List of fictional liches
Encyclopedia
In print
- Ruthie: The main villain of the Ministry comic, Ruthie, is a variation of a lich. Although she possesses supernatural powers, her main skill lies in manipulating the mad.
- Morda: The wizard Morda from Lloyd AlexanderLloyd AlexanderLloyd Chudley Alexander was a widely influential American author of more than forty books, mostly fantasy novels for children and adolescents, as well as several adult books...
's book Taran WandererTaran WandererTaran Wanderer is the fourth book in the Chronicles of Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander. It tells of Taran's search for his lineage through which he encounters many different people who each help to shape Taran as he learns about who he truly is. It is the only book in the series in which...
, part of the Chronicles of Prydain, who kept his life force in a bone fragment. - Voldemort: The concept of a Horcrux from the Harry PotterHarry PotterHarry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by the British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...
universe resembles a phylacteryPhylacteryPhylactery may refer to:* An amulet or charm.* English name for Tefillin, a pair of small black leather boxes containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah, which are worn by observant Jews during weekday morning prayers....
. This would make the primary antagonist of the series, Lord VoldemortLord VoldemortLord Voldemort is the main antagonist of the Harry Potter series written by British author J. K. Rowling. Voldemort first appeared in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, which was released in 1997...
, something akin to a lich or demi-lich (because he has created 7 Horcruxes), though he lacks the undead body traditional of liches. The word "lich" is not used in the series. - David Wellington's Monster Trilogy describes a zombie apocalypseZombie apocalypseA zombie apocalypse is a particular scenario of apocalyptic literature that customarily has a science fiction/horror rationale. In a zombie apocalypse, a widespread rise of zombies hostile to human life engages in a general assault on civilization....
where certain characters maintained the oxygen supply to their brains after death and so retained intelligence and willpower when reanimated. These creatures are referred to as 'liches' and possess unique powers, such as the ability to mentally command and possess the regular undeadUndeadUndead is a collective name for fictional, mythological, or legendary beings that are deceased and yet behave as if alive. Undead may be incorporeal, such as ghosts, or corporeal, such as vampires and zombies...
or to become imperceptible. - Thorion: Thorion the Master Summoner of Roke in the EarthseaEarthseaEarthsea is a fictional realm originally created by Ursula K. Le Guin for her short story "The Word of Unbinding", published in 1964. Earthsea became the setting for a further six books, beginning with A Wizard of Earthsea, first published in 1968, and continuing with The Tombs of Atuan, The...
series of books becomes a form of lich when he (or an aspect of himself seeking dominance) returns from the Land of the Dead. Claiming that he has 'summoned himself' back to life, he begins to seek political power in the vacuum left by the absence of an archmage. While the full tale is detailed in 'Dragonfly', a short story in Tales from EarthseaTales from EarthseaTales from Earthsea is a collection of short stories by American writer Ursula K. Le Guin, first published in 2001. The stories are set in the Earthsea world....
, parts also appear in TehanuTehanuTehanu is the fourth of Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea books. It won the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1990, and the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel in 1991.-Plot summary:...
and The Other WindThe Other WindThe Other Wind is the sixth and last of a series of books written by Ursula K. Le Guin and set in her fantasy archipelago of Earthsea...
. - Barragan Luisenbarn: In the BleachBleach (manga)is a Japanese shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Noriaki "Tite" Kubo. Bleach follows the adventures of Ichigo Kurosaki after he obtains the powers of a —a death personification similar to the Grim Reaper—from another Soul Reaper, Rukia Kuchiki...
series, one of the Espada in Aizen's army known as Barragan Luisenbarn has a released form that greatly resembles a lich. - Kakuzu: In the 'Naruto' (manga) series, the shinobi Kakuzu - a member of Akatsuki - had a number of animal totems that contained the hearts of former opponents, which behaved as phylactries in that he could not be killed until they were eliminated.
- Lich King: In the comic book Gold Digger, the Lich King, one of the deadliest and most evil adversaries in the entire run of the book is created by accident when John Diggers, grandfather of the book's eponymous protagonist, becomes the victim of his own ultimate masterpiece, the spell "essence inversion" which transforms the very essence of a being into its opposite. Unfortunately Dr. Diggers was a very kind, good-hearted and loving man. He did not use a phylactery, but was typical in every other way being a consummate schemer.
- In the short story SticksSticks (short story)"Sticks" is a short story by horror fiction writer Karl Edward Wagner, first published in the March 1974 issue of Whispers. It has been reprinted in several anthologies, including the revised edition of Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos, indicating that it is part of the Cthulhu Mythos genre.The...
by Karl Edward WagnerKarl Edward WagnerKarl Edward Wagner was an American writer, editor and publisher of horror, science fiction, and heroic fantasy, who was born in Knoxville, Tennessee and originally trained as a psychiatrist. His disillusionment with the medical profession can be seen in the stories "The Fourth Seal" and "Into...
, the protagonist comes in contact with a lich in a deserted farmhouse. - Acererak: In the book Ready Player OneReady Player OneReady Player One is a science fiction novel by Ernest Cline. The book was published by Random House on August 16, 2011. The audiobook is narrated by Wil Wheaton.Warner Bros. bought the rights to the film in June 2010....
, by Ernest ClineErnest Cline-Spoken word:From 1997-2001, Cline performed his original work at the Austin Poetry Slam venues. He was the Austin Poetry Slam Champ in 1998 and 2001, and competed on the Austin Poetry Slam Teams at the 1998 Austin National Poetry Slam and the 2001 Seattle National Poetry Slam...
, the guardian of the Copper Key is Acererak the Demi-Lich. - Kerrigor: Kerrigor in SabrielSabrielSabriel is a fantasy novel by Garth Nix, first published in 1995. It is the first in his Old Kingdom trilogy, and is followed by Lirael and Abhorsen.-Plot introduction:...
.
In movies
- The Horned King from Disney's "The Black CauldronThe Black CauldronThe Black Cauldron can refer to:* The Black Cauldron , the second novel in The Chronicles of Prydain series* The Black Cauldron , the Disney animated film based on The Chronicles of Prydain book series...
" (1985) and the Lloyd AlexanderLloyd AlexanderLloyd Chudley Alexander was a widely influential American author of more than forty books, mostly fantasy novels for children and adolescents, as well as several adult books...
books that inspired the film resembles a lich. - The "Gray Witch" in Record of Lodoss WarRecord of Lodoss Waris a franchise of fantasy novels by Ryo Mizuno based around the work he originally created for a world called Forcelia for role-playing games . There have since been multiple manga, anime and computer game adaptations, several of which have been translated into English...
(Kala the Gray Witch only puts her will in a head ornament before her death, not her soul, and the ornament controls the next person who wears it.) - In the remake of The Mummy and its sequels, the main villain Imhotep is rendered immortal through the Curse of Hom Dai. His body was reduced to a skeleton by scarab beetles and sealed in a coffin. After being accidentally revived he assimilated the flesh and organs of a group of thieves who opened a cursed chest. Imhotep was also skilled in necromancy, being able to animate the corpses of his long-dead priests, and in the second film animates the mummies being kept in the British Museum.
- The 1997 animated movie AnastasiaAnastasia (1997 film)Anastasia is a 1997 American animated musical film produced and directed by Don Bluth and Gary Goldman. It was the first feature film to be released by Fox Animation Studios....
depicts RasputinGrigori RasputinGrigori Yefimovich Rasputin was a Russian Orthodox Christian and mystic who is perceived as having influenced the latter days of the Russian Emperor Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra, and their only son Alexei...
, the main antagonist of the film, as a lich. Because of the terms of the curse he put on Tsar Nicholas II and his family, Rasputin cannot die until the entire royal family has been killed - as long as his reliquary is intact. This, along with his desire for revenge against the Tsar, is more than enough to motivate him to finish the curse by killing Anastasia. At the end of the movie, Anastasia defeats him by grinding the reliquary to powder under her high-heeled shoe. The demonic minions from within the reliquary are released, and they destroy Rasputin's body and presumably take his soul towards damnation.
In television
- In the animated series of He-ManHe-ManHe-Man is a fictional heroic character featured in the Masters of the Universe media franchise. In most variations, he is the alter ego of Prince Adam...
, He-man's arch enemy SkeletorSkeletorSkeletor is a featured villain in the Masters of the Universe franchise and the arch-enemy and main antagonist of He-Man. Depicted as a muscular blue humanoid with a purple hood over his yellowing bare-bone skull, Skeletor seeks to conquer Castle Grayskull so he can learn its ancient secrets,...
could be considered a lich, due to his skull face and magic abilities. In the most recent edition of the animation, a backstory elaborates on Skeletor's origins, explaining he was originally an evil warlord named Keldor who was mortally wounded by King RandorKing RandorKing Randor is a fictional character who appears in the popular 1980s Masters of the Universe franchise. In early material, the character is called King Miro, this was later given in the Filmation cartoon series as King Randor's long-lost father's name....
many years ago. In order to survive, he made a pact with the spirit of the ancient overlord HordakHordakHordak is a fictional character in the Masters of the Universe franchise, as a villain who opposes She-Ra, He-Man, and villain Skeletor. In the She-Ra cartoon, he is the leader of the segment of the fictional Evil Horde on the planet Etheria, an army of savage warriors, most of whom wear a red...
. In return for his life and the power to defeat his enemies in EterniaEterniaEternia is the name of the fictional planet that serves as a setting for the Masters of the Universe toy collection and animated series.-Origins:...
, he would serve Hordak. This resulted in his transformation into Skeletor.
- In Adventure TimeAdventure TimeAdventure Time was a local children's television show on WTAE-TV 4 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1959 to 1975. It was hosted by the late Paul Shannon, with guitarist Joe Negri and puppeteer Jim Martin...
, the Lich is featured as the antagonist in the 2-part(30 min) finale for the show's second season.
- In NBC's The CapeThe CapeThe Cape was an American dramatic TV series, with elements of science fiction, action/adventure, and drama, that was produced for syndication during the 1996–1997 television season. The Cape told the story of select members of the NASA Astronaut Corps at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida with a...
, one of the main villains is nicknamed the "Lich" by the Palm City police force due to his seemingly supernatural abilities when kidnapping his victims.
- in Puella Magi Madoka MagicaPuella Magi Madoka Magicais a Japanese anime television series produced by Shaft and Aniplex. The series is directed by Akiyuki Shinbo and written by Gen Urobuchi with original character designs by Ume Aoki, character design adaptation by Takahiro Kishida and music by Yuki Kajiura...
, the titular Puella Magi could be considered liches, because they are girls who have had their souls removed from their bodies and turned into a Soul Gem that fuels their magical powers, animates their bodies, and kills them if destroyed. However, Puella Magi did not seek immortality in becoming what they are, which is the trademark of a lich. They still possess phylacteries, objects used for containing their soul, but it's this and other spoiler details that puts the idea of Puella Magi as liches up for debate.
In Internet media
- Richard, one of the main characters in the web comic Looking for GroupLooking for GroupLooking for Group is a fantasy-themed Canadian webcomic written by Ryan Sohmer and drawn by Lar DeSouza. The Comic follows the adventures of Cale'Anon and Richard , as well as their companions...
, is a subversion of the old "lich stays in his lair and plots" paradigm. Richard likes to go about killing things. Amusingly, he has no trouble changing facial expressions despite having just a skull and two yellow orbs. - The webcomicWebcomicWebcomics, online comics, or Internet comics are comics published on a website. While many are published exclusively on the web, others are also published in magazines, newspapers or often in self-published books....
The Order of the StickThe Order of the StickThe Order of the Stick is a comedic webcomic that celebrates and satirizes tabletop role-playing games and medieval fantasy through the ongoing tale of the eponymous fellowship of adventuring heroes...
uses Xykon as its chief villain.
In non-computer games
- The Warhammer FantasyWarhammer Fantasy (setting)Warhammer Fantasy is a fantasy setting, created by Games Workshop, which is used by many of the company's games. Some of the best-known games set in this world are: the table top wargame Warhammer Fantasy Battle, the Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay pen-and-paper role-playing game, and the MMORPG...
setting includes liches such as NagashNagashNagash may refer to*Stian Arnesen, Norwegian musician*Nagash - a character in the fictional Warhammer Fantasy game setting*Negash, a village in northern Ethiopia, with important Muslim associations...
and near liche characters such as the Lichemaster, as well as Liche-Priests in KhemriKhemriAn undead nation in the fictional world of the Warhammer Fantasy setting, Khemri is home to the Tomb Kings, an army composed of skeletons and various decayed creatures. The theme of the army is based on the culture of Ancient Egypt, with an emphasis on its more morbid tendencies such as mummification...
. - The GURPSGURPSThe Generic Universal RolePlaying System, or GURPS, is a tabletop role-playing game system designed to allow for play in any game setting...
supplement GURPS Undead enables a wizard to become a lich, who requires monthly doses of a special elixir made from "some rather unpleasant materials (free but illegal)" to survive. In the GURPS Technomancer setting there are several "atomic liches" who were created by experiments with radiation and who now secretly work to promote death and destruction. - The D&D campaign setting RavenloftRavenloftRavenloft is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. It is an alternate time-space existence known as a pocket dimension called the Demiplane of Dread, which consists of a collection of land pieces called domains brought together by a mysterious force known only as "The Dark...
contains the powerful and scheming lich Azalin.
In video games
- In Battle for WesnothBattle for WesnothThe Battle for Wesnoth, or simply Wesnoth, is a turn-based strategy game with a fantasy setting, designed by David White and first released in June 2003. In Wesnoth, the player attempts to build a powerful army by controlling villages and defeating enemies for experience. White based Wesnoth...
, Lich is an alternative upgrade path of the Dark Sorcerer beside the Necromancer, and liches are used as villains in many scenarios and campaigns, although some campaigns give the player control of friendly liches and their far more deadly counterparts, Ancient liches. - Blizzard's WarcraftWarcraft UniverseWarcraft is a franchise of video games, novels, and other media originally created by Blizzard Entertainment. The series is made up of Four core games: Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, and World of Warcraft...
plays host to a number of liches who belong to the Undead Scourge: Araj the Summoner, Amnennar the Coldbringer, Ras Frostwhisper, Rage Winterchill and Arch-Lich Kel'Thuzad, who holds the position of majordomo to Arthas Menethil, the former Lich King. The ruler of the Scourge, first Ner'zhul, then Arthas, now Bolvar Fordragon is known as the Lich King. - In The Elder ScrollsThe Elder ScrollsThe Elder Scrolls is a role-playing video game series developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks.-History:...
, human necromancers can imbue themselves with necromantic magic and transform into undead liches. They rely upon black magicBlack magicBlack magic is the type of magic that draws on assumed malevolent powers or is used with the intention to kill, steal, injure, cause misfortune or destruction, or for personal gain without regard to harmful consequences. As a term, "black magic" is normally used by those that do not approve of its...
, both from their staves and from their spells, and will usually summon an undeadUndeadUndead is a collective name for fictional, mythological, or legendary beings that are deceased and yet behave as if alive. Undead may be incorporeal, such as ghosts, or corporeal, such as vampires and zombies...
underling, such as a skeleton warrior. The character Mannimarco is also supposed to be a lich, even if he appears as a normal High Elf in the fourth of the series (see below). In the second of the series (Daggerfall) Mannimarco appears far more lich-like. - Barilzar, one of the most powerful liches in the Elder Scrolls series, created a magical ring (known as Barilzar's Mazed Band), so powerful that he made himself a lich to keep the ring safe, and away from the world. In the encounter with him in The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind's Expansion, Tribunal, the only reason that the player is able to defeat him is because of his long period of time wasting away in the tomb.
- In Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, liches are a powerful form of undead, but can be summoned with a spell by a necromancer, or by the player if they have a high enough conjurationConjurationConjuration is used in many video games, mainly RPGs, where it is usually referred to as summoning.* A notable example is the Final Fantasy franchise which incorporates summoning of monsters to fight alongside the characters....
level. Also, players joining the Dark Brotherhood are required to assassinate the necromancer Celedaen, before he completes his transformation into a lich. - The last boss in Guild WarsGuild WarsGuild Wars is an episodic series of online 3D fantasy role-playing games developed by ArenaNet and published by NCsoft. Although often defined as an MMORPG the developers define it as a CORPG due to significant differences from the MMORPG genre. It provides two main modes of gameplay—a cooperative...
Prophecies is a lich. - The action-RPG PC game NOXNoxNox may refer to:* Nox , the Roman translation of Nyx, the primordial god of the night in Greek mythology.* Nox , a video game developed by Westwood Studios* Nox , a pop band from HungaryIn fiction...
features enemy sorcerers called liches. - In the MMORPGMassively multiplayer online role-playing gameMassively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
TibiaTibia (computer game)Tibia is a massively multiplayer online roleplaying game created by CipSoft GmbH. It is one of the oldest MMORPGs and was considered most noteworthy in its early years; however, with the development of MMORPGs its popularity has grown much slower than other gaming communities...
a lich is a mid-strong undead creature with an arsenal of spells. - In AdventureQuestAdventureQuestAdventureQuest is an online flash based single-player RPG developed by Artix Entertainment in 2002. As of June 14, 2010, aq.battleon.com, the game's hosting website, and www.battleon.com, the game's homepage, have an Alexa rating of 3,041...
, a character with the Necromancer class is able to become a lich upon death. There is also a dracolich, which is an undead dragon. - In Times of LoreTimes of LoreTimes of Lore is an action role-playing game with a detailed world. It was released for several platforms, including PC, Commodore 64/128, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad, Atari ST, Apple II, NES, and Amiga.-Description:...
, a wizard who has transformed himself into a "lyche" resides under a ruined temple in the desert. He is depicted as an inanimate corpse sitting on a throne. - In Phantasy StarPhantasy Staris the first installment in Sega's renowned series of the same name. It was released for the Sega Master System in Japan on December 20, 1987, and then in North America and Europe in 1988. It is considered one of the pioneers amongst console role-playing games, both for its advanced graphics...
, liches feature as a minor enemy in some dungeons. - Golden SunGolden SunGolden Sun, released in Japan as , is the first installment in a series of fantasy role-playing video games developed by Camelot Software Planning and published by Nintendo. It was released in November 2001 for Nintendo's Game Boy Advance and was followed by a sequel, Golden Sun: The Lost Age, in...
uses liches as an enemy. - Disciples II: Dark ProphecyDisciples II: Dark ProphecyDisciples II: Dark Prophecy is a PC game by Strategy First that was released on January 24, 2002. The game is the sequel to the 1999 game Disciples: Sacred Lands, and has become significantly more successful in terms of both sales and popularity than its predecessor...
features liches as powerful creatures serving the Undead Hordes. - Dark Lich is a boss from Secret of ManaSecret of ManaSecret of Mana is an action role-playing game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System developed and published by Square in 1993. The game was re-released for the Wii's Virtual Console in 2008, and was ported to Japanese mobile phones in 2009...
and its sequel Seiken Densetsu 3Seiken Densetsu 3is an action role-playing game developed and published by Square for Nintendo's Super Famicom as a part of the Mana series.The game features three lengthy main plotlines, six different characters, each with their own storylines, and a wide range of classes to choose from, which provides each...
. In Secret of ManaSecret of ManaSecret of Mana is an action role-playing game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System developed and published by Square in 1993. The game was re-released for the Wii's Virtual Console in 2008, and was ported to Japanese mobile phones in 2009...
, he first appears as the main villain, Thanatos, before showing his true form. - The Iron Liches as bosses from HereticHeretic (computer game)Heretic is a fantasy first-person shooter video game created by Raven Software, published by id Software, and distributed by GT Interactive in 1994. It was made available on Steam on August 3, 2007....
. - In City of VillainsCity of VillainsCity of Villains is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game based on the superhero comic book genre, developed by Cryptic Studios and published by NCSoft. Released on October 31, 2005 , the game is integrated with their previous release, City of Heroes...
, a Necromancer Mastermind's most powerful pet is a lich. - In the original Final FantasyFinal Fantasy (video game)is a fantasy role-playing video game created by Hironobu Sakaguchi, developed and first published in Japan by Square in 1987. It is the first game in Square's Final Fantasy series...
, Lich is one of the Four Fiends of Chaos, associated with the element of Earth. He causes the earth to rot and decay by blocking the power of the Crystal of Earth from escaping the cavern in which he rests. A vampire, his subservient, is encountered before him as a sub-boss battle. - In Final Fantasy IVFinal Fantasy IVis a role-playing video game developed and published by Square in 1991 as a part of the Final Fantasy series. The game was originally released for the Super Famicom in Japan and has since then been rereleased for many other platforms with varying modifications. An enhanced remake with 3D graphics...
, ScarmiglioneScarmiglioneScarmiglione is one of the twelve named Malebranche in the 8th Circle of Hell's 5th Gulf, where corrupt politicians are immersed in burning pitch, the Malebolge, from the Inferno of Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy.-In popular culture:*Final Fantasy...
, the Earth Fiend, is a Lich-like undead wizard, commanding zombies in battle. - In Final Fantasy TacticsFinal Fantasy Tacticsis a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square for the Sony PlayStation video game console. It is the first game of the Final Fantasy Tactics series and was released in Japan in June 1997 and in the United States in January 1998...
there is a 'Rich' summon (due to a mistranslation). - In Final Fantasy IXFinal Fantasy IXis a role-playing video game developed and published by Square for the PlayStation video game console. It is the ninth title in the Final Fantasy series. The game introduced new features to the series like the 'Active Time Event', 'Mognet' and a unique equipment and skill system.Final Fantasy IXs...
, Lich is the Earth Guardian of Terra. - In Final Fantasy XIIFinal Fantasy XIIis a console role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 2. Released in 2006, it is the twelfth title in the Final Fantasy series and the last in the series to be released exclusively on the PlayStation platform...
, a lich is a monster which can be found in the Tomb of Raithwall. - In Final Fantasy Crystal ChroniclesFinal Fantasy Crystal Chroniclesis a action role-playing game for the Nintendo GameCube. It was published by Nintendo and developed by The Game Designers Studio, a shell corporation for Square Enix's Product Development Division-2. A spin-off of the Final Fantasy series, the game spawned a metaseries of the same name...
, a lich is the boss of the undead-filled area Rebena Te Ra. This lich, unrelated to the liches of other Final Fantasy games, resembles a giant Yuke. - Liches appear in Vagrant StoryVagrant Storyis a Japanese-developed console role-playing game developed and published by Square for the PlayStation video game console. The game was released in 2000, and has been re-released through the PlayStation Network for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable consoles eleven years later...
, where they are 'evil' type enemies described as mages who gained eternal life through making pacts with demons. They are powerful magic users capable of teleporting around the rooms they appear in. The game also features lich lords, more powerful versions of the basic liches, and Death, a Lich-like enemy who resembles the Grim Reaper and is tasked with hunting down the possessed. - "The Lich" is the final boss of the "Forsaken Province" territory in Gauntlet: Dark LegacyGauntlet: Dark LegacyGauntlet Dark Legacy, released in arcades in 2000 and in 2001 for PlayStation 2 and in 2002 for Game Boy Advance, GameCube and Xbox, is an expansion of the previous title in the series, Gauntlet Legends...
. - Liches are prominent villains and player characters throughout the Might and MagicMight and MagicMight and Magic is a series of role-playing video games from New World Computing, which in 1996 became a subsidiary of The 3DO Company...
series, notably Might and Magic VII, VIII and IXMight and Magic IXMight and Magic IX is a computer role-playing game, the last developed by New World Computing for Microsoft Windows and released in 2002 by the 3DO Company. It is the sequel to Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer...
. - The Heroes of Might and MagicHeroes of Might and MagicHeroes of Might and Magic is a series of video games originally created and developed by Jon Van Caneghem through New World Computing. As part of the Might and Magic franchise, the series changed ownership when NWC was acquired by 3DO and again when 3DO closed down and sold the rights to Ubisoft...
series' Necropolis faction contains Liches and Power Liches (alternatively named Archliches and Lich Masters in the fifth game) as troops. Some Liches are also major storyline characters and protagonists, such as SandroHeroes of Might and Magic III: The Shadow of DeathHeroes of Might and Magic III: The Shadow of Death is the second of two expansion packs for the turn-based strategy game Heroes of Might and Magic III. It was developed by New World Computing for Microsoft Windows and released by the 3DO Company in 2000...
the Necromancer and Nicolas GryphonheartHeroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of ErathiaHeroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia is a turn-based strategy game developed by Jon Van Caneghem through New World Computing for Microsoft Windows and released by the 3DO Company in 1999. An Apple Macintosh port was released by 3DO, and a Linux port was released by Loki...
. - In Heroes of Might and Magic IVHeroes of Might and Magic IVHeroes of Might and Magic IV is a turn-based strategy game developed by Jon Van Caneghem through New World Computing and published by the 3DO Company for Microsoft Windows-based personal computers in 2002. A Macintosh port was subsequently developed by Contraband Entertainment and released by the...
, Lich is a class of hero attained by mastering the death magic and chaos magic skills. Lich heroes can age enemy units by attacking them, reducing their attributes. - In Arcanum: of Steamworks and Magick ObscuraArcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick ObscuraArcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura is a single player / multi-player computer role-playing game developed by Troika Games and published by Sierra Entertainment. It was released in North America and Europe in August 2001 for Microsoft Windows...
, liches are a form of undead. - In Ultima OnlineUltima OnlineUltima Online is a graphical massively multiplayer online role-playing game , released on September 24, 1997, by Origin Systems. It was instrumental to the development of the genre, and is still running today...
, a lich is a type of undead enemy with a strong melee attack and powerful spells. There are three types of liches: the regular lich, the more powerful Lich Lord, and the nearly invincible Ancient Lich. - Liches feature as undead spell-casters in dark robes in MU OnlineMu OnlineMU Online is a 3D medieval fantasy MMORPG, produced by Webzen, a Korean gaming company.-Gameplay:MU Online was created back in December 2001 by the Korean gaming company Webzen. Like in most MMORPGs, players have to create a character among five different classes and to set their foot on the MU...
. - In the MMORPGMassively multiplayer online role-playing gameMassively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
Nexus War a lich is one of the classes characters can take after a certain level. - In Lost SoulsLost Souls (online game)Lost Souls is a MUD, a text-based online role-playing game set in a medieval fantasy world. It has an extensive history of technical innovation in its field and has received critical praise....
, liches are found serving the master necromancer Necrolak, who seems to have nearly completed lich transformation himself. There is also a dracolich named Klavromethicos imprisoned by Kalyxes in the Shadow Tower. - In MajorMUDMajorMUDMajorMUD is a MUD for the Major BBS and Worldgroup BBS software. It can be played over a dial-up modem connected to a BBS, or more commonly over telnet.-History:...
, Zanthus the Lich is featured as the most powerful NPC in the game. - While not created in the same manner as the traditional lich, Pious Augustus of Eternal Darkness: Sanity's RequiemEternal Darkness: Sanity's RequiemEternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem is a psychological horror action-adventure video game released for the Nintendo GameCube. Developed by Canadian developer Silicon Knights and originally planned for the Nintendo 64, it was first released and published by Nintendo on June 24, 2002 in North America...
could be seen as one, as his body and soul were corrupted when he touched one of the three hallowed relics of the Ancients, and transformed into a skeletal, emaciated monster with vast magical abilities and a keen intelligence (though bound to serve his Ancient masters). He is also referred to as "The Liche". Like many other liches, he had control over the Ancient's undead monsters. - In Warlords 3:Reign of Heroes, the undead faction is named "Liche King," suggesting that it is lich-controlled. Liches are a non-recruitable ally to the undead faction that inspires fear.
- In Warlords IV: Heroes of Etheria, Liches are the second level Undead unit. They are fairly weak rank-and file fighters who have an extremely unreliable death gaze.
- Bane, Horseman of Death and leader of the undead faction in the Warlords series, is described in Warlords Battlecry IIIWarlords Battlecry IIIWarlords Battlecry III is a real-time strategy game developed by Infinite Interactive and published in 2004. It is the third installment in the Warlords Battlecry series and the sequel to Warlords Battlecry II.-Gameplay:...
as 'a giant lich riding a chariot'. - In the Might & Magic series, Liches are a class of player upgraded from a Necromancer, or in Might & Magic 7 from a wizard who has allied himself with necromancers.
- In the Chzo MythosChzo MythosThe Chzo Mythos is the collective title given to a series of four amateur adventure games created by Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw using the Adventure Game Studio development tool. The games are, in order of release and intended play-order, 5 Days a Stranger, 7 Days a Skeptic, Trilby's Notes and 6 Days a...
, an amateur adventure gameAmateur adventure gameAn amateur adventure game is a computer game belonging to the adventure genre that has no commercial or similar official backing. The amateur adventure game scene emerged in the mid to late 1990s, when releases of new commercial adventure games became more rare and easy distribution of games and...
series, Chzo's servant, the Tall Man was a lich. - NetHackNetHackNetHack is a single-player roguelike video game originally released in 1987. It is a descendant of an earlier game called Hack , which is a descendant of Rogue...
features lich, demilich, arch-lich and master lich. - ADOM features lich, lich king, emperor lich and master lich.
- Ogre BattleOgre Battle"Ogre Battle" may refer to:*Ogre Battle , a song by English rock band Queen from their album Queen II.* The Ogre Battle series of tactical role-playing games, which include:**Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen...
and its sequels feature liches, generally as the most powerful type of spellcaster. They may also be capable of recruiting undead characters. - In Kingdom of LoathingKingdom of LoathingKingdom of Loathing is a browser-based, multiplayer role-playing game designed and operated by Asymmetric Publications, including creator Zack "Jick" Johnson and writer Josh "Mr. Skullhead" Nite. The game was released in 2003...
the lihc is a monster in the Misspelled Cemetery parodying the lich. - In Clan LordClan LordClan Lord is the Macintosh's first massively multiplayer online role-playing game , made by Delta Tao Software. It was started in the late 1990s and is still going, with a regular update every 3 weeks. In 2001 it was voted one of the top ten Mac games of all time in GAMES Magazine. By the end of...
Liches appear frequently in the Dark Temple and are part of a pirate-like community of non-player characters called "Darshaks." - One of the bosses inside several versions of the MMOG, "Gunz: The Duel" there is a boss known as a Lich. It is possible to reach this boss by defeating several enemies in an underground/dungeon "Quest" match.
- In Boktai 2: Solar Boy DjangoBoktai 2: Solar Boy Django, also known as Zoktai, is a video game that was developed and published by Konami for the Game Boy Advance. Released in North America and Japan in 2004 and in Europe in 2005, it is the sequel to Boktai: The Sun Is in Your Hand.-Plot:...
, the Lich and Lich+ enemies appear as minibosses. - In Tales of PhantasiaTales of Phantasiais a Super Nintendo game in the RPG genre published by Namco and released in Japan in 1995, selling 212,000 copies. It is the first mothership title in the Tales RPG series and was later remade/re-released on the PlayStation, Game Boy Advance and PlayStation Portable...
, some enemies can summon a lich. - In EverQuest IIEverQuest IIEverQuest II is a 3D fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by Sony Online Entertainment , based on EverQuest, and shipped on 8 November 2004...
, Varsoon the Undying is a relatively young lich (only 300 years or so old) who remains in the Chamber of Immortality within the Ruins of Varsoon. While the Ruins are located in The Thundering Steppes, his tomb is on an island off the northwest coast of Antonica. Lucan Dlere, the overlord of Freeport is also a lich. - In the MMORPGMassively multiplayer online role-playing gameMassively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
Grand ChaseGrand ChaseGrand Chase is a free-to-play, two-dimensional side-scrolling MMORPG developed by the South Korean company KOG Studios....
, a lich is a boss in the Forsaken Barrows, capable of holding down players with zombies, summoning undead orcs, and using lightning bolts. - The MMORPGMassively multiplayer online role-playing gameMassively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
RuneScapeRuneScapeRuneScape is a fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game released in January 2001 by Andrew and Paul Gower, and developed and published by Jagex Games Studio. It is a graphical browser game implemented on the client-side in Java, and incorporates 3D rendering...
features a fictional race called the Mahjarrat, who tend to be extremely powerful, almost immortal and most often shapeshifting mages. These creatures have a true form what looks exactly like liches, and have the same intentions. Many quests of RuneScape are about these creatures. However, it is unlikely they are true Liches as the require a ritual to be sustained and one of their own is sacrificed during the ritual. - The computer RPG Planescape: TormentPlanescape: TormentPlanescape: Torment is a computer role-playing game developed for Windows by Black Isle Studios and released on December 12, 1999 by Interplay Entertainment. It takes place in Planescape, an Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy campaign setting...
references the creature, but comes no closer than the minor character Strahan Runeshadow, a necromancer aspiring to lich-hood. There are surprisingly many intelligent animated skulls, but they are all of quite different origins than liches. - The computer RPG Baldur's Gate 2 and its expansion pack Throne of Bhaal frequently use liches as mid- to high-level enemies, including Kangaxx the Demilich (BG2) and an unnamed Demilich in ToB.
- Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance IIBaldur's Gate: Dark Alliance IIBaldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II is an action role-playing game released for the PlayStation 2 on December 2, 2003 and the Xbox on January 20, 2004...
includes the lich Lyran. - Neverwinter NightsNeverwinter NightsNeverwinter Nights , produced by BioWare and published by Infogrames , is a third-person perspective computer role-playing game that is based on third edition Dungeons & Dragons and Forgotten Realms rules. It was originally to be published by Interplay Entertainment, but the publisher's financial...
allows powerful players to summon liches. - The Neverwinter Nights expansion pack Shadows of Undrentide uses the lich Belpheron in the plot, although he was destroyed before the game's start. Belpheron appears briefly as an enemy in Hordes of the Underdark expansion (though his name is spelt Balpheron). Though not a true lich, the character Kel-garas (also appearing in Shadows of Undrentide) has attained undeath through similar means (namely, binding his soul to a phylactery).
- In Lost KingdomsLost KingdomsLost Kingdoms is a fantasy video game developed by From Software and published by Activision in North America and Europe. The original Japanese version of this game is simply known as . The game was released in Japan on April 25, 2002; in North America on May 27, 2002; and in Europe on August 9, 2002...
, there is a Liche card, a Weapon-type card allowing Katia to shoot blasts of fire from the Liche's wand that appears. - In Siege of AvalonSiege of AvalonSiege of Avalon is a computer game created by Digital Tome. It is a top-down RPG set in the fantasy realm. This game is often compared with games such as Diablo in terms of gameplay.-Overview:...
, there is is an unnamed lich that must be fought, at the price of the life of the necromancer that must accompany you for this quest. - In the Blizzard RPGs DiabloDiablo (video game)Diablo is a dark fantasy-themed action role-playing game developed by Blizzard North and released by Blizzard Entertainment on December 31, 1996....
and Diablo IIIDiablo IIIDiablo III is an upcoming dark fantasy/horror-themed action role-playing game in development by Blizzard, making it the third installment in the Diablo franchise...
, the boss character known as the Skeleton King greatly resembles a lich in both abilities and appearance. - In League of LegendsLeague of LegendsThe BetFred League of Legends was a darts tournament featuring some of the legends of the game of darts which commenced in May 2008. The tournament is broadcast on Setanta Sports in the United Kingdom....
, one of the playable champions is a lich called Karthus. - In the MMORPG Mabinogi, Liches are incredibly powerful monsters residing in areas where either much death has occurred (probably in trying to kill them) and in deep underground, dark lairs. They are traditional liches, only differing in that they lack the item which to tie their souls to. This is confirmed via a cutsceneCutsceneA cutscene is a sequence in a video game over which the player has no or only limited control, breaking up the gameplay and used to advance the plot, strengthen the main character's development, introduces enemy characters, and provide background information, atmosphere, dialogue, and clues...
showing one magician's transformation into a lich.