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Hierophant Lich

Medium · Undead · CR 9 · Any Evil Alignment

Source. Creature Codex

14 (natural armor)

91 (14d8+28)

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

DEX

CON

INT

WIS

CHA

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Medium

Type Undead

Alignment Any Evil Alignment

XP 5000

Initiative Bonus +1

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 19

Saving Throws

Constitution +6 Intelligence +5 Wisdom +9

Skills

Insight +9 Perception +9 Religion +5

Languages

Common, Abyssal, Infernal, Void Speech

Resistances & Immunities

Damage Immunities

poison; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks

Damage Resistances

cold, lightning, necrotic

Condition Immunities

charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, poisoned

Traits

Legendary Resistance (3/Day)

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

Levitate

As a bonus action, a hierophant lich can rise or descend vertically up to 20 feet and can remain suspended there. This trait works like the levitate spell, except there is no duration, and the lich doesn't need to concentrate to continue levitating each round.

Rejuvenation

If it has a sacred vessel, a destroyed hierophant 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 vessel.

Spellcasting

The lich is an 9th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 17, +9 to hit with spell attacks). The lich has the following cleric spells prepared:

Cantrips (at will): guidance, mending, sacred flame, thaumaturgy
1st Level (4 slots): command, detect magic, protection from evil and good, sanctuary
2nd Level (3 slots): blindness/deafness, hold person, silence
3rd Level (3 slots): animate dead, dispel magic, spirit guardians
4th Level (3 slots): banishment, freedom of movement, guardian of faith
5th Level (1 slot): flame strike

Turn Resistance

The hierophant lich has advantage on saving throws against any effect that turns undead.

Actions

Damnation (Costs 2 Actions)

The hierophant lich threatens one creature within 10 feet of it with eternal suffering. The target must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a target's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the target is immune to the hierophant lich's Damnation for the next 24 hours.

Unholy Smite (Costs 2 Actions)

The heirophant lich uses its Unholy Smite.

Legendary Actions

Cantrip

Cost 1

The hierophant lich casts a cantrip.

Damnation

Cost 2

Unholy Smite

Cost 2

+5 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 2d6+1 plus 2d8 necrotic damage.

The heirophant lich uses its Unholy Smite.

About Hierophant Lich

Hierophant Lich is a medium undead with a Challenge Rating of 9. It has a any evil alignment alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 14 and possesses 91 hit points (derived from 14d8+28).

Hierophant Lich has communication capabilities including Common, Abyssal, Infernal, Void Speech. This allows it to interact verbally with various creatures and characters.

GM Tips: Using Hierophant Lich

2 tips available

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

Significant Threat: Challenging for parties of levels 5-10
Epic Potential: Consider legendary actions for memorable battles

Player Guide: Facing Hierophant Lich

2 strategies available

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

Significant Threat: Prepare spells and resources
Team Coordination: Coordinate attacks and defenses

Encounter Building Calculator

Standard Party Encounter (4-5 characters):

This creature is a medium encounter for a party of 4 characters of level 9.

Solo Encounter:

A single character of level 12 (up to level 20) can face this creature in a medium to hard encounter.

Experience Point Thresholds:

Medium: 9,000 XP
Hard: 13,500 XP
Deadly: 18,000 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 Hierophant Lich?: Hierophant Lich has a Challenge Rating of 9, making it appropriate for parties of level 9.0.
What type of creature is Hierophant Lich?: Hierophant Lich is a Medium Undead, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Hierophant Lich speak?: Hierophant Lich can communicate in Common, Abyssal, Infernal, Void Speech.