Difference between revisions of "Ancient lich"

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{{monster
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{{version|018}}
|name=ancient lich
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{{monster info}}
|glyph={{White|L}}
 
|tile=[[File:Ancient lich.png]]
 
|flags={{Spellcaster flag}}<br>{{Actual spells flag}}<br>{{See invisible flag}}<br>{{Evil flag}}<br>{{Speaks flag}}
 
|resistances={{Poison resistance}}, {{Cold resistance}}, {{Electricity resistance}}, {{Fire resistance}}, {{Negative energy resistance}}, {{Rot resistance}}, {{Torment resistance}}
 
|vulnerabilities={{Holy vulnerability}}
 
|max_chunks=0
 
|meat={{No corpse}}
 
|xp=11670
 
|holiness={{Undead}}
 
|magic_resistance=504
 
|hp_range=83 - 131
 
|avg_hp=107
 
|armour_class=20
 
|evasion=10
 
|habitat=land
 
|speed=10
 
|size={{Medium}}
 
|item_use={{Open doors}}
 
|attack1=20 ({{Touch type}}: {{Drain experience flavour}})
 
|attack2=
 
|attack3=
 
|attack4=
 
|hit_dice=27
 
|base_hp=2
 
|extra_hp=4
 
|fixed_hp=0
 
|intelligence={{High intelligence}}
 
|genus=lich
 
|species=lich
 
}}
 
{{Flavour|A lich who has grown mighty over countless years.}}
 
  
 
==Useful Info==
 
==Useful Info==
'''Ancient liches''' are extremely powerful undead casters with resistance to [[fire]] and [[poison]], and near immunity to [[cold]], [[electricity]], and [[negative energy]]. They can deal ridiculous amounts of damage at very long 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 [[vault]]s of the [[Dungeon]] and most later [[branch]]es, and are a common sight in the orb chamber of [[the Realm of Zot]].
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'''Ancient liches''' are extremely powerful undead casters with a wide array of resistances and access to several deadly attack spells. They can deal ridiculous amounts of damage or summon devastatingly powerful allies. If you are not confident in your skills, escape is strongly advised. Ancient liches can be found rarely in [[the Abyss]], [[the Crypt]], [[the Tomb]], and [[the Realm of Zot]], and are a common sight in the orb chamber of [[Zot:5]].
  
Spells (4 possible sets):
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{{monster spells}}
*[[Summon Greater Demon]], [[Iron Shot]] (3d44), [[Bolt of Cold]] (3d37), [[Paralyze]], [[Animate Dead]], [[Teleport Self]]
 
*[[Lehudib's Crystal Spear]] (3d48), [[Bolt of Draining]] (3d30), [[Throw Frost]] (3d13), [[Animate Dead]], [[Summon Undead]]
 
*[[Banishment]], [[Summon Greater Demon]], [[Bolt of Fire]] (3d37), [[Bolt of Draining]] (3d30), [[Confuse]], [[Haste]]
 
*[[Orb of Destruction]] (8d19), [[Bolt of Cold]] (3d37), [[Iskenderun's Mystic Blast]] (3d30), [[Invisibility]], [[Animate Dead]]
 
  
 
==Tips & Tricks==
 
==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 [[wraith]]s and [[wight]]s, but don't do much damage, so Silence renders them mostly harmless as long as it lasts.
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First and foremost, understand that ancient liches are some of the most powerful casters in the game. When dealing with them, don't worry too much about conserving resources; if burning a consumable or two will greatly ease the battle, do so. A character with [[Haste]] and [[Deflect Missiles]], for example, will have a much easier time than a character relying on their skills alone. [[Berserk]]ing is chancey, as ancient liches often generate in places where you don't want to be attracting a lot of attention, but the boost to [[HP]] and damage can make a huge difference.
  
Ancient liches are a somewhat deceptive trap for those using [[Hexes]] other than Silence. While not actually immune to magic, without a [[scroll of vulnerability]] no spell that needs to pass a [[magic resistance]] check will work.  Even with their MR halved by a scroll of vulnerability, a Hex cast at a full 200 power has less than a 20% chance of affecting them.  They are, for all intents and purposes, immune to magic.
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As liches resist most elemental damage, combat casters should rely on pure [[Conjurations]] and [[Earth Magic]] (although [[Lee's Rapid Deconstruction]], sadly, cannot target them, and their [[AC]] is high enough to minimize its shrapnel damage). [[Necromancy]] specialists can deal brutal amounts of damage with [[Dispel Undead]], though even that will take several castings to get the job done. Nearly all [[Hexes]] are useless against their infinite [[magic resistance]], so don't bother, even if you have a [[scroll of vulnerability]] lying around.
  
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. [[Mass Abjuration]] is very effective to get rid of the summons, provided you have it. [[Haste]] is also useful.
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Melee fighters should wield [[holy wrath]]- or [[antimagic]]-[[brand]]ed weapons if they are available, and should lure them around corners or use [[scrolls of blinking]] to get into melee range as quickly as possible; wasting turns rushing into the fray will result in you getting pounded by brutal attack spells or having various dangerous summons join the fight. Once you get close to the lich, casting [[Silence]] or reading a [[scroll of silence]] will disable the vast majority of their abilities. Their melee attacks might not be insignificant, but they're a good deal safer than most of their attack spells.
  
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 [[berserk]]ing will help you cut them down in half the time.
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[[Throwing net]]s are very useful against ancient liches. Hitting one at the edge of your line of sight with one guarantees it won't be able to follow you for several turns, allowing a fairly safe escape. Hitting one in melee range will make it vulnerable to [[stab]]bing attempts, allowing [[Short Blades]] specialists to make very short work of them.
  
[[Category:Featured_Article]]
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Of course, since it's unlikely that you'll be able to take them out without taking a single hit, being able to survive their spells is advisable. Don't go after them while wounded, apply any useful buffs you may have available ([[Repel Missiles]], [[Deflect Missiles]], [[Haste]], etc.) and if your character has any significant holes in their resistances, consider chugging a [[potion of resistance]]; it may be wasteful, but taking 100+ damage in a single turn stings.
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As always, remember that killing a summoner destroys all its summons. If you are confident you can finish off an ancient lich before its summoned Fiend buddies can finish off you, go for it. If you ''aren't'' confident of that, consider what safe escape routes you have available.
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==History==
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Prior to [[0.18]], ancient liches had random spell sets.
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Prior to [[0.16]], ancient liches would generate with one of four predetermined spell sets.

Revision as of 04:10, 9 May 2016

Version 0.18: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.
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 several deadly attack spells. They can deal ridiculous amounts of damage or summon devastatingly powerful allies. If you are not confident in your skills, escape is strongly advised. Ancient liches can be found rarely in the Abyss, the Crypt, the Tomb, and the Realm of Zot, and are a common sight in 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

Tips & Tricks

First and foremost, understand that ancient liches are some of the most powerful casters in the game. When dealing with them, don't worry too much about conserving resources; if burning a consumable or two will greatly ease the battle, do so. A character with Haste and Deflect Missiles, for example, will have a much easier time than a character relying on their skills alone. Berserking is chancey, as ancient liches often generate in places where you don't want to be attracting a lot of attention, but the boost to HP and damage can make a huge difference.

As liches resist most elemental damage, combat casters should rely on pure Conjurations and Earth Magic (although Lee's Rapid Deconstruction, sadly, cannot target them, and their AC is high enough to minimize its shrapnel damage). Necromancy specialists can deal brutal amounts of damage with Dispel Undead, though even that will take several castings to get the job done. Nearly all Hexes are useless against their infinite magic resistance, so don't bother, even if you have a scroll of vulnerability lying around.

Melee fighters should wield holy wrath- or antimagic-branded weapons if they are available, and should lure them around corners or use scrolls of blinking to get into melee range as quickly as possible; wasting turns rushing into the fray will result in you getting pounded by brutal attack spells or having various dangerous summons join the fight. Once you get close to the lich, casting Silence or reading a scroll of silence will disable the vast majority of their abilities. Their melee attacks might not be insignificant, but they're a good deal safer than most of their attack spells.

Throwing nets are very useful against ancient liches. Hitting one at the edge of your line of sight with one guarantees it won't be able to follow you for several turns, allowing a fairly safe escape. Hitting one in melee range will make it vulnerable to stabbing attempts, allowing Short Blades specialists to make very short work of them.

Of course, since it's unlikely that you'll be able to take them out without taking a single hit, being able to survive their spells is advisable. Don't go after them while wounded, apply any useful buffs you may have available (Repel Missiles, Deflect Missiles, Haste, etc.) and if your character has any significant holes in their resistances, consider chugging a potion of resistance; it may be wasteful, but taking 100+ damage in a single turn stings.

As always, remember that killing a summoner destroys all its summons. If you are confident you can finish off an ancient lich before its summoned Fiend buddies can finish off you, go for it. If you aren't confident of that, consider what safe escape routes you have available.

History

Prior to 0.18, ancient liches had random spell sets.

Prior to 0.16, ancient liches would generate with one of four predetermined spell sets.