18
\$\begingroup\$

I'm planning a lich as a BBEG villain in an upcoming adventure. I want it to be possible for the party to find the phylactery before facing the lich, as well as discovering how to destroy it.

If they manage to learn where it is and how to destroy it, and do so before facing the lich, would destroying the phylactery also destroy the lich outright, or would it simply prevent rejuvenation (meaning when they do go fight the lich, then assuming they manage to slay it, it stays dead for good)?

The only thing I've found on this site (and I don't trust other sites) is this answer to a question about liches and phylacteries, which says:

The lich does not die immediately, but it is then without a phylactery. This means the lich will not rejuvenate.

However, there's no citation for this. The lich entry in the Monster Manual doesn't seem to describe what happens in this situation (meaning, does the lich die instantly or not), so is there any other information about liches (ideally D&D 5e, but previous editions of D&D are acceptable as well) that describes what happens in this scenario?

Improve this question
\$\endgroup\$

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
37
\$\begingroup\$

It keeps Existing

In 5e, things do what they say. A phylactery is required for a lich's Rejuvenation ability and no other ability, including the Undead type.

If it has a phylactery, a destroyed lich gain a new body in 1d10 days [...].

So by inference, "If it has a phylactery" means that it is possible for the creature to not have a phylactery. Proof that it is possible for the lich to exist without a phylactery (up until they're destroyed and cannot rejuvenate).

As an analogy think of a cellular phone. A cell phone can operate for a time independent of other physical objects, but requires a charger to renew its abilities. If the phone charger is destroyed, does the cell phone immediately stop working? Or does that destruction merely prevent renewal?

Is it possible that a particular lich can be destroyed by destroying the associated phylactery? Yes, but that individual lich would have a glaring weakness that others do not have.

Improve this answer
\$\endgroup\$
5
  • 3
    \$\begingroup\$ They will also eventually turn into a demilich, since they won't be able to sacrifice souls to their phylactery if their phylactery doesn't exist anymore. \$\endgroup\$
    – nick012000
    Nov 12, 2019 at 10:01
  • \$\begingroup\$ The "phone charger" comparison is really good : as @nick012000 says, the phylactery also allow the lich to maintain their form and power~ \$\endgroup\$
    – Nahyn - support Monica Cellio
    Nov 12, 2019 at 11:10
  • \$\begingroup\$ @nick012000: Unless there's a way for the lich to recreate a phylactery. \$\endgroup\$
    – Matthieu M.
    Nov 12, 2019 at 12:41
  • \$\begingroup\$ @MatthieuM. That was actually discussed here. There's no telling if your comment is what raised that or not. \$\endgroup\$
    – Egor Hans
    Nov 12, 2019 at 12:47
  • 1
    \$\begingroup\$ Interestingly, this also presumably sets a lower-bound on how often a phylactery needs souls fed to it; if it were more frequent than once every 10 days, they would have had to specify what happens if the phylactery starves before the lich regenerates... \$\endgroup\$
    – CR Drost
    Nov 12, 2019 at 18:59

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .