5e:Lich
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Liches are powerful wizards who have undergone a dark ritual to become undead in an attempt to extend their existence. They crave magical knowledge and power above everything else. A lich is a gaunt and skeletal humanoid with withered flesh stretched tight across its bones.[1] Often they are still clad in rags that used to be their finest robes.
The most prized possession of a lich is its phylactery which acts as an anchor for its spirit and soul to reform (if the lich is destroyed).
A lich's undead existance is not permanent. It must "periodically feed souls to its phylactery to sustain the magic preserving its body and consciousness."[1] Failing to do so may devolve the lich into a Demilich.
Lich's Lair
[3] A lich lairs in a lonely tower, a haunted ruin, secret tomb, or an academy of black magic.
Lair Actions
[3] When fighting inside its lair, an lich can use lair actions. On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the undead takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects; the undead can’t use the same effect two rounds in a row:
- Regain Spell Slot
- Negative Energy Binding (redirects damage)
- Summon Apparitions
List of Liches
| Monster | Size | Type | Tags | Alignment | HP | CR | Habitat | Marked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demilich | Tiny | Undead | Demilich, Lich | Neutral Evil | 80 | 18 | Shadowfell, Underground, Urban | Canon, Pointer | Monster Manual (5e) |
| Disciple of Acererak Demilich | Tiny | Undead | Demilich, Lich | Neutral Evil | 80 | 21 | Shadowfell, Underground, Urban | Canon, Pointer | Monster Manual (5e) |
| Lich Overview | Overview | Undead, Lich | Shadowfell, Underground, Urban | Canon, Pointer | Monster Manual (5e) | ||||
| Lich | Medium | Undead | Lich | Any evil alignment | 135 | 21 | Shadowfell, Underground, Urban | Canon | Varied |
| Devkarin Lich | Medium | Undead | Lich | Neutral Evil | 97 | 14 | Shadowfell, Underdark, Underground, Urban | Canon, Pointer, Ravnica | Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica |
| Eldritch Lich | Medium | Undead | Lich | Neutral Evil | 165 | 15 | Astral Sea, Shadowfell, Underground, Urban | Canon, Pointer, Spelljammer | Monstrous Compendium (5e)/Vol 1 Spelljammer Creatures |
| Illithilich | Medium | Undead | Lich, Mind Flayer | Any evil alignment | 135 | 22 | Underdark, Underground, Urban | Canon | Varied, SRD5, VGtM, MM5e |
A lich is a gaunt and skeletal humanoid with withered flesh stretched tight across horribly visible bones. Its eyes have long ago been lost to decay, but bright pinpoints of crimson light burn on in the empty sockets.
Sources and Notes
- Christopher Perkins, et. al.. Monster Manual (5e) (5e) (2014-09-30). Wizards of the Coast. p. 203. Licensed: © Wizards of the Coast (used under 'fair use' clause). ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2
- Habitat (unofficial) - User ↑
- Monster Manual (5e) p.203 (summarized). ↑
- Wizards RPG Team. SRD v3.5 (3.5e) (2003). Wizards of the Coast. Licensed: OGL. ↑
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Monster data +
Lich (Sort Text: Lich AAA Common 5e, Size: Medium, Type: Undead, Subtypes: Lich, Alignment: Any evil alignment, HP: 135, CR: 21, Features: Legendary Resistance • Rejuvenation • Spellcasting • Turn Resistance • Paralyzing Touch, Legendary: Yes, Has Lair: Yes, NPC: No, Canon: Yes, Pointer: No, UA: No, User: No, Sources: Varied)
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