D&D 5E What magic items would a Lich King have (Thay and Szass Tam)?

[cbwjm]

Thank you, these are some great suggestions!

I think for the three attunement slots, the items should be a Robe of the Archmagi, a Staff of Power, and Bracers of Defense. These three combined make liches way harder to hit (AC 22!) and make them more likely to hit, hit harder, and avoid magical effects.

The ring of three wishes is obviously a curve ball that Szass can essentially use for anything, but I would probably as the DM nto abuse it too hard, so that it's used to supplant any 9th level spell, or to give Szass all the benefits of taking a long rest (ie completely heals and regains all spell slots).

Szass Tam (CR 22 Lich)

• Has Robe of the Archmagi, Staff of Power, Bracers of Defense, Ring of Three Wishes
• AC 22, HP 153
• Saving Throws: STR +2, DEX +5, CON +13, INT +14, WIS +11, CHA +5
• Spell save DC 22, Spell attack of +16, +2 damage
• Advantage on saves against spells/magical effects

If in his lair, I would also give him a Sphere of Annihilation. I will take a look at some of the named items in the 3E FR Campaign Book too, if I really want to make this fellow even more nasty.

Any other items he may want, that don't use attunement slots? Or an item with an attunement slot that is more useful than the three I picked?

I'd look at wands, most don't require attunement. Maybe he has some wands that he's willing to discharge all the charges at once like a wand of magic missiles and a wand of fireballs.

Just checked and the wand if fireball does need attunement. Maybe he has a couple of the magic missile wands in standby though

 

[Urriak Uruk]

I don't think Tam has much interest the way of items named after him, what he does have are unique spells but you'll have to look at earlier editions to find them.

I just looked through the 3e FR campaign book which has his stats. In it, his stat block includes 2 netherese artefacts, the death moon orb and Tharkosil's seat (neither of which I have stats for so you'll have to google them). It also says he has a staff of power, bracers of defence, and a ring of wishes in his possession at all times.

Just took a look at the Death Moon Orb and Tharkosil's Seat... the latter isn't very useful in combat, as it's essentially meant to enslave someone who sits in it. The Death Moon Orb is also not that useful, except that it can summon any fiend and command it (which is kind of insane). The more powerful the fiend, the longer the charge, but theoretically Szass could summon a Molydeus to soften up the party (the Orb would take a year to recharge after this).

 

[cbwjm]

Just took a look at the Death Moon Orb and Tharkosil's Seat... the latter isn't very useful in combat, as it's essentially meant to enslave someone who sits in it. The Death Moon Orb is also not that useful, except that it can summon any fiend and command it (which is kind of insane). The more powerful the fiend, the longer the charge, but theoretically Szass could summon a Molydeus to soften up the party (the Orb would take a year to recharge after this).

Wow, that orb does sound pretty potent! If the party attacks him at his home base, I think the orb will have to be used at some point.

 

[Iry]

Respectfully, he has almost any item he wants. If there is something he needs but does not currently have, he can easily trade items with one of several extremely powerful people. He can also ask to borrow things directly from his master (who gave him the Death Moon Orb and Tharkosil's Seat). As leader of an entire magocracy known for producing and selling magic items, apprentice to the second most powerful wizard in all of Faerun, and entire modules focused on just how much magical bling he owns, I feel confident that you can give him anything short of true artifacts and it would be justified.

 

[Urriak Uruk]

Respectfully, he has almost any item he wants. If there is something he needs but does not currently have, he can easily trade items with one of several extremely powerful people. He can also ask to borrow things directly from his master (who gave him the Death Moon Orb and Tharkosil's Seat). As leader of an entire magocracy known for producing and selling magic items, apprentice to the second most powerful wizard in all of Faerun, and entire modules focused on just how much magical bling he owns, I feel confident that you can give him anything short of true artifacts and it would be justified.

I think I must have phrased the OP a little funny, as I'm well aware that as a leader of a nation of powerful wizards, Szass can get almost any item he wants.

The question was more... what items would he want? What would be most useful for him in a fight, or to have on hand at any time?

Wow, that orb does sound pretty potent! If the party attacks him at his home base, I think the orb will have to be used at some point.

Yeah the two items are kind of meant to be used out-of-combat (one to summon a Demon Prince, the other to enslave it forever). The orb is also a crystal ball which is kind of neat.

 

[aco175]

Don't forget his minions. He has a whole nation of casters and mooks that work for him, even if it is grudgingly.

 

[Iry]

The question was more... what items would he want? What would be most useful for him in a fight, or to have on hand at any time?

Hrrm. He learns the initiative order of his opponents, then uses an Amulet of the Planes to escape as soon as his opponents run out of counterspells. Then he readies an action to Black Crystal Tablet the most dangerous looking player immediately after they take their action. He waits for 1-2 other characters to charge through the Gate, and then cancels his concentration on the spell. He uses the Death Moon Orb to summon a fiend he thinks is appropriate to defeat the players, then starts hittting them with necromancy spells. And a more mundane item that is excellent defense, and very fitting for an apprentice of Larloch, a Ring of Spell Turning.

 

[Flamestrike]

Thank you, these are some great suggestions!

I think for the three attunement slots, the items should be a Robe of the Archmagi, a Staff of Power, and Bracers of Defense. These three combined make liches way harder to hit (AC 22!) and make them more likely to hit, hit harder, and avoid magical effects.

The ring of three wishes is obviously a curve ball that Szass can essentially use for anything, but I would probably as the DM nto abuse it too hard, so that it's used to supplant any 9th level spell, or to give Szass all the benefits of taking a long rest (ie completely heals and regains all spell slots).

Szass Tam (CR 22 Lich)

• Has Robe of the Archmagi, Staff of Power, Bracers of Defense, Ring of Three Wishes
• AC 22, HP 153
• Saving Throws: STR +2, DEX +5, CON +13, INT +14, WIS +11, CHA +5
• Spell save DC 22, Spell attack of +16, +2 damage
• Advantage on saves against spells/magical effects

If in his lair, I would also give him a Sphere of Annihilation. I will take a look at some of the named items in the 3E FR Campaign Book too, if I really want to make this fellow even more nasty.

Any other items he may want, that don't use attunement slots? Or an item with an attunement slot that is more useful than the three I picked?

Be sure to give him the blade ward cantrip. It grants resistance to all B, P and S damage for the price of a single legendary action.

 

[Helldritch]

Do not forget a shield guardian. The lich should have an enhanced version of it. And I would have it surrounded with an entourage of flaming skulls. The l'air of the lich should enhance combat effectiveness of undead (sanctum) and protect them from turning attempts. A necrotic area should also harm/hinder the living.

 

[Eltab]

Ring (Rings?) of Spell Storing.

• Haste (to cast on his bodyguard)
• The Ranger spell that fills a room / hall with sharp thorns, damage per square moved. (To cast in the space between the PCs and himself)
• Resist Elements - Radiant (because what slays undead like himself?)
• Contingency: Greater Restoration (in case somebody bogs him down with conditions)