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​

 

[Maxperson]

I am now quite curious about the origin of marilith tacticians. Anyone happen to know if they were mentioned in the 1E Manual of the Planes to any significant extent? I wouldn't be surprised if it started in some one-off adventure or video game.

I looked and the Abyss portion of the 1e Manual of the Planes focuses on layers, demon lords and deities. I didn't see anything on Mariliths.

 

[Incenjucar]

I looked and the Abyss portion of the 1e Manual of the Planes focuses on layers, demon lords and deities. I didn't see anything on Mariliths.

Thanks for checking! Curiouser and curiouser.

 

[Maxperson]

Thanks for checking! Curiouser and curiouser.

I'm thinking 2e put it in the MM write-up knowing Planescape was coming, and that was the origin of them as generals and tacticians.

 

[Incenjucar]

I'm thinking 2e put it in the MM write-up knowing Planescape was coming, and that was the origin of them as generals and tacticians.

Could be. I know the design was already popular. 1987's obscure indie game Final Fantasy included one as a major boss, so there was time for people to expand on it, but my time in D&D started with 2E and I haven't gone too far back into history.

 

[Voadam]

I am now quite curious about the origin of marilith tacticians. Anyone happen to know if they were mentioned in the 1E Manual of the Planes to any significant extent? I wouldn't be surprised if it started in some one-off adventure or video game.

I think it is with the 2e Blood War development.

From the 2e Pre-Planescape Outer Planes Monstrous Compendium appendix:

Bold and cunning, mariliths are the generals and tacticians for the
Blood War. Where the balors are the influence and energy behind
the war effort, the mariliths are the brains and tactics.
Terrible to behold, these creatures appear as half snake, half
humanoid. From the waist down, these creatures have the bodies
of giant snakes, with huge, green, scaly coils. From the waist up,
they are beautiful, comely females. Besides the obvious snake
body, the feature that gives away the true nature of this tanar'ri is
her six arms. They are commonly adorned with precious jewelry
and highly decorated weapons—they most often carry a different
weapon in each of their six hands.

. . .

Habitat/Society: As noted, mariliths are the strategists of the
Blood War. They are in charge of devising all tactics to be used
during the battles and coordinate the activities of all true tanar'ri
(save the mighty balors, of course). Due to the chaotic nature of
the non-true tanar'ri, it is not really possible to coordinate their
activities, but the mariliths are charged with it nevertheless.
These stunningly powerful creatures have a hatred for the glabrezu.
They feel that the subtle warfare of the glabrezu is a childrens'
game and inferior to proper warfare. A marilith will
attempt to discredit the workings of the glabrezu any chance they
get. They would completely destroy the subtle beasts, but the allpowerful
balors favor the glabrezus' tactics and would have them
continue their ways.

Ecology: Mariliths are true tanar'ri, which makes them a part of
the driving force behind the Blood War. Moreover, they are the
coordinators and generals of the war efforts. Mariliths feel that
they are the true force behind the war. Secretly, they feel that the
balors have their place only because of their great power but are
not absolutely necessary. They may be right in their belief, but
the power of the balors remains unchallenged.

I just did a search of the 1e Manual of the Planes and did not get any hits for "type V" or the individual type V "Marilith". This was a pre blood war product.

 

[Maxperson]

I just did a search of the 1e Manual of the Planes and did not get any hits for "type V" or the individual type V "Marilith". This was a pre blood war product.

Yeah. I think if it would be anywhere in 1e, it would have to be in a Dragon Magazine somewhere.

 

[Voadam]

I'm thinking 2e put it in the MM write-up knowing Planescape was coming, and that was the origin of them as generals and tacticians.

The outer planes appendix and the Blood War and roles in the Blood War was 1991.

The 2e hardcover Monstrous Manual was 1993.

The first volume of the 2e Monstrous Compendium was 1989 but did not have marilith.

 

[Maxperson]

The outer planes appendix and the Blood War and roles in the Blood War was 1991.

The 2e hardcover Monstrous Manual was 1993.

The first volume of the 2e Monstrous Compendium was 1989 but did not have marilith.

And Planescape was 1994, so it still could have been a Planescape set-up. Just starting at the appendix up there.

 

[Alzrius]

I think it’s in the eyelids. They’re purple, and form an upturned teardrop shape, which creates the illusion of eye shadow - a common feminine gender signifier.

Boobs are another common gender signifier, though.

I think it is with the 2e Blood War development.

From the 2e Pre-Planescape Outer Planes Monstrous Compendium appendix:

Bold and cunning, mariliths are the generals and tacticians for the
Blood War. Where the balors are the influence and energy behind
the war effort, the mariliths are the brains and tactics.
Terrible to behold, these creatures appear as half snake, half
humanoid. From the waist down, these creatures have the bodies
of giant snakes, with huge, green, scaly coils. From the waist up,
they are beautiful, comely females. Besides the obvious snake
body, the feature that gives away the true nature of this tanar'ri is
her six arms. They are commonly adorned with precious jewelry
and highly decorated weapons—they most often carry a different
weapon in each of their six hands.

. . .

Habitat/Society: As noted, mariliths are the strategists of the
Blood War. They are in charge of devising all tactics to be used
during the battles and coordinate the activities of all true tanar'ri
(save the mighty balors, of course). Due to the chaotic nature of
the non-true tanar'ri, it is not really possible to coordinate their
activities, but the mariliths are charged with it nevertheless.
These stunningly powerful creatures have a hatred for the glabrezu.
They feel that the subtle warfare of the glabrezu is a childrens'
game and inferior to proper warfare. A marilith will
attempt to discredit the workings of the glabrezu any chance they
get. They would completely destroy the subtle beasts, but the allpowerful
balors favor the glabrezus' tactics and would have them
continue their ways.

Ecology: Mariliths are true tanar'ri, which makes them a part of
the driving force behind the Blood War. Moreover, they are the
coordinators and generals of the war efforts. Mariliths feel that
they are the true force behind the war. Secretly, they feel that the
balors have their place only because of their great power but are
not absolutely necessary. They may be right in their belief, but
the power of the balors remains unchallenged.

I just did a search of the 1e Manual of the Planes and did not get any hits for "type V" or the individual type V "Marilith". This was a pre blood war product.

As long as we're looking at material from earlier editions, don't forget the section on mariliths (presented "in-character" by Xanxost) from Faces of Evil: the Fiends, pages 46-47:

"The mariliths, six-armed wonders and mind-dancers to the highest degree, are like gems in the heart of the Abyss. Yes, they are evil, but they are deep thinkers and great tacticians. Slaadi and mariliths both prove that chaotic beings do not have to be stupid beings. Oho! The mariliths have mastered the inner rages of the tanar'ri (or at least pushed those feelings down). They can anticipate the patterns of law, even though they do not really understand them. The mariliths shape the strategy of the Blood War; they make the plans that confound the baatezu, the cursed lawful baatezu, the hated-"

 

[Hussar]

I go the opposite way. These are creatures of the afterlife. The afterlife of mortals, many of whom go on to become part of these creatures and/or develop into them. Sex in my opinion should be a part of their design.

Wait, what?

If you go to the Abyss as a soul, you are turned into a Larva. You REALLY have no sexual characteristics at that point. It's not like demons breed.