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What Kills a Lich? How Lich Rules Work in D&D 5e and Beyond

In D&D 2014 Basic Rules, a lich with a phylactery returns after destruction. Here is how that rule works and how to check other games.
WorldD&D 5e and Beyond Length3 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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In the official D&D 2014 Basic Rules, destroying a lich’s body does not on its own stop the lich. If the lich has a phylactery, it gets a new body. The rules text does not say how to destroy the phylactery, and lich rules differ between games, so the answer depends on which lich you mean.

Start by naming the lich you mean

“Lich” is a monster type that appears in tabletop games, video games, and fiction, and each version handles death and return differently. Before you look for a answer, pin down three things:

  • The game or setting: for example, D&D, a specific video game, or a novel.
  • The edition or version: D&D 5e (2014 rules) and later printings can differ from older editions, and video games often patch monster behavior between releases.
  • What “kill” means: defeating the body in the current fight, or permanently preventing the lich from returning. These are separate questions.

What the D&D 2014 Basic Rules say about return

The lich entry in D&D Beyond’s copy of the official 2014 Basic Rules (accessed 2026-10-08) includes a Rejuvenation trait. It reads:

“If it has a phylactery, a destroyed lich gains a new body in 1d10 days, regaining all its hit points and becoming active again. The new body appears within 5 feet of the phylactery.”

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Source: D&D Beyond, Basic Rules (2014), monster stat blocks: lich.

Three conditions follow from that text:

  • The lich must have a phylactery for the trait to apply. Without one, the entry in this excerpt does not describe a return.
  • The return happens after a delay of 1d10 days, so a lich may be inactive for days before it reappears.
  • The new body appears within 5 feet of the phylactery, so the phylactery’s location, not the lich’s last position, determines where it returns.

What the rules do not cover

The 2014 Basic Rules entry does not describe how a phylactery is destroyed. Any method you read elsewhere, whether in a guide, a forum, or a fan wiki, is not confirmed by this text. For a D&D 5e campaign, check the full monster entry and the phylactery rules in the rulebook for your edition. Do not assume the same method works in a video game or a novel.

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Damage defenses versus permanent defeat

The lich’s combat defenses determine how hard it is to damage in a fight. They do not, by themselves, stop the return described above. The stat block lists the following features:

Feature What the 2014 Basic Rules entry lists Bearing on a permanent kill
Rejuvenation Returns from a destroyed body in 1d10 days if it has a phylactery Directly relevant; the phylactery is the anchor
Legendary Resistance Listed in the stat block; mechanics not quoted in this excerpt Affects how often the lich can resist effects, not whether it returns
Resistances Cold, lightning, and necrotic damage Reduces damage taken, not return
Immunities Poison; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical attacks Reduces damage taken, not return
Turn Resistance Listed in the stat block; mechanics not quoted in this excerpt Not stated as relevant to return
Spells and paralyzing touch Listed in the stat block; specific spells not quoted in this excerpt Not stated as relevant to return

The listed details describe this one stat block. Other editions and games may use different numbers or rules.

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How to check a lich in another game or edition

  1. Identify the exact game title and version number, or the edition name and printing.
  2. Find that version’s official monster entry. For tabletop games, this is the rulebook; for video games, use the in-game codex or the developer’s official wiki or patch notes.
  3. Look for return wording such as a phylactery, a revival timer, or a respawn rule. If the entry has none, the lich may not return at all in that version.
  4. If the official text does not explain how to stop the return, treat any method you find elsewhere as unconfirmed.

Once you know the version, the answer to “what kills a lich?” comes down to two checks: the return trait, and whether the official text explains the anchor.

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