Lich

Medium Undead, any evil alignment

CR 21

33,000 XP

AC: 17 (natural armor)
HP: 135 (18d8+54)
Speed: walk 30 ft.
Skills: Arcana +19, History +12, Insight +9, Perception +9
Senses: truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 19
Languages: Common plus up to five other languages
STR
11
+0
DEX
16
+3
CON
16
+3
INT
20
+5
WIS
14
+2
CHA
16
+3

Special Abilities

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:

* Cantrips (at will): mage hand, prestidigitation, ray of frost
* 1st level (4 slots): detect magic, magic missile, shield, thunderwave
* 2nd level (3 slots): detect thoughts, invisibility, acid arrow, 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 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.

Quick Reference

Challenge: CR 21
Type: Undead
Size: Medium
Alignment: any evil alignment