mean what would Darksun and Planescape be if TSR thought that way?

When I get my Darksun-esque, Sword and Sorcery, Conan, Frazetta art style from Wizards of the Coast D&D, I'll let you know.

 

[Voadam]

Your comment made me question my memory so I had to check. The 2014 image had the same "caterpillar" approach to torso / arms, just less monstrous. So do the 1e, 2e, 3e, and 4e versions. None of the D&D versions have the arms coming from the same shoulder as many vintage images of Kali do.

1e:
View attachment 397735
2e:
View attachment 397736
View attachment 397737
3e:
View attachment 397738
View attachment 397742
4e:
View attachment 397741
5: (se OP)

Kali:
View attachment 397734

The 1e DCS Type V demon, the Baxa 2e marilith, and the 4e marilith are the right mix of physical appearance and appearance of competent six swordsmanship for me for a marilith. The Hordes of the Abyss one is decent too.

Diterlizzi's 2e one is interesting but does not give off swordmistress demon general vibes to me, particularly with the arms. His Planescape stuff is all very fairyland evocative to me, even when doing Blood War fiends of destruction and sometimes that vibe is a weird juxtaposition for things like a marilith hate machine.

Not a fan of the monstrous 24 5e or 3.5 ones. Just not aesthetically pleasing for me for the marilith demon. They might be fine for non-marilith monstrous demons but they are enough off of my D&D marilith concept to get a negative reaction from me. Also the 14 5e one is just sort of blah for me with the arms being a bit off.

 

[dave2008]

When I get my Darksun-esque, Sword and Sorcery, Conan, Frazetta art style from Wizards of the Coast D&D, I'll let you know.

Other than darksun I am not sure what you mean the bold part. What part of that artist or art style are looking for? The only thing I can think of the 5e doesn't provide is as much of the scantily clad warrior look. But the general styles are available in 5e.

 

[dave2008]

OK, so you absolutely get it.

I do get it, but I still don't see the trend you see. Can you clarify what the trend is that needs to be halted or reversed?

Also, the difference vs planescape is the 5e art has many different artist and styles. It is not dominated by one style. So, for me, it is easy to tolerate a piece I don't like, specifically because it is not an all encompassing trend.

Heck, they have even said the new dragon book will feature 10 different art styles!

 

[GreatestHonor]

I like both of these depictions personally. I think that chaotic entities like demons should have a variety in their form, even if they have the same general appearance

 

[dave2008]

I like both of these depictions personally. I think that chaotic entities like demons should have a variety in their form, even if they have the same general appearance

I feel the same way. I can understand not liking one or the other, can I don't really understand the strong pull to conformity by some.

 

[Alzrius]

Of all fiends, demons should have the most diversity in appearance, given that they’re the embodiment of chaos.

Out of curiosity, is there anything in the 5E materials (either 2014 or 2024) to suggest that this is the case? That is, does the text give any indication that chaotic creatures (or at least, chaotic planar creatures) have greater diversity of form than other beings?

 

[Zardnaar]

Looks meh to me. I'll use the old one. Could be useful for a variant though. Same with Aboleth.

 

[Scribe]

What part of that artist or art style are looking for?

Less bright, less twee, less 'clean', more flesh and blood, more muscle, more grit, more dirt, and for the love of Asmodeus, less change from what is a decades old standard. Darker. More like BG3, less like Witchlight.

Can you clarify what the trend is that needs to be halted or reversed?

Pretty much everything post-Tashas, from art, presentation, tone, and style? Revert to 5.0 Release.

Now, granted, I dont believe thats remotely in the cards, but its also why Wizards wont get another dollar from me because just as you didnt like Planescape and it pushed you away? Everything post-Tashas says 'this isnt the game for you anymore.

At least we have Shadowdark.