So, I was looking into a gloomstalker+twilight cleric, but I am now contemplating a gloomstalker+grave cleric build. Looking for any advice on this as a possible build. I will be working on the two different versions of this build, but would love any feedback that anyone is interested in providing.
What's the tone you're going for? What sort of character and what abilities do you want to prioritize?
A big boon of the Gloomstalker is the Darkvision, so it would pair well with a race that doesn't normally have Darkvision. Choosing Variant Human or the Custom Lineage to start with a feat would be really good mechanically.
The more you want to use weapons, the more Ranger levels you'll want (ex: taking first 5 levels (minimum) in Ranger to get an ASI and the Extra Attack feature).
The more you want to use spells, the more Cleric levels you'll want.
The ideal breakdown for optimal Gloomstalkers are levels 5 or 8. I usually recommend going straight to level 8 to get WIS save prof at 7 and the ASI at 8.
Honestly, I don’t think Grave Cleric is a good choice. Mechanically speaking, Twilight Cleric is way better; it’s probably one of the best sub-classes in the whole game. War Clerics and Forge Clerics are less obvious and not so powerful choices, but they are also viable.
What are you hoping to get out of it? Do you want max DPR? To be a secondary healer / support with solid martial combat? Do you want to focus on melee or range?
I am looking to play this in an upcoming Ravenloft campaign. Definitely looking at those two race/lineage options to get the other feat. I recently read on the grave domain cleric and feel like it would be a good fit as an undead hunter type. I am looking at the ranger/gloomstalker as a compliment to the grave domain cleric.
Mostly, something that I can use a possible undead hunter (good for grave domain) in an upcoming Ravenloft campaign. I am going for as much utility as possible, since it might be only two PCs with each of us having a sidekick. I know that we are thinking a paladin and a cleric. So I am looking at the cleric. We have 10 levels, so I am looking at 6 levels of cleric to get the best turn undead I can. I am thinking I looking at being a ranged type and the primary healer. I am hoping to convince our DM to allow me to have the sharpshooter feat and not be at disadvantage in close quarters combat (like the new Sharpshooter feat). If not I might take a two weapon feat (dual wielder) and sharpshooter, so I can fight decently in both types of combat.
You might want to go: 1-6 Cleric 1-2 Ranger 6-8 Cleric
This would let you use both ASIs to max out your Wisdom giving you the highest possible DC for turn Undead plus the Divine Strike cleric feature thing from Tasha's that gives you a bonus 1d8 on attack rolls, plus a fighting style from Ranger (which you can pick based on your experience in the campaign and any magic items you might want to use). Grave cleric is decent their ability to give enemies vulnerability pairs well with your ally's Divine Smite, though Eyes of the Grave is redundant with the Paladin Divine Sense. Plus you're only losing 1 spellcaster level so should have sufficient slots to keep everyone alive.
Twilight Domain is still better but then that's b/c it's brokenly powerful.
Use your side kicks to get an Expert with Thieve's Tools proficiency and a Mage with a Familiar (for scouting).
If I go this route, maybe think fighter instead of Ranger. I am thinking then I get action surge and fighting style. I was trying to go for something that would blend well for Ravenloft. Maybe even a two level hexblade dip with the 8 lvls of cleric. I was originally looking at twilight cleric. We also have rolled ability scores (4d6 re-roll 1’s); so we usually end up with pretty ability scores.
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So, I was looking into a gloomstalker+twilight cleric, but I am now contemplating a gloomstalker+grave cleric build. Looking for any advice on this as a possible build. I will be working on the two different versions of this build, but would love any feedback that anyone is interested in providing.
What's the tone you're going for? What sort of character and what abilities do you want to prioritize?
A big boon of the Gloomstalker is the Darkvision, so it would pair well with a race that doesn't normally have Darkvision. Choosing Variant Human or the Custom Lineage to start with a feat would be really good mechanically.
The more you want to use weapons, the more Ranger levels you'll want (ex: taking first 5 levels (minimum) in Ranger to get an ASI and the Extra Attack feature).
The more you want to use spells, the more Cleric levels you'll want.
The ideal breakdown for optimal Gloomstalkers are levels 5 or 8. I usually recommend going straight to level 8 to get WIS save prof at 7 and the ASI at 8.
Honestly, I don’t think Grave Cleric is a good choice. Mechanically speaking, Twilight Cleric is way better; it’s probably one of the best sub-classes in the whole game. War Clerics and Forge Clerics are less obvious and not so powerful choices, but they are also viable.
What are you hoping to get out of it? Do you want max DPR? To be a secondary healer / support with solid martial combat? Do you want to focus on melee or range?
Thank you for the response, FayetteGamer.
I am looking to play this in an upcoming Ravenloft campaign. Definitely looking at those two race/lineage options to get the other feat. I recently read on the grave domain cleric and feel like it would be a good fit as an undead hunter type. I am looking at the ranger/gloomstalker as a compliment to the grave domain cleric.
Thank you for the response, Agilemind.
Mostly, something that I can use a possible undead hunter (good for grave domain) in an upcoming Ravenloft campaign. I am going for as much utility as possible, since it might be only two PCs with each of us having a sidekick. I know that we are thinking a paladin and a cleric. So I am looking at the cleric. We have 10 levels, so I am looking at 6 levels of cleric to get the best turn undead I can. I am thinking I looking at being a ranged type and the primary healer. I am hoping to convince our DM to allow me to have the sharpshooter feat and not be at disadvantage in close quarters combat (like the new Sharpshooter feat). If not I might take a two weapon feat (dual wielder) and sharpshooter, so I can fight decently in both types of combat.
You might want to go:
1-6 Cleric
1-2 Ranger
6-8 Cleric
This would let you use both ASIs to max out your Wisdom giving you the highest possible DC for turn Undead plus the Divine Strike cleric feature thing from Tasha's that gives you a bonus 1d8 on attack rolls, plus a fighting style from Ranger (which you can pick based on your experience in the campaign and any magic items you might want to use). Grave cleric is decent their ability to give enemies vulnerability pairs well with your ally's Divine Smite, though Eyes of the Grave is redundant with the Paladin Divine Sense. Plus you're only losing 1 spellcaster level so should have sufficient slots to keep everyone alive.
Twilight Domain is still better but then that's b/c it's brokenly powerful.
Use your side kicks to get an Expert with Thieve's Tools proficiency and a Mage with a Familiar (for scouting).
If I go this route, maybe think fighter instead of Ranger. I am thinking then I get action surge and fighting style. I was trying to go for something that would blend well for Ravenloft. Maybe even a two level hexblade dip with the 8 lvls of cleric. I was originally looking at twilight cleric. We also have rolled ability scores (4d6 re-roll 1’s); so we usually end up with pretty ability scores.