Lich (D&D)

The lich is an undead creature found in the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) fantasy role-playing game. Liches are spellcaster who seek to defy death by magical means.

The term derives from lich, an archaic term for a corpse. Dungeons & Dragons cocreator Gary Gygax has stated that he based the description of a lich included in the game on the short story "The Sword of the Sorcerer" (1969) by Gardner Fox.

The lich was one of the earliest creatures introduced in the Dungeons & Dragons game.

For the original D&D rule set, the lich was introduced in its first supplement, Greyhawk (1975). It is described simply as a skeletal monster that was formerly a magic-user or a magic-user/cleric in life and retains those abilities, able to send lower-level characters fleeing in fear.