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 can't begin to tell you how much I dislike this new artwork for the Maralith. Not because it's a bad drawing, it's really well done, but rather because it's just not what the Maralith is.

I don't agree, but it is just my opinion. I still prefer the more classical depiction as well, but I think the 5e24 version is a fine representation of a marilith. Personally, I would like something in-between the two I think. Something a bit more monstrous and wretched looking than the standard, but not so much rock creature looking.

This whole discussion as been creating an image in my head that I want to explore more. I am thinking something like the OG Clash of the Titans Medusa, but with six arms, and probably 6 breasts, but more ophidian even and definitely with the hand walk and dripping greasy/slimy hair. I am think a skin texture more like this 4e medusa art:

 

[beta-ray]

Would. Next.
...wait, what's this thread about again?

 

[Reynard]

Is WOTC afraid of women?

Probably not.

The marilith looks terrible and unfeminine

oh no!

, the dryad is a man now

nope

. We must have male Medusa just because…

because species need 2 genders to reproduce, maybe?

Why not be super conservative Wizards and just remove the female gender from every design and exclusively feature male characters or sexless characters if male characters feel out of place?

are you okay?

This is just groan inducing.

you're telling me

Don’t you think part of both the appeal and the repellent nature of the marilith is that she is female?

that's an interesting idea

Any adventurer who underestimates her because of her charms is toast.

correction: was interesting

Her wanton warmongering, utter callousness towards the suffering of others and inability to work with other stands in direct opposition to common feminine traits of empathy, compassion, cooperation and nurturing.

oh jeez

I am not saying that these traits are exclusively feminine but seeing a very feminine looking monster acting in a completely opposite way of your mother, wife, sister, etc. is a perfect example of a demonic trope.

potentially interesting again

Familiar concepts turned on their head. Too bad WOTC has to remake mariliths into bland, just like everyone else demons that blend into the crowd and offer no distinction from each other.

The statblock is and always has been the distinction, because everything else is and always has been up to the whim of the GM.

 

[dave2008]

Is WOTC afraid of women? The marilith looks terrible and unfeminine, the dryad is a man now. We must have male Medusa just because… Why not be super conservative Wizards and just remove the female gender from every design and exclusively feature male characters or sexless characters if male characters feel out of place?
This is just groan inducing. Don’t you think part of both the appeal and the repellent nature of the marilith is that she is female? Any adventurer who underestimates her because of her charms is toast. Her wanton warmongering, utter callousness towards the suffering of others and inability to work with other stands in direct opposition to common feminine traits of empathy, compassion, cooperation and nurturing. I am not saying that these traits are exclusively feminine but seeing a very feminine looking monster acting in a completely opposite way of your mother, wife, sister, etc. is a perfect example of a demonic trope. Familiar concepts turned on their head. Too bad WOTC has to remake mariliths into bland, just like everyone else demons that blend into the crowd and offer no distinction from each other.

Don't be ridiculous. I quick trip through the MM will let you know that: no. they are not afraid of, what I assume you mean, sexy women:

 

[Chaltab]

Don't be ridiculous. I quick trip through the MM will let you know that: no. they are not afraid of, what I assume you mean, sexy women:





View attachment 397909

That's disgusting that woman has hairy legs! WOTC clearly doesn't want women to be feminine and not have body hair like normal women! (Sarcasm if that wasn't obvious)

Probably not.

oh no!

nope

You know I saw it but I didn't want to feed the trolls.

 

[Micah Sweet]

The first thing on my mental recognition list for Marilith is "Looks like Kali."
Then the second thing is "Has a snake tail", but that only kicks in after the first thing.

Unrelated, here's the Marilith art from Pools of Darkness!
View attachment 397896

Maybe they changed the marilith because it looked like Kali. I mean, they cut all the real world pantheons.

 

[Scribe]

Maybe they changed the marilith because it looked like Kali. I mean, they cut all the real world pantheons.

 

[Charlaquin]

It's not universal but a common part of a Tiefling's lore is that one of your ancestors DID, so demons and devils being F-able is at least somewhat important lore wise.

The secret is, everything is F-able to someone.

 

[Charlaquin]

Is WOTC afraid of women?

No

The marilith looks terrible and unfeminine,

Presupposing that being feminine is a good thing for a multi-armed snake monster?

the dryad is a man now.

They come in male and female, and both are featured in the art.

We must have male Medusa just because…

We have male and female everything, because why not

Why not be super conservative Wizards and just remove the female gender from every design and exclusively feature male characters or sexless characters if male characters feel out of place?

Cause that would suck

Don’t you think part of both the appeal and the repellent nature of the marilith is that she is female?

Lmao now who's afraid of women?

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

Maybe they changed the marilith because it looked like Kali. I mean, they cut all the real world pantheons.

Eh, I don’t think that’s the reason. If it was, no one told the artist that made the new Nalfeshnee art, which is is definitely Kali-coded.