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​

 

[TiQuinn]

So if there was a balor named Jeff that killed Balor then all demons of that type would be called jeffs?

 

[Micah Sweet]

All 320 images?

Whatever art one is commenting upon.

 

[dave2008]

You know the absurdity of this statement. The 5.5 version is nothing like what came before. You know this.

It is different, but I wouldn't say nothing like. Snake body, check; humanoid torso, check; six arms & weapons, check; one head, check; female human upper body, X. To my eye it is much more like it than distinct. If I put the original marilith, next a human woman, next to the 2024 marilith I would definitely group the mariliths together before I group either with a human woman.

Also, the OG 3e image is pretty monstrous too:

Other than having breast it is pretty similar to the 2024 version IMO

 

[dave2008]

"Present as"

Personally it still presents a bit female to me, just less obviously female human.

 

[Scribe]

It is different, but I wouldn't say nothing like.

Play a game of 'one of these things is not like the other' you can even add the Sesame Street tune to it, which do you pick.

 

[dave2008]

Looking at the chest of the one in the 24 marilith art I'd say it is presented as a male one.

IDK, the face looks slightly feminine to me. Breast are a mammalian thing, but not a universal trait of females. More female animals don't have breast vs. ones that do.

 

[dave2008]

Play a game of 'one of these things is not like the other' you can even add the Sesame Street tune to it, which do you pick.

The human woman, every time even with my eyes closed. Which would you pick?

EDIT: are you talking about comparing all mariliths across D&D? That would make more sense. I thought your were replying to my line up in the post you quoted.

 

[Bohandas]

because species need 2 genders to reproduce, maybe?

Whiptail lizards don't

Teiidae - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Maxperson]

Wait, so one of these guys is a male medusa?!

Shtoopid phone! Autocorrect for the lose!

 

[dave2008]

Play a game of 'one of these things is not like the other' you can even add the Sesame Street tune to it, which do you p

Assuming you mean the mariliths across editions that I posted here (post #8). It depends on some assumptions because some of the art is better / better image than others. Naturally the 5e24 stands out because of no breast. Then the 3e MM version stands out because it, like 5e24 is more monstrous and appears to have scaly skin all over. After that it is a bit jumbled. I would put the 4e marilith next as it has scales covering part of the humanoid torso which sets it apart for me. Then 3.5 (HotA) one appear to have some scales on the torso and a long serpentine nexk, so maybe that one next. It also has vertical arm spacing very similar to 5e24. The 1e and standard 2e are the ones that are the most similar and the only ones to my eye that represent the same type of marilith. Not sure were to put the 2e planescape one, it could fall anywhere really IMO.