D&D 5E Master Lich Challenge

[Mouseferatu]

Take the standard lich, as presented in the Monster Manual.

Changing nothing but spell selection (and limiting yourself to the wizard spell list), create the most dangerous lich you can.

You don't need to recopy the entire spell list; just list what spells you're adding, and what spells you're removing to make room for them. Explain why you feel those changes make for a more dangerous opponent than the lich as presented.

Winner gets... Uh, probably used in my campaign.

 

[Ancalagon]

I'm going to bed, so no specific spell list for you!

But in general: A lich is a highly intelligent being. It can orchestrate the downfall of its enemies without ever having to fight them. But to do this, it needs information, as well as the ability to evade, misdirect and control others.

So spells for that

 

[Mouseferatu]

Okay, fair point, but I assume the lich prepares such spells when it's not expecting to face combat. I'm looking for the list for a lich who knows full well it's going to have to obliterate some high-level interlopers (aka PCs).

Sorry for not being clear about that from the start.

 

[Mouseferatu]

Basically, my players know me very well, and I'm looking for tricks for a campaign-ending showdown that I might not think of on my own.

 

[Leatherhead]

How well do you know your players though?

A list of their class/levels and capabilities would be keen.

 

[Mouseferatu]

How well do you know your players though?

A list of their class/levels and capabilities would be keen.

They'll be 14th or 15th level by the time the fight happens.

Human champion fighter.
Dwarven totem barbarian.
Half-elven evoker wizard.
Human light domain cleric.
Human tempest domain cleric.

The fighter and barbarian are both very mobile (including the feat). Fighter is a two-weapon sort. The wizard is, well, blasty, as is the tempest cleric. The light cleric is the primary healer, though the other cleric does a lot of that, too.

 

[MechaPilot]

Although I haven't taken a look at the Lich's spell list, from the info about your PCs it looks like Absorb Elements might be a good spell for the list.

 

[Zardnaar]

How well do you know your players though?

A list of their class/levels and capabilities would be keen.

I had a lich masquerading as a bard. It interviewed the PCs and asked for an account of some of their exploits so it asked them about what weapons it used and the light clerics tactics.

 

[Mouseferatu]

The lich in this case has been a recurring character throughout the campaign--one of those "our interests currently align" and/or "we're not strong enough to take him" things--so he knows absolutely everything about the party that he needs to.

The players are really going to like finally having a crack at him, but I want them to work and possibly suffer for it.

 

[Delazar]

The entrance to the lich lair is actually the entrance of a Mordenkainen Magnificent Mansion. Once inside, Lich casts higher lvl banishment on PCs with bad Charisma saves. Then he dimension door somewhere where the remaining PCs can't find him easily. After one minut he comes back, but now 2-3 heroes are gone.