Battle Domain

Clerics of the War Domain are warriors of faith, dedicated to the service of deities of war and battle. They are elite soldiers who have honed their combat skills to a fine edge, using their divine powers to bolster their martial prowess and inspire their allies.

The clerics of the War Domain can be found in armies and mercenary companies across the land, serving as officers and advisors to generals and warlords. They are known for their unshakable courage, their unwavering loyalty to their cause, and their fierce devotion to their deity.

The God of War

The War Domain is closely associated with the worship of a deity of war or battle. In many cultures, this deity is the patron of soldiers and warriors, and is called upon in times of war to grant victory and protect the faithful.

The identity of the god of war varies from culture to culture, but there are a few deities who are particularly revered by the clerics of the War Domain. These include:

• Tempus, the lord of battle, who is worshiped by many human and dwarven warriors for his relentless courage and his unyielding devotion to the art of war.
• Kord, the god of strength and storms, who is revered by many half-orcs and barbarians for his raw power and his love of physical challenges.
• Hextor, the god of tyranny and war, who is worshiped by many hobgoblins and other militant races for his ruthless tactics and his mastery of strategy.

Clerics of the War Domain are expected to follow the tenets of their deity with unwavering devotion, and to fight for their cause with all the skill and ferocity they possess.

Training and Skills

Clerics of the War Domain are trained in the arts of war from an early age. Many are raised in military academies or knightly orders, where they learn the finer points of strategy, tactics, and combat. Others may have served as soldiers or mercenaries before being called to the service of their deity.

In addition to their combat training, clerics of the War Domain are skilled in diplomacy and leadership. They are often called upon to negotiate with enemy commanders or to rally their allies on the battlefield. They are also skilled in healing and first aid, as they may be called upon to tend to the wounded in the aftermath of a battle.

Features

Clerics of the War Domain gain a number of features that set them apart from other clerics. These include:

• Bonus Proficiencies: Clerics of the War Domain gain proficiency with heavy armor, shields, and martial weapons. They also gain proficiency in the Athletics and Intimidation skills, reflecting their physical prowess and their ability to inspire fear in their enemies.
• War Priest: At 1st level, clerics of the War Domain gain the ability to make a melee weapon attack as a bonus action. This attack deals extra damage based on the cleric's Wisdom modifier, and can be used a number of times equal to the cleric's Wisdom modifier.
• Guided Strike: At 2nd level, clerics of the War Domain gain the ability to use their Channel Divinity to gain a +10 bonus to one weapon attack roll they make. This ability can be used a number of times equal to the cleric's Wisdom modifier.
• Divine Strike: At 8th level, clerics of the War Domain gain the ability to add extra radiant damage to their weapon attacks. They can also expend a spell slot to deal additional radiant damage equal to the level of the spell slot expended.
• Improved War Priest: At 14th level, the War Priest ability improves. The cleric can now make two attacks as a bonus action instead of one, and the extra damage dealt with each attack is equal to twice the cleric's Wisdom modifier.
• Avatar of Battle: At 17th level, clerics of the War Domain become living weapons of war. They gain resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical weapons, and they can use their action to gain temporary hit points equal to their cleric level plus their Wisdom modifier. Additionally, when they use their War Priest ability, they can make a second weapon attack as a bonus action.

• Lore and Backstory

  The War Domain has been a part of the divine pantheon since time immemorial, and its clerics have played pivotal roles in countless wars and conflicts throughout history. The exact origins of the War Domain are shrouded in mystery, but many scholars believe that it was one of the earliest manifestations of the divine, born from the primal urge to survive and conquer.

  The War Domain is revered by many warrior cultures, who see in it the embodiment of the warrior's spirit. Its clerics are often raised from birth to be soldiers, trained in the art of war and the service of their deity. They are taught to value courage, honor, and loyalty above all else, and to never give up even in the face of overwhelming odds.

  Some of the most famous clerics of the War Domain include the legendary paladin Sir Galahad, who fought bravely in the service of his god and ultimately ascended to become a celestial being, and the orc warlord Gruumsh, who is revered by many orcs as a deity of war and conquest.

  Despite its association with warfare and violence, the War Domain is not exclusively a domain of evil or chaos. Many good-aligned deities, such as Bahamut and Torm, have aspects of the War Domain in their portfolios, and their clerics use their powers to protect the innocent and defend against tyranny and oppression.

  Overall, the War Domain is a powerful and versatile subclass that embodies the warrior spirit in all its forms. Its clerics are fierce and loyal soldiers, dedicated to the service of their deity and the defense of their cause.

   

Bonus Proficiency

When you choose this domain at 1st level, you gain proficiency with heavy armor, shields and martial weapons. Additionally, you gain proficiency in Athletics and Intimidation.

War Priest

Also starting at 1st level, you can use a bonus action to make a melee weapon attack. When you do so, the weapon glows with a divine radiance, adding your Wisdom modifier to the attack roll's damage. You can use this ability a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (a minimum of once), and you regain all expended uses when you finish a short or long rest.

Channel Divinity: Guided Strike

Starting at 2nd level, you can use your Channel Divinity to gain a +10 bonus to one weapon attack roll you make. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (a minimum of once), and you regain all expended uses when you finish a short or long rest.

Divine Strike

At 6th level, your weapon attacks deal an additional 2d8 radiant damage. Additionally, when you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can expend a spell slot to deal additional radiant damage equal to the level of the spell slot expended times half your wisdom modifier.

Improved War Priest

Avatar of Battle

At 17th level, clerics of the War Domain become living weapons of war. They gain resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical weapons, and they can use their action to gain temporary hit points equal to their cleric level plus their Wisdom modifier.