Im really liking the idea of twilight cleric that plays kinda like someone from a secret order that is kind of reminiscent of anti-hero/warden style play. Like if the side of light gets too overreaching they will slap it back, and same for the dark. (or going like order of withchunters or something idk)
Or peace domain for them powerful party helping abilities. Play him like a priest of an order of lawmen or something idk.
Otherwise im not against other clerics such as life for some more good healing or war for some smacking around.
I guess im just interested in some good cleric builds that let you feel a little bit like you're not just a healbot? I was thinking of maybe taking something like sentinel with some of the builds? Idk give me your tips!
Really any cleric will heal pretty well, so I wouldn't worry too much about that part. The options you give would work quite nicely, really, to give you other options. Otherwise, if you're looking for clerics who are able to mix it up in melee, I'd suggest forge, tempest or order. Arcana can give you access to some wizard spells.
Otherwise, your question is pretty broad, so I'm not quite sure how to answer. In a lot of ways, cleric is one of the most, if not the most flexible classes, owing to the large number of subclasses, you can really bend it in any direction you like. If you have a concept in mind -- besides the one you've already mentioned, maybe someone here can help suggest a domain for you?
While all clerics can heal only I would only consider the life domain a "healbot"
Your examples of Twilight and Peace are good. I play a light domain cleric who uses fire to cleanse the world of the dark forces of evil. She is much more focused on damage dealing and control than healing (though she can heal when she needs to)
Clerics have some great control spells like hold person and blindness/deafnes. If you want to do decent damage having spirit guardians and spirual weapon up woll be doing decent damage before you even use your action.
One of the notable things about 5e is the aount of options you have in selecting subclasses and other class features is you can almost play any role in any class. You could have a party where the (bladesinger) wizard is the main melee PC, the (divine soul) sorcerer is the main healer, andthe figher is a dex based archer build.
I was asked to convert my Ranger into a Cleric and complied since I didn't know then it was because his other players were running 2 wizards and a rogue.
In retrospect I should have turned him down as he subsequently crapped over my character for no other reason than he couldn't understand why killing her son off and not letting her find his body. After he repeatedly preventing her efforts to locate him and then had the game shift back to the port instead of the defenceless settlement his opening adventure led to.
Stick with what you feel is right to you, your dm is going to do a much better job than my DM did.
Sorry if that was off-putting, but it will take you a few sessions to get your footing however I think you will do fine.
I’m playing a forge cleric in my campaign right now. While he’s obviously got the heals he’s also wearing chain mail armour and has a DC of 19 with his shield and blessing of the forge (+1 to ac or +1 to attack/damage). Because of his AC he’s able to stand side by side the Barbarian and mix it up in melee.
Before the Barbarian found a magical weapon he used to cast blessing of the forge in his great axe to give him the +1 for attack/damage going into pick fights
Bless is a great spell to cast on the party when entering a big battle.
As well Artisan’s Blessing is great for turning weapons and armour scavenged from enemies into useful tools for the party.
Thanks everyone for the replies. Honestly I really have a couple ideas in mind i just like seeing what other people build. I''m really in the martial midset so casters are off putting to me because its harder for me to see how they do their thing.
Thanks everyone for the replies. Honestly I really have a couple ideas in mind i just like seeing what other people build. I''m really in the martial midset so casters are off putting to me because its harder for me to see how they do their thing.
Funny thing is I am the opposite. I find it hard to see how a gish does their thing. A cleric is a full caster, their God has provided them with magical powers so it makes sense to me to focus on magic whether that is healing friends, banishing them or dealing damage with sacred flame or toll the dead. If your God has given you such magic powers it is an insult to them to use a hammer instead.
Thanks everyone for the replies. Honestly I really have a couple ideas in mind i just like seeing what other people build. I''m really in the martial midset so casters are off putting to me because its harder for me to see how they do their thing.
Funny thing is I am the opposite. I find it hard to see how a gish does their thing. A cleric is a full caster, their God has provided them with magical powers so it makes sense to me to focus on magic whether that is healing friends, banishing them or dealing damage with sacred flame or toll the dead. If your God has given you such magic powers it is an insult to them to use a hammer instead.
I like being a melee cleric because it gives the best of both. You can mix it up in melee but also throw out some powerful attack spells (guiding bolt) or heal the team when they are hurt. Lots of options given what is most appropriate for the party in those specific circumstances.
I also think it depends a lot on the Domain chose. I would think a Forge or War Domain Cleric's god would be insulted if they weren't prepared to use a hammer and get their hands a bit dirty. A Peace or Life Domain Cleric's god would probably think otherwise.
That's the beauty of the Cleric class. There is a Domain that is right for every style of play.
True a lot depends on your domain, I play a light cleric who I don't think has ever used a weapon, but she uses a lot of spells that more pacifit clerics might object to. (e.g. Fireball)
True a lot depends on your domain, I play a light cleric who I don't think has ever used a weapon, but she uses a lot of spells that more pacifit clerics might object to. (e.g. Fireball)
Yeah, I could totally see playing a Light Cleric as less melee focuses and more spell focused. Makes sense to me. At the end of the day, as long as you're having fun and enjoying your character that is the most important part.
I have been using Sacred Flame a lot. The ability to drop it on someone and ignore cover is great.
The biggest thing to remember with a cleric is to redo your spell list often. Spells prepared casters like Druid and Cleric have SO many situational spells. Normally that is a bad thing, but as a cleric you can choose to prepare those situational spells for the right situation. If you know you are going into a graveyard its time to pack anti Undead. Going through a dungeon pack differently. Mostly humanoid enemies expected then hold person is useful, but a bug hunt makes it useless. While the tried and true spells will generally find a spot always prep around them based on the situation.
Forge domain let's you play on the frontlines with a monster AC with typical spell casting abilities and if you want to be good in melee combat add booming blade.
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Matt Ebert
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Im really liking the idea of twilight cleric that plays kinda like someone from a secret order that is kind of reminiscent of anti-hero/warden style play. Like if the side of light gets too overreaching they will slap it back, and same for the dark. (or going like order of withchunters or something idk)
Or peace domain for them powerful party helping abilities. Play him like a priest of an order of lawmen or something idk.
Otherwise im not against other clerics such as life for some more good healing or war for some smacking around.
I guess im just interested in some good cleric builds that let you feel a little bit like you're not just a healbot? I was thinking of maybe taking something like sentinel with some of the builds? Idk give me your tips!
|| Sol Night-Arrow, Tabaxi Ranger ||
||Currently DMing a Homebrew Campaign ||
Guides or Important Threads of Mine ----- || List of ALL Official Familiars || My Homebrew Monsters ||
Level 3 One Shot Character Concepts ----- || Fist of the Gods || Triple Tap Hunter || Bullseye Dartmaster || Captain America ||
^^^Those are Links BTW^^^
Really any cleric will heal pretty well, so I wouldn't worry too much about that part. The options you give would work quite nicely, really, to give you other options. Otherwise, if you're looking for clerics who are able to mix it up in melee, I'd suggest forge, tempest or order. Arcana can give you access to some wizard spells.
Otherwise, your question is pretty broad, so I'm not quite sure how to answer. In a lot of ways, cleric is one of the most, if not the most flexible classes, owing to the large number of subclasses, you can really bend it in any direction you like. If you have a concept in mind -- besides the one you've already mentioned, maybe someone here can help suggest a domain for you?
While all clerics can heal only I would only consider the life domain a "healbot"
Your examples of Twilight and Peace are good. I play a light domain cleric who uses fire to cleanse the world of the dark forces of evil. She is much more focused on damage dealing and control than healing (though she can heal when she needs to)
Clerics have some great control spells like hold person and blindness/deafnes. If you want to do decent damage having spirit guardians and spirual weapon up woll be doing decent damage before you even use your action.
One of the notable things about 5e is the aount of options you have in selecting subclasses and other class features is you can almost play any role in any class. You could have a party where the (bladesinger) wizard is the main melee PC, the (divine soul) sorcerer is the main healer, andthe figher is a dex based archer build.
Go with what you want to run.
I was asked to convert my Ranger into a Cleric and complied since I didn't know then it was because his other players were running 2 wizards and a rogue.
In retrospect I should have turned him down as he subsequently crapped over my character for no other reason than he couldn't understand why killing her son off and not letting her find his body. After he repeatedly preventing her efforts to locate him and then had the game shift back to the port instead of the defenceless settlement his opening adventure led to.
Stick with what you feel is right to you, your dm is going to do a much better job than my DM did.
Sorry if that was off-putting, but it will take you a few sessions to get your footing however I think you will do fine.
I’m playing a forge cleric in my campaign right now. While he’s obviously got the heals he’s also wearing chain mail armour and has a DC of 19 with his shield and blessing of the forge (+1 to ac or +1 to attack/damage). Because of his AC he’s able to stand side by side the Barbarian and mix it up in melee.
Before the Barbarian found a magical weapon he used to cast blessing of the forge in his great axe to give him the +1 for attack/damage going into pick fights
Bless is a great spell to cast on the party when entering a big battle.
As well Artisan’s Blessing is great for turning weapons and armour scavenged from enemies into useful tools for the party.
Thanks everyone for the replies. Honestly I really have a couple ideas in mind i just like seeing what other people build. I''m really in the martial midset so casters are off putting to me because its harder for me to see how they do their thing.
|| Sol Night-Arrow, Tabaxi Ranger ||
||Currently DMing a Homebrew Campaign ||
Guides or Important Threads of Mine ----- || List of ALL Official Familiars || My Homebrew Monsters ||
Level 3 One Shot Character Concepts ----- || Fist of the Gods || Triple Tap Hunter || Bullseye Dartmaster || Captain America ||
^^^Those are Links BTW^^^
Funny thing is I am the opposite. I find it hard to see how a gish does their thing. A cleric is a full caster, their God has provided them with magical powers so it makes sense to me to focus on magic whether that is healing friends, banishing them or dealing damage with sacred flame or toll the dead. If your God has given you such magic powers it is an insult to them to use a hammer instead.
I like being a melee cleric because it gives the best of both. You can mix it up in melee but also throw out some powerful attack spells (guiding bolt) or heal the team when they are hurt. Lots of options given what is most appropriate for the party in those specific circumstances.
I also think it depends a lot on the Domain chose. I would think a Forge or War Domain Cleric's god would be insulted if they weren't prepared to use a hammer and get their hands a bit dirty. A Peace or Life Domain Cleric's god would probably think otherwise.
That's the beauty of the Cleric class. There is a Domain that is right for every style of play.
True a lot depends on your domain, I play a light cleric who I don't think has ever used a weapon, but she uses a lot of spells that more pacifit clerics might object to. (e.g. Fireball)
Yeah, I could totally see playing a Light Cleric as less melee focuses and more spell focused. Makes sense to me. At the end of the day, as long as you're having fun and enjoying your character that is the most important part.
I have been using Sacred Flame a lot. The ability to drop it on someone and ignore cover is great.
The biggest thing to remember with a cleric is to redo your spell list often. Spells prepared casters like Druid and Cleric have SO many situational spells. Normally that is a bad thing, but as a cleric you can choose to prepare those situational spells for the right situation. If you know you are going into a graveyard its time to pack anti Undead. Going through a dungeon pack differently. Mostly humanoid enemies expected then hold person is useful, but a bug hunt makes it useless. While the tried and true spells will generally find a spot always prep around them based on the situation.
Forge domain let's you play on the frontlines with a monster AC with typical spell casting abilities and if you want to be good in melee combat add booming blade.
Matt Ebert