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Clerics inDungeons & Dragonsare the lifeblood of most adventuring parties.
And, depending on your Dungeon Master (DM), they may be doing those things a lot.
But how should you build your cleric?
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Why wouldn’t you want to play a rogue?
Well, that depends on the throw in of cleric you want to play.
The 2024 Player’s Handbook has updated a lot of things at the heart of creating a cleric.
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Cleric Highlights
Most players are drawn to clerics because oftheir healing abilities.
While other classes have access to healing spells,none do it better than a cleric.
However, that’s not all there is to this class.
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They canbolster their own defenseswith access to some of the best armor.
This makes them able to handle their own in a fight.
Not to mentiontheir ability to deal damage.
Nalys Ildareth by Lauren Walsh
They havepower over the undead, who will flee from a cleric’s Turn Undead ability.
And they can dealextra damage to any enemythanks to Divine Spark and Blessed Strikes.
So, on the surface level, most peopleonly think of them as healers, which is fine.
Priest by Michael Broussard.
But you’ll know that they have a lot more they can do than just cast Cure Wounds.
Differences In The 2024 Player’s Handbook
Everything changed in one way or anotherfor clerics.
It also changes in that all clericsget two options for Channel Divinity immediately.
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One change to the class that might fall on a player’s list of cons is to Divine Intervention.
Before, it allowed you toask your god for aid in any waythat was needed.
However, you’d have toroll to see if your god would deliver.
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However, with the change, Divine Interventioncan’t fail at tenth level.
Spellcasting was not included in the table above of feats as this will beexplored in greater depth further down.
There are four options,Life Domain, Light Domain, Trickery Domain, andWar Domain.
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Life Domain
When people think ofclerics as healers, this is it.
This is the subclass most focused on healing.
The different feats allow you torestore even more hit points by different means.
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Preserve Life gives youa pool of hit pointsequal to five times your cleric level.
People who want toensure they are healing allies for as much as possiblewill want to pickthe Life Domain.
Light Domain
This subclass focusesonprotecting allies and burning everything around youwith fire or radiant damage.
But when it comes to damage, you also alwayshave certain spells prepared, like Fireball.
You know, the one damaging spell everyone makes jokes about?
In fact, Corona Of Light benefits from you usingattacks that deal fire or radiant damage.
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This is for the player who wants toboth support friends as well mess bad guys up.
Trickery Domain
TheTrickery Domain clericfor the players whowant to sow chaos across the battlefield.
it’s possible for you to move them independently of yourself and use them to do several things.
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Casting spells, swapping places with you, even healing you or nearby allies.
War Domain
This is for the cleric whowants to be fighting alongside their party.
You gain access to spells that eitherdamage or help you embolden your strikes.
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Who said it was smart to go for the healer first?
Best Species Options
Any species, of course, can bea cleric, but some options synergizebetter.
Of the 2024 Player’s Handbook species, thoseinclude orcs and aasimar.
Best Stat Placements
You should always putyour highest stat in Wisdomwhen you build a cleric.
This is what yourspellcasting ability is based on, as well as a number of different feats.
After that, your second and third choicewill differ based on your cleric Domain.
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Subclass
Stat Priorities
Why?
Constitution willgive you a higher maximum hit pointpool.
Charisma will helpincrease your saving throw modifier.
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Your main priority is your Wisdom modifier, as it’s the base of all your abilities.
After that, let your backstory choices and playstyle inform your stat placement.
Charisma might bail you out if you plan onbeing deceptive, which comes with the territoryof this Domain.
Credit: Martin Mottet.
Constitution willkeep your health highwhen that deception fails.
As stated above, Consitution willaid your hit points.
In this case, those areMass Cure Wounds and Mass Healing Word.
Don’t leave the first level spells behind!
These are still vital as you cancast them with any of your available spell slots.
Mass Cure Wounds and Mass Healing Word can’t be cast atanything below their spell level.
The Dungeons & Dragons species we have the most in common with.
This guide is all about humans and their changes in the 2024 Player’s Handbook.
Best Starting Equipment
All classes only havetwo options when it comes to starting equipment.
You either getcold hard goldor you geta mix of itemsthat will help you set out on your first adventure.
But here aresome of the best overall feats for a cleric.
Athlete
This will not only get youout of dangerous situationsbut help youget to allies that need you.
Plus you canheal yourself without burning spell slots.
Inspiring Leader
you could give your partytemporary hit points before heading into combat.
Weapon Master
You get to usethe mastery traitof any weaponyou use.
Then there is which background you want or will work best for you.
Background Name
Why This Background?
Acolyte
This frees up your skill choices bygiving you Insight and Religion.
Farmer
This will give youskills outside of your allowed choicesas a cleric, plusa Healer’s Kit.
Guard
This gives youtwo important skillsplusdifferent weapon choices and manaclesfor taking foes prisoner instead of killing them.
The gaming set isgreat for Trickery Domain clericstoo.
Guide
This will give youStealth as a skill, which is alwaysa weak point for clerics.
It will also let you choosedruid spells thanks to the Magic Initiate feat.
Hermit
This gives youthe Healer featand frees up your class skill choices by giving youproficiency with Medicine and Religionchecks.
Below are somecombinations to consider.
Multiclass Options
Who Should Pick These?
Barbarian
War Domain clerics and other clerics looking to be martial fighters.
Bard
Clerics looking to buff party members.
Rogue
Trickery Domain clerics.
Druid
Clerics looking for more spell power.
Hopefully, this list helps that decision.
