5e Cards
Challenge 21: 21

Lich

Medium undead, any evil alignment

Armor Class
17 (natural armor)
Hit Points
135 (18d8+54)
Speed
30 ft.
STR
11 (+0)
DEX
16 (+3)
CON
16 (+3)
INT
20 (+5)
WIS
14 (+2)
CHA
16 (+3)
Saving Throws
Con +10, Int +12, Wis +9
Skills
Arcana +19, History +12, Insight +9, Perception +9
Damage Resistances
cold, lightning, necrotic
Damage Immunities
poison; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Condition Immunities
charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, poisoned
Senses
truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 19
Languages
Common plus up to five other languages
Challenge
21 (33,000 XP)
Proficiency Bonus
+7

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:

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

Actions

Paralyzing Touch. 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

The lich can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. The lich regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

Cantrip. The lich casts a cantrip.

Paralyzing Touch (Costs 2 Actions). The lich uses its Paralyzing Touch.

Frightening Gaze (Costs 2 Actions). 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.

Disrupt Life (Costs 3 Actions). 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.

How many for your party

Copies of the lich (33,000 XP each) against a party of four characters of the same level. Build mixed fights in the encounter builder.

Number of Lich for each difficulty, party of four
Party levelEasyMediumHardDeadly
Level 17——12–20
Level 18——12–20
Level 19——12–20
Level 20—1—2–20

In these lists

Similar undead cards

Questions

What CR is the Lich?

The Lich is challenge 21, worth 33,000 XP, with a proficiency bonus of +7.

How many hit points does the Lich have?

135 hit points (18d8+54), with AC 17 from natural armor.

How many should I use against four 17th-level characters?

Against four level 17 characters, 1 is hard by the encounter XP budget.