Looking in the players manual chart on page 57, it looks like the cleric can have a total of 6 spells. 3 Cantrips + 3 (1st) Spell Slots per spell level.
So should I have 6 spells plus Bless and Cure for a total of 8?
Or 3 cantrips plus 9 (3 spells/spell slot, 3x3=9) for a total of 12
or... am I over complicating this? I feel like I’m over complicated this.
Don't worry, it can be a little complicated for new players, or people new to the class.
At level 2 you have three cantrips. You chose them at character creation, and they never change. You can add more, but otherwise, the three you've got is what you've got.
You know, or could theoretically cast, any spells from the level 1 list of cleric spells in the PHB (expanded by xanathar's and other books if your campaign uses it).
At the end of a long rest, you prepare spells to cast that day. You will have two domain spells. Based on your comment, I'm going to guess you're a life cleric. If that's the case, you always have bless and cure wounds prepared. In addition to those, you can prepare a number of spells equal to your level (2) plus your wisdom modifier. For the sake of the example, lets say you have a 16 WIS, which would be a +3. That means you can prepare 5 (2+3) spells per day from the list. Your domain spells, bless and cure wounds, don't count against those five. So a level 2 cleric with a 16 wis would have seven spells prepared per day (bless, cure wounds, and any five others of your choosing). You only get three spell slots per day, meaning you can only cast three of those seven spells over the course of the day. You can mix and match freely within the seven you have prepared. You can cast the same spell three times, or cast a different spell each time, or 2 and 1, whatever the situation calls for.
Then, at the end of a long rest, all three of your slots are recharged. In addition, you can re-choose your spells you have prepared. Your domain spells will always be prepared, but the other five you can swap out some, all, or none at the end of a long rest. Most people, I think, have a standard loadout of spells they prepare, and only change them if they know they are going to need something particular.
Cantrips don't figure into the mix at all. It can sometimes help not to even think of them as spells, you can just cast them all day long without spending any slots, and you don't need to prepare them, they are always ready to go.
Note, there is a big difference between spells prepared and how many times you can cast them.
That can confuse new players. Cantrips you can cast unlimited times, other spells you have to use up spell slots to cast - but you can use a higher level slot to cast a lower level spell.
2nd level Cleric gets: three 1st level spell slots.
3 cantrips (unlimited uses)
2 domain spells ALWAYS prepared, but uses a spell slot to cast.
Wisdom Modifier plus 2 spells prepared. At Wisdom 16, that would be 3+2=5 spells prepared in addition to the 2 domain ones, any of which uses a spell slot to cast
Looking in the players manual chart on page 57, it looks like the cleric can have a total of 6 spells. 3 Cantrips + 3 (1st) Spell Slots per spell level.
So should I have 6 spells plus Bless and Cure for a total of 8?
Or 3 cantrips plus 9 (3 spells/spell slot, 3x3=9) for a total of 12
or... am I over complicating this? I feel like I’m over complicated this.
Don't worry, it can be a little complicated for new players, or people new to the class.
At level 2 you have three cantrips. You chose them at character creation, and they never change. You can add more, but otherwise, the three you've got is what you've got.
You know, or could theoretically cast, any spells from the level 1 list of cleric spells in the PHB (expanded by xanathar's and other books if your campaign uses it).
At the end of a long rest, you prepare spells to cast that day. You will have two domain spells. Based on your comment, I'm going to guess you're a life cleric. If that's the case, you always have bless and cure wounds prepared. In addition to those, you can prepare a number of spells equal to your level (2) plus your wisdom modifier. For the sake of the example, lets say you have a 16 WIS, which would be a +3. That means you can prepare 5 (2+3) spells per day from the list. Your domain spells, bless and cure wounds, don't count against those five. So a level 2 cleric with a 16 wis would have seven spells prepared per day (bless, cure wounds, and any five others of your choosing). You only get three spell slots per day, meaning you can only cast three of those seven spells over the course of the day. You can mix and match freely within the seven you have prepared. You can cast the same spell three times, or cast a different spell each time, or 2 and 1, whatever the situation calls for.
Then, at the end of a long rest, all three of your slots are recharged. In addition, you can re-choose your spells you have prepared. Your domain spells will always be prepared, but the other five you can swap out some, all, or none at the end of a long rest. Most people, I think, have a standard loadout of spells they prepare, and only change them if they know they are going to need something particular.
Cantrips don't figure into the mix at all. It can sometimes help not to even think of them as spells, you can just cast them all day long without spending any slots, and you don't need to prepare them, they are always ready to go.
Thanks for such a clear response. So I’m level 2 (light domain, correct) and my WIS is 15 with a +2 modifier.
So I should have 3 cantrips and 4, (2+2), prepared spells. For a total of 7 prepared spells (including bless and cure)
Got it. Thanks!
I think you got it, happy to help
3 cantrips, bless, cure wounds and four more level 1 spells. It’s 7 plus bless and cure, not including.
Note, there is a big difference between spells prepared and how many times you can cast them.
That can confuse new players. Cantrips you can cast unlimited times, other spells you have to use up spell slots to cast - but you can use a higher level slot to cast a lower level spell.
If you are lvl 2 cleric of 15(+2) wis
then you should have 6 spell that you have prepared
And Domain spells.
2nd level Cleric gets: three 1st level spell slots.
3 cantrips (unlimited uses)
2 domain spells ALWAYS prepared, but uses a spell slot to cast.
Wisdom Modifier plus 2 spells prepared. At Wisdom 16, that would be 3+2=5 spells prepared in addition to the 2 domain ones, any of which uses a spell slot to cast
Although remember that Light domain clerics have 4 cantrips, because they gain the Light cantrip at level 1.
Arcana Clerics get 5. I think that's the class that gets the most starting cantrips. A Variant Human with Magic Initiate can start with 7 cantrips.