Ancient lich

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ancient lich L
HP	87-132
HD	27
XP	7501
Speed	10
AC	20
EV	10
Will	Immune
Attack1	20 (touch: drain experience)
Resistances	rF+, rC++, rElec, rPois+++, rN+++, rTorm, rRot+++, rDrown, rWater
Vulnerabilities	Holy, Holy wrath
Habitat	Land
Intelligence	High
Uses	Open doors
Holiness	Undead
Size	Medium
Type	lich, lich
Flags	Actual spells Evil See invisible Speaks Spellcaster

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 resistance to fire, near immunity to cold and electricity, and complete immunity to poison and negative energy. They can deal ridiculous amounts of damage at medium range (player death in one or two hits is not unheard of) and can summon hordes of greater demons. If you are not confident in your skills, escape is strongly advised. Ancient liches can be found in certain vaults of the Dungeon and most later branches, and are a common sight in the orb chamber of the Realm of Zot.

Spells

Spell set I
Slot1	Bolt of Cold (3d37)
Slot2	Paralyse (50% success rate when MR=72)
Slot3	Summon Greater Demon
Slot4	Animate Dead
Slot5	Iron Shot (3d44)
Slot6	Teleport Self

Spell set II
Slot1	Bolt of Draining (3d33)
Slot2	Slow (50% success rate when MR=72)
Slot3	Invisibility
Slot4	Throw Icicle (3d37)
Slot5	Lehudib's Crystal Spear (3d48)
Slot6	Invisibility

Spell set III
Slot1	Bolt of Fire (3d37)
Slot2	Confuse (50% success rate when MR=72)
Slot3	Haste
Slot4	Bolt of Draining (3d33)
Slot5	Summon Greater Demon
Slot6	Banishment (50% success rate when MR=72)

Spell set IV
Slot1	Iskenderun's Mystic Blast (3d30)
Slot2	Bolt of Cold (3d37)
Slot3	Invisibility
Slot4	Animate Dead
Slot5	Orb of Destruction (9d20)
Slot6	Invisibility

Tips & Tricks

Ancient liches are vulnerable to Dispel Undead, weapons of holy wrath, the Shining One's Cleansing Flame, and Silence, but be prepared to escape quickly if they start summoning or hit you with a crystal spear. Their melee attacks are draining branded a la wraiths and wights, but don't do much damage, so Silence renders them mostly harmless as long as it lasts.

Ancient liches are immune to magic, making most Hexes useless against them. Scrolls of vulnerability will have no effect on them.

Those without 200+ HP should keep their distance (at least 6 squares to avoid Iron Shot, 7 for Bolt of Draining/Bolt of Fire, and 8 for Bolt of Cold) and use their longest range attacks. Aura of Abjuration is very effective to get rid of the summons, provided you have it. Haste is also useful.

As with wizards and other casters with multiple spell sets, observe what the lich is casting to have an idea of what to expect. For example, you know that a lich that casts Iron Shot or Bolt of Fire also knows Summon Greater Demon.

If you're a melee-focused character with no choice in the matter, try to get into melee as quickly as possible. A scroll of blinking can get you into killing range without getting hammered by half a dozen lethal spells, life protection can make the actual fight less painful, and berserking will help you cut them down in half the time.