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​

 

[Corinnguard]

I don't think that's what default means. I agree you should use the one you like, but that doesn't make it the default option.

Well, the default option for me. I don't think there is a default by consensus on what on a particular monster should look like or how a particular piece of lore or rule ought to be working. Thus, everyone has their own favorite pic, lore or game mechanic in the RPG.

 

[Bae'zel]

I find the argument that the presentation of monsters in the Monster Manual is not the baseline default presentation of monsters for D&D an odd argument.

There are some fundamental baseline truths for creatures, sure. But sometimes individual artistic interpretations take some liberties, right? Even within the same edition. I don’t have exhaustive proof, but I’m sure that if you compare Tony DiTerlizzi’s Monster Manual art for AD&D 2e and compare it with art in other books by other artists in the same edition, you’ll see differences.

I could be wrong, but on the other hand, I’m getting a bit bored with this debate.

 

[Corinnguard]

I could be wrong, but on the other hand, I’m getting a bit bored with this debate.

Yeah. Right now we're acting like we standing in front of the picture in some art museum, acting like a bunch of art connoisseurs.

 

[Maxperson]

While I think your logic it fine, it is not relevant to the game. So it is unnecessary to think that way. The game doesn't care what representation of marilith you use, neither should we.

100% I could make it a 3 armed 3 legged granny and the game wouldn't care. That's why house rules and home brew work so well. I'm just talking about the default settings, not where the game should end up.

 

[Maxperson]

So, now whatever is in the Monster Manual is the default? Funny how that argument seems to shift whenever it's convenient.

I've never said otherwise. The core rules have always been the default assumptions of the game. They are easily changeable and as @dave2008 point out, the game doesn't care what changes you make. If the players are having a blast, that's really the only thing that matters.

 

[Maxperson]

I don’t equate artistic illustrations with written lore.

Not when the picture is at odds with the written words. However, when I asked I don't think I was answered. Does the 5.5e marilith say that it is female or even has a female torso? If it does not, then then it is not the default that the marilith is female or has a female torso, which means the default for the marilith has changed.

 

[Maxperson]

Yeah. Right now we're acting like we standing in front of the picture in some art museum, acting like a bunch of art connoisseurs.

Or a bunch of cons. It can be hard to tell the difference.

 

[Corinnguard]

Or a bunch of cons. It can be hard to tell the difference.

Cons= convention goers?

 

[Maxperson]

Cons= convention goers?

Cons = shysters
Cons = convention goers
Cons = connoisseurs
Cons = Kirk haters
Cons = Stats representing health
Cons = ex-criminals
Cons = spells requiring concentration

It's a very versatile word.

 

[TiQuinn]

If it does not, then then it is not the default that the marilith is female or has a female torso, which means the default for the marilith has changed.

My answer to that…

And no, I don’t think language to describe rules replacement from edition to edition carries over to the art.