So Much Art From the 2025 Monster Manual

Here's some preview art from the 2025 Monster Manual, courtesy of Wizards of the Coast's "Everything You Need to Know Video" on the new book.

A classic Faceless Stalker:
Screenshot 2025-01-07 at 12.06.33 PM.png


A demon of some kind:
Screenshot 2025-01-07 at 12.58.05 PM.png

Arch-Hags:
Screenshot 2025-01-07 at 12.56.33 PM.png


Some kobolds:
Screenshot 2025-01-07 at 12.56.03 PM.png


A Nalfeshnee, perhaps?
Screenshot 2025-01-07 at 12.53.11 PM.png


A revenant:
Screenshot 2025-01-07 at 12.32.41 PM.png


Blue dracolich:
Screenshot 2025-01-07 at 12.32.52 PM.png


Death Knight:
Screenshot 2025-01-07 at 12.32.15 PM.png


Death tyrant:
Screenshot 2025-01-07 at 12.26.32 PM.png


Chimera:
Screenshot 2025-01-07 at 12.26.18 PM.png


Githyanki (with the central warrior recreating a classic pose):
Screenshot 2025-01-07 at 12.23.57 PM.png


A mummy lord:
Screenshot 2025-01-07 at 12.16.44 PM.png


A marrow:
Screenshot 2025-01-07 at 12.19.01 PM.png


A balrog balor:
Screenshot 2025-01-07 at 12.20.16 PM.png


Mimics:
Screenshot 2025-01-07 at 12.20.37 PM.png


While I'm tempted to say a tressym, this actually might be a new sphinx design:
Screenshot 2025-01-07 at 12.12.12 PM.png


Bone fiend:
Screenshot 2025-01-07 at 12.12.01 PM.png


Sladd:
Screenshot 2025-01-07 at 12.10.40 PM.png


Rust monster:
Screenshot 2025-01-07 at 12.10.05 PM.png


Platinum(?) dragon:
Screenshot 2025-01-07 at 12.09.23 PM.png


Bronze dragon:
Screenshot 2025-01-07 at 12.09.04 PM.png


Hezrou, perhaps?
Screenshot 2025-01-07 at 12.08.45 PM.png


Fire giant, not Karlach:
Screenshot 2025-01-07 at 12.08.20 PM.png


Cloud giants:
Screenshot 2025-01-07 at 12.08.01 PM.png


Zombies:
Screenshot 2025-01-07 at 12.07.38 PM.png


Red dragon:
Screenshot 2025-01-07 at 12.07.17 PM.png


Hags (including a male hag):
Screenshot 2025-01-07 at 1.02.03 PM.png


Dryads (including a male dryad):
Screenshot 2025-01-07 at 1.01.42 PM.png


Horned devil:
Screenshot 2025-01-07 at 1.01.12 PM.png


Incubus and succubus:
Screenshot_20250107_105628_YouTube.jpg


Vampires:
Screenshot_20250107_110938_YouTube.jpg



Screenshot_20250107_104643_YouTube.jpg


Vampire:
Screenshot_20250107_102725_YouTube.jpg


Colossus:
Screenshot_20250107_104308_YouTube.jpg


Spirit naga:
Screenshot_20250107_105827_YouTube.jpg


Copper dragon:
1736276942551.png


White dragon:
1736277033498.png


Blue dragon:
1736277142191.png


Gold dragon:
1736277161607.png


Black dragon:
1736277225814.png
 

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Christian Hoffer

Christian Hoffer

Ironically it sounds like there is a lot more art out there that I find enjoyable than maybe you do. I feel so fortunate there are so many awesome pieces out there I can draw upon for inspiration. I mean to boil down Frazetta to "no clothes, no like" is, wow, what do you even say to that. Good thing wotc came in and saved fantasy art for you.
Lol. So the fact that I didn't list all the D&D art(ists) I love means you like art more than me? I was trying to provide my perspective on the artists you said you liked and show preferences weren't objective. I started playing in 5e, so I don't really have specific artists I prefer as artists are commissioned for specific pieces and not whole books, but here are some examples of 5e art I love. I'm sure you will have differing opinions.
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If I didn't count Theros art as M:tG instead of D&D art, I absolutely would have included several pieces from that book
 

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Lol. So the fact that I didn't list all the D&D art(ists) I love means you like art more than me? I was trying to provide my perspective on the artists you said you liked and show preferences weren't objective. I started playing in 5e, so I don't really have specific artists I prefer as artists are commissioned for specific pieces and not whole books, but here are some examples of 5e art I love. I'm sure you will have differing opinions.

If I didn't count Theros art as M:tG instead of D&D art, I absolutely would have included several pieces from that book
That is the depth of your perspective? No clothes bad, male gaze, something also bad, they are like 70 years old, also bad, etc... good grief.

Preferences are personal, and facts of that moment for oneself. In this moment my feelings about the d&d new style art is my current truth, which is that it's not for me and mostly unappealing.

There is much more to the world of "d&d" than the very current, very fad like current trend. And in a few more years this time will pass as well. I've experienced many phases of the hobby. And since you came in now, maybe this seems like hobby eternal to you, but just wait, this will also pass. Heck, it already is...

Like what you like, don't like what you don't but not everyone needs to groove on the same thing. How boring if it was all like mind all the time. For me the new art is mostly a bummer, tons of other "fantasy" art new and old isn't. This current style and it is a style is for the most part not working for me. I know I'm not alone, but even if I was the only one who didn't like it, I'd still not like it. ;)
 

. I'm open to new art, love to finding it actually, being inspired is awesome, but this art isn't it for me.


Really? Open to new art? When all of your listed artists haven’t done DnD art in thirty years or so? Lockwood I suppose is a bit newer at about twenty years.

There have been thousands and thousands of DnD images published since 2003. Yet none of the artists register for you?

Yeah. I’m more than willing to stand up lots of 4e and 5e artists against anyone earlier.

Unlike you, I’m capable of loving older artists like Otis and Trampier while ALSO being able to appreciate newer ones too.
 

Really? Open to new art? When all of your listed artists haven’t done DnD art in thirty years or so? Lockwood I suppose is a bit newer at about twenty years.

There have been thousands and thousands of DnD images published since 2003. Yet none of the artists register for you?

Yeah. I’m more than willing to stand up lots of 4e and 5e artists against anyone earlier.

Unlike you, I’m capable of loving older artists like Otis and Trampier while ALSO being able to appreciate newer ones too.
Really hung up on the fact I listed artists that have done amazing work and inspired so many. I literally said I am open to any and all art that I enjoy, there is no timestamp on it. I never said anything about rejecting any art based on when it was made. Sounds like that is more your kinda thing, where did 2003 come from any way, d&d 3.5e launch or something?

You seem to be making arguments that are into the wind. I'm not whatever persona you seemed to be ready to engage. Good luck finding that person, but they are not me. I think the current wotc 2024 d&d art direction is mostly lame and not inspiring to me. That's it, that's the range, and in a few years it will be "old" too and then what? This, art is old equals bad thing is so foreign to me. I guess no more trips to the art institute museum for me, you know all the "old stuff, heck those guys have been dead for centuries, every 100 years they suck more, am I doing this right?

You can stand up any art you like, vs any art I like, doesn't matter to me. I will continue to like and be inspired by any and all I art I choose regardless of which time period, or game it is attached to.
 


No, just because you don't like something doesn't make it bad. Also, remember you looking at screen captures from a video, not that actual art.
Most of what I've seen so far is not looking cool to me, I'm not enjoying the style. I've seen very few pieces from any of the new wotc books that I've found inspiring, so for me it's pretty bad. There is a definite art direction obviously happening and it does not appeal to me.
 



Thank goodness I don't feel that kind of social corporate loyalty to wotc or Hasbro.
Mod Note:

People’s sense of aesthetics is personal and subjective.

Blanket accusations of simping for corporations as the reason someone espouses a particular aesthetic preference is simply rude.

You’re done in this thread.
 

Most of what I've seen so far is not looking cool to me, I'm not enjoying the style. I've seen very few pieces from any of the new wotc books that I've found inspiring, so for me it's pretty bad. There is a definite art direction obviously happening and it does not appeal to me.
The new art has so many different styles and themes I can't really take that viewpoint seriously. Everyone is different I guess. I will agree to disagree and move on.
 

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