Lich (5e)

Lich exists in other D&D editions see:

Lich (disambiguation).

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Monster Manual (5e)

Lich Overview   

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. 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." Failing to do so may devolve the lich into a Demilich.

Lich's Lair

 A lich lairs in a lonely tower, a haunted ruin, secret tomb, or an academy of black magic.

Lair Actions

 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

(7 official and unofficial Liches)

Name	Type	Subtype	Size	HP	CR (XP)	Alignment	Habitat	Source
Demilich	Undead	Demilich, Lich	Tiny	80	18 (20,000)	Neutral Evil	Shadowfell, Underground, Urban	Monster Manual (5e)
Disciple of Acererak Demilich	Undead	Demilich, Lich	Tiny	80	21 (33,000)	Neutral Evil	Shadowfell, Underground, Urban	Monster Manual (5e)
Lich	Undead	Lich	Medium	135	21 (33,000)	Any evil alignment	Shadowfell, Underground, Urban	SRD-CC v5.1, SRD-OGL v5.1
Lich Overview	Overview	Undead, Lich					Shadowfell, Underground, Urban	Monster Manual (5e)
Devkarin Lich	Undead	Lich	Medium	97	14 (11,500)	Neutral Evil	Shadowfell, Underdark, Underground, Urban	Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica
Eldritch Lich	Undead	Lich	Medium	165	15 (13,000)	Neutral Evil	Astral Sea, Shadowfell, Underground, Urban	Monstrous Compendium (5e)/Vol 1 Spelljammer Creatures
Illithilich	Undead	Lich, Mind Flayer	Medium	135	22 (41,000)	Any evil alignment	Underdark, Underground, Urban	SRD5, VGtM, MM5e

 3.5e lore  ^{[SRD3 OGL]}  

A lich is an undead spellcaster, usually a wizard or sorcerer but sometimes a cleric or other spellcaster, who has used its magical powers to unnaturally extend its life. 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

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