In the realm of Dungeons & Dragons, the Cleric has traditionally served as the quintessential healer in adventuring parties. However, over the years, this narrative has shifted significantly. Today’s Clerics are versatile characters capable of fulfilling various roles in gameplay, making them effective candidates for multiclassing.
Once considered a lesser class, Clerics now boast a wealth of skills and customization possibilities, appealing to both tabletop enthusiasts and video game players alike. Titles like Baldur’s Gate 3 showcase their potential. While Clerics still excel in healing, they are equally formidable as defenders, spellcasters, and melee combatants, capable of dealing both magical and physical damage.
Clerics utilize Wisdom as their primary spellcasting modifier, meaning this stat often sits at the pinnacle of their abilities. For players contemplating a multiclass approach, it is wise to consider options that similarly leverage Wisdom, such as Druids, Monks, and Rangers.
4 The Tempest Cleric
Masters Of The Storm
- Ability Scores: A build focused on elemental power requires high Wisdom, with additional points in Dexterity for effectiveness.
This build is adaptable for both defensive and striking roles. If aiming for a defensive character, prioritize Constitution over Dexterity. Primarily, Tempest Clerics serve as magic damage dealers yet may incorporate extra weapon proficiencies or higher Armor Class (AC) based on their subclass.
Race
- Tiefling, Bloodline of Levistus: Drawing from Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes, this subrace gains +1 in Constitution and can learn cantrips such as Ray of Frost, Darkness, and Armor of Agathys.
- Air Genasi: Adds +2 and +1 to any two ability scores or +1 to three, alongside learning the Shocking Grasp cantrip.
- Dragonborn: Choose a bloodline affiliated with Lightning, Cold, or Poison, sending players toward a build focused on Dexterity or Constitution saves, based on choice.
Subclass: Tempest Domain
To embody the storm theme effectively, opt for the Tempest Domain, enhancing your Cleric’s mastery over elements such as thunder, wind, water, and lightning. This subclass provides additional AC and weapon proficiencies, elevating the character’s melee capabilities, even without casting.
Background
- Shipwright: Aligning well with this class, a shipwright’s proficiency in History and Perception proves invaluable for repairing watercraft.
- Giant Foundling: This background introduces the significant Strike of the Giants feature, offering skill proficiencies in Intimidation and Survival.
- Soldier: Having served in the military, this Cleric possesses skills in Intimidation and Athletics, along with a recognized military rank.
Feats
- Charger: After dashing, this Cleric can utilize a Bonus Action to shove an enemy, gaining a +5 bonus to attack damage after running 10 feet in a straight line.
- Elemental Adept: Choose a damage type (acid, cold, lightning, or thunder) to make spells of that type ignore enemy elemental resistance.
- Guile Of The Cloud Giant: Enhance Constitution by +1 and acquire Cloudy Escape, allowing damage resistance to be gained as a reaction against attacks.
Recommended Gear
- Sentinel Shield: This uncommon-quality shield boosts Advantage on both Perception checks and Initiative rolls, making it a valuable addition.
- Dragon Scale Mail: Enhances AC by +1, offers resistance to a specific dragon element, and grants Advantage against Frightful Presence.
- Wand Of Magic Missiles: Utilize this wand for additional firepower, with seven charges that refresh with each new day.
3 The Necromancer
Dance With The Dead
This Cleric build resembles dark Sorcerers and evil Wizards, ideally suited for those overseeing domains like crypts or serving a god associated with death.
While the Necromancer isn’t a dedicated class in D&D, players can certainly craft a character that engages with death magic, the occult, or the manipulation of undead minions. Such Clerics can serve dual roles—delivering damage while simultaneously controlling minions or healing allies.
Race
The races below offer flexible ability score increases (+2 and +1 to any two scores, or +1 to three), catering to various character builds:
- Dhampir: Determine your character’s unique hunger and origins by rolling 1d6 and 1d8.
- Duergar: Access a suite of non-combat spells, including Enlarge/Reduce and Invisibility, complemented by abilities like Psionic Fortitude and Darkvision.
- Pallid Elf: This race offers a +1 bonus to Wisdom and grants Advantage on Insight and Investigation checks, in addition to the Light cantrip and spells like Invisibility and Sleep.
Subclass: Death or Grave
The Cleric’s diverse subclass options often focus on death and the afterlife. The Death Domain provides a wide array of choices concerning Cold or Necromancy spells and additional slots, whereas the Grave Domain focuses more on life manipulation and undead counterabilities.
Background
- Ruined: This Cleric’s saga begins with unfortunate experiences, which has equipped them with Stealth and Survival skills.
- Outlander: Known for their expertise in Athletics and Survival, this Cleric was trained in the indifferent wilds.
- Haunted One: Select two skills from Arcana, Investigation, Religion, or Survival, and roll a 1d10 to reveal a haunting event from their history.
Feats
The following feats allow players to enhance their Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma, with a strong recommendation for prioritizing Wisdom:
- Shadow Touched: Grant the ability to cast Invisibility and another spell from the Necromancy or Divination school.
- Telekinetic: Gain the Mage Hand cantrip and the ability to shove a visible creature within a 30-foot range.
- Fey Touched: Acquire the Misty Step spell alongside another option from either the Divination or Enchantment schools.
Recommended Gear
- Ring Of Spell Storing: Capable of holding up to five levels of spells in addition to regular preparations, with specific choices made by the Dungeon Master.
- Mace Of Terror: With three uses per day, this mace can kindle a wave of fear, compelling targeted enemies to succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or become Frightened.
- Scarab of Protection: Offers an edge against spells by providing Advantage on saving throws, but it is limited to 12 charges before disintegrating.
2 The Power Of The Light
Lay Waste As A Holy Healer
This support build focuses on Light and Fire damage, making it equally adept at obliterating foes as it is at healing comrades. Similar to a Paladin, this Cleric employs their powers to smite enemies and bolster allies, defying the traditional image of a mere supportive healer. These potent spellcasters can rival Sorcerers and Wizards in terms of dealing damage.
Race
- Astral Elf: Gain +2 and +1 to two ability scores or +1 to three. Possessing Darkvision and immunity to Charming, they also select a cantrip (Dancing Lights, Light, or Sacred Flame).
- Aasamir: Offers +2 and +1 to any two scores or +1 to three, along with resistance to Necrotic and Radiant damage and the Light cantrip.
- Variant Human: Increases two ability scores of the player’s choice by +1, grants proficiency in an extra skill, and allows one additional Feat.
Subclass: Light or War
Choosing the Light Domain enhances support proficiency with spells like Guardian of Faith while providing damage-dealing spells such as Scorching Ray and Daylight. Players seeking a defender more akin to a Paladin may opt for the War Domain, which provides extra AC and weapon proficiencies.
Background
- Acolyte: Strong Insight and Religion skills, coupled with the favor of local temples recognizing the Cleric’s sacred nature.
- Knight of the Order: Noble warriors pledging to deities complement the skills of Persuasion and Religion that a Cleric merits.
- Folk Hero: With Animal Handling and Survival skills, this Cleric’s legendary deeds afford them local fame and aid from communities.
Feats
- Alert: Prevents surprise attacks and yields +5 to Initiative rolls.
- Healer: The Cleric can restore 1d6 + 4 hit points to a target using a Healer’s Kit without expending a spell slot, albeit requiring a full action.
- Gift of the Metallic Dragon: Provides access to the Cure Wounds spell; the Protective Wings ability grants protection for the whole party.
Recommended Gear
- Mace Of Disruption: A formidable weapon, delivering additional damage to fiends and undead, reflecting a wielder of divine light.
- Sun Staff: Bestows a +1 attack bonus and generates extra fire damage against multiple targets; capable of using Solar Focus and Sunny Glow abilities.
- Elven Chain: Provides a +1 bonus and grants automatic proficiency in Medium Armor upon equipping.
1 Dark Defender
A High Constitution And Close-Range Casting Power
The Dark Defender is a relatively new Cleric build characterized by a high AC, operating effectively in melee combat. Their spell repertoire typically focuses on self-healing, frontline support, and close-quarters combat. Eschewing conventional roles of healing and damage, this Cleric boldly ventures into battle, embodying traits usually reserved for Paladins or Fighters. Their heavy armor and emphasis on melee prowess necessitate high scores in Constitution and Strength alongside Wisdom.
Race
- Half-Orc: Gains +2 to Strength and +1 to Constitution, with benefits like Darkvision, Intimidation proficiency, and Relentless Endurance, allowing survival at 1 hit point when dropping to zero.
- Hill Dwarf: Offers a +1 increase to Wisdom and hit point maximum, with continued incremental increases at each level.
- Githzerai: Allocate +2 and +1 to two scores or +1 to three, and learn cantrips such as Mage Hand, Detect Thoughts, and Shield.
Subclass: War Domain
The War Domain equips the Cleric with proficiency in heavy armor and martial weapons alongside casting abilities tailored to dispelling curses and uplifting allies during combat scenarios.
Background
- City Watch: This urban background parallels the Soldier background, focusing on Athletics and Insight.
- Inquisitor: With Investigation and Religion skills, this Cleric can also have the authority to arrest criminals under the church’s mandate.
- Far Traveler: Having traveled extensively, this Cleric develops Insight and Perception skills during their journey.
Feats
- Sentinel: Hitting an enemy with an opportunity attack hinders their movement; enemies cannot disengage from these attacks, allowing the Cleric to retaliate against those targeting allies.
- Gift of the Chromatic Dragon: Provides the ability to harness Chromatic Infusion, enabling the weapon to deal elemental damage, with Reactive Resistance functional against various types.
- Resilient: Increase any ability score by +1 while also gaining proficiency in saving throws tied to that ability.
Recommended Gear
- Adamantine Chain Mail: This armor effectively mitigates the threat of critical hits against the Cleric, keeping them in fighting shape.
- Boots Of Elvenkind: Since this Cleric typically dons heavy armor, these boots aid in improving Stealth capabilities.
- Gauntlets of Ogre Power: Elevate the Cleric’s Strength attribute to 19, enhancing physical combat ability.
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