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:

A demon of some kind:

Arch-Hags:

Some kobolds:

A Nalfeshnee, perhaps?

A revenant:

Blue dracolich:

Death Knight:

Death tyrant:

Chimera:

Githyanki (with the central warrior recreating a classic pose):

A mummy lord:

A marrow:

A balrog balor:

Mimics:

While I'm tempted to say a tressym, this actually might be a new sphinx design:

Bone fiend:

Sladd:

Rust monster:

Platinum(?) dragon:

Bronze dragon:

Hezrou, perhaps?

Fire giant, not Karlach:

Cloud giants:

Zombies:

Red dragon:

Hags (including a male hag):

Dryads (including a male dryad):

Horned devil:

Incubus and succubus:

Vampires:

Vampire:

Colossus:

Spirit naga:

Copper dragon:

White dragon:

Blue dragon:

Gold dragon:

Black dragon:

 

[Horwath]

I am at loss for words, I guess I have to keep reminding myself: everyone is different, everyone is different.

ah, so true

I guess, can you provide examples of art you like?

don't know,

maybe instead of this kind of cleric:

we could have this kind of cleric:

and yeah, AI generated... who cares... editors can iron out any mistakes.

 

[Jensaarai]

Edgy art's well and fine, but there isn't anything wrong with having a depiction of a more peaceful cleric... Especially when they're a cleric of Lliira Joybringer lol. Gives more range to help inspiration.

 

[dave2008]

ah, so true


don't know,

maybe instead of this kind of cleric:
View attachment 391701

we could have this kind of cleric:

View attachment 391704

and yeah, AI generated... who cares... editors can iron out any mistakes.

Wow, the art you picked looks so plastic to me. Not what I want to see in my D&D art - I've got miniatures for that. Also, the general theme feels unnatural to me, like it is trying to hard to be "edgy." Not to mention the strange clasps. I guess AI knows what you like - but not me!

I guess I was thinking more along the lines of what other D&D art do you like. Are you a fan of Clyde Caldwell? His art often had a plastic / shinny look this art has (of course his were physically painted, not digital in any way).

Thank you for responding - I now know how to interpret your dislike!

 

[Reynard]

This is probably a good time to remind everyone that "is bad" and "don't like" are not synonyms.

 

[Chaltab]

Also I would rather WOTC use art I don't like made by a person than 'art' I do like made by an AI.

 

[dave2008]

Also I would rather WOTC use art I don't like made by a person than 'art' I do like made by an AI.

or art I don't like that is made by AI. Most AI art just looks off to me. There are certain styles that AI does better than others IMO.

 

[Belen]

This is probably a good time to remind everyone that "is bad" and "don't like" are not synonyms.

Thank you. I do not like the art. It just seems off to me. I also detest art like Steven Universe and Be Cool Scooby Doo.

I just think this new style feels incomplete or hazy. It does not evoke playing D&D to me.

Luckily, I do not buy the books to look at the art.

I just know I do not like it.

 

[dave2008]

I just think this new style feels incomplete or hazy. It does not evoke playing D&D to me.

That is the thing - what new style are you talking about. There are many different styles represented in the MM art previews. Which ones do you not like?

 

[Horwath]

Wow, the art you picked looks so plastic to me. Not what I want to see in my D&D art - I've got miniatures for that. Also, the general theme feels unnatural to me, like it is trying to hard to be "edgy." Not to mention the strange clasps. I guess AI knows what you like - but not me!

I guess I was thinking more along the lines of what other D&D art do you like. Are you a fan of Clyde Caldwell? His art often had a plastic / shinny look this art has (of course his were physically painted, not digital in any way).

Thank you for responding - I now know how to interpret your dislike!

I like the cover of Tasha's

 

[Jensaarai]

and yeah, AI generated... who cares... editors can iron out any mistakes.

well... the AI slop and that "who cares" kinda settles all this then, doesn't it.