Difference between revisions of "Ancient lich"

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{{version|027}}
{{monster
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{{monster info}}
|name=ancient lich
 
|glyph={{White|L}}
 
|tile=[[File:Ancient lich.png]]
 
|flags={{Actual spells flag}}<br>{{Speaks flag}}<br>{{Evil flag}}<br>{{Spellcaster flag}}<br>{{See invisible flag}}
 
|resistances={{Fire resistance}}, {{Cold resistance 2}}, <br>{{Electricity resistance}}, {{Poison resistance 3}}, <br>{{Negative energy resistance 3}}, {{Torment resistance}}, <br>{{Rot resistance 3}}, {{Drown resistance}}
 
|vulnerabilities={{Holy vulnerability 2}}, {{Holy wrath vulnerability}}
 
|max_chunks=0
 
|meat={{No corpse}}
 
|xp=11670
 
|holiness={{Undead}}
 
|magic_resistance=Immune
 
|hp_range=83-131
 
|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
 
|intelligence={{High intelligence}}
 
|genus=lich
 
|species=lich
 
}}
 
 
 
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{{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 deadly attack spells that can deal ridiculous amounts of damage. If you are not confident in your skills, escape is strongly advised.
  
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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==
 
  
{{Spellcaster
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{{monster spells}}
|number=I
 
|slot1=[[Bolt of Cold]] (3d37)
 
|slot2=[[Paralyse]]
 
|slot3=[[Summon Greater Demon]]
 
|slot4=[[Animate Dead]]
 
|slot5=[[Iron Shot]] (3d44)
 
|slot6=[[Teleport Self]]
 
}}
 
{{Spellcaster
 
|number=II
 
|slot1=[[Bolt of Draining]] (3d30)
 
|slot2=[[Animate Dead]]
 
|slot3=[[Summon Undead]]
 
|slot4=[[Throw Frost]] (3d13)
 
|slot5=[[Lehudib's Crystal Spear]] (3d48)
 
|slot6=[[Summon Undead]]
 
}}
 
{{Spellcaster
 
|number=III
 
|slot1=[[Bolt of Fire]] (3d37)
 
|slot2=[[Confuse]]
 
|slot3=[[Haste]]
 
|slot4=[[Bolt of Draining]] (3d30)
 
|slot5=[[Summon Greater Demon]]
 
|slot6=[[Banishment]]
 
}}
 
{{Spellcaster
 
|number=IV
 
|slot1=[[Iskenderun's Mystic Blast]] (3d30)
 
|slot2=[[Bolt of Cold]] (3d37)
 
|slot3=[[Invisibility]]
 
|slot4=[[Animate Dead]]
 
|slot5=[[Orb of Destruction]] (8d20)
 
|slot6=[[Invisibility]]
 
}}
 
  
{{clear}}
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==Tips & Tricks==
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First and foremost, 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. Going [[berserk]] 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.
  
==Tips & Tricks==
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As liches resist most elemental damage, combat casters should rely on pure [[Conjurations]] or [[Earth Magic]]. [[Necromancy]] specialists can deal brutal amounts of damage with [[Dispel Undead]], though it requires getting to and staying in point-blank range. Nearly all [[Hexes]] are useless against their infinite [[willpower]], so don't bother with them.
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.
 
  
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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Melee fighters should lure them around corners or use [[scrolls of blinking]] to get into melee range as quickly as possible, lest you get pounded by brutal attack spells or petrified. Once there, casting [[Silence]] or reading a [[scroll of silence]] will disable the vast majority of their abilities. It may be worth swapping to a [[Holy wrath]]- or [[antimagic]]-[[brand]]ed weapon, if available. The lich's melee attacks might not be insignificant, but they're a good deal safer than most of their attack spells.  
  
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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[[Throwing net]]s are very useful against ancient liches. Throwing a net at the edge of LOS guarantees that the lich won't be able to follow you for several turns, allowing a fairly safe escape. Nets distract monsters; letting any player, especially [[Short Blades]] users, multiple chances to attack for free.
  
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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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, and consider chugging a [[potion of resistance]] to patch up vulnerabilities; it may be wasteful, but better to be safe than sorry! Taking 100+ damage in a single turn stings.
  
[[Category:Featured_Article]]
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==History==
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*Prior to [[0.27]], ancient liches could have one of several spell sets. In particular, the [[Summoning]]-focused spells were given to the newly-introduced [[dread lich]]es.
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** [[Bolt of Cold]] (3d37), [[Force Lance]] (3d27), [[Summon Greater Demon]], [[Slow]], [[Invisibility]]
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** [[Bolt of Draining]] (3d33), [[Poison Arrow]] (3d34), [[Haunt]], [[Banishment]], [[Haste]]
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** [[Bolt of Fire]] (3d37), [[Iron Shot]] (3d44), Summon Greater Demon, [[Confuse]], Invisibility
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** [[Corrosive Bolt]] (3d28), [[Lehudib's Crystal Spear]] (3d48), [[Petrify]], Haste
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** [[Lightning Bolt]] (3d29), [[Orb of Destruction]] (9d20), [[Paralyze]], Haste
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*Prior to [[0.18]], ancient liches had randomized spell sets.
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*Prior to [[0.16]], ancient liches would generate with one of four predetermined spell sets.

Revision as of 15:18, 22 December 2021

Version 0.27: 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 deadly attack spells 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

Tips & Tricks

First and foremost, 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. Going berserk 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 or Earth Magic. Necromancy specialists can deal brutal amounts of damage with Dispel Undead, though it requires getting to and staying in point-blank range. Nearly all Hexes are useless against their infinite willpower, so don't bother with them.

Melee fighters should lure them around corners or use scrolls of blinking to get into melee range as quickly as possible, lest you get pounded by brutal attack spells or petrified. Once there, casting Silence or reading a scroll of silence will disable the vast majority of their abilities. It may be worth swapping to a Holy wrath- or antimagic-branded weapon, if available. The lich's 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. Throwing a net at the edge of LOS guarantees that the lich won't be able to follow you for several turns, allowing a fairly safe escape. Nets distract monsters; letting any player, especially Short Blades users, multiple chances to attack for free.

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, and consider chugging a potion of resistance to patch up vulnerabilities; it may be wasteful, but better to be safe than sorry! Taking 100+ damage in a single turn stings.

History