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* NonMaliciousMonster: Implied. Despite his fearsome reputation as TheDreaded Great GodOfChaos suggesting him to be a GodOfEvil, he doesn't really have any KickTheDog nor JerkassGod moments and is instead implied to be an infant like AlmightyIdiot. Even in the GrandFinale, the only evil things he does are [[spoiler:convert a few Gumbaldians and a Gum Guardian into Chaos Demons (Which isn't confirmed to even be intentional malice) and eat Simon, Betty and Finn]]. Most of the time, he seems content to just sit still in the VoidBetweenTheWorlds.
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[[Characters/AdventureTimeMain Main Characters]] ([[Characters/AdventureTimeFinn Finn]] | [[Characters/AdventureTimePrincessBubblegum Princess Bubblegum]] | [[Characters/AdventureTimeIceKing Ice King]]) | '''Antagonists and Enemies''' ([[Characters/AdventureTimeTheLich The Lich]]) | [[Characters/AdventureTimeLandOfOoo Land of Ooo]] ([[Characters/AdventureTimeCandyKingdom The Candy Kingdom]] | [[Characters/AdventureTimeKingdomsOfOoo Other Kingdoms]]) | [[Characters/AdventureTimeOtherCharacters Other Characters]] | [[Characters/AdventureTimeMultiverse Multiverse Characters]]-]]]]]
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[[Characters/AdventureTimeMain Main Characters]] ([[Characters/AdventureTimeFinn Finn]] | [[Characters/AdventureTimePrincessBubblegum Princess Bubblegum]] | [[Characters/AdventureTimeIceKing ([[Characters/AdventureTimeIceKing Ice King]]) | '''Antagonists and Enemies''' ([[Characters/AdventureTimeTheLich The Lich]]) | [[Characters/AdventureTimeLandOfOoo Land of Ooo]] ([[Characters/AdventureTimeCandyKingdom The Candy Kingdom]] | [[Characters/AdventureTimeKingdomsOfOoo Other Kingdoms]]) | [[Characters/AdventureTimeOtherCharacters Other Characters]] | [[Characters/AdventureTimeMultiverse Multiverse Characters]]-]]]]]
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See his page [[Characters/AdventureTimeTheLich here.]]
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* AbusiveDad: More like Abusive Past-Life, but he still qualifies as this to his reincarnation Sweet P, most specifically in "Whispers".
* AllegoricalCharacter: While it's not explicit, his [[NuclearMutant origin]], his use of plutonium, his WalkingWasteland status, his affinity for [[SicklyGreenGlow sickly glowing green colors]], his [[StealthPun long half-life]], and his goal of total annihilation make him seem like the personification of [[WeaponOfMassDestruction nuclear]] [[WorldWarIII war]]. Given the implication he was born from the comet that destroyed the dinosaurs, it might be more apt to call him the personification of destruction. Nuclear war might simply be one shape that he takes.
* AlwaysABiggerFish: He usually tends to be the big example of evil, but "Whispers" revealed something big: That he is the "Last Scholar of GOLB." This means that ''GOLB'' is connected to him and the Lich appears to have gotten power from him. The last episode implies that the Lich is literally nothing more than a minor incarnation of GOLB's breath.
* AmbiguousSituation: It's not clear what his exact relation with GOLB is beyond his statement of being "the last Scholar". It's implied he was created by GOLB, but unlike the other mutations we see GOLB make he's not mindless and he's also implied to be the reincarnation of [[CometOfDoom a Catalyst Comet]] like Finn.
* AncientEvil: The Lich, being a result of the Mushroom Bomb being dropped, is over a thousand years old. However, this is just how long this specific incarnation has been around. His original, Catalyst Comet form was the reason the dinosaurs went extinct, meaning he is at least 60 million years old. See TimeAbyss below.
* ArchEnemy: Pretty much is this to anything living, but special mentions to being this to Billy and now Finn. It has become more solidified each time, Finn and Jake put him down. ''Reinforced'' epically when he admits that Finn has '''''bested him''' in many worlds.'' Given how the various Lich hands have spread across the Multiverse, he pretty much admits that the Finns of the Multiverse have pretty much been defeating him.
* AssholeVictim: Exaggerated; while he is a KnightOfCerebus instead of your average jerk, he is still horrified whenever he gets vaguely defeated.
* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: He's larger than Billy and is ENORMOUS in hispage [[Characters/AdventureTimeTheLich here.]]first appearance.
* AxCrazy: While outwardly calmer and more composed than other villains, he's been killing on a planetary scale for a very long period of time, and his ultimate goal is [[OmnicidalManiac the absolute is the eradication of all life]].
* BadassBoast: ''"You are alone, child. There is only darkness for you, and only death for your people. These ancients are just the beginning. I will command a great and terrible army, and we will sail to a billion worlds. We will sail until every light has been extinguished. You are strong, child, but I am beyond strength. I am the end. And I have come for you, Finn."''
* BadassLongrobe: Part of his NonstandardCharacterDesign. And the whole friggin' world fears him, he'd be badass no matter what he wore.
* BagOfHolding: Gets his hands on one in the comic, his plan being to suck up the entire land of Ooo and then throw the bag into the sun.
* BigBad: After the Ice King's early onset VillainDecay, the Lich is the most prominent and important villain in the show, having appeared in every season in some capacity, and the de facto {{Archenemy}} of Finn and Jake. Much of the conflict in the show can be traced back to the Lich; such as his presence as the green catalyst comet leading Evergreen to create what would become the Ice King's crown to combat it, as well as Fern's failure to stop him leading him to do a FaceHeelTurn. It's also strongly implied that he was involved in the destruction of mankind and contributed to the series taking place AfterTheEnd. Come ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTimeDistantLands'', the Lich ends up being the true Big Bad of "Together Again", making him the FinalBoss of Finn and Jake's story.
* BigNo: ''{{Invoked|Trope}}'', of all things. What better way to [[BatmanGambit trick the hero into do something]] than to shout "Nooooo!" when he does it?
* BodyHorror: Are those ''tendons'' hanging off his arms? Where are his cheeks?
** The Guardian blood turning him into a baby was also full of this.
** The successful version of the Lich that Fionna, Cake and Simon meet in ''Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake'' is still wearing Billy's corpse, which has become rotten with time. His flesh is torn open in places, his arms and legs are skeletal and his shriveled right eye is hanging out of its socket.
* BodySurf: Finn destroys his real body, so his soul transfers into Princess Bubblegum. After he's defeated again, he transfers again into the Snail, then to Billy. According to Prismo (who would know), he's a "ghost wearing a dead guy", so Billy is dead.
* BreathWeapon: Can use his SuperSmoke to induce fatal RapidAging, complete with crumbling into dust.
** It turns out that the Lich itself is the result of this, with the Cretaceous extinction comet and the payload used in the Mushroom War being implied to be some of GOLB's breath.
* CardCarryingVillain: He knows exactly how brutal and evil he is but doesn't care.
-->'''Finn:''' You're so evil, it's ''boring!'' You're ''basic'', man!\\
'''The Lich:''' [[BluntYes Yes.]] While the mortal world ''doubts'', and ''questions'', I know ''exactly'' what I am. I am the ceaseless wheel. The last scholar of [[GodOfChaos GOLB.]] ''I am your doom.''
* TheCameo: In the episode "[[Recap/AdventureTimeFionnaAndCakeS1E04PrismoTheWishmaster Prismo the Wishmaster]]" from ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTimeFionnaAndCake'', his grinning silhouette can be spotted in a dark cave in a black-and-white universe, and an infant version of him appears in Baby World in "[[Recap/AdventureTimeFionnaAndCakeS1E06TheWinterKing The Winter King]]", serving as a reminder of how he still persists through the Multiverse.
* ChaoticEvil: In-universe-assigned alignment in the comic series.
* ChaosIsEvil: The Lich believes that GOLB desires the death of all things. [[spoiler: Apparently he was incorrect.]]
* ChekhovsGunman: First appeared in "His Hero" for about a second in Billy's song, becomes the BigBad of the second season finale.
* ColdHam: While he's serious and straightforward all the time, he speaks with some of the most gravitas of any character in the show.
* CometOfDoom: "Evergreen" suggests that the Lich entity originated as the comet that wiped out the dinosaurs. "The Comet" confirms that his original form was an incarnation of the Catalyst Comet, a comet that hits Earth every 1000 years to bring about an agent of change. The Lich was an agent of pure evil, while Finn, who was also a previous incarnation of the comet, was an agent of pure good.
* CompellingVoice: One of his favorite powers. All it takes for the Lich to take the fight out of Finn and Jake is a single word: [[AC:"Fall."]]
* TheCorrupter: To Sweet P. He ultimately ends up failing.
* CrystalPrison:
** He's encased in amber at the beginning of "Mortal Folly".
** This happens again in Season 6, but he ''invokes it'' to get to the Citadel so he can release the criminals imprisoned there.
* DarkIsEvil: From his appearances to horrific powers, he's clearly dark and clearly evil.
* DeathOfPersonality: While his personality isn't ''completely'' dead, there's still not much left of it after Sweet P's birth.
* DemBones: His true form, revealed at the Citadel.
* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: Masterminds the deaths of Prismo in Season 6 and Death in ''Distant Lands''.
* ADogNamedDog: A lich named "the Lich".
* DoNotTauntCthulhu: During a party, most of the cast treat the seemingly catatonic Lich like a joke in Prismo's pad at the beginning of season 6. When Peppermint Butler asks why the Lich isn't murdering them all, Prismo explains the Lich's purpose is to cause mass death, and since he can't do that while trapped in Prismo's Time Room, he just doesn't do anything. The second Prismo carelessly reveals a way to off himself to Finn and Jake, which would also advance his goals of total extinction, the Lich shows exactly why ignoring him was a bad idea.
* TheDragon: It turns out he's merely this to GOLB. [[spoiler:Or more accurately, ''thinks'' he's this.]]
* TheDreaded: According to the creators, he's so terrifying that even the Ice King and Marceline will run in terror of him. Princess Bubblegum's reaction to the possibility he's returning in the preview seems to further support this. It winds up being downplayed in the actual episode, as although Princess Bubblegum does truly fear him (Marceline does not even appear), Ice King seems to be completely clueless about the Lich due to his {{Cloudcuckoolander}} nature (being more concerned with holes), and he actually eagerly volunteers to help fight the Lich later on.
** "King Worm" implies that even ''Finn'' is afraid of him (and possibly his greatest fear, enough to wake him from his dream).
** It's so bad, even the ''creators'' are scared of him. In the original pitch document, underneath an early sketch of the Lich is the phrase, in AllCaps, "THE LICH KING IS NOT FUNNY".
** Even ''Death himself'' and Peppermint Butler seem to be at least creeped out by him.
** While Hunson Abadeer called him pathetic, he admitted that the Lich and his army are capable of destroying Ooo and that he would have taken action against him if it wasn't for Finn. Abadeer also called the Lich his rival.
** [[spoiler: In ''Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake'', when Simon sees The Lich is the one called "Jerry" in the Extinct World, he yells at Fionna and Cake to '''''RUN.''''' Luckily, though he traps them with his magic power, The Lich is too depressed by having fulfilled his supposed purpose to kill them and lets them go, but Fionna and Cake are left understandably terrified of him.]]
* DubNameChange: In the Polish dub his name is changed to "Król Zła" or "Król Zły" meaning "King of Evil" or "Evil King" to match the show's ThemeNaming like Ice King, Flame King etc.
* EldritchAbomination: He is heavily implied to be this in "Gold Stars", where he gives a monologue about primordial "monsters" that existed before the beginning of time. Depending on how you view it, he either knows about them a lot or is [[OhCrap one of those eldritch beasts himself]]. "Evergreen" implies that he's an incarnation of a Catalyst Comet.
* EnemyWithin: To Sweet P until the latter kills his Farmworld Copy, after which Sweet P seems to have fully overcome his influence.
* EvilCannotComprehendGood: Subverted-his attempt to tempt Finn with something selfish like immortality or "anything you want" fails and he breaks the Enchiridion...which is exactly what he wants and was actually playing on his heroic nature to break it and open the portal to Prismo for him.
* EvilGenius: Not only is he an OmnicidalManiac, but he's also pretty calculating, manipulative, and intelligent.
* EvilHasABadSenseOfHumor: The "no humor" kind. The Lich isn't light-hearted or comical in any sense of the word and is by far the show's most evil character.
* EvilIsBurningHot: He is able to shoot sickly-green fire. It's usually just there to illuminate his NightmareFace.
* EvilIsDeathlyCold: Given his association with death and lifelessness, it's implied.
-->'''The Lich''': Aren't you cold, Finn?
* EvilLaugh: He laughs a total of three times, usually when everything is going JustAsPlanned and the heroes are unable to stop him, but also when Finn is tearing his head off with a sweater. It is incredibly disconcerting to hear.
* EvilSorcerer: Of the necromantic kind. He's able to resurrect the dead, rot all life around him with his presence, shoot out sickly green flames, and spew noxious gas capable of reducing people to ash.
* EvilSoundsDeep: He has a very low and menacing voice, courtesy of Creator/RonPerlman. Although it was supposed to be even deeper, as Pen's original choice was ''Music/TomWaits''.
* EvilVirtues: Although pure evil, the Lich still has a commendable amount of determination and diligence. He never stops working on his mission to destroy all life no matter what the setbacks (i.e.: continuing to cast mind-control spells from his amber prison just on the off-chance an unprotected mind may enter), and there's not a moment he isn't planning. He's also patient to an impressive degree, waiting months, if not years, for his plans to come together like learning about Finn from afar as part of his plot [[ManipulativeBastard to exploit his heroism]] or holding off killing anyone in Prismo's Time Room until the opportunity to do so without it being fixed presents itself.
* {{Expy}}: The Lich's design is heavily influenced by [[WesternAnimation/TheBlackCauldron The Horned King.]] They're pure evil liches that want to exterminate humanity, [[EvilHasABadSenseOfHumor completely humorless]], [[KnightOfCerebus and are treated dead serious compared to most other Disney/Adventure Time villains]]
* EyeDentityGiveaway: Any vessel that he possesses gains his GlowingEyelightsOfUndeath. He eventually ceases to use direct possessions once he realizes how easily this gives him away.
* FaceMonsterTurn: Implied to be a human mutated into a weapon, then subverted; The human is just a vessel for whatever malevolent force or spirit the Lich is embodied by.
* FailureIsTheOnlyOption: For all his terrifying power and the grim seriousness with which he is presented, the Lich is always undone by the end; the Lich even admits that Finn [[TheGoodGuysAlwaysWin has defeated him time and again]] across TheMultiverse, even as he crows about [[JokerImmunity always coming back]]. [[spoiler:In ''Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake'', we get to see a version of the Lich (technically the original) who successfully killed all life, but he's become [[AndThenWhat crippled by ennui and boredom]], and soon learns to his dismay that [[AllForNothing killing all life was never going to get GOLB's approval to begin with]].]]
* FauxAffablyEvil: Despite being a monstrous entity and pure evil, the Lich speaks in a very polite, formal, and refined way.
* FlatCharacter: PlayedForHorror. His backstory is very vague, he doesn't speak much, and his entire character revolves around destroying the normally whimsical land of Ooo. The Lich is an absolute force of destruction, and at the end of the day, that's all he wants to be. Finn hangs a lampshade on it by accusing the Lich of being "so evil, it's boring". The Lich responds by admitting to being proud of such.
** [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] by Finn in "Whispers":
---> '''Finn:''' You're so evil, it's boring! You're basic, man!
* {{Flight}}: The Lich can fly under his own power, though only shows this ability in his first shown form.
* {{Foil}}: He's the exact opposite of Finn. The Lich was born from the Green Catalyst Comet that struck Earth and killed off the dinosaurs and seems to represent Mass Extinction while Finn is the {{Reincarnation}} of the Blue Catalyst Comet, which incarnated as a butterfly (a symbol of rebirth). While the Lich is pure evil, relishes in his cruelty, and wants to exterminate life, Finn has a [[IncorruptiblePurePureness pure heart]] and is more than willing to fight against the bad guys. Even by the end, they're physically opposed in that Finn is missing an arm, but all the Lich ''is'' at this point is an arm.
* FreakOut: [[VillainousBreakdown Has one]] when Finn throws the Guardian's blood on him, beginning to bring him back to life.
* FreudianExcuse: His origins are overall a mystery, but it's implied he was formed from the essence of [[EldritchAbomination GOLB]] long ago. Knowing this it's hard to blame him for what he turned out to be given he obviously never had any family or friends like Finn, Jake, Bonnibell, or Marceline. [[FreudianExcuseIsNoExcuse That said, it doesn't make him any less vile]], as he's quite aware of what he is [[CardCarryingVillain and proud of it.]] [[spoiler:''Adventure Time: Fionna And Cake'' finally plays it straight by revealing the Lich's ultimate motivation for killing all life is to [[WellDoneSonGuy gain GOLB's favor, or at least some form of recognition or approval]]. The Extinct World Lich (who succeeded in killing his universe) [[VillainousBreakdown reacts poorly]] when his god continues to ignore him.]]
* FromNobodyToNightmare: While who or what he was isn't made clear, he was a member of the Pre-Mushroom War civilization before the nuclear pollution mutated him into the immensely powerful OmnicidalManiac. Though considering his BodySurf abilities and the implication he existed far earlier, the core personality of the Lich probably wasn't some innocent victim, just the body of the dude he used. Later episodes more or less confirm that his first body seen in the series wasn't his original form and that he's actually the incarnation of a malevolent Catalyst Comet with whatever human that got exposed to the bomb being an unfortunate victim caught in the crossfire and forcefully turned into a vessel.
* FullFrontalAssault: Taken [[ExaggeratedTrope to extremes]] in his Season 6 battle with Finn, when escaping from his CrystalPrison destroys all the clothing [[StrippedToTheBone and tissue remaining on his body]]. The result is a giant skeleton whose only covering is a small metal bar on its ribcage over its heart. While safe for work, it's at once [[BodyHorror horrifying]] and ''{{wrong|OnSoManyLevels}}''.
* GenreRefugee: In terms of tone and personality, he's almost alien to the setting, which results in many characters underestimating him as they tend to lump him in with goofy malcontents like the Ice King and Magic Man, believing that he'll suffer VillainDecay like most recurring antagonists. This never happens, and he viciously strikes back the moment an opportunity presents itself. Conversely, he is often blindsided by the silliness of the show such as sweaters with great sentimental value or being turned into a giant baby.
* GenuineHumanHide: Ends up killing Billy and skins him for a disguise. He disposes of it when he breaks out of the Crystal Citadel.
* GlasgowGrin: Due to decay, he has a permanent SlasherSmile. When in his ruined Billy disguise the Billy half of his face is stuck in a permanent Cheshire grin while the Lich half tends to look bored (unless he's letting loose his EvilLaugh).
* GlowingEyelightsOfUndeath: He and anyone he's controlling have these. At least at first.
* GoMadFromTheRevelation: Attempts this a few times via MindRape and revealing ThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow.
** [[spoiler: Ironically, this happens to his alternate self in the timeline where his wish was granted. His actions were largely motivated by the desire to [[WellDoneSonGuy serve and earn the approval of his deity, GOLB]]. Realizing that GOLB [[BlueAndOrangeMorality didn't want cosmic extinction (and/or had no desires whatsoever)]], he [[VillainousBreakdown breaks]].]]
* TheHeavy: He is the one who carries out GOLB's plans, the GreaterScopeVillain of the show.
* HeroKiller: One of the more successful examples. Just ask Billy.
** He comes back in the season 6 premiere to off ''Prismo'', of all people.
* HornedHumanoid: He has a pair of curly, ram-like horns on his head, which only make him look even more demonic than he already does.
%%* HumanityEnsues: His fate as of Season 6 as Finn splashes him with healing water that turned into a [[RaiseHimRightThisTime giant human baby]] (albeit still with the horn).]] Although [[spoiler:the Lich was originally a human transformed by the Mushroom Bomb,]] so...
* IAmTheNoun: "I am the End."
* IAmWhatIAm: When Finn accuses him of being little more than a GenericDoomsdayVillain, the Lich is proud of this, since he knows who he is. He also ends up revealing a very important timbit about himself, he is the Last Scholar of GOLB.
* {{Immortality}}: Appears to have this, a combination of types four and five, due to being a Lich and his habit of {{Body Surf}}ing whenever his physical form is destroyed. The creators have said that he hasn't ''beaten'' Death but is cheating him at every turn. At the very least, the Maid was able to vaporize Farmworld!Lich, although given that a piece of him survived and now exists in ''every dimension simultaneously'' it very much does not stick. "Whispers" and [[spoiler:"Together Again"]] both show this is the case and neither put an end to his threat forever.
* ImplacableMan: Part of what makes him frightening: his reason for ''existing'' is to wipe out all life, and he just ''won't'' stop, and has ''ungodly'' patience. [[SealedEvilInACan Trap him in amber?]] He'll spend ''years'' chanting evil spells, just waiting for the first unprotected mind to come within range, break free, and continue like nothing ever happened. Destroy him? He'll just [[BodySurf find a new body to continue his rampage]]. Kill him again? He'll do the above then kill the hero that originally beat him and use him as a suit. Trap him in a room outside of time? He'll just sit there, waiting for the opportunity to strike the nanosecond it presents itself. Trap him in an multiversal prison for cosmic criminals? He'll ''destroy his prison from the inside out'' then mind control said criminals into becoming his army. The best anyone can hope for when it comes to the Lich is to contain him for a time, but he ''will'' get back up and pick up where he left off without missing a beat, now knowing just how to counter what you used against him.
* InsultBackfire: When Finn mocks him for "[[FlatCharacter being so evil it's boring]]" the Lich [[BluntYes nonchalantly agrees]] and says he takes pride in it [[CardCarryingVillain since it means he knows what he is]].
* {{Irony}}:
** When disguising himself as Billy, he lied to Finn by saying that he planned to use the Enchiridion to trap the Lich in the room outside of time, in order to justify why he would need his help to activate it. In "Jake the Dog", when Jake retroactively changes his wish into making the former and Finn go back to Ooo, he gets trapped in that very same room (though not for long).
** He killed Billy and puppeteered his corpse. His reincarnation Sweet P [[FutureBadass wound up becoming the Future Ooo's equivalent]] ''[[FutureBadass to]]'' [[FutureBadass Billy.]]
* ItOnlyWorksOnce: He's too smart to be defeated the same way twice; [[UpgradeArtifact Billy's Gauntlet]] was the only known weapon to harm him (it's likely the reason the Lich has a broken horn). Destroying it is among the first things he does, before even fully recovering. Attacking him with a sweater and ThePowerOfLove didn't work out so well the second time either.
** Billy only worked once, considering the Lich killed him and possessed his corpse at the first chance. He also used Finn's heroism to further his goals.
** The Lich also took swift care of Prismo not just as revenge or to avoid the genie messing with his affairs: he voluntarily got imprisoned just to ''melt away'' the Citadel and take [[FromBadtoWorse control of his fellow cosmic criminals]].
* ItsPersonal: Does this for Finn and Jake by, respectively, killing Billy and Prismo.
* {{Jerkass}}: A [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstructed example]]; he's far from being mean, as expected from someone [[KnightOfCerebus without]] redeeming and/or laughable qualities. [[{{Characters/Pinocchio}} And that's]] saying [[SatanicArchetype something]].
* KarmicTransformation: The Lich native to Finn and Jake's universe murdered the legendary hero Billy, who once stopped him from wiping out all life in Ooo, then wore his skin to impersonate him. Not only does the Lich end up transforming into a living innocent being named Sweet P, but the finale implies Sweet P grows up to essentially become Billy's equivalent as Ooo's legendary hero.
* KnightOfCerebus: Prior to his return, ''Adventure Time'' was a lighthearted, whimsical show with generally comical villains. The Lich, on the other hand, is an OmnicidalManiac hellbent on destroying all life. Ever since his first major appearance, the show would begin taking a darker tone and examine the more horrifying and upsetting aspects of the post-apocalyptic setting.
* LackOfEmpathy: Has zero concern or value for any living thing, [[AbusiveDad even his "Sweet P" self]], outright [[OmnicidalManiac desiring to kill everyone]].
* LatexPerfection: Despite wearing Billy's skin as a disguise, none of his identifying features stand out until half his face is taken off revealing his horned skull underneath.
* LaughingMad: In season 2, when Finn is tearing his head open with PB's magic sweater, the Lich suddenly breaks into loud, wheezing laughter and keeps laughing until Finn destroys him. It's easily the most emotive he ever gets in the show (all of his other [[EvilLaugh evil laughs]] are, at most, quick and sinister chuckles).
* LightningBruiser: The other reason ItOnlyWorksOnce. He's a lot quicker on the draw than he looks.
* ManipulativeBastard: He manages to use ReversePsychology on Finn to gain access to the Multiverse.
* MindRape: Has this ability if one isn't wearing the proper magical protection or has ThePowerOfLove.
* MoreDespicableMinion: It's eventually revealed he's this to his creator GOLB. While GOLB is a barely sapient entity that's more force of nature than evil, the Lich is a truly malevolent being who relishes the carnage he spreads and serves GOLB solely out of his love of chaos and death.
* MorphicResonance:
** His vessels retain his GlowingEyelightsOfUndeath... [[SubvertedTrope ...until he realizes this is a dead giveaway]] and learns how to stop doing it.
** The comet from which it originated possesses flames shaped like the Lich's curling horns.
* MultipleChoicePast: The Lich is given various and often contradictory possible origins throughout the show. These include:
** It's implied he's a mutated monster born from the nuclear fallout from the Mushroom bomb going off that ended the world. This is seemingly backed up by the fact his Farmworld version is created the same way.
** It's also implied that he's the reincarnation of a Catalyst Comet which came to Earth and wiped out the elementals due to its green color, horns, and desire to end all life. As the reincarnation of the blue Catalyst Comet, Finn is destined to be his eternal enemy throughout their reincarnations.
** His speech in "Gold Stars" implies he's an EldritchAbomination, and a member of a race of beings who are as old as the universe.
** It's also implied that he's actually an eldritch being and a creation of the god of chaos GOLB, as he states that he's the "Last Scholar of GOLB".
* MultiversalConqueror: Revealed to be his ultimate goal in "Wake Up", planning to command the Citadel inmates to exterminate all life in the multiverse.
* MysteriousPast: His origin is quite contradictory and vague. While at first it was believed that he was created by the Mushroom War, other theories suggest that he is an ancient being, or that his origin is related to GOLB. Even after the end of the series, his nature is never explained with certainty, or why he wants the extinction of all life.
* NearVillainVictory: Reaching his well of power and nearly killing Finn, only for Finn to be protected by a sweater, wishing all life in the multiverse to be gone only for the wish to be undone by the ''only'' living creature left to make a wish, escaping from the Citadel with its mind-controlled inmates to conquer reality, and being seconds away from killing Finn only to be rendered harmless by the guardian blood. He's been defeated more due to sheer luck than actual skill from the heroes.
* {{Necromancer}}: Well, he ''is'' a ''lich''.
* NiceJobFixingItVillain: The Lich's plan: kill Prismo, get taken to the Citadel, release the cosmic criminals there, and form an army to exterminate life in the universe. It's a very good plan, but it has two problems:
** One, it allows Finn and Jake to get to the Citadel (where they already wanted to go) without being imprisoned in crystal. If the Lich had let them wake up Prismo, they may have been trapped forever.
** Two, the Citadel contains Guardian blood, a substance capable of defeating him. As far as we know, nothing on Ooo could have done that.
* NightOfTheLivingMooks:
** The Lich was said to command these in his pitch document. A group of skeletons at his lair rise up to try and stop Finn and Jake from entering.
** In the beginning of Season 6, instead of an army of undead he attempts to use ancient, cosmic criminals to kill all life in the universe. These are guys strong enough to destroy ''entire planets'' in seconds; they're probably more effective than undead.
* NightmareFace: He's got nasty, rotting flaps of flesh hanging off his face where his lips should be.
** Made worse after his disguise as Billy is ruined showing half of Billy's face stuck in a permanent grin and the rest showing the Lich's skull.
* NonStandardCharacterDesign: Most of the main cast is made of simple cartoony shapes and bright colors without much detail. The Lich is made from complex shapes that make him look more human, uses dark and threatening colors along with his trademark SicklyGreenGlow, and has a lot of detail on his face and all the tendons and flaps of skin hanging off his frame.
* NotQuiteDead: The Lich still exists deep within Sweet P, the name given to his reborn body by Tree Trunks and Mr. Pig. Sweet P is an innocent child, but the Lich can still manifest his presence through him deep within. And it's not clear what will happen when Sweet P eventually dies...
* NuclearMutant: Implied to have arisen as a result of one of the weapons used in the Mushroom War, if "Jake the Dog" is anything to go by.
* ObviouslyEvil: His demonic face, dark cloak, skeletal body, and dark magic just make it pretty clear that he's a villain. Jake even [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] when trying to tell the now crazy Famworld Finn that he isn't their friend.
-->'''Jake:''' Come on that's the Lich. He's evil! He's not even trying to hide it, bro!
* OhCrap: When he realizes he wished for Finn and Jake to return home safely instead of wishing for the end of all life (thanks to Jake's wish).
* OmnicidalManiac: According to Princess Bubblegum, his goal is to destroy life. His original wish was for Prismo to destroy all life.
** Given that he was born from the comet that killed the dinosaurs and reappeared during a nuclear war, he is the '''essence''' of this.
** Best summed up by this quote: ''"I will command a great and terrible army, and we will sail to a billion worlds. We will sail until every light is extinguished."''
* OneWingedAngel: In Princess Bubblegum's body, he tricks Finn into getting him the things he needs to fully regain his powers and turns into a gigantic monster that beats the stuffing out of Finn, the Gumball Guardians protecting the Candy Kingdom, and Jake, then tears apart the Candy Kingdom. It ultimately takes an EnemyMine with Ice King to defeat him. And even then, his soul transfers again.
** In the final fight between him and Finn, he sheds Billy's guise and returns to his true form.
* OurLichesAreDifferent: He was created by a nuclear bomb.
* PersonOfMassDestruction: Luckily, he didn't regain his full power... ''yet''.
** We see him at full power in 'Escape from the Citadel'. He's powerful enough to destroy a multiversal prison for cosmic-level criminals (some of which can destroy planets in ''seconds'') ''just by being there.'' And can utterly rob Finn and Jake of all their strength, and leave them nearly helpless and at his mercy on the floor, ''with a single word.'' '''''"I am beyond strength" indeed.'''''
* PetTheDog: Believe it or not. In "Gold Stars" he only emerges briefly to terrify the King of Ooo and his sidekick when they go too far bullying Sweet P. Or the Lich may have just been personally annoyed by them.
* PhlebotinumKilledTheDinosaurs: In "Evergreen", it is suggested that the Lich originated as a malevolent force possessing the comet that killed the dinosaurs.
* PlayingWithFire: Has the ability to shoot [[TechnicolorFire green flames]] from his hands.
** In the season 6 premiere, he's shifted to [[AWizardDidIt physically impossible]] black flames.
* PowerOfTheVoid: The BagOfHolding that he obtains in comics can suck up anything similar to a black hole.
* PsychicAssistedSuicide: Tried to make Finn walk into his well, which would likely have killed him (or mutated him horribly).
* PsychoSupporter: The Lich is a fanatical worshipper of GodOfChaos GOLB, to the point of planning to wipe out all life in order to earn its favour. He intends to become the embodiment of chaos itself.
* RaiseHimRightThisTime: After Finn turns him into an apparently innocent infant, he's left with Tree Trunks and Mr. Pig presumably for this reason.
* ReviveKillsZombie: The healing regenerative blood of the Citadel Guardians transforms the Lich into a giant baby, seemingly erasing all his memories in the process.
* TheRival: Towards Abadeer, according to the Adventure Time Encyclopedia. It's unknown if the Lich is aware of this.
* {{Sadist}}: Not only does he want to wipe out all life, but it's clear he enjoys killing and tormenting his victims psychologically as well, like sarcastically thanking Finn for unknowingly helping him gain access to Prismo's realm or laughing at Jake over his anger about Prismo's murder.
* ScarySkeleton: He has the appearance of a skeleton, wearing a cloak in his debut. He is a monstrous creature who wants nothing more than to eliminate all life and has the power to do it. ItOnlyWorksOnce on the Lich, as he is so intelligent and skilled in planning to the point where it is pretty much impossible to defeat him the same way twice. The Lich, having slaughtered Billy as well as used his skin as a disguise, is absolutely not to be trifled with.
* SealedEvilInACan: Was imprisoned in amber by the legendary hero Billy. Unfortunately, said amber turns out to be extremely fragile. Later he invokes this by getting himself locked in the Crystal Citadel knowing he can break out of it, along with breaking the dangerous inmates to help him kill everyone.
* SealedInAPersonShapedCan: He continues to exist inside Sweet P, his reborn body, until Sweet P is able to suppress him for good in "Whispers". In the last episode, Betty taking over the mind of GOLB erases his creations from Ooo, which may have finally totally erased the Lich for good.
* SicklyGreenGlow: If it isn't [[TechnicolorFire the flames he shoots]] it's the bubbling potion he uses to regain his power.
* SlasherSmile: Initially his default expression is a grin, a grin being [[{{Literature/Discworld}} the default expression of any skull]], but once he's revealed as wearing Billy's skin, he adopts a nasty smile made all the worse by the fact that half of his face is his own, and the other half Billy's.
* TheSociopath: Even though the Lich is an evil entity, he seems to be smart and cunning enough to understand human morality, embodying far more hate and evil than the vast majority of the villains in the series. During his appearances, we can see that [[FauxAffablyEvil he is a very good actor]] (he literally posed as a legendary hero to achieve his goals), is an exceptional [[ManipulativeBastard manipulator]], and his ultimate goal is [[OmnicidalManiac the absolute eradication of life]].
* SoftSpokenSadist: Rarely raises his deep, chilling voice. He even shushes Finn, once, just before shattering a weapon that was both a living, feeling being and Finn's only hope of defeating him/surviving.
* StaticCharacter: While Finn and other major characters undergo CharacterDevelopment, the Lich never changes or falters from being the determined, unrelenting OmnicidalManiac. This is part of what makes him a dangerous villain; his refusal to rethink his goals or change as a person means [[{{Determinator}} he will always be dedicated to his omnicidal mission]] no matter how many times he's thwarted.
* StealthPun: He's a zombie that was born from a nuclear bomb. In other words, he has a long half-life.
* SuperSmoke: When the Snail opens a small hole in his amber prison, he escapes through it in the form of an acidic cloud of black smog. Then does the same thing to get through the wall to the outside. As the season 6 premiere demonstrates, he can also use it offensively.
* TaughtByExperience: The reason for ItOnlyWorksOnce. It's not that he becomes immune to whatever defeated him, he just makes sure to ''prevent'' prior tactics from being used on him again by targeting the source of his defeat.
** Billy's gauntlet was used to defeat him before, so one of the first things he does is destroy it before Finn can use it against him.
** Later on he kills and impersonates Billy himself after obtaining the Enchiridion so as to both get the old hero out of the way and also to make sure Finn unwittingly assists his goals.
** When he returns from his thwarted wish he makes sure to kill Prismo to prevent him from screwing him over again.
* TimeAbyss: Has at least existed for longer than Ooo has, making him over a thousand years old. "Evergreen" heavily implies he was or is an incarnation of the Catalyst Comet that wiped out the dinosaurs, making him ''tens of millions'' of years old. "Gold Stars" implies he existed ''before the universe'', or at least somehow knows what came before it.
* TheUndead: Once more, he '''is''' a '''lich.''' Also a large reason why it is very difficult to make sure he stays dead.
* UndeadAbomination: It turns out that he is not just a magic-infused zombie. He was created from an UnholyNuke that harnessed Golb's power, himself a reincarnation of various other destructive forces in the universe.
* VileVillainSaccharineShow: ''Oh hell yes.'' The first thing you'll notice about him is that, unlike the other villains in this show, he has no humorous quirks that can make him any less terrifying.
* VilerNewVillain: Prior to his first appearance, Finn and Jake's most recurring antagonist had been the Ice King, who'd been an IneffectualSympatheticVillain even before his tragic past was revealed. When the Lich was introduced in the second season finale, he became the show's proper BigBad and a villain terrifying in both appearance and [[OmnicidalManiac nature.]]
* VillainousBreakdown: Loses it in "Jake the Dog" when Jake makes the wish to [[SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong negate the human extinction wish just made]] and send both Finn and Jake back to Ooo, thereby bringing everything back to square one.
** In "Escape From The Citadel" the Lich finally loses his cool when Finn throws some of the healing blood of the Guardians on him, which begins rapidly regenerating him. He responds by screaming in panic and frantically trying to get it off him as it "reboots" him. He doesn't even have time to use the typical villain [[BigNo defeat]] [[ThisCannotBe phrases]].
* VillainousBSOD:
** While inside of Prismo's time room, where death cannot exist, he ends up just standing there motionless since he already used up his wish and there's no way to get out without Prismo teleporting him out. [[spoiler:He finally reanimates once Finn and Jake bring Prismo's body to the time room, allowing Prismo to cease existence by waking his body up and making death a possibility once more, alongside baiting the Citadel Guardians to take him to the Citadel and amass an army of cosmic criminals to continue his genocide.]]
** [[spoiler:In "Jerry," his alternate self that succeeded in destroying all life ended up in a similar state, since death is still impossible if there is no life. Unlike his mainstream self, where he was simply waiting to make his next move, here he's sincerely depressed to the point that he doesn't even do anything to Simon, Fionna and Cake despite having them at his mercy. When [=GOLBetty=] rescues Simon from Scarab, however, he follows them through the portal... [[RageAgainstTheHeavens just to rant to his master]] about [[AllForNothing how meaningless everything was all along.]]]]
* VillainRespect: During an evil monologue, he admits Finn is strong, but then states his strength is irrelevant. Still, it's a long way from their first confrontation when he contemptuously tells Finn he's a joke to him.
* WalkingSpoiler: It's hard to talk about the Lich without spoiling the major impact he has on the story, or what he implies and/or reveals about the series' backstory or even the existence of Sweet P.
* WalkingWasteland: He leaves a path of death and destruction in his wake. After he possesses Princess Bubblegum, he uses this to wilt an entire room full of flowers with one touch.
* WeCanRuleTogether: He attempts this on Finn in the Season 4 finale. It turned out to be a BatmanGambit played on Finn's heroic personality. He rejects the offer and smashes the Enchiridion, which was exactly what the Lich wanted. [[XanatosGambit Had he joined him]], [[MortonsFork the same thing would have played out anyway]].
** He tries this again on Sweet P, but instead he didn't account for Sweet P being an AntiAntiChrist, so he had no back up plans that time.
* WellDoneSonGuy: ''Fiona and Cake's'' finale reveals that [[spoiler: he only wants to kill everything because he think it will impress GOLB. [[FatalReward GOLB didn't seem appreciative.]]]]
* WickedCultured: He is intelligent, polite, speaks formally, and has a great knowledge of how everything was before time and life.
-->'''The Lich''' to '''the King of Ooo''': Stop. I have learned much from you. Thank you, my teachers. And now for your education. Before there was time, before there was anything, there was nothing. And before there was nothing, there were monsters. Here's your gold star!
* WorfHadTheFlu: Finn manages to beat him in the first fight, only because he is prevented from regaining his full strength. When he does later, he's powerful enough to deliver a CurbstompBattle to Finn, Jake, and the Gumball Guardians of the Candy Kingdom, requiring an EnemyMine with Ice King to defeat him. Even without his full power, he is able to shatter the gauntlet given to Finn to kill him and knock out Jake in one blast.
* WouldHurtAChild:
** [[OmnicidalManiac He wants to exterminate all existence]], and that means killing everyone, including children.
** He is more than willing to kill child hero Finn as well.
* WrongAssumption: The Lich thinks that killing all life will please his indirect creator, GOLB. [[spoiler: [[ForcedTransformation He was fatally mistaken.]] Given that killing all life would bring perfect eternal order and an end to Chaos . . .]]
* AllegoricalCharacter: While it's not explicit, his [[NuclearMutant origin]], his use of plutonium, his WalkingWasteland status, his affinity for [[SicklyGreenGlow sickly glowing green colors]], his [[StealthPun long half-life]], and his goal of total annihilation make him seem like the personification of [[WeaponOfMassDestruction nuclear]] [[WorldWarIII war]]. Given the implication he was born from the comet that destroyed the dinosaurs, it might be more apt to call him the personification of destruction. Nuclear war might simply be one shape that he takes.
* AlwaysABiggerFish: He usually tends to be the big example of evil, but "Whispers" revealed something big: That he is the "Last Scholar of GOLB." This means that ''GOLB'' is connected to him and the Lich appears to have gotten power from him. The last episode implies that the Lich is literally nothing more than a minor incarnation of GOLB's breath.
* AmbiguousSituation: It's not clear what his exact relation with GOLB is beyond his statement of being "the last Scholar". It's implied he was created by GOLB, but unlike the other mutations we see GOLB make he's not mindless and he's also implied to be the reincarnation of [[CometOfDoom a Catalyst Comet]] like Finn.
* AncientEvil: The Lich, being a result of the Mushroom Bomb being dropped, is over a thousand years old. However, this is just how long this specific incarnation has been around. His original, Catalyst Comet form was the reason the dinosaurs went extinct, meaning he is at least 60 million years old. See TimeAbyss below.
* ArchEnemy: Pretty much is this to anything living, but special mentions to being this to Billy and now Finn. It has become more solidified each time, Finn and Jake put him down. ''Reinforced'' epically when he admits that Finn has '''''bested him''' in many worlds.'' Given how the various Lich hands have spread across the Multiverse, he pretty much admits that the Finns of the Multiverse have pretty much been defeating him.
* AssholeVictim: Exaggerated; while he is a KnightOfCerebus instead of your average jerk, he is still horrified whenever he gets vaguely defeated.
* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: He's larger than Billy and is ENORMOUS in his
* AxCrazy: While outwardly calmer and more composed than other villains, he's been killing on a planetary scale for a very long period of time, and his ultimate goal is [[OmnicidalManiac the absolute is the eradication of all life]].
* BadassBoast: ''"You are alone, child. There is only darkness for you, and only death for your people. These ancients are just the beginning. I will command a great and terrible army, and we will sail to a billion worlds. We will sail until every light has been extinguished. You are strong, child, but I am beyond strength. I am the end. And I have come for you, Finn."''
* BadassLongrobe: Part of his NonstandardCharacterDesign. And the whole friggin' world fears him, he'd be badass no matter what he wore.
* BagOfHolding: Gets his hands on one in the comic, his plan being to suck up the entire land of Ooo and then throw the bag into the sun.
* BigBad: After the Ice King's early onset VillainDecay, the Lich is the most prominent and important villain in the show, having appeared in every season in some capacity, and the de facto {{Archenemy}} of Finn and Jake. Much of the conflict in the show can be traced back to the Lich; such as his presence as the green catalyst comet leading Evergreen to create what would become the Ice King's crown to combat it, as well as Fern's failure to stop him leading him to do a FaceHeelTurn. It's also strongly implied that he was involved in the destruction of mankind and contributed to the series taking place AfterTheEnd. Come ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTimeDistantLands'', the Lich ends up being the true Big Bad of "Together Again", making him the FinalBoss of Finn and Jake's story.
* BigNo: ''{{Invoked|Trope}}'', of all things. What better way to [[BatmanGambit trick the hero into do something]] than to shout "Nooooo!" when he does it?
* BodyHorror: Are those ''tendons'' hanging off his arms? Where are his cheeks?
** The Guardian blood turning him into a baby was also full of this.
** The successful version of the Lich that Fionna, Cake and Simon meet in ''Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake'' is still wearing Billy's corpse, which has become rotten with time. His flesh is torn open in places, his arms and legs are skeletal and his shriveled right eye is hanging out of its socket.
* BodySurf: Finn destroys his real body, so his soul transfers into Princess Bubblegum. After he's defeated again, he transfers again into the Snail, then to Billy. According to Prismo (who would know), he's a "ghost wearing a dead guy", so Billy is dead.
* BreathWeapon: Can use his SuperSmoke to induce fatal RapidAging, complete with crumbling into dust.
** It turns out that the Lich itself is the result of this, with the Cretaceous extinction comet and the payload used in the Mushroom War being implied to be some of GOLB's breath.
* CardCarryingVillain: He knows exactly how brutal and evil he is but doesn't care.
-->'''Finn:''' You're so evil, it's ''boring!'' You're ''basic'', man!\\
'''The Lich:''' [[BluntYes Yes.]] While the mortal world ''doubts'', and ''questions'', I know ''exactly'' what I am. I am the ceaseless wheel. The last scholar of [[GodOfChaos GOLB.]] ''I am your doom.''
* TheCameo: In the episode "[[Recap/AdventureTimeFionnaAndCakeS1E04PrismoTheWishmaster Prismo the Wishmaster]]" from ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTimeFionnaAndCake'', his grinning silhouette can be spotted in a dark cave in a black-and-white universe, and an infant version of him appears in Baby World in "[[Recap/AdventureTimeFionnaAndCakeS1E06TheWinterKing The Winter King]]", serving as a reminder of how he still persists through the Multiverse.
* ChaoticEvil: In-universe-assigned alignment in the comic series.
* ChaosIsEvil: The Lich believes that GOLB desires the death of all things. [[spoiler: Apparently he was incorrect.]]
* ChekhovsGunman: First appeared in "His Hero" for about a second in Billy's song, becomes the BigBad of the second season finale.
* ColdHam: While he's serious and straightforward all the time, he speaks with some of the most gravitas of any character in the show.
* CometOfDoom: "Evergreen" suggests that the Lich entity originated as the comet that wiped out the dinosaurs. "The Comet" confirms that his original form was an incarnation of the Catalyst Comet, a comet that hits Earth every 1000 years to bring about an agent of change. The Lich was an agent of pure evil, while Finn, who was also a previous incarnation of the comet, was an agent of pure good.
* CompellingVoice: One of his favorite powers. All it takes for the Lich to take the fight out of Finn and Jake is a single word: [[AC:"Fall."]]
* TheCorrupter: To Sweet P. He ultimately ends up failing.
* CrystalPrison:
** He's encased in amber at the beginning of "Mortal Folly".
** This happens again in Season 6, but he ''invokes it'' to get to the Citadel so he can release the criminals imprisoned there.
* DarkIsEvil: From his appearances to horrific powers, he's clearly dark and clearly evil.
* DeathOfPersonality: While his personality isn't ''completely'' dead, there's still not much left of it after Sweet P's birth.
* DemBones: His true form, revealed at the Citadel.
* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: Masterminds the deaths of Prismo in Season 6 and Death in ''Distant Lands''.
* ADogNamedDog: A lich named "the Lich".
* DoNotTauntCthulhu: During a party, most of the cast treat the seemingly catatonic Lich like a joke in Prismo's pad at the beginning of season 6. When Peppermint Butler asks why the Lich isn't murdering them all, Prismo explains the Lich's purpose is to cause mass death, and since he can't do that while trapped in Prismo's Time Room, he just doesn't do anything. The second Prismo carelessly reveals a way to off himself to Finn and Jake, which would also advance his goals of total extinction, the Lich shows exactly why ignoring him was a bad idea.
* TheDragon: It turns out he's merely this to GOLB. [[spoiler:Or more accurately, ''thinks'' he's this.]]
* TheDreaded: According to the creators, he's so terrifying that even the Ice King and Marceline will run in terror of him. Princess Bubblegum's reaction to the possibility he's returning in the preview seems to further support this. It winds up being downplayed in the actual episode, as although Princess Bubblegum does truly fear him (Marceline does not even appear), Ice King seems to be completely clueless about the Lich due to his {{Cloudcuckoolander}} nature (being more concerned with holes), and he actually eagerly volunteers to help fight the Lich later on.
** "King Worm" implies that even ''Finn'' is afraid of him (and possibly his greatest fear, enough to wake him from his dream).
** It's so bad, even the ''creators'' are scared of him. In the original pitch document, underneath an early sketch of the Lich is the phrase, in AllCaps, "THE LICH KING IS NOT FUNNY".
** Even ''Death himself'' and Peppermint Butler seem to be at least creeped out by him.
** While Hunson Abadeer called him pathetic, he admitted that the Lich and his army are capable of destroying Ooo and that he would have taken action against him if it wasn't for Finn. Abadeer also called the Lich his rival.
** [[spoiler: In ''Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake'', when Simon sees The Lich is the one called "Jerry" in the Extinct World, he yells at Fionna and Cake to '''''RUN.''''' Luckily, though he traps them with his magic power, The Lich is too depressed by having fulfilled his supposed purpose to kill them and lets them go, but Fionna and Cake are left understandably terrified of him.]]
* DubNameChange: In the Polish dub his name is changed to "Król Zła" or "Król Zły" meaning "King of Evil" or "Evil King" to match the show's ThemeNaming like Ice King, Flame King etc.
* EldritchAbomination: He is heavily implied to be this in "Gold Stars", where he gives a monologue about primordial "monsters" that existed before the beginning of time. Depending on how you view it, he either knows about them a lot or is [[OhCrap one of those eldritch beasts himself]]. "Evergreen" implies that he's an incarnation of a Catalyst Comet.
* EnemyWithin: To Sweet P until the latter kills his Farmworld Copy, after which Sweet P seems to have fully overcome his influence.
* EvilCannotComprehendGood: Subverted-his attempt to tempt Finn with something selfish like immortality or "anything you want" fails and he breaks the Enchiridion...which is exactly what he wants and was actually playing on his heroic nature to break it and open the portal to Prismo for him.
* EvilGenius: Not only is he an OmnicidalManiac, but he's also pretty calculating, manipulative, and intelligent.
* EvilHasABadSenseOfHumor: The "no humor" kind. The Lich isn't light-hearted or comical in any sense of the word and is by far the show's most evil character.
* EvilIsBurningHot: He is able to shoot sickly-green fire. It's usually just there to illuminate his NightmareFace.
* EvilIsDeathlyCold: Given his association with death and lifelessness, it's implied.
-->'''The Lich''': Aren't you cold, Finn?
* EvilLaugh: He laughs a total of three times, usually when everything is going JustAsPlanned and the heroes are unable to stop him, but also when Finn is tearing his head off with a sweater. It is incredibly disconcerting to hear.
* EvilSorcerer: Of the necromantic kind. He's able to resurrect the dead, rot all life around him with his presence, shoot out sickly green flames, and spew noxious gas capable of reducing people to ash.
* EvilSoundsDeep: He has a very low and menacing voice, courtesy of Creator/RonPerlman. Although it was supposed to be even deeper, as Pen's original choice was ''Music/TomWaits''.
* EvilVirtues: Although pure evil, the Lich still has a commendable amount of determination and diligence. He never stops working on his mission to destroy all life no matter what the setbacks (i.e.: continuing to cast mind-control spells from his amber prison just on the off-chance an unprotected mind may enter), and there's not a moment he isn't planning. He's also patient to an impressive degree, waiting months, if not years, for his plans to come together like learning about Finn from afar as part of his plot [[ManipulativeBastard to exploit his heroism]] or holding off killing anyone in Prismo's Time Room until the opportunity to do so without it being fixed presents itself.
* {{Expy}}: The Lich's design is heavily influenced by [[WesternAnimation/TheBlackCauldron The Horned King.]] They're pure evil liches that want to exterminate humanity, [[EvilHasABadSenseOfHumor completely humorless]], [[KnightOfCerebus and are treated dead serious compared to most other Disney/Adventure Time villains]]
* EyeDentityGiveaway: Any vessel that he possesses gains his GlowingEyelightsOfUndeath. He eventually ceases to use direct possessions once he realizes how easily this gives him away.
* FaceMonsterTurn: Implied to be a human mutated into a weapon, then subverted; The human is just a vessel for whatever malevolent force or spirit the Lich is embodied by.
* FailureIsTheOnlyOption: For all his terrifying power and the grim seriousness with which he is presented, the Lich is always undone by the end; the Lich even admits that Finn [[TheGoodGuysAlwaysWin has defeated him time and again]] across TheMultiverse, even as he crows about [[JokerImmunity always coming back]]. [[spoiler:In ''Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake'', we get to see a version of the Lich (technically the original) who successfully killed all life, but he's become [[AndThenWhat crippled by ennui and boredom]], and soon learns to his dismay that [[AllForNothing killing all life was never going to get GOLB's approval to begin with]].]]
* FauxAffablyEvil: Despite being a monstrous entity and pure evil, the Lich speaks in a very polite, formal, and refined way.
* FlatCharacter: PlayedForHorror. His backstory is very vague, he doesn't speak much, and his entire character revolves around destroying the normally whimsical land of Ooo. The Lich is an absolute force of destruction, and at the end of the day, that's all he wants to be. Finn hangs a lampshade on it by accusing the Lich of being "so evil, it's boring". The Lich responds by admitting to being proud of such.
** [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] by Finn in "Whispers":
---> '''Finn:''' You're so evil, it's boring! You're basic, man!
* {{Flight}}: The Lich can fly under his own power, though only shows this ability in his first shown form.
* {{Foil}}: He's the exact opposite of Finn. The Lich was born from the Green Catalyst Comet that struck Earth and killed off the dinosaurs and seems to represent Mass Extinction while Finn is the {{Reincarnation}} of the Blue Catalyst Comet, which incarnated as a butterfly (a symbol of rebirth). While the Lich is pure evil, relishes in his cruelty, and wants to exterminate life, Finn has a [[IncorruptiblePurePureness pure heart]] and is more than willing to fight against the bad guys. Even by the end, they're physically opposed in that Finn is missing an arm, but all the Lich ''is'' at this point is an arm.
* FreakOut: [[VillainousBreakdown Has one]] when Finn throws the Guardian's blood on him, beginning to bring him back to life.
* FreudianExcuse: His origins are overall a mystery, but it's implied he was formed from the essence of [[EldritchAbomination GOLB]] long ago. Knowing this it's hard to blame him for what he turned out to be given he obviously never had any family or friends like Finn, Jake, Bonnibell, or Marceline. [[FreudianExcuseIsNoExcuse That said, it doesn't make him any less vile]], as he's quite aware of what he is [[CardCarryingVillain and proud of it.]] [[spoiler:''Adventure Time: Fionna And Cake'' finally plays it straight by revealing the Lich's ultimate motivation for killing all life is to [[WellDoneSonGuy gain GOLB's favor, or at least some form of recognition or approval]]. The Extinct World Lich (who succeeded in killing his universe) [[VillainousBreakdown reacts poorly]] when his god continues to ignore him.]]
* FromNobodyToNightmare: While who or what he was isn't made clear, he was a member of the Pre-Mushroom War civilization before the nuclear pollution mutated him into the immensely powerful OmnicidalManiac. Though considering his BodySurf abilities and the implication he existed far earlier, the core personality of the Lich probably wasn't some innocent victim, just the body of the dude he used. Later episodes more or less confirm that his first body seen in the series wasn't his original form and that he's actually the incarnation of a malevolent Catalyst Comet with whatever human that got exposed to the bomb being an unfortunate victim caught in the crossfire and forcefully turned into a vessel.
* FullFrontalAssault: Taken [[ExaggeratedTrope to extremes]] in his Season 6 battle with Finn, when escaping from his CrystalPrison destroys all the clothing [[StrippedToTheBone and tissue remaining on his body]]. The result is a giant skeleton whose only covering is a small metal bar on its ribcage over its heart. While safe for work, it's at once [[BodyHorror horrifying]] and ''{{wrong|OnSoManyLevels}}''.
* GenreRefugee: In terms of tone and personality, he's almost alien to the setting, which results in many characters underestimating him as they tend to lump him in with goofy malcontents like the Ice King and Magic Man, believing that he'll suffer VillainDecay like most recurring antagonists. This never happens, and he viciously strikes back the moment an opportunity presents itself. Conversely, he is often blindsided by the silliness of the show such as sweaters with great sentimental value or being turned into a giant baby.
* GenuineHumanHide: Ends up killing Billy and skins him for a disguise. He disposes of it when he breaks out of the Crystal Citadel.
* GlasgowGrin: Due to decay, he has a permanent SlasherSmile. When in his ruined Billy disguise the Billy half of his face is stuck in a permanent Cheshire grin while the Lich half tends to look bored (unless he's letting loose his EvilLaugh).
* GlowingEyelightsOfUndeath: He and anyone he's controlling have these. At least at first.
* GoMadFromTheRevelation: Attempts this a few times via MindRape and revealing ThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow.
** [[spoiler: Ironically, this happens to his alternate self in the timeline where his wish was granted. His actions were largely motivated by the desire to [[WellDoneSonGuy serve and earn the approval of his deity, GOLB]]. Realizing that GOLB [[BlueAndOrangeMorality didn't want cosmic extinction (and/or had no desires whatsoever)]], he [[VillainousBreakdown breaks]].]]
* TheHeavy: He is the one who carries out GOLB's plans, the GreaterScopeVillain of the show.
* HeroKiller: One of the more successful examples. Just ask Billy.
** He comes back in the season 6 premiere to off ''Prismo'', of all people.
* HornedHumanoid: He has a pair of curly, ram-like horns on his head, which only make him look even more demonic than he already does.
%%* HumanityEnsues: His fate as of Season 6 as Finn splashes him with healing water that turned into a [[RaiseHimRightThisTime giant human baby]] (albeit still with the horn).]] Although [[spoiler:the Lich was originally a human transformed by the Mushroom Bomb,]] so...
* IAmTheNoun: "I am the End."
* IAmWhatIAm: When Finn accuses him of being little more than a GenericDoomsdayVillain, the Lich is proud of this, since he knows who he is. He also ends up revealing a very important timbit about himself, he is the Last Scholar of GOLB.
* {{Immortality}}: Appears to have this, a combination of types four and five, due to being a Lich and his habit of {{Body Surf}}ing whenever his physical form is destroyed. The creators have said that he hasn't ''beaten'' Death but is cheating him at every turn. At the very least, the Maid was able to vaporize Farmworld!Lich, although given that a piece of him survived and now exists in ''every dimension simultaneously'' it very much does not stick. "Whispers" and [[spoiler:"Together Again"]] both show this is the case and neither put an end to his threat forever.
* ImplacableMan: Part of what makes him frightening: his reason for ''existing'' is to wipe out all life, and he just ''won't'' stop, and has ''ungodly'' patience. [[SealedEvilInACan Trap him in amber?]] He'll spend ''years'' chanting evil spells, just waiting for the first unprotected mind to come within range, break free, and continue like nothing ever happened. Destroy him? He'll just [[BodySurf find a new body to continue his rampage]]. Kill him again? He'll do the above then kill the hero that originally beat him and use him as a suit. Trap him in a room outside of time? He'll just sit there, waiting for the opportunity to strike the nanosecond it presents itself. Trap him in an multiversal prison for cosmic criminals? He'll ''destroy his prison from the inside out'' then mind control said criminals into becoming his army. The best anyone can hope for when it comes to the Lich is to contain him for a time, but he ''will'' get back up and pick up where he left off without missing a beat, now knowing just how to counter what you used against him.
* InsultBackfire: When Finn mocks him for "[[FlatCharacter being so evil it's boring]]" the Lich [[BluntYes nonchalantly agrees]] and says he takes pride in it [[CardCarryingVillain since it means he knows what he is]].
* {{Irony}}:
** When disguising himself as Billy, he lied to Finn by saying that he planned to use the Enchiridion to trap the Lich in the room outside of time, in order to justify why he would need his help to activate it. In "Jake the Dog", when Jake retroactively changes his wish into making the former and Finn go back to Ooo, he gets trapped in that very same room (though not for long).
** He killed Billy and puppeteered his corpse. His reincarnation Sweet P [[FutureBadass wound up becoming the Future Ooo's equivalent]] ''[[FutureBadass to]]'' [[FutureBadass Billy.]]
* ItOnlyWorksOnce: He's too smart to be defeated the same way twice; [[UpgradeArtifact Billy's Gauntlet]] was the only known weapon to harm him (it's likely the reason the Lich has a broken horn). Destroying it is among the first things he does, before even fully recovering. Attacking him with a sweater and ThePowerOfLove didn't work out so well the second time either.
** Billy only worked once, considering the Lich killed him and possessed his corpse at the first chance. He also used Finn's heroism to further his goals.
** The Lich also took swift care of Prismo not just as revenge or to avoid the genie messing with his affairs: he voluntarily got imprisoned just to ''melt away'' the Citadel and take [[FromBadtoWorse control of his fellow cosmic criminals]].
* ItsPersonal: Does this for Finn and Jake by, respectively, killing Billy and Prismo.
* {{Jerkass}}: A [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstructed example]]; he's far from being mean, as expected from someone [[KnightOfCerebus without]] redeeming and/or laughable qualities. [[{{Characters/Pinocchio}} And that's]] saying [[SatanicArchetype something]].
* KarmicTransformation: The Lich native to Finn and Jake's universe murdered the legendary hero Billy, who once stopped him from wiping out all life in Ooo, then wore his skin to impersonate him. Not only does the Lich end up transforming into a living innocent being named Sweet P, but the finale implies Sweet P grows up to essentially become Billy's equivalent as Ooo's legendary hero.
* KnightOfCerebus: Prior to his return, ''Adventure Time'' was a lighthearted, whimsical show with generally comical villains. The Lich, on the other hand, is an OmnicidalManiac hellbent on destroying all life. Ever since his first major appearance, the show would begin taking a darker tone and examine the more horrifying and upsetting aspects of the post-apocalyptic setting.
* LackOfEmpathy: Has zero concern or value for any living thing, [[AbusiveDad even his "Sweet P" self]], outright [[OmnicidalManiac desiring to kill everyone]].
* LatexPerfection: Despite wearing Billy's skin as a disguise, none of his identifying features stand out until half his face is taken off revealing his horned skull underneath.
* LaughingMad: In season 2, when Finn is tearing his head open with PB's magic sweater, the Lich suddenly breaks into loud, wheezing laughter and keeps laughing until Finn destroys him. It's easily the most emotive he ever gets in the show (all of his other [[EvilLaugh evil laughs]] are, at most, quick and sinister chuckles).
* LightningBruiser: The other reason ItOnlyWorksOnce. He's a lot quicker on the draw than he looks.
* ManipulativeBastard: He manages to use ReversePsychology on Finn to gain access to the Multiverse.
* MindRape: Has this ability if one isn't wearing the proper magical protection or has ThePowerOfLove.
* MoreDespicableMinion: It's eventually revealed he's this to his creator GOLB. While GOLB is a barely sapient entity that's more force of nature than evil, the Lich is a truly malevolent being who relishes the carnage he spreads and serves GOLB solely out of his love of chaos and death.
* MorphicResonance:
** His vessels retain his GlowingEyelightsOfUndeath... [[SubvertedTrope ...until he realizes this is a dead giveaway]] and learns how to stop doing it.
** The comet from which it originated possesses flames shaped like the Lich's curling horns.
* MultipleChoicePast: The Lich is given various and often contradictory possible origins throughout the show. These include:
** It's implied he's a mutated monster born from the nuclear fallout from the Mushroom bomb going off that ended the world. This is seemingly backed up by the fact his Farmworld version is created the same way.
** It's also implied that he's the reincarnation of a Catalyst Comet which came to Earth and wiped out the elementals due to its green color, horns, and desire to end all life. As the reincarnation of the blue Catalyst Comet, Finn is destined to be his eternal enemy throughout their reincarnations.
** His speech in "Gold Stars" implies he's an EldritchAbomination, and a member of a race of beings who are as old as the universe.
** It's also implied that he's actually an eldritch being and a creation of the god of chaos GOLB, as he states that he's the "Last Scholar of GOLB".
* MultiversalConqueror: Revealed to be his ultimate goal in "Wake Up", planning to command the Citadel inmates to exterminate all life in the multiverse.
* MysteriousPast: His origin is quite contradictory and vague. While at first it was believed that he was created by the Mushroom War, other theories suggest that he is an ancient being, or that his origin is related to GOLB. Even after the end of the series, his nature is never explained with certainty, or why he wants the extinction of all life.
* NearVillainVictory: Reaching his well of power and nearly killing Finn, only for Finn to be protected by a sweater, wishing all life in the multiverse to be gone only for the wish to be undone by the ''only'' living creature left to make a wish, escaping from the Citadel with its mind-controlled inmates to conquer reality, and being seconds away from killing Finn only to be rendered harmless by the guardian blood. He's been defeated more due to sheer luck than actual skill from the heroes.
* {{Necromancer}}: Well, he ''is'' a ''lich''.
* NiceJobFixingItVillain: The Lich's plan: kill Prismo, get taken to the Citadel, release the cosmic criminals there, and form an army to exterminate life in the universe. It's a very good plan, but it has two problems:
** One, it allows Finn and Jake to get to the Citadel (where they already wanted to go) without being imprisoned in crystal. If the Lich had let them wake up Prismo, they may have been trapped forever.
** Two, the Citadel contains Guardian blood, a substance capable of defeating him. As far as we know, nothing on Ooo could have done that.
* NightOfTheLivingMooks:
** The Lich was said to command these in his pitch document. A group of skeletons at his lair rise up to try and stop Finn and Jake from entering.
** In the beginning of Season 6, instead of an army of undead he attempts to use ancient, cosmic criminals to kill all life in the universe. These are guys strong enough to destroy ''entire planets'' in seconds; they're probably more effective than undead.
* NightmareFace: He's got nasty, rotting flaps of flesh hanging off his face where his lips should be.
** Made worse after his disguise as Billy is ruined showing half of Billy's face stuck in a permanent grin and the rest showing the Lich's skull.
* NonStandardCharacterDesign: Most of the main cast is made of simple cartoony shapes and bright colors without much detail. The Lich is made from complex shapes that make him look more human, uses dark and threatening colors along with his trademark SicklyGreenGlow, and has a lot of detail on his face and all the tendons and flaps of skin hanging off his frame.
* NotQuiteDead: The Lich still exists deep within Sweet P, the name given to his reborn body by Tree Trunks and Mr. Pig. Sweet P is an innocent child, but the Lich can still manifest his presence through him deep within. And it's not clear what will happen when Sweet P eventually dies...
* NuclearMutant: Implied to have arisen as a result of one of the weapons used in the Mushroom War, if "Jake the Dog" is anything to go by.
* ObviouslyEvil: His demonic face, dark cloak, skeletal body, and dark magic just make it pretty clear that he's a villain. Jake even [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] when trying to tell the now crazy Famworld Finn that he isn't their friend.
-->'''Jake:''' Come on that's the Lich. He's evil! He's not even trying to hide it, bro!
* OhCrap: When he realizes he wished for Finn and Jake to return home safely instead of wishing for the end of all life (thanks to Jake's wish).
* OmnicidalManiac: According to Princess Bubblegum, his goal is to destroy life. His original wish was for Prismo to destroy all life.
** Given that he was born from the comet that killed the dinosaurs and reappeared during a nuclear war, he is the '''essence''' of this.
** Best summed up by this quote: ''"I will command a great and terrible army, and we will sail to a billion worlds. We will sail until every light is extinguished."''
* OneWingedAngel: In Princess Bubblegum's body, he tricks Finn into getting him the things he needs to fully regain his powers and turns into a gigantic monster that beats the stuffing out of Finn, the Gumball Guardians protecting the Candy Kingdom, and Jake, then tears apart the Candy Kingdom. It ultimately takes an EnemyMine with Ice King to defeat him. And even then, his soul transfers again.
** In the final fight between him and Finn, he sheds Billy's guise and returns to his true form.
* OurLichesAreDifferent: He was created by a nuclear bomb.
* PersonOfMassDestruction: Luckily, he didn't regain his full power... ''yet''.
** We see him at full power in 'Escape from the Citadel'. He's powerful enough to destroy a multiversal prison for cosmic-level criminals (some of which can destroy planets in ''seconds'') ''just by being there.'' And can utterly rob Finn and Jake of all their strength, and leave them nearly helpless and at his mercy on the floor, ''with a single word.'' '''''"I am beyond strength" indeed.'''''
* PetTheDog: Believe it or not. In "Gold Stars" he only emerges briefly to terrify the King of Ooo and his sidekick when they go too far bullying Sweet P. Or the Lich may have just been personally annoyed by them.
* PhlebotinumKilledTheDinosaurs: In "Evergreen", it is suggested that the Lich originated as a malevolent force possessing the comet that killed the dinosaurs.
* PlayingWithFire: Has the ability to shoot [[TechnicolorFire green flames]] from his hands.
** In the season 6 premiere, he's shifted to [[AWizardDidIt physically impossible]] black flames.
* PowerOfTheVoid: The BagOfHolding that he obtains in comics can suck up anything similar to a black hole.
* PsychicAssistedSuicide: Tried to make Finn walk into his well, which would likely have killed him (or mutated him horribly).
* PsychoSupporter: The Lich is a fanatical worshipper of GodOfChaos GOLB, to the point of planning to wipe out all life in order to earn its favour. He intends to become the embodiment of chaos itself.
* RaiseHimRightThisTime: After Finn turns him into an apparently innocent infant, he's left with Tree Trunks and Mr. Pig presumably for this reason.
* ReviveKillsZombie: The healing regenerative blood of the Citadel Guardians transforms the Lich into a giant baby, seemingly erasing all his memories in the process.
* TheRival: Towards Abadeer, according to the Adventure Time Encyclopedia. It's unknown if the Lich is aware of this.
* {{Sadist}}: Not only does he want to wipe out all life, but it's clear he enjoys killing and tormenting his victims psychologically as well, like sarcastically thanking Finn for unknowingly helping him gain access to Prismo's realm or laughing at Jake over his anger about Prismo's murder.
* ScarySkeleton: He has the appearance of a skeleton, wearing a cloak in his debut. He is a monstrous creature who wants nothing more than to eliminate all life and has the power to do it. ItOnlyWorksOnce on the Lich, as he is so intelligent and skilled in planning to the point where it is pretty much impossible to defeat him the same way twice. The Lich, having slaughtered Billy as well as used his skin as a disguise, is absolutely not to be trifled with.
* SealedEvilInACan: Was imprisoned in amber by the legendary hero Billy. Unfortunately, said amber turns out to be extremely fragile. Later he invokes this by getting himself locked in the Crystal Citadel knowing he can break out of it, along with breaking the dangerous inmates to help him kill everyone.
* SealedInAPersonShapedCan: He continues to exist inside Sweet P, his reborn body, until Sweet P is able to suppress him for good in "Whispers". In the last episode, Betty taking over the mind of GOLB erases his creations from Ooo, which may have finally totally erased the Lich for good.
* SicklyGreenGlow: If it isn't [[TechnicolorFire the flames he shoots]] it's the bubbling potion he uses to regain his power.
* SlasherSmile: Initially his default expression is a grin, a grin being [[{{Literature/Discworld}} the default expression of any skull]], but once he's revealed as wearing Billy's skin, he adopts a nasty smile made all the worse by the fact that half of his face is his own, and the other half Billy's.
* TheSociopath: Even though the Lich is an evil entity, he seems to be smart and cunning enough to understand human morality, embodying far more hate and evil than the vast majority of the villains in the series. During his appearances, we can see that [[FauxAffablyEvil he is a very good actor]] (he literally posed as a legendary hero to achieve his goals), is an exceptional [[ManipulativeBastard manipulator]], and his ultimate goal is [[OmnicidalManiac the absolute eradication of life]].
* SoftSpokenSadist: Rarely raises his deep, chilling voice. He even shushes Finn, once, just before shattering a weapon that was both a living, feeling being and Finn's only hope of defeating him/surviving.
* StaticCharacter: While Finn and other major characters undergo CharacterDevelopment, the Lich never changes or falters from being the determined, unrelenting OmnicidalManiac. This is part of what makes him a dangerous villain; his refusal to rethink his goals or change as a person means [[{{Determinator}} he will always be dedicated to his omnicidal mission]] no matter how many times he's thwarted.
* StealthPun: He's a zombie that was born from a nuclear bomb. In other words, he has a long half-life.
* SuperSmoke: When the Snail opens a small hole in his amber prison, he escapes through it in the form of an acidic cloud of black smog. Then does the same thing to get through the wall to the outside. As the season 6 premiere demonstrates, he can also use it offensively.
* TaughtByExperience: The reason for ItOnlyWorksOnce. It's not that he becomes immune to whatever defeated him, he just makes sure to ''prevent'' prior tactics from being used on him again by targeting the source of his defeat.
** Billy's gauntlet was used to defeat him before, so one of the first things he does is destroy it before Finn can use it against him.
** Later on he kills and impersonates Billy himself after obtaining the Enchiridion so as to both get the old hero out of the way and also to make sure Finn unwittingly assists his goals.
** When he returns from his thwarted wish he makes sure to kill Prismo to prevent him from screwing him over again.
* TimeAbyss: Has at least existed for longer than Ooo has, making him over a thousand years old. "Evergreen" heavily implies he was or is an incarnation of the Catalyst Comet that wiped out the dinosaurs, making him ''tens of millions'' of years old. "Gold Stars" implies he existed ''before the universe'', or at least somehow knows what came before it.
* TheUndead: Once more, he '''is''' a '''lich.''' Also a large reason why it is very difficult to make sure he stays dead.
* UndeadAbomination: It turns out that he is not just a magic-infused zombie. He was created from an UnholyNuke that harnessed Golb's power, himself a reincarnation of various other destructive forces in the universe.
* VileVillainSaccharineShow: ''Oh hell yes.'' The first thing you'll notice about him is that, unlike the other villains in this show, he has no humorous quirks that can make him any less terrifying.
* VilerNewVillain: Prior to his first appearance, Finn and Jake's most recurring antagonist had been the Ice King, who'd been an IneffectualSympatheticVillain even before his tragic past was revealed. When the Lich was introduced in the second season finale, he became the show's proper BigBad and a villain terrifying in both appearance and [[OmnicidalManiac nature.]]
* VillainousBreakdown: Loses it in "Jake the Dog" when Jake makes the wish to [[SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong negate the human extinction wish just made]] and send both Finn and Jake back to Ooo, thereby bringing everything back to square one.
** In "Escape From The Citadel" the Lich finally loses his cool when Finn throws some of the healing blood of the Guardians on him, which begins rapidly regenerating him. He responds by screaming in panic and frantically trying to get it off him as it "reboots" him. He doesn't even have time to use the typical villain [[BigNo defeat]] [[ThisCannotBe phrases]].
* VillainousBSOD:
** While inside of Prismo's time room, where death cannot exist, he ends up just standing there motionless since he already used up his wish and there's no way to get out without Prismo teleporting him out. [[spoiler:He finally reanimates once Finn and Jake bring Prismo's body to the time room, allowing Prismo to cease existence by waking his body up and making death a possibility once more, alongside baiting the Citadel Guardians to take him to the Citadel and amass an army of cosmic criminals to continue his genocide.]]
** [[spoiler:In "Jerry," his alternate self that succeeded in destroying all life ended up in a similar state, since death is still impossible if there is no life. Unlike his mainstream self, where he was simply waiting to make his next move, here he's sincerely depressed to the point that he doesn't even do anything to Simon, Fionna and Cake despite having them at his mercy. When [=GOLBetty=] rescues Simon from Scarab, however, he follows them through the portal... [[RageAgainstTheHeavens just to rant to his master]] about [[AllForNothing how meaningless everything was all along.]]]]
* VillainRespect: During an evil monologue, he admits Finn is strong, but then states his strength is irrelevant. Still, it's a long way from their first confrontation when he contemptuously tells Finn he's a joke to him.
* WalkingSpoiler: It's hard to talk about the Lich without spoiling the major impact he has on the story, or what he implies and/or reveals about the series' backstory or even the existence of Sweet P.
* WalkingWasteland: He leaves a path of death and destruction in his wake. After he possesses Princess Bubblegum, he uses this to wilt an entire room full of flowers with one touch.
* WeCanRuleTogether: He attempts this on Finn in the Season 4 finale. It turned out to be a BatmanGambit played on Finn's heroic personality. He rejects the offer and smashes the Enchiridion, which was exactly what the Lich wanted. [[XanatosGambit Had he joined him]], [[MortonsFork the same thing would have played out anyway]].
** He tries this again on Sweet P, but instead he didn't account for Sweet P being an AntiAntiChrist, so he had no back up plans that time.
* WellDoneSonGuy: ''Fiona and Cake's'' finale reveals that [[spoiler: he only wants to kill everything because he think it will impress GOLB. [[FatalReward GOLB didn't seem appreciative.]]]]
* WickedCultured: He is intelligent, polite, speaks formally, and has a great knowledge of how everything was before time and life.
-->'''The Lich''' to '''the King of Ooo''': Stop. I have learned much from you. Thank you, my teachers. And now for your education. Before there was time, before there was anything, there was nothing. And before there was nothing, there were monsters. Here's your gold star!
* WorfHadTheFlu: Finn manages to beat him in the first fight, only because he is prevented from regaining his full strength. When he does later, he's powerful enough to deliver a CurbstompBattle to Finn, Jake, and the Gumball Guardians of the Candy Kingdom, requiring an EnemyMine with Ice King to defeat him. Even without his full power, he is able to shatter the gauntlet given to Finn to kill him and knock out Jake in one blast.
* WouldHurtAChild:
** [[OmnicidalManiac He wants to exterminate all existence]], and that means killing everyone, including children.
** He is more than willing to kill child hero Finn as well.
* WrongAssumption: The Lich thinks that killing all life will please his indirect creator, GOLB. [[spoiler: [[ForcedTransformation He was fatally mistaken.]] Given that killing all life would bring perfect eternal order and an end to Chaos . . .]]
