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Nerdarchy > Dungeons & Dragons  > Character Builds  > Multi-Class Character Builds in Dungeons & Dragons 5e (The Cleric)

Multi-Class Character Builds in Dungeons & Dragons 5e (The Cleric)

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dungeons & dragonsOne quick note, this article come after the release of Sword Coast Adventures Guide, so my article will contain builds including content from that book as well. If you missed my last article on the Bard click HERE to take a look. Today we are going to prey to the gods with… The Cleric

I’d like to start with a quick overview of the Cleric so I can clear up a few issues with the class as a whole.

To start off, the Cleric as a class falls off at eighth level due to the class features only coming from the domains themselves. There is no base class feature at later levels. Also, the ability to cast Revivify as a third level spell removes most of the need for Raise Dead. With this I feel that the Cleric when multi-classed with any other primary spell caster is the best option sense the multi-class spell slot chart on page 165 of the Player’s Guide still allows for the same amount of spell slots needed to cast higher level heals and party buffs. With that explained let’s get started.

Multi-class Character – The Cleric

The first very interesting build comes from the new Sword Coast Adventures Guide taking eight levels in Cleric and Dungeons & dragonsthe domain of Light. Then taking twelve levels of the Monk class and the Monastic Tradition of Way of the Sun Soul. This character build utilizes the Warding Flair ability from the cleric to ensure you do not get hit by attacks from a single enemy as well as the Cleric cantrip Sacred Flame to allow you to target creatures who are behind cover from the cantrip. This combined the Monk’s Radiant Sun Bolt allows the cleric to be the constant ranged attacker and out of harm’s way while still being able to heal and aid the party. Of course this build is based on the Wisdom attribute.

The next build I’d like to highlight is the build of storms! This build also coming to you from the Sword Coast Adventures Guide. This build combines the Cleric and Sorcerer, thus taking advantage of the Tempest Cleric Domain and the new Sorcerer Origen of Storm Sorcery. The combination of abilities and the pure thematic feel to this build is great in my opinion. The Cleric’s 2nd level ability to mutli-class character clericChannel Divinity: Destructive Wrath making a spell that deals lighting or thunder damage do maximum damage, and combined with the Sorcerer’s ability to use Sorcery Points and cast Lighting Bolt Heightened Spell is incredible forcing disadvantage on all enemies hit by the spell. This character will be heavily armored and a force to be reckoned with on the battle field. Also having the utilities to push enemies around using the Cleric’s Wrath of the Storm ability and Tempestuous Magic ability to move around the battle field with ease, makes this build quite formidable.

The next build I’d like to cover (as there are so many with the Cleric) is the Cleric of the War Domain melded with the Fighter class and the Eldritch Knight, Martial Archetype. The Cleric’s War Priest ability combined with the Fighter’s Action Surge ability and additional attacks at higher levels makes a character that can be a constant threat on the battle field. When using the Channel Divinity feature to grant +10 to the accuracy roll to a single attack roll and single target spell that requires a to-hit roll, is very powerful indeed. The spells slots gained here are only half the amount of normal but the character can also still heal and aid his or hers party members in combat, thus making them a valuable team member with only eight levels of cleric.dungeons & dragons cleric

The last build I’d like to cover uses the new Warlock Outwardly Patron: The Undying and the Pact of the Tomb feature from the Sword Coast Adventures Guide, and the Cleric domain of Life. This build if for that massive healer character who has staying power on the battle field. Additionally this build will have massive boons against the undead. his is the ONLY build I would advise taking more than eight levels of Cleric in. For this you would take twelve levels of Cleric and eight levels of Warlock. As most of you know the warlock gains back spell slots at a faster rate than most other caster types, effectively canceling out the low amount of spell slots they get over all.  At sixth level of both classes the 12th level healing potential of this character is quite ridicules. Being able to use a cantrip to get any character up in combat over and over again is very powerful. Additionally the ability to wear heavy armor and cast damage spells like Ray of Sickness to give disadvantage top a foe is very good.

Well that’s all I have for you this time. Tune in next time “Same Bat Time! Same Bat Channel!’ when we will be taking a look at multi-class character builds in the forest with…the Druid!.

So until next time… Stay Nerdy!

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Art Wood

I'm a nerd from the days of OLD! Nuff Said!

3 Comments

  • Michał Kozina
    December 28, 2015 at 2:31 pm

    Any suggestions for Cleric with Trickstery domain (halfling cleric of Brandobaris starting playing Out of the Abyss)? Is it woth multiclassing, and if yes what are the best possibilities: perhaps Sorcerer or Rogue?

  • Sqiar Bi
    March 24, 2016 at 1:51 pm

    Thanks for the detailed description, well I simply want to offer you a huge thumbs up for your great information.
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