Quick Links
The Cleric is a vintage class from the early days ofDungeons & Dragons, first appearing in the original Player’s Handbook from 1974. There was a time when Clerics would only serve as healers in a party, but today they’re one of the most diverse classes inD&D5e and are just as effective as damage dealers or defenders.
Clerics inD&Dcontinue to be a strong healing class, but a variety of subclasses and deities determine their role. The nature of the power of the Cleric depends on what kind of god they serve and these details are part of a larger build that also includes backgrounds, Feats, and gear selection.
Updated June 12, 2025 by Kristy Ambrose:The D&D Cleric is now a combination class on the same level as a Druid or a Paladin, with an equal amount of range when it comes to gear, spells, and accessories.
There are no rules or regulations as to whether a Cleric is evil or good because this depends on the deity and Domain choice, which means a Cleric can be a beacon of good or a shadow of evil.The new D&D rulesthat were released last year have some extra features for all classes, including Clerics.
The Best Races For Clerics
Focus On The Wisdom Score And Related Bonuses
When choosing a species, players will want to look for one that boosts theirWisdomscore. It’s the most important ability score a Cleric can have.
Aarakocra
Elemental Evil Player’s Companion
+1 to Wisdom and +2 to Dexterity, making this an ideal choice forClerics who want better melee weapon skills.
Centaur
Guildmaster’s Guide to Ravnica
The bonuses to both Strength and Wisdom make the Centaur one of the better options.
Firbolg
Volo’s Guide to Monsters
+2 Wisdom makes this one of the best races for Clerics in 5e available.
Druegar
Monsters of the Multiverse
The usual Dwarven Constitution bonus and poison resistance, plus Darkvision and some psionic and arcane powers.
Half-Elf
The Player’s Handbook
+2 Charisma if multiclassing into a Bard or Paladin or the party’s leader. +1 to two other ability scores as an option to improve Wisdom.
Hill Dwarf
+1 to Wisdom on top of the Constitution bonus Dwarves already have.
Human
One of the most customizable races in RPG history. A Human makes a greatanythingwith their bonus to every ability score.
Kalashtar
Eberron: Rising from the Last War
+2 to Wisdom and follows it up with a Charisma buff. One of the best races for a 5e Cleric who’s taken a leadership role.
Kenku
+1 to Wisdom and +2 to Dexterity.This isthe best race for a 5e Clericwho wants to play a morally ambiguous character with Rogue-like traits.
Loxodon
An obvious choice for players using the module to build a front-line melee Cleric.
Tiefling
Choose a Bloodline that improves Wisdom, Constitution, or Strength depending on the build.
Variant Human
Two ability scores of the player’s choice increase by +1, which can be used to raise Wisdom.
Wood Elf
All of the usual Elven traits along with a +1 to Wisdom, making it one of the best races for a Cleric in 5e.
Best Divine Domains For Clerics
A Central Part Of A Larger Build
The 5th editionD&DCleric subclasses are organized asDivine Domains, with each determining the types of abilities the Cleric will learn.
Description
Arcana
Allows access to Wizard spells. An ideal choice for Clerics who have a decent Intelligence score and want to cast both damaging and healing spells.
Death
Other RPGs call this class a Shadow Priest. Their primary role is todeal damage, often of the Necrotic type.
Forge
A suitable choice for a Defense role. This is the Battle Cleric who can take damage and cast both offensive and healing spells.
Grave
For damage, buffing, and healing. One of the most versatile Domains.
Knowledge
Expertise in two more skills and more Divination options. A good choice for any Cleric build.
Life
The best choice for a healing build. It’s also a solid Defense option with improved AC.
Light
A Cleric that uses the power of the Sun to do fire and radiant damage. A nice backstory to this is that the Cleric is a follower of a solar deity like Amaunator.
Nature
Allows access to Druid Spells, which include healing and damage options, plus the ability to wear heavier armor than a Druid.
Order
ForClerics who want to multi-class as a Paladinor take the same role as one. Comes with heavy armor and weapon proficiencies.
Tempest
Access to thunder and lightning spells, plus the ability to wear heavy armor.
Trickery
The obvious choice for Clerics that dabble in the Roguish side of life. Offers access to Illusion spells and abilities like stealth.
War
A front-line fighting Cleric with access to heavy armor and a variety of martial weapons and skills.
Twilight
A role that covers both protection and offensive powers. Has access to heavy armor when front-line fighting.
Peace
It’s not an offensive domain, but it excels at protection, buffing, and healing.
Mace of Terror
D&D Player’s Handbook
Use an action to release a wave of terror that inflicts the Frightened condition on enemies.
Guardian Emblem
Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
The emblem has three charges and can be attached to a shield or suit of armor to turn critical hits against them into normal hits.
Cloak of Displacement
Dungeon Master’s Guide
Makes the wearer seem a few feet away from their actual location, and attackers have Disadvantage when trying to attack.
Adamantine Chain Armor
D&D Free Rules (2024)
The wearer is immune to critical hits, which is ideal for Clerics in any role.
Amulet of Health
Sets the wearer’s Constitution score to 19, giving them more hit points and improved carrying capacity.
Dragon Scale Mail
Comes in several variations and offers different elemental Resistance depending on the type and color of the dragon.
Best Skills For Clerics
Choose Depending On The Build
Clerics generally have a high Wisdom score, but depending on the build, players might want to choose skills that depend on Strength (for fighting Clerics) or Charisma (for leaders or preachy types).
Insight
Wisdom
Used to determine the true intentions of any creature. Handy in public spaces as well as in battle situations when deception is afoot.
Intelligence
A smart Cleric can use this to recall more information about spells, magical items, anddifferent planes of existence, among other themes.
Medicine
Ideal and even essential for a healer build. A character with this skill has a better chance of making a successful diagnosis and stabilizing an injured ally.
Religion
Measures the Cleric’s ability to remember the lore, history, and other facts concerning virtually everything connected to religions.
Athletics
Strength
A nice boost for a tank or melee fighting build, this gives a character better agility and accuracy when jumping, running, or swimming.
Persuasion
Charisma
Useful for Clerics who act as the party leader but can have other uses as long as players have the Charisma score to back it up.
Investigation
Related to a healing build, it can help with finding clues related to the nature of injuries, and can also help find hidden items and secret doors.
Perception
Ideal for any character, but it makes sense for the wisest in the party or the character in a leading role to be the first to detect an enemy or hidden object.
Best Feats For Clerics
The Next Step In A Unique Cleric Build
The following Feats are generally good for a Cleric, regardless of their party role.
Resilient
Important for any healer, this is the Feat that helps with Concentration saves when casting in battle.
Heavily Armored
Strength increases by one, and the Cleric gains Heavy Armor proficiency. Best for defender and melee fighter builds.
Elemental Adept
Ideal for a Cleric that uses spells for damage, this Feat gives their spells the ability to ignore one type of elemental resistance.
Alert
A +5 bonus to Initiative is great for anyone, especially the party leader. It also means that the character can’t be surprised while conscious or when attacked by a hidden enemy.
Shield Master
Ideal for a defender or melee build, this Feat gives the Cleric the Shove ability as a bonus action and allows them to make Dexterity saving throws against spells or attacks.
Skill Expert
Players can use this Feat to increase any Ability Score by one. It’s great for any Cleric build.
Fey Touched
Increases either Wisdom, Charisma, or Intelligence score by +1. Teaches the spell Misty Step and any other spell from the Divination or Enchantment schools of magic.
War Caster
Similar to Resilient, but it’s taken up a notch and is an ideal Feat for Clerics of any build.
Durable
Constitution increases by one, and when the Cleric rolls to regain hit points, how much they regain is determined by their Constitution modifier.
Metamagic Adept
Handy for any spellcaster, but it’s even more useful for Clerics who want to diversify their spells with an ability usually reserved for Sorcerers.
Healer
Restore a dead character or creature with one hit point and heal them for 1d6+4+their number of hit dice. A nice addition to a healer or an extra ability for a defender.
Shadow Touched
Not only great for the stat bonuses and extra spells like Invisibility, but it’s the result of being exposed to the magic of the Shadowfell andhas great role-play potential.
Best Backgrounds For Clerics
Part Of The Build And The Backstory
The last thing to consider would bea suitable character Background, and there are a few that provide good skills for a Cleric.D&Dplayers should have a d6 and a d8 on hand to determine the smaller details like Flaws and Personality traits.
Acolyte
Player’s Handbook
Most builds take this background, as it’s the most obvious choice for the class. It includes benefits like Insight and two bonus languages.
Haunted One
Curse of Strahd
This character has a dark secret that follows them everywhere. Benefits include two extra languages and a Monster Hunting Kit.
Witherbloom Student
Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos
Exclusive toStrixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos, this is ideal for healers ormelee fighters who wantto expand their casting abilities with spells like Blight and Death Ward.
Cloistered Scholar
Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
An easy fit for a Cleric’s backstory, this character has increased knowledge of either Nature, Arcana, or Religion along with any two languages the player chooses.
Athlete
Mythic Odysseys of Theros
For a Cleric that focuses more on physical prowess, the Athletic Background also benefits the adventurer with Echoes of Victory. Within 100 miles of the character’s hometown, they have a better chance of meeting friendly strangers who know their name and are willing to offer food, shelter, or information.
Failed Merchant
Acquisitions Incorporated
Perhaps the business failed and you joined a monastery, but there’s a lot of room for creativity here. This Background gives the character bonuses on Persuasion and Investigation along with a set of Artisan Tools.
Faction Agent
Includes Insight along with Perception and two bonus languages. This is a decent choice for a campaign that involves political intrigue, spies, or a cult.
Sage
A Cleric who is a Sage might be a Librarian, Scribe, or Professor, giving them bonuses in Arcana and History.
Criminal
Also referred to as a Spy for the fainter of heart, this Cleric might come from a dark past that includes handy skills like Stealth and lockpicking.
Hermit
Choosing the Nature Domain makes this a good fit. These Clerics have Insight and Medicine skills and can brewtheir own potions.
Initiate
Plane Shift: Amonkhet
Found in thePlane Shift - Amonkhetmodule, the Initiate is steeped in ancient and venerated Cleric-like rituals and traditions.
Archaeologist
Tomb of Annihilation
The cartographer and digging tools are handy anyway, but the character also gets an extra language and a set of traveling clothes.
Courtier
Clerics who are the face of their party will find this boost to their Persuasion and Insight skills, plus two bonus languages.
