As the title suggests, technically the Lich's paralyzing touch isn't worded as being a magical effect. It just says that it's an attack roll and it paralyzes on a hit. So does Freedom of movement's wording, as well as items like the Ring of Free action, which only negates paralyzing effects that are magical, negate the effects of Paralyzing Touch as well as other ways of paralyzing creatures such as a Crawler Mucus poison?
There's an entry in the SAC related to this topic:
How do I tell if something in the game is magical?
Game text explicitly states if an effect is magical. Effects created by spells and magic items are always magical. See “Magical Effect” in appendix C of the Player’s Handbook.
And also a couple threads that could be helpful for the OP:
This is one of those situations where the RAW is clear, as noted above, but also nonsense
A lich's creature type is listed as Undead (Wizard). Literally everything it does is a product of magic
Per RAW, a mage's Arcane Burst isn't "magical" either, which is just plain goofy
As a DM I'd have no problem ruling that freedom of movement or a ring of free action would both work against Paralyzing Touch, because it's the entire point of them
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Active characters:
Edoumiaond Willegume "Eddie" Podslee, Vegetanian scholar (College of Spirits bard) Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric) Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator (Assassin rogue) Peter "the Pied Piper" Hausler, human con artist/remover of vermin (Circle of the Shepherd druid) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
This is one of those situations where the RAW is clear, as noted above, but also nonsense
A lich's creature type is listed as Undead (Wizard). Literally everything it does is a product of magic
Per RAW, a mage's Arcane Burst isn't "magical" either, which is just plain goofy
As a DM I'd have no problem ruling that freedom of movement or a ring of free action would both work against Paralyzing Touch, because it's the entire point of them
The SAC entry referenced earlier also talks about the difference between active magic and the magic that makes so many things in the world as they are. A dragon's breath weapon came about because of magic, but it's considered part of the world, not a magical effect, for instance.
If you are bothered by the idea of it not being magical when coming from a Wizard, another way to look at this is that the Paralyzing Touch of a Lich is not an ability that comes from being a Wizard but rather an ability that comes from being a high-level Undead. Cold damage and paralysis from the touch of an Undead makes perfect sense.
IN 2014, it was a spell attack, but the spell/weapon attack distinction was dropped from 2024 to save space. I would definitely let Freedom of Movement work on Paralyzing Touch.
RAW, Plaguescarred is correct but it can lead to some logically odd results such as AntonSirius demonstrated.
If you want to justify Undead effects being magical or just enjoy RAC (Rules as Comedy), a corpse is an object. Undead are generally corpses animated by magic therefore Undead are Magic Objects (Magic Items) and a Lich's Paralyzing Touch is a magical effect. Good luck with that argument though. :D
As the title suggests, technically the Lich's paralyzing touch isn't worded as being a magical effect. It just says that it's an attack roll and it paralyzes on a hit. So does Freedom of movement's wording, as well as items like the Ring of Free action, which only negates paralyzing effects that are magical, negate the effects of Paralyzing Touch as well as other ways of paralyzing creatures such as a Crawler Mucus poison?
The spell Freedom of Movement doesn't have any effect on a Lich's Paralyzing Touch because the latter isn't a Magical Effect.
Likewise, a Carrion Crawler's Paralyzing Tentacles would be unaffected by a Ring of Free Action because the condition isn't caused by magic.
I agree with Plagescarred.
There's an entry in the SAC related to this topic:
And also a couple threads that could be helpful for the OP:
- Are attacks (melee/effects) from magically summoned creatures mitigated by monsters’ magic resistance?
- MM25 - Monster Attack when Magic, Clarification
This is one of those situations where the RAW is clear, as noted above, but also nonsense
A lich's creature type is listed as Undead (Wizard). Literally everything it does is a product of magic
Per RAW, a mage's Arcane Burst isn't "magical" either, which is just plain goofy
As a DM I'd have no problem ruling that freedom of movement or a ring of free action would both work against Paralyzing Touch, because it's the entire point of them
Active characters:
Edoumiaond Willegume "Eddie" Podslee, Vegetanian scholar (College of Spirits bard)
Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric)
Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator (Assassin rogue)
Peter "the Pied Piper" Hausler, human con artist/remover of vermin (Circle of the Shepherd druid)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
The SAC entry referenced earlier also talks about the difference between active magic and the magic that makes so many things in the world as they are. A dragon's breath weapon came about because of magic, but it's considered part of the world, not a magical effect, for instance.
If you are bothered by the idea of it not being magical when coming from a Wizard, another way to look at this is that the Paralyzing Touch of a Lich is not an ability that comes from being a Wizard but rather an ability that comes from being a high-level Undead. Cold damage and paralysis from the touch of an Undead makes perfect sense.
IN 2014, it was a spell attack, but the spell/weapon attack distinction was dropped from 2024 to save space. I would definitely let Freedom of Movement work on Paralyzing Touch.
RAW, Plaguescarred is correct but it can lead to some logically odd results such as AntonSirius demonstrated.
If you want to justify Undead effects being magical or just enjoy RAC (Rules as Comedy), a corpse is an object. Undead are generally corpses animated by magic therefore Undead are Magic Objects (Magic Items) and a Lich's Paralyzing Touch is a magical effect. Good luck with that argument though. :D
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