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Virtuoso Lich

Medium · Undead · CR 12 · Chaotic Evil

Source. Black Flag SRD
Armor Class
17 (natural armor)
Hit Points and Hit Dice
185
Challenge Rating CR
12

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR
10
+0
DEX
24
+7
CON
14
+2
INT
14
+2
WIS
20
+5
CHA
28
+9

Overview

Category Monsters
Size Medium
Type Undead
Alignment Chaotic Evil
XP 8400
Initiative Bonus +7

Movement

Walk 30 ft (9.1 m)
Swim 15 ft (4.6 m)
Climb 15 ft (4.6 m)
Crawl 15 ft (4.6 m)

Senses

Truesight 60 ft (18.3 m)
Passive Perception 15

Saving Throws

Strength +0 Dexterity +7 Constitution +2 Intelligence +2 Wisdom +5 Charisma +9

Languages

Common plus up to two other languages

Resistances & Immunities

Damage Immunities
blinded,deafened,charmed,frightened,paralyzed,Undead Resilience
Damage Resistances
necrotic; bludgeoning,piercing,and slashing damage from nonmagical attacks

Traits

Legendary Resistance (3/Day)

If the lich fails a save, it can choose to succeed instead.

Rejuvenation

If it has a phylactery, a destroyed lich gains a new body in 1d10 days, regaining all its HP and becoming active again. The new body appears within 5 feet of the phylactery.

Turn Resistance

The lich has advantage on saves against any effect that turns undead.

Undead Nature

The lich doesn't require air, food, drink, or sleep.

Undead Resilience

The lich is immune to poison damage, to exhaustion, and to the poisoned condition.

Versatile Artist

At the end of each long rest, the lich chooses one form of artistic expression, such as song, poetry, dance, fashion, paint, or similar. Until it finishes a long rest, the lich has immunity to one type of damage, which is associated with its artistic expression. For example, a lich expressing art through song or poetry has immunity to thunder damage, a lich expressing art through fashion has immunity to slashing damage, and a lich expressing art through paint has immunity to acid damage. This trait can't give the lich immunity to force, psychic, or radiant damage.

Actions

Artistic Flourish

+9 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 3d8+5 plus 2d8 force damage.

Melee or Ranged Spell Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 60 ft., one target. Hit: 18 (3d8+5) damage of the type chosen with the Versatile Artist trait plus 9 (2d8) force damage.

Cast a Spell (Costs 2 Actions)

The lich uses Spellcasting.

Corrupted Art

The lich hums a discordant melody, paints a crumbling symbol of death in the air, performs a reality-bending pirouette, or emulates some other expression of corrupted or twisted art and targets one creature it can see, other than itself, within 60 feet. This action's effects change, depending on if the target is Undead.
- Non-Undead. The target must make a DC 17 WIS save. On a failure, a creature is blinded, charmed, or deafened (the lich's choice) until the end of its next turn. On a success, a creature takes half the damage and isn't incapacitated.
- Undead. The target regains 18 (4d8) HP. Healing that exceeds the target's HP maximum becomes temporary HP.

Multiattack

The virtuoso lich uses Corrupted Art. It then makes three Artistic Flourish attacks. It can replace one attack with a use of Spellcasting.

Spellcasting

The lich casts one of the following spells, using CHA as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 17).

  • At Will: disguise self, mage hand, message, prestidigitation
  • 3/Day Each: charm, hideous laughter, hold, invisibility (self only)
  • 2/Day Each: dispel magic, fear, dimension door
  • 1/Day Each: irresistible dance, programmed illusion, seeming

Unrestrained Art (Costs 3 Actions)

The lich unleashes the full force of its artistic talents. Each creature with 15 feet of the lich must make a DC 17 DEX save. On a failure, a creature takes 9 (2d8) damage of the type chosen with the Versatile Artist trait and is knocked prone. On a success, a creature takes half the damage and isn't knocked prone.

Legendary Actions

Call Muse

Cost 1

The lich uses Call Muse.

Cast a Spell

Cost 2

The lich uses Spellcasting.

Move

Cost 1

The lich moves up to its speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

Unrestrained Art

Cost 3

The lich unleashes the full force of its artistic talents. Each creature with 15 feet of the lich must make a DC 17 DEX save. On a failure, a creature takes 9 (2d8) damage of the type chosen with the Versatile Artist trait and is knocked prone. On a success, a creature takes half the damage and isn't knocked prone.

About Virtuoso Lich

Virtuoso Lich is a medium undead with a Challenge Rating of 12. It has a chaotic evil alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 17 and possesses 185 hit points (derived from None).

Virtuoso Lich has communication capabilities including Common plus up to two other languages. This allows it to interact verbally with various creatures and characters.

GM Tips: Using Virtuoso Lich

2 tips available

When using Virtuoso Lich in your D&D 5e campaign, consider these tactical approaches:

  • Boss Encounter: Suitable for climactic moments
  • Multi-phase Battle: Plan dramatic tension with multiple phases

Player Guide: Facing Virtuoso Lich

2 strategies available

When your party encounters this creature, keep these strategies in mind:

  • Major Threat: Prepare for epic battle
  • Resource Management: Conserve powerful abilities

Encounter Building Calculator

Standard Party Encounter (4-5 characters):

This creature is a medium encounter for a party of 4 characters of level 12.

Solo Encounter:

A single character of level 16 (up to level 20) can face this creature in a medium to hard encounter.

Experience Point Thresholds:

  • Medium: 15,600 XP
  • Hard: 23,400 XP
  • Deadly: 31,200 XP

Based on D&D 5e Dungeon Master's Guide encounter building guidelines. CR roughly equals party level for medium encounters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the challenge rating of Virtuoso Lich?
Virtuoso Lich has a Challenge Rating of 12, making it appropriate for parties of level 12.0.
What type of creature is Virtuoso Lich?
Virtuoso Lich is a Medium Undead, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Virtuoso Lich speak?
Virtuoso Lich can communicate in Common plus up to two other languages.

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