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Virtuoso Lich

Medium · Undead · CR 12 · Any Evil Alignment

Armor Class
17 (natural armor)
Hit Points and Hit Dice
123 (19d8+38)
Challenge Rating CR
12

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR
11
+0
DEX
16
+3
CON
15
+2
INT
15
+2
WIS
12
+1
CHA
20
+5

Overview

Category Monsters
Size Medium
Type Undead
Alignment Any Evil Alignment
XP 8400
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 60 ft (18.3 m)
Passive Perception 15

Saving Throws

Dexterity +7 Wisdom +6 Charisma +9

Skills

Deception +9 Perception +5 Persuasion +9

Languages

Common, plus up to two other languages

Resistances & Immunities

Damage Immunities
poison
Damage Resistances
necrotic; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Condition Immunities
blinded, deafened, charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, poisoned

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 virtuoso lich is a 12th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 17, +9 to hit with spell attacks). It has the following bard spells prepared:

  • Cantrips (At Will): mage hand, message, true strike, vicious mockery
  • 1st Level (4 slots): bane, hideous laughter, thunderwave
  • 2nd Level (3 slots): enthrall, hold person, invisibility, shatter
  • 3rd Level (3 slots): dispel magic, fear, speak with dead
  • 4th Level (3 slots): compulsion, confusion, dimension door
  • 5th Level (2 slots): dominate person, mislead
  • 6th Level (1 slot): irresistible dance, programmed illusion

Turn Resistance

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

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

Call Muse

The lich targets one humanoid or beast it can see within 30 feet of it. The target must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed by the lich for 1 minute. The charmed target, the lich's 'muse,' has a speed of 0 and is incapacitated as it watches or listens to the lich's artistic expression. The muse 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's Call Muse for the next 24 hours. If the muse suffers harm from the lich, it is no longer charmed.

The lich can have only one muse at a time. If it charms another, the effect on the previous muse ends. If the lich is within 30 feet of its muse and can see its muse, the lich has advantage on its first Artistic Flourish attack each round against a creature that isn't its muse.

Cast a Spell (Costs 3 Actions)

The lich casts a spell from its list of prepared spells, using a spell slot as normal.

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 within 60 feet. This action's effects change, depending on if the target is undead.
* Non-Undead. The target must make a DC 16 Constitution saving throw, taking 18 (4d8) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
* Undead. The target regains 18 (4d8) hit points. Healing that exceeds the target's hp maximum becomes temporary hit points.

Multiattack

The virtuoso lich uses its Corrupted Art. It then makes two Artistic Flourish attacks.

Unrestrained Art (Costs 3 Actions)

The lich unleashes the full force of its artistic talents on those nearby. Each creature with 10 feet of the lich must make a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, a creature takes 18 (4d8) 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

Artistic Flourish

Cost 1

+9 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 2d6+5 damage.

The lich makes one Artistic Flourish attack.

Cast a Spell

Cost 3

The lich casts a spell from its list of prepared spells, using a spell slot as normal.

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 on those nearby. Each creature with 10 feet of the lich must make a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, a creature takes 18 (4d8) 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 any evil alignment alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 17 and possesses 123 hit points (derived from 19d8+38).

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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