Creature Reference Back to Creatures

Lich Hound

Medium · Undead · CR 4 · Neutral Evil

Source. Tome of Beasts 1 (2023 Edition)

85 (10d8 + 40)

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

DEX

CON

INT

-2

WIS

CHA

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Medium

Type Undead

Alignment Neutral Evil

XP 1100

Initiative Bonus +4

Movement

Walk 50 ft (15.2 m)

Fly 30 ft (9.1 m)

Swim 25 ft (7.6 m)

Climb 25 ft (7.6 m)

Crawl 25 ft (7.6 m)

Senses

Darkvision 120 ft (36.6 m)

Blindsight 60 ft (18.3 m)

Passive Perception 14

Saving Throws

Wisdom +2 Charisma +5

Skills

Acrobatics +6 Perception +4

Languages

understands Common and Darakhul but can't speak

Resistances & Immunities

Damage Immunities

poison

Damage Resistances

piercing and slashing from nonmagical attacks

Condition Immunities

exhaustion, poisoned

Traits

Blood Sense

The lich hound can pinpoint the location of creatures that aren’t Constructs or Undead within 60 feet of it and can sense the general direction of such creatures within 1 mile of it.

Keen Hearing and Smell

The lich hound has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.

Undead Nature

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

Actions

Bite

+6 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 2d6+4 piercing damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

Eerie Howl

The lich hound releases an eerie howl that fades in and out and echoes strangely. Each creature within 30 feet of the lich hound must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the lich hound's Eerie Howl for the next 24 hours.

Multiattack

The lich hound can use its Eerie Howl. It then makes two Bite attacks. If both attacks hit one creature, the target must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or take 7 (2d6) slashing damage and be incapacitated until the end of its next turn.

Bonus Actions

Ethereal Jaunt

The lich hound magically shifts from the Material Plane to the Ethereal Plane, or vice versa.

About Lich Hound

Lich Hound is a medium undead with a Challenge Rating of 4. It has a neutral evil alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 14 and possesses 85 hit points (derived from 10d8 + 40).

Lich Hound has communication capabilities including understands Common and Darakhul but can't speak. This allows it to interact verbally with various creatures and characters.

GM Tips: Using Lich Hound

1 tips available

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

Flight Control Strategy: Target flying creatures with spells like 'Hold Person', 'Web', or 'Grease' to ground them. Without flight restriction, they can escape melee range easily. Consider area denial spells below their flight altitude to force them into disadvantageous positions.

Player Guide: Facing Lich Hound

1 strategies available

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

Counter Flight Advantage: This creature can fly! Use ranged attacks, reach weapons, or spells like 'Thunderwave' to push it away. Consider 'Gust of Wind' or 'Earthbind' to ground it. Melee characters need fly speed or flight magic to engage.

Encounter Building Calculator

Standard Party Encounter (4-5 characters):

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

Solo Encounter:

A single character of level 6 (up to level 20) can face this creature in a medium to hard encounter.

Experience Point Thresholds:

Medium: 2,000 XP
Hard: 3,000 XP
Deadly: 4,000 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 Lich Hound?: Lich Hound has a Challenge Rating of 4, making it appropriate for parties of level 4.0.
What type of creature is Lich Hound?: Lich Hound is a Medium Undead, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Lich Hound speak?: Lich Hound can communicate in understands Common and Darakhul but can't speak.