Dark and Darker: How to Defeat the Boss Lich

Deep within the unforgiving labyrinth of Dark and Darker lurks one of the most powerful enemies in the game: the Lich. This necromancer guards some of the most valuable loot in the game, including items/materials, Dark And Darker Gold, and more. In this guide, we'll walk you through how to find the Lich in Dark and Darker, prepare for it, and ultimately defeat it.

Who is the Lich?

The Lich is an undead spellcaster boss that resides in the High-Roller Dungeons and Inferno variants of the Ruins or Crypt maps. As a master of dark magic, he's capable of devastating area-of-effect (AoE) spells, summoning undead minions, and punishing players who get too close—or too comfortable. His lair is designed to make dodging and spacing difficult, which compounds the danger of his magical onslaught.

Locating the Lich

To find the Lich, you'll need to:

Queue into a High-Roller Dungeon or Inferno Map.

The Lich does not appear in normal dungeon variants.

The Lich Room often has a unique, ominous red glow and undead-themed decorations.

Recognize the Room Layout.

The Lich typically spawns in a circular chamber.

You'll see a large arcane summoning circle at the center.

Undead enemies may already be present in the room or be summoned when the fight begins.

Prepare Before Entering.

The door may require an extra key or spawn late in the dungeon cycle.

Ensure you've cleared nearby enemies to avoid interruptions mid-fight.

Group Composition & Recommended Classes

While you can attempt the Lich solo, most players tackle it with a trio. A balanced group greatly improves survival chances.

Recommended Setup:

Cleric: Absolutely essential. The Lich deals massive magic damage, and the Cleric's healing, buffs, and ability to remove curses and undead are vital.

Fighter: Frontline tank that can interrupt spellcasting and soak aggro.

Ranger or Wizard: For sustained ranged DPS and control.

Alternatively:

Barbarian can substitute as a burst-DPS melee.

Rogue is less ideal due to the Lich's AoE and lack of stealth opportunities.

Bard can support if you've mastered their kit, especially for buff stacking.

Pre-Fight Preparation

Before initiating the Lich fight:

1. Healing and Buffs

Have bandages, potions, and Cleric spells ready.

Use Protection and Bless pre-buff spells.

Drop campfires to recover health and spells beforehand if time permits.

2. Potions and Gear

Equip magic resistance gear (e.g., Magic Resistance Pendant, Will-stacking gear).

Use protection potions, speed potions, and true sight (if Bard or Cleric is present).

3. Positioning

Assign positions in the room: tank upfront, DPS flanks, healer stays back.

Avoid standing in a cluster to mitigate AoE splash damage.

Boss Fight Mechanics

The Lich is a phase-based boss with multiple abilities:

Phase 1 – Summon and Control

Abilities:

Magic Missile / Arcane Missiles: Fast-hitting projectiles aimed at squishier players.

Summon Skeletons: The Lich will call forth skeleton warriors or archers to distract and overwhelm.

Poison Cloud: AoE that deals continuous damage over time.

Tips:

Kill summoned skeletons quickly or kite them.

Cleric's Holy Light and Judgment are effective against skeletons.

Don't group up—AoEs will punish your team hard.

Phase 2 – Arcane Storm and Teleport

At 50% HP, the Lich becomes more aggressive:

New Abilities:

Arcane Storm: Channels a powerful swirling explosion—very high damage. Can be interrupted by Fighter's Kick or Barbarian's War Cry.

Teleport / Blink: Teleports to a new spot, often right behind squishy teammates.

Tips:

Save interrupt skills for Arcane Storm.

Have the tank chase the Lich and keep its focus.

Maintain line-of-sight to avoid getting hit by multi-angle missiles.

Phase 3 – Death Nova and Frenzy (20% HP)

The final phase is the deadliest.

Abilities:

Death Nova: A delayed explosion that covers most of the arena. You must run out of range immediately.

Undead Frenzy: Spawns 4–6 skeletons, buffs them with Haste.

Tips:

Call out Death Nova and run to the edges immediately.

Crowd control the minions with Wizard's Frostbolt or Cleric's Smite AoE.

Focus burn the Lich to avoid prolonged fight time.

Pro Strategy Tips

Interrupt the right spells: Focus on interrupting Arcane Storm and Death Nova over Magic Missiles.

Use the environment: Some Lich rooms have pillars—use them for line-of-sight to dodge spells.

Voice comms matter: Calling out spell names and health percentages keeps everyone aligned.

Manage adds: Don't ignore skeletons; they will overwhelm your backline.

Loot and Rewards

Defeating the Lich is worth the risk. The rewards often include:

Legendary or Epic Gear: High-roll weapons and armor (often with magic resist or spell damage).

Unique Magic Items: Such as spell-casting staves, enchanted rings, and pendants.

Soul Heart Fragments: Rare components used for resurrection or crafting.

High-Roller Dungeon Keys or Blue Portals for faster escapes.

If you're lucky, you may find Lich-exclusive weapons with unique effects, like Arcane Burst Staff or Necrotic Blade of Ruin.

Final Thoughts

Defeating a lich is a monumental achievement - both in terms of mechanics and loot progression. Whether you're tackling dungeons for profit or prestige, gather your friends, ready your scrolls, and step into the darkness - victory comes to those who learn and adapt.

MMOexp Dark and Darker Team