In life, the frost-mage Ethreain (not yet a Lich) had used the threat of destructive ice to enslave entire kingdoms. His subjects, aided by a few desperate magicians, eventually grew bold enough to ambush him. Armed with enough charmed rope to bind him forever, they tied the frost mage to adamant weights and dropped him in a pool known chiefly for being bottomless. It wasn't. He only fell for a year or so before an outcrop snagged him. There he rested, dead but undecaying, until the geomancer Anhil thought to verify the legend of the supposedly bottomless Black Pool. Anhil's plumbline snarled with the ropes that bound the drowned magician, and up he hauled an unexpected prize. Thinking that by rendering the dead undead, he could question the Lich about the properties of the pool, he removed the bindings and commenced a simple rite of resurrection. Even the descendants of Ethreain's enemies were long forgotten by time, so there were none to warn Anhil against imprudence. But he learned the error of his judgment almost immediately, as Lich threw off the shackles and consumed him.
Strategy[]
Lich is one of the best heroes at controlling a lane, thanks to his Frost Nova and Sacrifice spells. Frost Blast is a strong nuke that slows its target, giving Lich a good harassment tool. Repeatedly casting Frost Blast and harassing with physical attacks is a surefire way to quickly bring an enemy hero to his knees. However, Frost Blast becomes even more dangerous when coupled with Sacrifice. This spell allows Lich to destroy an allied creep and gain mana based on its life. Using this spell helps Lich by giving him limitless mana for Frost Blast, and hinders his enemies by denying them the experience or gold they would have gained from the destroyed creep. By using Frost Blast and Sacrifice liberally, the Lich can quickly force any opponent to retreat from his lane. Later in the game Lich tends to slide into a support role, using his Ice Armor spell to buff the survivability of his allies, and deploying his devastating Chain Frost to damage his foes in team battles.
Abilities[]
| Ability Name | Ability Description | Details |
| Frost Blast
|
Blasts the target enemy unit with damaging frost, dealing area damage and slowing movement and attack rates for 4 seconds. The primary target takes the most damage. Frost-mage Ethreain has not forgotten even the simplest of ice manipulation. |
Range: 600 Radius: 200 |
| Ice Armor
|
Creates a shield around the target friendly unit, which adds armor and slows attacking melee units. Lasts 40 seconds. Originally crafted during his ambush for self-defense, the Lich is capable of enchanting others with a formidable defense of frost magic. |
Range: 1000 Duration: 40 |
| Sacrifice
|
Sacrifices a friendly creep and converts its current HP into mana for Lich. It was not unheard of Ethreain to make examples out of those who contested his rule during his human life. |
Range: 400 Current Health Converted: 25%/40%/55%/70% |
| Chain Frost
|
Releases an orb of frost that bounces up to 7 times, slowing and damaging enemy units. The first target is mini-stunned. Upgraded by Aghanim's Scepter: Increases damage and casting range. Removes bounce limit*. Almost universally considered the ultimate in frost magic, Ethreain's orb of frozen death strikes fear into those who dare stand against him. |
Range: 750 (850*) Bounce Range: 575 |
