Ancient lich

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Version 0.31: This article is up to date for the latest stable release of Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup.

For a list of all liches, see list of liches.

ancient lich LAncient lich.png
HP 71-144
HD 27
XP 8103
Speed 10
AC 20
EV 10
Will Immune
Attack1 20 (touch: drain experience)


Resistances rF+
rC++
rElec
rPois+++
rDrown
rMiasma
rN+++
rTorm
Vulnerabilities Holy
Habitat Land
Intelligence Human
Uses Open doors
Holiness Undead
Size Medium
Type lich, lich
Flags Evil
See invisible
Speaks
A lich who, having existed for countless centuries, has grown almost unimaginably powerful through the study of dark magic.

Useful Info

Ancient liches are extremely powerful undead casters with a wide array of resistances and access to brutal conjurations that can deal ridiculous amounts of damage. If you are not confident in your skills, escape is strongly advised.

Ancient liches can rarely be found on the last floor of the Vaults, in the Abyss, the Crypt, the Tomb, and the Realm of Zot. They are a particularly common sight near the orb chamber of Zot:5.

Spells

Spell set I
Slot1 Corrosive Bolt (3d34) Wizard flag
Slot2 Lehudib's Crystal Spear (3d48) Wizard flag
Slot3 Haste Wizard flag
Slot4 Petrify Wizard flag
Slot5 Invisibility Wizard flag

Strategy

Understand that ancient liches are some of the most powerful casters in the game. Don't worry too much about conserving resources; if burning a consumable or two will greatly ease the battle, do so. A hasted ancient lich can deal up to 288 damage per turn, enough to one-round most characters. While this max damage is exceedingly rare, ancient liches can still cause huge spikes of damage. Taking 100+ damage in a single turn stings.

As these liches resist most elemental damage, casters should use pure Conjurations or Earth Magic to deal with them. Necromancy users can use Dispel Undead. Melee fighters should lure them around corners or use a scroll of fog. If available, a strong holy wrath or antimagic weapon works great.

Tips & Tricks

  • Ancient liches are spellcasters, so are vulnerable to both silence and antimagic. When silenced, all it can do is make weak melee attacks, which is only dangerous to players at low HP. Weapons of antimagic and Enfeeble are also effective at disabling them.
  • Berserk can work well, as liches don't blink. However, ancient liches usually generate in areas you don't want attention (Vaults:5 and Zot:5). Being slowed when an orb of fire comes into view isn't exactly a great situation.
  • Like most enemies in Crawl, ancient liches are vulnerable to throwing nets. Throwing a net at the edge of LOS guarantees that you can run away. Nets also allow for stab attempts.

History