What Happens When You Destroy a Lich’s Phylactery?

The destruction of a lich’s phylactery is a pivotal moment, fraught with peril and potential victory. Simply put, destroying a lich’s phylactery does not immediately kill the lich. Instead, it severs the vital link that allows the lich to regenerate after its physical body is destroyed. The lich immediately becomes aware that its phylactery is gone, and if the lich’s current body is defeated, it will die as its soul has nowhere to go to hide from true death. This makes the lich vulnerable and mortal, although still incredibly dangerous. Without its phylactery, the next time the lich’s body is defeated, its soul will be unable to reconstitute, resulting in permanent death. Think of it as removing the safety net; the lich can still perform the aerial acrobatics, but the fall is now deadly.

Understanding the Lich and its Phylactery

Before delving deeper into the consequences of phylactery destruction, it’s crucial to understand the relationship between a lich and its phylactery. A lich is an undead spellcaster who has cheated death through dark magic. They undergo a ritual to transfer their soul into an object called a phylactery, ensuring their immortality. This phylactery acts as an anchor, pulling their soul back to the material plane whenever their physical body is destroyed. The lich then regenerates, often in or near their phylactery, ready to continue their nefarious schemes.

The phylactery isn’t just an object; it’s a repository for the lich’s life force. The lich must periodically feed souls to it to maintain its power. A lich who fails to do this risks degrading into a demilich, a pathetic husk of its former self. The destruction of the phylactery, therefore, doesn’t just prevent regeneration; it also represents a significant blow to the lich’s power and control.

Consequences of Phylactery Destruction

The immediate aftermath of destroying a phylactery is often subtle but profoundly impactful.

The Lich Knows

The lich instantly becomes aware of the phylactery’s destruction. This knowledge is a significant psychological blow. The lich, accustomed to near-immortality, now faces the very real possibility of permanent death. This can lead to erratic behavior, desperation, or even recklessness, as the lich seeks to secure a new means of survival or simply unleash its remaining power in a final act of vengeance.

Vulnerability to True Death

The most significant consequence is the lich’s newfound vulnerability. If the lich’s body is destroyed after the phylactery is gone, the lich permanently dies. There’s no second chance, no regeneration, and no return. This transforms the final confrontation into a high-stakes battle where victory means complete annihilation of a powerful evil.

Opportunity for Exploitation

Knowing the phylactery is destroyed gives adventurers a tactical advantage. They can exploit the lich’s fear and desperation, luring it into traps or forcing it into unfavorable situations. The lich, no longer invulnerable, might make mistakes it wouldn’t have otherwise.

Challenges in Destroying a Phylactery

Destroying a phylactery is rarely easy. The D&D 5e Monster Manual emphasizes that it often requires a special ritual, item, or weapon. Every phylactery is unique, and discovering the key to its destruction is a quest in and of itself. This quest often involves:

• Research: Delving into ancient texts and forgotten lore to uncover the phylactery’s weaknesses.
• Travel: Journeying to remote and dangerous locations to find the necessary components or items.
• Combat: Facing powerful guardians and magical defenses protecting the phylactery.
• Moral Dilemmas: Making difficult choices that may have unforeseen consequences.

Example of Phylactery Destruction

Imagine a lich’s phylactery is a jeweled skull, and it can only be destroyed by immersing it in the tears of a celestial being within a consecrated pool during a lunar eclipse. The adventurers must find the pool, convince a celestial to shed tears (perhaps by righting a great wrong or fulfilling an ancient prophecy), and time their actions perfectly to coincide with the lunar eclipse. This multi-layered quest highlights the complexity and challenge inherent in phylactery destruction. The Games Learning Society understands the value of these narrative-driven experiences. Check out GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more.

Additional Considerations

While the core principle remains the same, certain factors can influence the outcome of phylactery destruction:

• The Lich’s Power: A more powerful lich might have contingency plans or additional defenses in place.
• The Phylactery’s Location: A phylactery hidden on another plane presents unique challenges for both finding and destroying it.
• The Method of Destruction: Some methods might be more effective than others, potentially leaving lingering magical effects.

FAQs: Destroying a Lich’s Phylactery

1. Can a lich create a new phylactery after its original one is destroyed?

The rules don’t explicitly state that a lich can create a second phylactery. It’s up to the DM to decide. Allowing it would require a significant ritual and resources, potentially offering further adventure opportunities. Denying it emphasizes the gravity of destroying the first phylactery.

2. Can a phylactery be anything?

While almost any object can serve as a phylactery, it must be made of a solid material (not wood) and exhibit high-quality craftsmanship. This suggests that the object itself possesses inherent value or significance.

3. Can you dispel a phylactery?

No, you cannot permanently dispel a phylactery with Dispel Magic. At best, Dispel Magic might temporarily suppress the phylactery’s effects, but it won’t destroy the item or sever its connection to the lich’s soul.

4. What happens if a lich’s phylactery is on another plane?

If a lich’s phylactery is on another plane, when the lich gets destroyed, it reconstitutes at the phylactery. This can make it incredibly difficult to reach and destroy. However, it also traps the lich on that plane if its body is destroyed, potentially disrupting its plans.

5. What are the rules for feeding a phylactery souls?

A lich must regularly feed souls to its phylactery to sustain its undead existence. The exact mechanics of this process are left to the DM’s discretion but likely involve trapping souls and channeling them into the phylactery through a dark ritual. Failing to feed the phylactery leads to degradation into a demilich.

6. Can a phylactery be moved?

Yes, a phylactery can be moved. However, the lich is usually very protective of it and will take extreme measures to ensure its safety. The lich doesn’t appear to have an “innate” sense of their phylactery, but they are mega-powerful wizards so they have every tool a high-level wizard has at his/her disposal.

7. What happens if a lich enters an Antimagic Field?

A lich retains its immunities within an Antimagic Field, but the field will suppress any active magical effects it might be using. The lich can still be damaged by mundane means within the field.

8. Does a lich’s phylactery need to be on the same plane?

Yes, A lich must be on the same plane as their phylactery. Thus a lich can’t hide their phylactery in a demi plane, thought they CAN take their phylactery with them into a demi plane, but the Lich will be unable to leave the demiplane.

9. How much HP does a phylactery have?

In past editions of D&D (like 3.5e), phylacteries had specific HP values and hardness ratings. In 5e, it’s left to the DM to determine the phylactery’s durability based on its construction and magical defenses.

10. What is inside a phylactery?

The phylactery contains the lich’s soul, or at least a significant portion of it, bound by powerful necromantic magic. The exact manifestation varies; it could be a swirling vortex of energy, a miniature effigy of the lich, or some other representation of their essence.

11. Can you accidentally become a lich?

It’s rare, but some lore suggests that individuals exposed to excessive life-prolonging magic may inadvertently transform into liches. These accidental liches might even be of good alignment, pursuing their original goals with their newfound (and unwanted) immortality.

12. Can a Dracolich have phylacteries?

Yes. Dracoliches are dragons who voluntarily tied their souls to a phylactery, freeing itself from death.

13. What are some secure places to hide a phylactery?

Creative hiding places include:

• Inside another creature, protected by magical defenses.
• In a demiplane, guarded by powerful entities.
• Hidden within a seemingly mundane object in a heavily populated area.

14. What is a good lich called?

Good liches are often referred to as Archliches. They are rare individuals who maintain their noble intentions even in undeath, using their power for benevolent purposes.

15. Is Voldemort technically a lich?

The similarities between Voldemort’s Horcruxes and a lich’s phylactery are undeniable. Both serve the same purpose: to anchor the soul and prevent permanent death. The key difference lies in the scope; Voldemort split his soul into multiple Horcruxes, while a lich typically relies on a single, carefully guarded phylactery.

Destroying a lich’s phylactery is a monumental achievement, a testament to the adventurers’ courage, cunning, and perseverance. It marks the beginning of the end for a powerful evil, paving the way for the final confrontation and the restoration of balance to the world.