Difference between revisions of "Ancient lich"

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{{list of|liches}}
 
{{monster info}}
 
{{monster info}}
  
 
==Useful Info==
 
==Useful Info==
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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, though their spell sets are entirely randomized. 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]].
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'''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.
  
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==Spells==
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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]].
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Unlike most other monsters, ancient liches have random spell sets. An ancient lich gets up to 7 spell slots, and spell sets are determined as follows:
 
  
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'''Primary Spell''' - Ancient liches get one or two of the following:
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{{monster spells}}
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*[[Corrosive Bolt]]
 
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*[[Lehudib's Crystal Spear]]
 
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*[[Orb of Destruction]]
 
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*[[Summon Greater Demon]].
 
  
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'''Buff Spell''' - They also receive one of these:
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==Strategy==
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*[[Banishment]]
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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 [[haste]]d 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.
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*[[Haste]]
 
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*[[Invisibility]]
 
  
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'''Secondary Spells''' - All remaining spell slots are filled with randomly selected items from the following:
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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.
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*[[Agony]]
 
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*[[Battlesphere]]
 
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*[[Bolt of Cold]]
 
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*[[Bolt of Draining]]
 
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*[[Bolt of Fire]]
 
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*[[Confuse]]
 
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*[[Fireball]]
 
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*[[Haunt]]
 
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*[[Iron Shot]]
 
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*[[Iskenderun's Mystic Blast]]
 
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*[[Lee's Rapid Deconstruction]]
 
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*[[Lightning Bolt]]
 
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*[[Malign Gateway]]
 
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*[[Paralyse]]
 
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*[[Petrify]]
 
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*[[Poison Arrow]]
 
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*[[Spellforged Servitor]] (only a possibility if it knows a [[Conjurations]] spell)
 
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*[[Simulacrum]]
 
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*[[Sleep]]
 
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*[[Slow]]
 
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*[[Summon Horrible Things]]
 
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*[[Throw Icicle]]
 
  
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==Tips & Tricks==
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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. 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.
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* 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.
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* [[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 [[slow]]ed when an [[orb of fire]] comes into view isn't exactly a great situation.
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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.
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* Like most enemies in Crawl, ancient liches are vulnerable to [[throwing net]]s. Throwing a net at the edge of [[LOS]] guarantees that you can run away. Nets also allow for [[stab]] attempts.
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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.
 
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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.
 
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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.
 
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
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Prior to [[0.16]], ancient liches would generate with one of four predetermined spell sets.
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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.

Latest revision as of 18:55, 25 January 2024

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 L Ancient 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

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