The best Cleric subclass, feats, and build in Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldurs Gate 3 has 12 classes for you to choose from when you create your character. The Cleric is a caster class that wields divine magic.

Clerics are a little more hands-on than most casters. They have more access to healing spells than most, but they’ve got plenty of offensive spells, too. Their primary stat is Wisdom.

There’s no single best class in Baldur’s Gate 3, and the game gives you as many opportunities for creative problem solving as it does for punching. Finding the best class really just boils down to how you want to play. Even when playing solo, you’ll still manage the rest of your party, so you’ll get to experiment with multiple classes at once.

Read on to find out everything you need to know about the Cleric class in Baldur’s Gate 3, and learn all about the best Cleric subclass, feats, and build.

Is Cleric the best class for you in BG3?

Image: Larian Studios via Polygon

Clerics are divine spellcasters — their magic comes from the gods. Clerics are a classic support class and have access to the most healing options. They’re the best class for playing a (relatively) easy-to-understand support character that heals (and buffs) everyone else.

But beyond just being a healer, Cleric Domains (basically Cleric subclasses) make the class one of the most versatile as well. Depending on what flavor of divinity you choose, you can play the class (basically) however you want.

Cleric class features

Hit Points

• Hit Dice — 1d8 per Cleric level
• Hit Points at 1st Level — 8 + your Constitution modifier
• Hit Points at higher levels — 5 + your Constitution modifer per Cleric level after 1st

Spells

Clerics start with 3 cantrips, and 2 level 1 Spell Slots per Long Rest.

Proficiencies

• Weapons — Simple Weapons, Morningstars
• Armor — Light Armor, Medium Armor, Shields
• Skills — History, Insight, Medicine, Religion
• Saving Throws — Wisdom, Charisma

Cleric spells

Clerics start with three cantrips from the Cleric spell list.

Clerics also start with two level 1 spell slots per long rest. They can only prepare four spells out of the list of 11.

Cleric subclasses

Clerics choose their subclass (Domain) during character creation.

Life Domain

Focusing on spells that protect and restore, Life Domain Clerics Focus on health and healing.

• Spells — Cure Wounds, Bless
• Features — Disciple of Life (when casting a healing spell, the target regains an additional 2 + the spell’s level HP)
• Proficiencies — Heavy Armor

Light Domain

Light Domain clerics combat both darkness and the undead.

• Spells — Light cantrip, Burning Hands, Faerie Fire
• Features — Warding Flare (use your reaction to impose Disadvantage on an attacker)

Trickery Domain

Trickery Domain Clerics specialize in deception and illusion.

• Actions — Blessing of the Trickster (grant another creature advantage on Stealth Checks)
• Spells — Charm Person, Disguise Self

Knowledge Domain

Knowledge Domain Clerics focus on pursuits of the mind.

• Spells — Command, Sleep

Nature Domain

Nature Domain Clerics are kind of divine Druids.

• Spells — Shillelagh cantrip, Speak with Animals, Animal Friendship
• Features — Learn a Druid Cantrip and gain Proficiency in Animal Handling, Nature, or Survival
• Proficiencies — Heavy Armor

Tempest Domain

Where Nature Domain Clerics are all about the peaceful parts of nature, Tempest Domain Clerics focus more on the scary parts.

• Spells — Thunderwave, Fog Cloud
• Features — Wrath of the Storm (Strike back at an attacking creature with 2d8 Lightning damage
• Proficiencies — Martial Weapons, Heavy Armor

War Domain

War Domain Clerics are the most militant of the subclasses.

• Spells — Divine Favor, Shield of Faith
• Features — War Priest (when you make an attack, spend a War Priest Charge to make an additional attack as a bonus action)

Channel Divinity

At level 2, Clerics gain the ability to Channel Divinity once per day that recharges with a Short or Long Rest.

Every subclass of Cleric gets the Turn Undead Action (pray to Turn all undead that you can see). You get additional Channel Divinity options based on your Domain:

• Life Domain — Preserve Life (heals every ally within 30 feet)
• Light Domain — Radiance of the Dawn (dispel any magical darkness with 2d10+1 Radiant damage)
• Trickery Domain — Invoke Duplicity (distract your enemies with an illusion; within 10ft of the illusion, Attack Rolls have Advantage for you and your allies)
• Knowledge Domain — Knowledge of the Ages (gain Proficiency in all Skills of a chosen Ability)
• Nature Domain — Charm Animals and Plants (channel fey magic to Charm nearby beasts and plants)
• Tempest Domain — Destructive Wrath (when you roll Thunder of Lightning damage, you can roll maximum damage instead)
• War Domain — Guided Strike (gain a +10 to an Attack Roll)

Best Cleric subclass and build in BG3

Image: Larian Studios via Polygon

Baldur’s Gate 3 races don’t really have any direct impact on your class, but certain races and subraces come with features that play well with certain classes like extra movement or proficiency with certain weapons. For Clerics, it’s best to focus on padding out your spell list and getting advantage on Saving Throws:

• Elves, Drow, and Half-Elves have the Fey Ancestry feature that gets you advantage against being Charmed and put to sleep. Both subraces of Drow also get the Dancing Lights cantrip
• All three of the Tiefling subraces get a cantrip — Produce Flame, Mage Hand, and Thaumaturgry, respectively
• Strongheart Halflings get advantage against Poison saving throws and gain resistance to poison damage.
• All subraces of Gnome have the Gnome Cunning feature which gives you advantage on all Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma Saving throws.

When you’re creating and leveling up your Cleric, Wisdom is your most important stat (for spellcasting) followed by Constitution (for hit points and concentration checks).Make Charisma your highest stat and Constitution your second.

You’ll pick your Cleric Domain (subclass) at level 1. The best Cleric Domain for a balance of healing, defense, and offense is the Light Domain. That said, Domains are where you can get creative and flexible with your play style — Life Domain focuses on healing, Trickery Domain focuses on illusions, Nature Domain is a toned-down version of the Druid, and the War Domain is martial-focused.

Best Cleric Feats

Every four levels, you’ll get the option to either increase your stats or choose a Feat. Feats are special talents that add features to your character. If you’re happy with your stats and start taking Feats, Clerics can benefit from:

• Shield Master. You gain a +2 bonus to Dexterity Saving Throws while wielding a shield. If a spell forces you to make a Dexterity Saving Throw, you can use a reaction to shield yourself and diminish the effect’s damage. On a failed Saving Throw, you only take half damage. On a successful Saving Throw, you don’t take any damage.
• War Caster. You gain Advantage on Saving Throws to maintain Concentration on a spell. You can also use a reaction to cast Shocking Grasp at a target moving out of melee range.

For more information on the classes in Baldur’s Gate 3, consult our overviews on the Barbarian, Bard, Druid, Fighter, Monk, Paladin, Ranger, Rogue, Sorcerer, Warlock, and Wizard classes. If you’re stumped by the choice, consult our guide on what class to start with.