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In Dungeons & Dragons, the Cleric is another one of those vintage classes that has been around since the early days. There's a common assumption that Clerics primarily serve as healers in a party when, in actuality, they're really one of the most diverse classes in D&D 5e.
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Traditionally, Clerics in D&D are considered a healing class, and their spells are performed through the power of their faith and patron deity. Depending on the build, which includes backgrounds and subclasses, Clerics can end up with vastly different abilities that complement a range of playstyles and roles in the party.
Updated May 17, 2024, by Kristy Ambrose: The Cleric continues to become one of the most customizable classes that players can choose in D&D. It is now a combination class on the same level as a Druid or a Paladin, with an equal amount of range when it comes to gear, spells, and accessories. Melee fighting, DPS, and even AoE powers are also a part of the Cleric's wheelhouse, giving D&D players a vast range of options when it comes to how they want to shape their Cleric, but some builds are arguably a little better than others.
Clerics can wield different armor and weapons depending on their subclass, and players can build further on this using Feats and Backgrounds. The choice of a deity is also an important factor in determining a Cleric's role in both the party and the story and is related to their chosen Domain.
The Best Races For Clerics
When choosing a species, players will want to look for one that boosts their Wisdom score. It's the most important ability score a Cleric can have. Players should check the D&D Player's Handbook and talk to their Dungeon Master if they have an idea that's homebrewed or not listed in the usual resources.
Name | Source | Description |
Aarakocra | Elemental Evil Player's Companion | +1 to Wisdom and a +2 to Dexterity, making this an ideal choice for Clerics who want better melee weapon skills. |
Centaur | Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica | The bonuses to both Strength and Wisdom make the Centaur one of the better options. |
Firbolg | Volo's Guide to Monsters | +2 Wisdom makes this one of the best races for Clerics in 5e available. |
Druegar | Monsters of the Multiverse | The usual Dwarven Constitution bonus and poison resistance, plus Darkvision and some psionic and arcane powers. |
Half-Elf | The Player's Handbook | +2 Charisma if multiclassing into a Bard or Paladin or the party's leader. +1 to two other ability scores as an option to improve Wisdom. |
Hill Dwarf | The Player's Handbook | +1 to Wisdom on top of the Constitution bonus Dwarves already have. |
Human | The Player's Handbook | One of the most customizable races in RPG history. A Human makes a great anything with their bonus to every ability score. |
Kalashtar | Eberron: Rising from the Last War | +2 to Wisdom and follows it up with a Charisma buff. One of the best races for a 5e Cleric who's taken a leadership role. |
Kenku. | Volo's Guide to Monsters | +1 to Wisdom and +2 to Dexterity. This is the best race for a 5e Cleric who wants to play a morally ambiguous character with Rogue-like traits. |
Loxodon | Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica | An obvious choice for players using the module to build a front-line melee Cleric. |
Tiefling | The Player's Handbook | Choose a Bloodline that improves Wisdom, Constitution, or Strength depending on the build. |
Variant Human | The Player's Handbook | Two ability scores of the player's choice increase by +1, which can be used to raise Wisdom. |
Wood Elf | The Player's Handbook | All of the usual Elven traits along with a +1 to Wisdom, making it one of the best races for a Cleric in 5e. |
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Cleric Ability Scores
The Cleric build is unique from other D&D character creation methods. There's no such thing as a "dump stat" with Clerics, as every ability score has a value depending on the build. Players should keep in mind that the best races for Clerics in 5e should have bonuses in Wisdom.
- Wisdom: The Cleric's spellcasting attribute and their most important ability score regardless of the build.
- Constitution: The score that determines hit points. Any healing class should max this out whenever possible.
- Dexterity: Depending on the build, players can switch this with Strength. More offensive Cleric builds would prioritize Dexterity.
- Strength: For those building a Cleric with more defense and martial prowess in mind, this should be the third most important score instead of Dexterity.
- Intelligence: Clerics who value spellcasting ability over party leadership or Persuasion abilities will value this score more than Charisma.
- Charisma: Clerics who want to be the face of their party should prioritize this stat over Intelligence.
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Best Divine Domains For Clerics
The 5th edition D&D Cleric subclasses are organized as Divine Domains, with each domain shaping the types of abilities that the Cleric will learn. Some Domains might not be available depending on a variety of factors, such as moral alignment, the module being used, or racial background.
Domain Name | Description |
Arcana | Allows access to Wizard spells. An ideal choice for Clerics who have a decent Intelligence score and want to cast both damaging and healing spells. |
Death | Other RPGs call this class a Shadow Priest. Their primary role is to deal damage, often of the necrotic type. |
Forge | A suitable choice for a Defense role. This is the battle-Cleric who can take damage and cast both offensive and healing spells. |
Grave | For damage, buffing, and healing. One of the most versatile Domains. |
Knowledge | Expertise in two more skills and more Divination options. A good choice for any Cleric build. |
Life | The best choice for a healing build. It's also a solid Defense option with improved AC. |
Light | A Cleric that uses the power of the Sun to do fire and radiant damage. A nice backstory to this is that the Cleric is a follower of a solar deity like Amaunator. |
Nature | Allows access to Druid Spells, which include healing and damage options, plus the ability to wear heavier armor than a Druid. |
Order | For Clerics who want to multi-class as a Paladin or take the same role as one. Comes with heavy armor and weapon proficiencies. |
Tempest | Access to thunder and lightning spells, plus the ability to wear heavy armor. |
Trickery | The obvious choice for Clerics that dabble in the Roguish side of life. Offers access to Illusion spells and abilities like stealth. |
War | A front-line fighting Cleric with access to heavy armor and a variety of martial weapons and skills. |
Twilight | A role that covers both protection and offensive powers, has access to heavy armor when front-line fighting. |
Peace | It's not an offensive domain, but it excels at protection, buffing, and healing. |
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Best Skills For Clerics
Skills are extra abilities that every character has, and these traits are connected to their stats. Clerics generally have a high Wisdom score, but depending on the build, players might want to choose skills that depend on Strength (for fighting Clerics) or Charisma (for leaders or preachy types).
Name | Skill Check | Description |
Insight | Wisdom | Used to determine the true intentions of any creature. Handy in public spaces as well as in battle situations when deception is afoot. |
Arcana | Intelligence | A smart Cleric can use this to recall more information about spells, magical items, and different planes of existence, among other themes. |
Religion | Intelligence | Measures the Cleric's ability to remember the lore, history, and other facts concerning virtually everything connected to religions. |
Athletics | Strength | A nice boost for a tank or melee fighting build, this gives a character better agility and accuracy when jumping, running, or swimming. |
Persuasion | Charisma | Useful for Clerics who act as the party leader but can have other uses as long as players have the Charisma score to back it up. |
Perception | Wisdom | Ideal for any character, but it makes sense for the wisest in the party or the character in a leading role to be the first to detect an enemy or hidden object. |
Best Feats For Clerics
There are several opportunities for picking the best Feat for a Cleric throughout any campaign, and the player's choices will vary widely based on their Cleric build. The following are generally good for a Cleric, regardless of their party role.
Name | Description |
Resilient | Important for any healer, this is the Feat that helps with Concentration saves when casting in battle. |
Heavily Armored | Strength increases by one, and the Cleric gains Heavy Armor proficiency. Best for defender and melee fighter builds. |
Alert | A +5 bonus to Initiative is great for anyone, especially the party leader. It also means the character can't be surprised while conscious or when attacked by a hidden enemy. |
Skill Expert | Players can use this Feat to increase any Ability Score by one. It's great for any Cleric build. |
Fey Touched | Increases either Wisdom, Charisma, or Intelligence score by +1. Teaches the spell Misty Step and any other spell from the Divination or Enchantment schools of magic. |
War Caster | Similar to Resilient, but it's taken up a notch and is an ideal Feat for Clerics of any build. |
Durable | Constitution increases by one, and when the Cleric rolls to regain hit points, how much they regain is determined by their Constitution modifier. |
Metamagic Adept | Handy for any spellcaster, but it's even more useful for Clerics and their healing spells. |
Shadow Touched | Not only great for the stat bonuses and extra spells like Invisibility, but it's the result of being exposed to the magic of the Shadowfell and has great role-play potential. |
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Best Backgrounds For Clerics
The last thing to consider would be a suitable Background, and there are a few that provide good skills for a Cleric. A creative roleplayer can make almost anything work, and the past of an adventurer can be a checkered one. D&D players should have a d6 and a d8 on hand to determine the smaller details like Flaws and Personality traits.
Name | Description |
Acolyte | Most builds take this background, as it's the most obvious choice for the class. It includes benefits like Insight and two bonus languages. |
Haunted One | This character has a dark secret that follows them everywhere. Benefits include two extra languages and a Monster Hunting Kit. |
Witherbloom Student | Exclusive to Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos, this is ideal for healers or melee fighters who want to expand their casting abilities with spells like Blight and Death Ward. |
Cloistered Scholar | An easy fit for a Cleric's backstory, this character has increased knowledge of either Nature, Arcana, or Religion along with any two languages the player chooses. |
Faction Agent | Includes Insight along with Perception and two bonus languages. This is a decent choice for a campaign that involves political intrigue, spies, or a cult. |
Criminal | Also referred to as a Spy for the fainter of heart, this Cleric might come from a dark past that includes handy skills like Stealth and lockpicking. |
Hermit | Choosing the Nature Domain makes this a good fit. These Clerics have Insight and Medicine skills and can brew their own potions. |
Initiate | Found in the Plane Shift - Amonkhet module, the Initiate is steeped in ancient and venerated Cleric-like rituals and traditions. |
Archaeologist | The cartographer and digging tools are handy anyway, but the character also gets an extra language and a set of traveling clothes. |
Courtier | Clerics who are the face of their party will find this boost to their Persuasion and Insight skills, plus two bonus languages, very handy indeed. |
Dungeons & Dragons
- Created by
- E. Gary Gygax , Dave Arneson
- Creation Year
- 1974
- Movie
- Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
- Video Game(s)
- Baldur's Gate , Baldur's Gate 2 , Baldur's Gate 3 , Icewind Dale , Neverwinter Nights , Neverwinter Nights 2 , Neverwinter , Dungeons & Dragons: Dragonshard , Dungeons and Dragons: Dark Alliance
