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]

My answer to that…

How is that an answer? I asked what the language says, not whether the language carries over to the art.

 

[TiQuinn]

How is that an answer? I asked what the language says, not whether the language carries over to the art.

I responded to your final point. If you’re looking to an answer for the Monster Manual language, go buy the book or ask someone else. I didn’t buy it.

 

[Maxperson]

I responded to your final point.

I mean, you did that. But responses of, "Rebecca slapped Tommy last night," "Goonygoogoo," and "I like steaks well done" are equally responsive. Though that last one is also a crime that carries a stiff penalty, so it's rarely heard.

Non sequiturs are essentially not a response at all.

If you’re looking to an answer for the Monster Manual language, go buy the book or ask someone else. I didn’t buy it.

That's a fair response! And I did ask someone else.

 

[TiQuinn]

Non sequiturs are essentially not a response at all.

It’s not a non sequitur at all. It’s a refutation of pretty much every point you’ve made in this ridiculously long thread. Like, I’m sorry they changed your spank material, dude.

 

[Maxperson]

It’s not a non sequitur at all. It’s a refutation of pretty much every point you’ve made in this ridiculously long thread.

Me: What does the language say?
You: The art can be different.

That's a non-sequitur as your response has absolutely nothing to do with my last point which has nothing to do with the art.

Like, I’m sorry they changed your spank material, dude.

And that response is one I'd expect from a child. You should be better than that.

 

[Corinnguard]

From the 2025 Monster Manual:

Mariliths are six-armed, serpentlike demons that wield lethal, Abyss-forged blades. With these cursed weapons and experience from countless battles, they lead other demons to slaughter, virtuous souls. They often command droves of weaker demons.
Not much to go by in terms of lore. There is, however, no mention of their gender being male or female in this Monster Manual.

In PF1, Mariliths have this brief description:

This snake-bodied fiend has a six-armed woman’s torso, pointed ears, and glittering, otherworldly eyes.

So, whether they have a particular gender is source dependent.

 

[Maxperson]

From the 2025 Monster Manual:

Mariliths are six-armed, serpentlike demons that wield lethal, Abyss-forged blades. With these cursed weapons and experience from countless battles, they lead other demons to slaughter, virtuous souls. They often command droves of weaker demons.
Not much to go by in terms of lore. There is, however, no mention of their gender being male or female in this Monster Manual.

In PF1, Mariliths have this brief description:

This snake-bodied fiend has a six-armed woman’s torso, pointed ears, and glittering, otherworldly eyes.

So, whether they have a particular gender is source dependent.

Okay. So in 5.5e it is no longer the default that they have the female torso or are female.

 

[TiQuinn]

Me: What does the language say?
You: The art can be different.

That’s because you don’t understand that I don’t have an answer for you about the language and I choose not to engage you upon that point. But you have suggested that the art needs to somehow match the language, and that it is also subject to replacement as “default”?

And frankly, I find you childish as well. Truly thin ice with me, with increasingly little of value to contribute to threads.

 

[Corinnguard]

Okay. So in 5.5e it is no longer the default that they have the female torso or are female.

True, thus it's up to the DM to decide on how they want the Marilith to look during an encounter. They could use what the new Monster Manual says about them, or they could fall back on what a previous edition says about them. As for we players, we can only hope that the DM does a good job of describing how it looks and acts when our characters first encounter one.

 

[Maxperson]

That’s because you don’t understand that I don’t have an answer for you about the language and I choose not to engage you upon that point.

Then say that. Don't give me a non sequitur. I don't need you to engage me or give me an answer if you don't have one or don't want to give one.

But you have suggested that the art needs to somehow match the language, and that it is also subject to replacement as “default”?

Art and language should match or else it creates a contradiction, but I have said straight out that language should take precedence if the art contradicts it. In the case of the 5.5e marilith, though, they do match up.

What I have never said is that the art is the default over the language

And frankly, I find you childish as well. Truly thin ice with me, with increasingly little of value to contribute to threads.

Then don't. Nobody should have to interact with anyone they don't want to. There are many here who do find value in discussions with me, if you don't...