Race, skills, subclass, background & more

Our best Baldur’s Gate 3 Cleric build will ensure you’re the greatest support possible for your companions, so check out what choices to make in character creation, including the race, skills, subclass, and background to pick.

The various classes in Baldur’s Gate 3 all serve various purposes, with some standing out as frontline fighters, some excelling at massive area of effect damage, and others helping the team out to ensure success in every encounter. The latter is where the Cleric comes into play, serving as the primary healer and motivator in the game.

So, check out everything you need to know to make the best Baldur’s Gate 3 Cleric build, starting from character creation, and as you level up.

Not a fan of the Cleric build? Check out our recommendations for other best builds in Baldur’s Gate 3:

Baldur’s Gate 3 Cleric build

The Baldur’s Gate 3 Cleric is a Wisdom-based spellcasting class who draws their magic from a god they worship, allowing them to wield divine abilities for good or ill. 

Their primary strength in combat is healing and supporting other players with buffs, but they can still pack a bunch with deadly spells when needed, especially thanks to their wide array of spell slots. 

All Cleric subclasses in Baldur’s Gate 3 

There are a total of seven Cleric subclasses in Baldur’s Gate 3: Life Domain, Light Domain, Trickery Domain, Knowledge Domain, Nature Domain, Tempest Domain, and War Domain.

Below is a breakdown of each subclass and how they differ:

Life Domain

The Life domain is an aspect of many good deities, offering spells that protect and restore the mind, body, and soul.

Subclass Feature	Description
Cure Wounds	Heal a creature you can touch
Bless	Bless up to 3 creatures, so they gain +1d4 bonus to Attack Rolls and Saving Throws
Disciple of Life	When casting a healing spell, the target regains additional hit points equal to 2 + the spell’s level

Light Domain

The Light domain is offered by deities of justice, majesty, and primordial flame, providing spells that dispel darkness and harm the undead.

Subclass Feature	Description
Light	Infuse an object with an aura of light
Burning Hands	Each flammable target is hit with 3d6 Fire damage
Faerie Fire	All targets within the light turn visible and Attack Rolls gainst them have Advantage
Warding Flare	Use your reaction to impose Disadvantage on an attacker

Trickery Domain

A domain shared by wicked, chaotic, and mischievous deities alike, those who channel Trickery specialise in deception and illusion magic.

Subclass Feature	Description
Blessing of the Trickster	Grant another creature Advantage on Stealth Checks
Charm Person	Charm a humanoid to prevent it from attacking you, giving you Advantage on Charisma Checks
Disguise Self	Magically change all aspects of your appearance

Knowledge Domain

Adaptable and adroit in all manner of languages and skills, your mind is an intellectual cup brimming with exquisite knowing.

Subclass Feature	Description
Command	Command a creature to flee, move closer, freeze, drop to the ground, or drop its weapon
Sleep	Put creatures into a magical slumber, selecting targets up to a combined 24 hit points

Nature Domain

You embody the vast viridian power of the natural world, an avatar of the subtle divinity of fruitfall, avian migration, woodland silence, and the landslide’s roaring fury.

Subclass Feature	Description
Shillelagh	Your staff or club becomes magical, dealing 4-11 Bludgeoning damage and uses your Spellcasting Ability for Attack Rolls
Speak with Animals	Gain the ability to comprehend and communicate with beasts
Animal Friendship	Convince a beast not to attack you
Acolyte of Nature	You learn a Druid cantrip and become proficient in Animal Handling, Nature, or Survival

Tempest Domain

Your faith has made you the very thunder that quakes the black firmament, the lightning coursing through the veins of a terrible storm.

Subclass Feature	Description
Thunderwave	Release a wave of thunderous force that pushes away all creatures and objects
Fog Cloud	The cloud Blinds and Heavily Obscures creatures within
Wrath of the Storm	Strike back at an attacking creature, dealing 2-16 Lightning damage. On a failed Saving Throw, dealing half of a 2-16 Thunder damage roll

War Domain

Fortified by holy zeal, you brandish an arsenal of sacramental savagery to use against those you deem unrighteous.

Subclass Feature	Description
Divine Favour	Your weapon attack deals an additional 1-4 Radiant damage
Shield of Faith	Protect a creature from attacks and increase its Armour Class by 2
War Priest	When you make an unarmed or weapon attack, you can spend a War Priest Charge to make an additional attack as a bonus action

What is the best Cleric subclass?

The best Cleric subclass is largely dependent on what your goal is as a Cleric, but we believe the Life Domain subclass to be the best due to its extra support spells and additional healing capabilities.

It’s also worth mentioning the War Domain subclass for those who want to build more toward damage.

Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Cleric build

With all the above information in mind, here is what you need to make the best Baldur’s Gate 3 Cleric build. 

It’s worth noting that you can respec your character in Baldur’s Gate 3 if you have already started the game but want to try out some of the options below too.

Level 1

Option	Selection
Race & Subrace	Dwarf / Gold Dwarf
Cantrips	Blade Ward, Guidance, Sacred Flame
Deity	Lathander
Spells	Guiding Bolt, Sanctuary, Inflict Wounds, Healing Word
Background	Acolyte
Skill Proficiencies	History & Medicine
Ability Points	Strength: 14 Dexterity: 10 Constitution: 14 Intelligence: 8 Wisdom: 17 Charisma: 12

Level 2

Option	Selection
Spells	Command

Level 3

Option	Selection
Spells	Silence, Spiritual Weapon

Level 4

Option	Selection
Cantrips	Produce Flame
Spells	Hold Person
Feat	Ability Improvement. +2 Wisdom

Level 5

Option	Selection
Spells	Mass Healing Word, Remove Curse

Level 6

Option	Selection
Spells	Spirit Guardians

Level 7

Option	Selection
Spells	Banishment

Level 8

Option	Selection
Spells	Freedom of Movement
Feat	War Caster

Level 9

Option	Selection
Spells	Planar Binding

Level 10

Option	Selection
Cantrip	Light
Spells	Flame Strike

That’s our breakdown of the best Baldur’s Gate 3 Cleric build, and now you know how to create a true healing support to aid your party in every encounter.

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