Lich — D&D 5e Monster Stats (CR 21)

Q: What are Lich's AC and HP in D&D 5e?

Lich has an Armor Class of 17 and 135 hit points (18d8+54).

Q: What Challenge Rating is a Lich?

Lich is CR 21, worth 33,000 XP — roughly a fair fight for a party of four characters of a similar level.

Q: Does Lich have legendary actions?

Yes. Lich has 4 legendary action options, taken at the end of other creatures' turns, which makes it far more dangerous in a solo fight.

Armor Class17

Hit Points135 (18d8+54)

Speed30 ft.

ChallengeCR 21 (33,000 XP)

STR

11

(+0)

DEX

16

(+3)

CON

16

(+3)

INT

20

(+5)

WIS

14

(+2)

CHA

16

(+3)

Saving ThrowsCON +10, INT +12, WIS +9

SkillsArcana +18, History +12, Insight +9, Perception +9

Resistancescold, lightning, necrotic

Immunitiespoison, bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical weapons

Cond. ImmuneCharmed, Exhaustion, Frightened, Paralyzed, Poisoned

Sensestruesight 120 ft., passive Perception 19

LanguagesCommon plus up to five other languages

Special Abilities

Legendary Resistance. 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:

- Cantrips (at will): mage hand, prestidigitation, ray of frost
- 1st level (4 slots): detect magic, magic missile, shield, thunderwave
- 2nd level (3 slots): acid arrow, detect thoughts, invisibility, mirror image
- 3rd level (3 slots): animate dead, counterspell, dispel magic, fireball
- 4th level (3 slots): blight, dimension door
- 5th level (3 slots): cloudkill, scrying
- 6th level (1 slot): disintegrate, globe of invulnerability
- 7th level (1 slot): finger of death, plane shift
- 8th level (1 slot): dominate monster, power word stun
- 9th level (1 slot): power word kill

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

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 living 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.

Running Lich in an encounter

As a CR 21 threat worth 33,000 XP, Lich is a fair challenge for a party of four at a comparable level. Its legendary actions let it act between the party's turns, so it holds up as a solo boss rather than needing a horde around it. Use the XP value with the encounter builder to slot it into a balanced fight.

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