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Table Of Contents

1. Story
2. Introduction
3. Info and Stats
4. Skill Explanation
5. Skill Build
6. Item Build
7. Strategy
8. Hero Synergy
9. Replays
10. Others
11. Conclusion
12. Credits

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Kel'Thuzad Lich

Introduction: Lich is a decent pubstomper and a common pick on competitive games. He is item independent but still can get kills, and assist. He has no mana problems at early game due to dark ritual, also his denying skill. Lich is known for this two reasons: his gamebreaking 1st skill and Ultimate without relying on items.

Skill Build:
__ _____________________ __ _____________________ __ __________________
1 Frost Nova 6 Chain Frost 11 Chain Frost
2 Dark Ritual 7 Frost Nova 12 Frost Armor
3 Frost Nova 8 Dark Ritual 13 Frost Armor
4 Dark Ritual 9 Dark Ritual 14 Frost Armor
5 Frost Nova 10 Frost Armor 15 Stats
16 Chain Frost

Early Game Items:



Core:



Extended Core:



Luxury/Optional:




I. Hero's Story

Forcibly raised from the dead by the Lich King to serve as his elite magical guard, the Lich has the burning cold of Northrend in his realm of control. Evoking numerous freezing blasts, his talent in life still remains in death. Delving into the essence of cold magic, he has the power to cause ice to condense into an orb that bounces from foe to foe, causing tremendous pain in its wake. Sacrificing his allies for magical power, the Lich is a murderer without a trace of warmth.

2. Introduction

Lich is a decent pubstomper and a common pick on competitive games. He is item independent but still can get kills, and assist. He has no mana problems at early game due to dark ritual, also his denying skill. Lich is known for this two reasons: his gamebreaking 1st skill and Ultimate without relying on items.

When to Pick

- When your team needs burst damage
- When your team needs an item independent ganker
- When your team needs an offensive babysitter
- When you want to pubstomp

When not to Pick

- When you team has already a babysitter
- When you team is filled with fragile int and agi heroes
- When your team lacks initiator

3. Info And Stats

Basic Hero information found here: Kel'Thuzad, Lich

4. Skill Explanation


Frost Nova

Description: Blasts enemy units around a target enemy unit with a wave of damaging frost that slows movement and attack rates for 4 seconds.

Target damage per level: 50/100/150/200
Nova damage per level: 75/100/125/150
Mana cost per level: 125/150/170/190
Cooldown per level: 9.25/9.25/9.25/8
Casting Range: 600
Nova AoE:200

This is Lich's primary skill. It deals good damage with a low cooldown and a decent slow. Coupled with Dark Ritual makes you a difficult hero to lane against. This spell will be used pretty much non-stop

Notes: - Frost slows movement speed by 30% and attack speed by 20%.
-The targeted enemy receives both Target damage and Nova damage. So the damage you deal to the target is: 125/200/275/350, before magic resistance is applied.


Frost Armor

Description:Creates a shield of frost around a target friendly unit. The shield adds armor and slows attacking melee units for 2 seconds. Lasts 40 seconds.

Armor per level: 3/5/7/9
Casting Range: 800
Mana cost: 50
Cooldown: 5
Duration: 40 seconds

A rather straightforward spell, Frost Armor is very useful. It decreases psychical damage dealt to the target and slows melee attackers, so it's a useful escape mechanism from pesky melee heroes. It's also extremely useful late in the game in a team push as you can give your allies +9 armor, which is nothing to scoff at. DO NOT SET THIS SPELL TO AUTOCAST!!!

Notes: - Frost slows movement speed by 30% and attack speed by 20%
-If autocast is activated, Lich will cast this spell on nearby allies who are attacked.


Dark Ritual

Description: Sacrifices a target friendly unit to convert its hit points into mana.

Mana per level: 15%/30%/45%/60% of the creeps current health
Cooldown per level: 30/27/24/21
Casting Range: 400
Mana Cost: 25

This is the spell that gives Lich such a strong lane presence. Very few heroes can compete with the level of damage you can deal through repetitive frost novas. This spell also negates the need for mana regeneration items, allowing us to spend our gold elsewhere. When using this spell, use it on a full health melee creep for maximum effect.

Notes: - Enemies gain no gold or experience from the sacrificed creep.
-The mana Lich gains is show in blue above the denied creep.
-Denies are indicated by an ! above the denied creep.


Chain Frost

Description: Releases a jumping breath of frost that jumps 7 times.

Damage per level: 280/370/460 (550 with Scepter) per jump
Mana cost per level: 200/325/500
Cooldown: 145/115/60
Casting Range: 750 (850 with scepter)
Bounce range: 600 (how far the frost can bounce between targets)

An extremely powerful ultimate that is devastating against 2 or more heroes. This spell is best saved for ganks or team fights where there are few creeps for maximum damage potential.

Notes: -Slow enemy move speed by 30% and attack speed by 20%
-First target of this spell is ministuned, which cancels channeling.
-Can be upgraded with Aghanim's Scepter.
-Can hit invisible enemies.

When to Use:

• After an initiator does his job
• When no creeps around
• when you are about to die, even if there are too many creeps
5. Skill Build

1. Frost Nova/Frost Armor/Dark Ritual
2. Dark Ritual/Frost Nova
3. Frost Nova
4. Dark Ritual
5. Frost Nova
6. Chain Frost
7. Frost Nova
8. Dark Ritual
9. Dark Ritual
10. Frost Armor
11. Chain Frost
12. Frost Armor
13. Frost Armor
14. Frost Armor
15. Stats
16. Chain Frost
17. Stats
Any skill could be useful at lvl 1. Frost Nova is the option at level 1 at organized teams/competitive where your team plans gank. Dark Ritual is the right choice in pubs or when you don't choose to fight for the initial rune near your lane, remember than enemy heroes dont get experience from creeps killed with Dark Ritual. The additional lane postition advantage from having a smaller wave is also quite helpful. Frost Armor if your team plan to kill roshan at lvl 1.

Nova and Dark Ritual should be maxed out first, nova is a great AoE, nuke+disable while maxed dark ritual give great effects, you can also add one level of Frost armor at early game, it is enough due to Meka armor aura. Chain Frost should always be get whenever possible.
6. Item Build

Early Game Items



Start with a Chicken, bunch of tangoes and the rest is GG Branches. Later on, buy Ring of Regen and then later complete Headress. Lich should stay in a lane babysitting carry thats why buy chicken. Also share your chicken(not recommended at pubs). Due to his item-independence, he is also a common warder.



As a support hero you should be the one to buy the courier for the team and upgrade it with your first 200 gold. The branches are for starting stats and will later be used for the Magic Wand and also Mekansm. The Magic Stick will be purchased from a side shop, which is why you buy the recipe at the base. Tangos are for early game healing. You may buy a Salve over a set of tangos if you prefer. Simply a playstyle thing.

Note: I haven't quite made up my mind about the new Medallion of Courage. . It's very cheap, gives 6 armor for survivability, 50% mana regen for more nova, and its active helps a lot in ganks. I will need to do more testing but I believe this item is very powerful on lich. Just be careful as using it does make you more vulnerable to physical attacks and it will delay your Mekansm if you go for it first. Still, a nice little item.
Core Item Build



Lich is the perfect hero to get mekansm as he has nearly infinite mana with dark ritual. Urn of Shadows is my personal preference to a bracer as the mana regen and heal / damage are very useful. Boots of Speed are a no-brainer.

However, expect to buy multiple: throughout the game.

Also, as a note for warding, since Lich is a roamer and ganker, wards are extremely useful. They are best placed to provide vision of runes, allied jungle, and enemy jungle. Sentries are for destroying enemy observer wards.



Upgrade your chick into Courier, it provide better mobility and faster delivery. Buy one to two bracers because you will need this for some hp and stats boost. Lich doesnt really need null talisman, Dark Ritual solves his problem in mana. Wand is one of the most powerful and useful low-tier item in dota, it is also an upgrade on couple of gg branches at start. Upgrade your headdress to Mekansm, gives you overall nc stats and a Aoe heal. Lich is one of common wielders of meka in competitive games. Boots is a necessity on every hero, upgrade it to BoT later, every hero needs good mobility. Dont forget to buy wards.
Luxury Items

If you have already completed the core item build and have been buying wards throughout the game, yet you still have extra gold somehow here are some items to consider:

Scepter gives nice stats boosts and makes your ultimate even deadlier.

Double Chain Frost is just nuts, especially with Scepter.

The massive Intelligence boost and the hex make this item very useful.



Need extra movespeed slow and attack speed slow? Buy Shivas, it also gives armor. Guinsoo boost your mana regen and int. Skadi is nice item for him, it gives the same slow(30% ms and 20%as) as your spells. Skadi also boosts your hp and mp, as well as stats. I highly doubt that it comes to the point that youll be needing this items, usually the game is already finished. Euls can be used to catch a runner, or use euls to yourself when being targetted in a teamfight. It can disable a lot of DPS during a teamfight from the enemies, which protects the fragile Lich. Necrobook wins every ward fight. Necrobooks golden rule: have a disable or slow to be effective. Disable/Slow-check.
Extended Core



Aghanims is one of easy to build and one of the most important for Lich. Improves his ulti well, as well as boosts your stats, health and mana. Upgrade your boots to Boots of Travel now, you need mobility and nothing more. Also dont forget blink dagger, helps you position your ulti as well as in escaping, or chasing fleeing heroes
Other items worth mentioning




Get disabled before you can cast a spell? Buy linken sphere, gives decent hp and mp regen, as well as stats. Lich is fragile, not only tanks intend to use blademail, but the ones who does not want to be focused, which Lich is. Buy Scepter if dpser-carries kill you in 3-4 attacks, it also gives additional 7 to all stats. Force Staff provides decent mp boost, as well as help escaping, positioning your ulti and many more. Heart gives massive raw hp, massive hp regen at a massive price. Get this if it is very very very very late game. Refresher also could be an option, but not the best, who doesnt wants double Chain Frost?
Early Game Strategy

Buy your starting items and head to a lane. Lich is a strong solo but is also a potent dual or tri-lane support hero. If you are soloing, middle lane or the long lane (Sentinel bottom, Top for Scourge) is preferable. Which lane you take depends entirely upon your team. Still, regardless of lane you should play defensively. Deny creeps as often as possible. Harass the enemies with Frost Nova when it's safe. Levels 1-5 should be played defensively, farming and staying alive. However, if a gank presents itself, you should jump on it.
Mid Game

Mid game for Lich is when he has Chain Frost and probably his Mekansm. Levels 6-13 should be about ganking. Gank gank gank gank gank. Team pushes and fights start to happen around this time. Stay behind your tank and cast your spells from a safe distance. Use Mekansm to save allies and always use Dark Ritual if you need to. Lich is a potent ganker around this time.
Late Game

By now you have Mekansm, Boots of Speed, Urn, Wand, and possibly Scepter or another higher tier item. This is the part of the game where team fights are everything. Stick with your team and push towers. Your role in team fights is to give everyone Frost Armor and unleash a devastating Chain Frost. Use Frost Nova on fleeing enemies and save allies with Mekansm. You must play cautiously and always stay with the team to be effective.

A note: Chain frost is often used as an initiation. If your enemy isn't running many melee heroes and stays spread apart enough, you often wont find a window for a great Lich ult. That being said, opening a team battle by throwing an ult at a relatively isolated hero will prevent them from coming and rescuing him, and allowing your team to jump on him and pick up a quick kill at the start of a team fight.

Around this time Frost Armor is at its best. Giving your entire team +9 armor (more with Mekansm armor aura) is nothing to scoff at.

In team fights your priorities should be, in order:

1. Frost Armor allies, specifically tanks and/or carries.
2. Try to get off a good Chain Frost.
3. Use Frost Nova on an enemy you think your team can kill.

In a team fight it's not at all uncommon for Lich to die after step 2 or even after step 1. While this can be very frustrating, it's usually for the better. If the enemy team is focusing down Lich for fear of his Chain Frost, that gives your carry more time to dish out damage. So really, dying for the team as lich is both predictable and acceptable.