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Lich

Medium · Undead · CR 21 · Any Evil Alignment

Source. 5e 2014 Rules

17 (natural armor)

135 (18d8+54)

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 33000

Initiative Bonus +3

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 120 ft (36.6 m)

Passive Perception 19

Saving Throws

Constitution +10 Intelligence +12 Wisdom +9

Skills

Arcana +18 History +12 Insight +9 Perception +9

Languages

Common plus up to five other languages

Resistances & Immunities

Damage Immunities

poison; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks

Damage Resistances

cold, lightning, necrotic

Condition Immunities

charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, poisoned

Environments

Laboratory Ruins Shadowfell Tomb

Traits

Legendary Resistance (3/Day)

If the lich fails a saving throw, 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 hit points and becoming active again. The new body appears within 5 feet of the phylactery.

Spellcasting

The lich is an 18th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 20, +12 to hit with spell attacks). The lich has the following wizard spells prepared:

Cantrips (at will): mage hand, prestidigitation, ray of frost
1st level (4 slots): detect magic, magic missile, shield, thunderwave
2nd level (3 slots): detect thoughts, invisibility, acid arrow, mirror image
3rd level (3 slots): animate dead, counterspell, dispel magic, fireball
4th level (3 slots): blight, dimension door
5th level (3 slots): cloudkill, scrying
6th level (1 slot): disintegrate, globe of invulnerability
7th level (1 slot): finger of death, plane shift
8th level (1 slot): dominate monster, power word stun
9th level (1 slot): power word kill

Turn Resistance

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

Actions

Paralyzing Touch

Cost 1

+12 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m).

Melee Spell Attack: +12 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 10 (3d6) cold damage. The target must succeed on a DC 18 Constitution saving throw or be paralyzed 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.

Legendary Actions

Cantrip

Cost 1

The lich casts a cantrip.

Disrupt Life

Cost 3

Each non-undead creature within 20 feet of the lich must make a DC 18 Constitution saving throw against this magic, taking 21 (6d6) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Frightening Gaze

Cost 2

The lich fixes its gaze on one creature it can see within 10 feet of it. The target must succeed on a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw against this magic or become frightened for 1 minute. The frightened 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 lich's gaze for the next 24 hours.

Paralyzing Touch

Cost 2

The lich uses its Paralyzing Touch.

About Lich

Lich is a medium undead with a Challenge Rating of 21. It has a any evil alignment alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 17 and possesses 135 hit points (derived from 18d8+54).

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

GM Tips: Using Lich

1 tips available

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

Cold Damage Strategy: Cold-based attacks can slow or freeze. Prepare 'Heat Metal' or fire spells as countermeasures. Ice terrain can be used to create difficult terrain for melee characters.

Player Guide: Facing Lich

1 strategies available

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

Cold Damage Protection: This creature deals cold damage! Get cold resistance or use fire spells. Avoid water surfaces - they can freeze and create difficult terrain. 'Heat Metal' can counter cold.

Encounter Building Calculator

Standard Party Encounter (4-5 characters):

This creature is a medium encounter for a party of 4 characters of level 21.

High-Level Solo Encounter:

This creature is too powerful for a single level-20 character. You need 3.0 character(s) at maximum level (20) to face this creature.

Experience Point Thresholds:

Medium: 46,200 XP
Hard: 69,300 XP
Deadly: 92,400 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 Lich?: Lich has a Challenge Rating of 21, making it appropriate for parties of level 21.0.
What type of creature is Lich?: Lich is a Medium Undead, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Lich speak?: Lich can communicate in Common plus up to five other languages.