Essence Domain

Clerics of the Essence Domain are revered and feared for their unparalleled mastery over life essence—the very force that binds all living things. These clerics believe that life essence is sacred, a powerful force that must be preserved and balanced. They are adept at transferring this essence, whether to heal the gravely wounded, bolster their own vitality, or drain the life from those who threaten the natural order.

Essence Domain clerics are often seen as protectors of life, but their methods can be controversial, as they sometimes draw upon the vitality of others to achieve their goals. Their connection to life essence allows them to perform miraculous feats of healing, but it also gives them the power to unleash devastating necrotic energy. This duality makes them both revered and distrusted, especially by those who do not understand the true nature of their power.

Domain Spells

1st-level Essence Domain feature

You gain domain spells at the cleric levels listed in the Essence Domain Spells table. See the Divine Domain class feature for how domain spells work.

Essence Domain Spells

Cleric Level	Spells
1st
3rd
5th
7th
9th

Aegis of Vitalis

1st-level Essence Domain feature

When you choose this domain at 1st level, you gain proficiency with heavy armor.

Simple Transference

1st-level Essence Domain feature

When you cast a spell using a spell slot to deal necrotic damage or when you use your Channel Divinity to deal necrotic damage, you can choose to reduce the damage dealt by half. You or a target of your choice within 30 feet regains hit points equal to the amount of damage reduced.

Spell Slots: If the spell uses a spell slot, you take 1d4 necrotic damage per level of the spell slot expended before healing. If this reduces your hit points to 0, no healing is done.

Channel Divinity: If you use this ability with your Channel Divinity, you do not take the necrotic damage.

Note: This ability cannot be used with cantrips.

Channel Divinity: Siphoning Pulse

 2nd-level Essence Domain feature

You can use your Channel Divinity to unleash a wave of necrotic energy siphoning the life from your enemies. As an action, you can force each creature of your choice within 30 feet of you to make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 2d10 + your cleric level in necrotic damage and is knocked prone. On a successful save, the creature takes half as much damage and isn’t knocked prone.

Lifeweaver

6th-level Essence Domain feature

You can enhance your life transference abilities to greater effect.

Fortified Transference: When you cast Life Transference, the damage you take is reduced to a flat 10 hit points. The healing provided to the target is rolled as normal, and you add an additional 2d8 to the healing total.

Life Swap: Once per long rest, if you are reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, you automatically perform a life transference effect on the nearest creature within 30 feet. The nearest creature loses 1d10 hit points, and you regain hit points equal to the amount lost by the creature.

Potent Life Transference

8th-level Essence Domain feature

Dual Resilience: You gain resistance to necrotic and radiant damage.

Vitalis Fortitude: You can reduce self-inflicted necrotic damage by an amount equal to your Wisdom modifier.

Reclaimer's Ascendance

17th-level Essence Domain feature

You ascend to a heightened state of connection with Vitalis, becoming an embodiment of life energy for a brief period. As an action, you can enter a state of transcendence for 1 minute.

While in this state:
Rapid Transference: You can cast Life Transference as a bonus action on each of your turns without expending a spell slot.
Vitalis Flux: At the start of each of your turns while in this state, you regain hit points equal to your Wisdom modifier if you are below half your hit point maximum.
Urgent Infusion: Once during this state, you can choose one creature within 60 feet of you that is reduced to 0 hit points. You can immediately restore that creature to 1 hit point as a reaction.

Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.