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Lich

A lich is a type of undead spellcaster in fantasy fiction, usually depicted as a powerful sorcerer or wizard who has escaped death through magic.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

A lich is a type of undead spellcaster in fantasy fiction, usually depicted as a powerful sorcerer or wizard who has escaped death through magic. The creature is commonly intelligent, hostile, and associated with necromancy and immortality.

Definition

A lich is a fantasy undead creature, typically a spellcaster who has achieved undeath through magic. The term is used most often for intelligent, powerful undead antagonists.

Common depiction

Liches are often shown as skeletal or decayed figures with advanced magical ability. Many stories present them as necromancers who preserve themselves through a soul-binding object such as a phylactery.

Use in fantasy media

The concept appears widely in fantasy fiction and role-playing games, especially Dungeons & Dragons, where it is a well-established undead monster type.

Lichdom refers to the state of being a lich. In some settings, the exact rules differ, but the core idea remains a powerful undead mage who resists death.

Key facts

  • Liches are undead beings with magical powers in fantasy settings.
  • They are commonly portrayed as former mortal spellcasters who transformed themselves to avoid death.
  • Many depictions link a lich's survival to a phylactery, an object that stores or anchors the soul.
  • Unlike mindless undead such as zombies, liches are usually intelligent and fully conscious.
  • The lich has become a recurring figure in modern fantasy games, novels, and films.
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Canadian context

Liches appear in fantasy books, games, and tabletop role-playing communities that are popular in Canada, but the concept has no specific Canadian origin.

Frequently asked questions

What is a lich?
A lich is an undead magic-user in fantasy fiction, usually a powerful and intelligent spellcaster who has escaped death through dark magic.
How does a lich stay alive?
Many stories say a lich binds its soul to a phylactery or similar object, which preserves it after the body is destroyed.
Is a lich the same as a zombie?
No. Liches are usually intelligent, self-directed spellcasters, while zombies are typically mindless undead.
Where is the lich most commonly seen?
Liches appear widely in fantasy novels, games, and films, especially in tabletop role-playing settings such as Dungeons & Dragons.
What is lichdom?
Lichdom is the state of being a lich, meaning the condition of undead existence achieved through magic.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lich
    Supports: General definition of lich as a fantasy undead creature with magical powers.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lich_(Dungeons_%26_Dragons)
    Supports: Use of lich in Dungeons & Dragons as an undead spellcaster.
  3. Pathfinder Wiki — https://pathfinderwiki.com/wiki/Lich
    Supports: Phylactery-based immortality and lich as a powerful undead necromancer.
  4. TV Tropes — https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/OurLichesAreDifferent
    Supports: Common fiction pattern of liches as undead sorcerers whose souls may be stored in a soul jar or phylactery.