A classicDungeons & Dragonsmonster is getting a new look in the 2025 Monster Manual.Next month, Wizards of the Coast will release a brand newMonster ManualforDungeons & Dragons. The new rulebook will contain over500 creature statblocks, most of which have been rebalanced to reflect D&D’s revised 5th edition ruleset. In addition to statblocks, the 2025Monster Manualis packed with new artwork, with several monsters getting a major redesign. While Wizards of the Coast publicized thenew dragon designsin the book, another classic monster also received a radically revamped design.
In aYouTubevideo showcasing various aberrations and oozes in the newMonster Manual,Dungeons & Dragonsshowed off artwork featuring a very different look for the aboleth, a primordial creature with alien intelligence. The aboleth has traditionally been depicted as a fish-like creature with three eyes, butthe new artwork by Kev Walker gives the aboleth a much more alien appearance.
The new aboleth design is a towering mass of tentacles with a large, gaping maw for a mouth. While the aboleth maintains its three vertically-lined eyes, they’re now triangular and much more abhorrent.
The Aboleth in Dungeons & Dragons, Explained
Classic D&D Monster Once Ruled The World & Has A Deadly Cloud Of Mucus That Transforms Its Victims
The aboleth is one of the weirderDungeons & Dragonsmonsters, having first appeared in the 1980 adventureDwellers of the Forbidden Cityby Zeb Cook. InD&Dlore,the aboleths ruled over ancient empires that predated the arrival of the gods in the Material Plane.When the gods appeared, they destroyed the aboleth kingdoms and freed the developing lifeforms that were being psychically dominated by them. Typically, aboleths dream of rebuilding their empires and humiliating the gods, robbing them of power in the same ways they once were themselves.
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Aboleths are typically amphibious creatures that live in ancient ruins or deep underground. In addition to having powerful psychic abilities capable of mentally enslaving sentient lifeforms, they also can produce a mucus cloud that transform those around them.A creature affected by the aboleth’s mucus loses the ability to breathe air,making them more vulnerable to the aboleth, as they are forced to stay in the aboleth’s domain. While aboleths typically aren’t the main villain of aD&Dcampaign, they often make for unforgettable encounters and fantastic recurring villains.
Our Take: Aboleths Look Much More Alien Now
The Classic Design Was Fun, But These Aboleths Feel Like More Of A Threat
While I always loved the idea of evil alien fish that predate the gods,the new aboleth design make the creatures look much more Lovecraftian.To be honest, the new designs feel more in line with the lore of the game. After all, it seems a little bit odd that fish creatures once ruled over the humanity, and these new aboleth designs feel a bit more fearsome and strange. Aboleths are one of my favoriteDungeons & Dragonsmonsters, so I hope that we get to see more of the creatures in the not-so-distant future.
