Check out D&D's redesign of Bahamut

Bahamut is sporting a new look in several Dungeons & Dragons-related material. Earlier this month, Wizards of the Coast released Arcana Unleashed, a magic-themed rulebook that included a chapter on magical patrons. One example given as a patron was Bahamut, who received a nifty piece of new artwork. While Bahamut has traditionally been depicted as a massive metallic dragon, this new version depicts Bahamut as having an overwhelming magical aura that radiates from his body.

Earlier this month, Polygon previewed several variant covers to the upcoming Dungeons & Dragons comic series, which included another new look at Bahamut, as illustrated by Antonio José Manzanedo. This shows off Bahamut's magical aura wings and aura, along with a scale of how large the dragon god is compared to its gold dragon servants, which look miniscule by comparison.

The upcoming Dungeons & Dragons comic will feature a statblock of Bahamut, which will likely be one of the more powerful creature statblocks ever created for D&D 5.5E. Several other iconic dragon statblocks will also be featured as extra content in the comic.

 

[Skywalker]

Fizban's been working out.

 

[EzekielRaiden]

Both images are nice! But I really like the second, Manzanedo's work.

I'd say I like them both for different reasons. The second image really captures the scale of a whole god, someone for whom entire worlds are merely one component of their long-term plans.

The first image, however, feels more expressive. It feels like we're getting to see that god just doing his thing, rather than having to be all BLOOD AND THUNDER like the second image is. With just the second, we'd have only the wrath of Bahamut, but he's a lot more than just getting angry at bad things.

I still mostly dislike the dragon reworks in 5.5e, but this is a solid interpretation of Bahamut.

 

[Tonguez]

Okay I do like the first image - especially the canaries.
but Bahamut has gotten really thin and I'd have preferred some kind of radiance to the clingy cloud aura.
and yeah, those gold dragons look tiny

 

[EzekielRaiden]

Okay I do like the first image - especially the canaries.
but Bahamut has gotten really thin and I'd have preferred some kind of radiance to the clingy cloud aura.
and yeah, those gold dragons look tiny

Dragons-in-general are quite thin in 5.5e, other than the silver, which is WAY too chonky in a lot of images. They seem to be going for a "graceful power" angle rather than a "refined savagery" angle.

 

[W'rkncacnter]

yeah ok i don't like most 5.5 art but this goes pretty hard.

 

[QuentinGeorge]

Cool picture, better than the old one.

View attachment 448844

Tas looks like he is cooling his fingers off since he touched him and he is so hot.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Ozempic Dragon

 

[ngenius]

The art looks epic, and captures the power you expect of a legendary god-level dragon.

 

[Corinnguard]

I still mostly dislike the dragon reworks in 5.5e, but this is a solid interpretation of Bahamut.

Agreed. Why mess with draconic perfection?

 

[Teemu]

This looks a lot like the 4e mithral dragon with the energy wings. I think it looks appropriately magical and otherworldly.