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 don't mind the idea of mariliths having a variety of possible forms, though I do not find this particular one compelling. A 100% gooey generic monster thing is not as interesting as scary monster plus human. The juxtaposition is part of the point.

I don't see this as a useful way to de-sexualize the art. You can just not draw the standard marilith in a sexualized way. Maybe give them a shirt or non-boob armor and not point the eye to the T&A.

That is not what they are doing though. There is plenty of sexualized art still in the MM. They are trying to make the marilith more demonic looking. I applaud the idea, I am just not sold on the execution.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Has the description for the Marilith changed to be more bestial or just the sample guy marilith art?

I seem to remember descriptions staying relatively static in 5.5, even if the actual art changed. I could be wrong.

 

[dave2008]

Not if they used to look one way and now look different. Unless all we care about are people who have no idea what to expect.

Well that is the tougher demographic. So I get wanting to focus on that, though I am not sure if that is their goal or not. If you know what to except, than the 5e24 MM marilith still checks enough boxes to point you in the right direction.

 

[dave2008]

Has the description for the Marilith changed to be more bestial or just the sample guy marilith art?

There is very little lore in the marilith entry, but they do sound more savage.

Marilith​

Demon of Cruelty and Viciousness

Habitat: Planar (Abyss); Treasure: Armaments

Mariliths are six-armed, serpentlike demons that wield lethal, Abyss-forged blades. With these cursed weapons and experience from countless battles, they lead other demons to slaughter virtuous souls. They often command droves of weaker demons.

 

[Incenjucar]

That is not what they are doing though. There is plenty of sexualized art still in the MM. They are trying to make the marilith more demonic looking. I applaud the idea, I am just not sold on the execution.

I'm not sure it really looks more demonic. It looks more like a behir abomination.

Demons frequently are jumbled, chimeric humanoids.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

I could tell it was a Marilith though for sure a departure

 

[I'm A Banana]

It's just not a good design, and not a great piece of art. Cartoony, not very threatening, kind of mindless. Even the weapons read as kind of...bland.

It's OK, and I like that it's shown doing its thing, and I dig the beheading, and being chaotic and hard to read is kind of on brand for a demon, so that's all solid. I try not to make a habit of being a big downer on art 'cuz there's some great D&D art out there that's pretty divisive.

But it gives me big toyetic vibes, for reasons I can't quite pin down, and it's not something I'm into, especially in comparison to the more thoughtful, anticipatory marilith from 2014.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

I don't how someone thinks of Cruxshadows with the Marilith, I wouldn't associate with their song Marilyn My Bitterness.

If there's any song I'd associate more with the Marilith, it would probably be something like "Maha Kali" or "Dark Mother Divine" off of the Reinkaos album from Dissection.

 

[Dire Bare]

I honestly wouldn't know this picture is a Marilith unless explicitly told.

Really? Seems on point.

Six arms, humanoid torso, snaky below the waist. Seems very marilith to me.

 

[MechaTarrasque]

Traditionally the snake woman thing is "hey, she's hot" followed by "ahhh" (and not in a good way). That being said, I am fine with mariliths adopting a more enticing visage when messing with the mortals and being more monstrous when fighting devils. My biggest gripe is that I picture them being very elegant (and sadistic) sword users, and this is too much a bruiser who just chops your head off. CE's should be all about playing with their food.