Knowledge Cleric Build Guide – Wisdom of the Gods – 2024 Update

Learn the best build for the Knowledge Cleric with full leveling guides, full spell lists, and easy to navigate sections to only read what you need!

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For all D&D guides on Nat1gaming, they only use the main sourcebooks (Player’s Handbook, Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, Xanathar’s Guide to Everything) as well as Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos (mostly for Silvery Barbs) as those tend to be the most commonly used books at tables. Always be sure that if you’re following a guide that you’re adhering to your tables rules about what sourcebooks you are allowed to follow.

Any spell, class, feature, or other game item that is linkable on this website is covered by the 5th edition Open Games License and will be in the Player’s Handbook, but not everything in the Player’s Handbook will be linked to. All other materials that aren’t linked to are from other sourcebooks or aren’t allowed to be linked to per the 5th Edition Open Games License, so please refer to the appropriate sourcebooks for that information.

For the purposes of this guide, it will be assumed that you would not be multiclassing. While multiclassing can be excellent for many of these, this is for those who want to play the build all the way through in the same class. Guides that use multiclassing will be separate from these.

For spellcasters, you may notice substantial overlap between the spell lists of builds with the same base class. This is due to each guide utilizing a generically good spell list and not considering extenuating factors that will influence how you particularly sculpt your spell list. When creating your own spell list, you should take into account the campaign setting, what spells any other party members are capable of casting, potential overlap (ritual spells tend to overlap so it’s rare you need multiple people capable of casting them), or potential shortcomings in the parties total spell list. While this guide can definitely help point you in the right direction for crafting a spell list, you should use your judgement and preferences to figure out what spells make the most sense for your character.

To that end, please refer to the Spell List and Spell Tier list for any substitutions you’d want to make to the build.



Why Knowledge Domain Cleric?

An interesting blend of religion and knowledge, Knowledge Domain Cleric is an interesting choice for those who like dipping their toes into multiple intellectual disciplines. In the pursuit of learning, Knowledge Domain comes with a slew of interesting and solid utility abilities all centered around information gathering. Furthermore, the Domain spell list offers a lot of excellent utility spells making this one of the most versatile Cleric subclasses around. Best yet, pretty much all of the abilities are, at worst, a bit niche but decent otherwise! Solid abilities and solid spells make for a solid subclass!


Knowledge Cleric Abilites Ranked

Blessings of Knowledge (Level 3)B+ Tier – Two languages and two Expertise is a really nice feature!

Channel Divinity: Knowledge of the Ages (Level 3)C Tier – This is a super niche, but unique ability that could be useful for those who are creative enough to make good use of it.

1st Level Spells (Level 3)C- Tier – Alright options, but nothing that enticing.

2nd Level Spells (Level 3)A- Tier – These are two solid options that you’re very happy to get!

3rd Level Spells (Level 5)D Tier – Both spells are pretty bad unfortunately.

Channel Divinity: Read Thoughts (Level 6)C Tier – This is super weird, but can be useful for those who really like finding unconventional solutions to their problems.

4th Level Spells (Level 7)C+ TierArcane Eye is a solid pickup, but Confusion is definitely not exciting. Not unusable as Clerics don’t really get CC like this often, but not something I would be too happy to use.

5th Level Spells (Level 9)D Tier – Neither spell is useless, but not spells I’m excited to use either.

Visions of the Past (Level 17) – C- Tier – I’m not sure why Wizards was so incensed to make every feature in this class weirdly specific, but this is at least one of the most unique subclasses in the game.


Quick Level Up Guide

LevelClass Features/FeatNotes
1Spellcasting, Divine Order (Protector)+ Guidance + Light + Sacred Flame
+ Bless + Detect Magic
+ Guiding Bolt + Healing Word
2Channel Divinity (x2)+ Protection from Evil and Good
3Forge Domain,
Bonus Proficiencies
Blessing of the Forge
Channel Divinity: Artisan’s Blessing
+ Command (Knowledge)
+ Identify (Knowledge)
+ Aid
+ Augury (Knowledge)
+ Suggestion (Knowledge)
4Feat: War Caster (WIS)+ Word of Radiance + Lesser Restoration
5Sear Undead+ Nondetection (Knowledge)
+ Revivify
+ Speak with Dead (Knowledge)
+ Spirit Guardians
6Channel Divinity (x3), Soul of the Forge+ Dispel Magic
7Blessed Strikes (Potent Spellcasting)+ Arcane Eye (Knowledge)
+ Banishment
+ Confusion (Knowledge)
8Feat: Resilient (CON) + Divination
9+ Commune
+ Greater Restoration
+ Legend Lore (Knowledge)
+ Scrying (Knowledge)
10Divine Intervention+ Toll the Dead
+ Summon Celestial
11+ Heal
12Feat: Wisdom to 20None
13Guiding Bolt
+ Conjure Celestial
+ Plane Shift
14Improved Blessed StrikesNone
15+ Holy Aura
16Feat: Heavy Armor Master (CON)None
17Saint of Forge and Fire+ Mass Heal
18Channel Divinity (x4)+ Antimagic Field
19Epic Boon: Boon of Fate+ Gate
20Greater Divine Intervention+ True Resurrection

Level One Build


Species: Human

Attributes:

POINT BUY
STRENGTH16
DEXTERITY8
CONSTITUTION15 (+1 background) = 16
INTELLIGENCE8
WISDOM15 (+2 background) = 17
CHARISMA8

Class: Cleric

Class Features: Spellcasting, Divine Order (Protector)

Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Medicine, and Perception (Human)

Background: Farmer

Human Feat: Musician (or Alert if two or more party members have Musician)

Starting Equipment: Mace, Chain Mail, Explorer’s Pack, a Shield, Holy Symbol, 5gp + 50gp from background

Starting Spells:

SPELL LEVELSPELL NAME
CantripGuidance
CantripLight
CantripSacred Flame
1st Level SpellBless
1st Level SpellDetect Magic (R)
1st Level SpellGuiding Bolt
1st Level SpellHealing Word

Species: Human

Humans are simple – you get an extra Origin feat, Heroic Inspiration each long rest, and an extra skill. This is a great species for those who didn’t get their origin feat of choice with their background.

Human Feat: Musician (or Alert)

Musician is an excellent feat that at least one party member should have, if not two. However, if your team doesn’t need a Musician, Alert is an excellent backup.


Attributes

POINT BUY
STRENGTH14
DEXTERITY10
CONSTITUTION15 (+1 background) = 16
INTELLIGENCE8
WISDOM15 (+2 background) = 17
CHARISMA8

Like other casters, Constitution and their spellcasting attribute (Wisdom in this case) should be pumped as much as possible. Beyond that, you do have a little bit of flexibility in how you want to modify your character past that. I like having some amount of strength and a flat Dexterity so your DEX saves aren’t always awful (though they likely will be anyway with Heavy Armor). If you prefer a little but of Intelligence or Charisma, feel free to go for that instead.


Proficiencies: Insight, Medicine, and Perception (Human)

Solid proficiencies for Cleric as they’re all Wisdom based skills.


Background: Farmer

The best background for Clerics as it gives Constitution and Wisdom on top of the best Origin feat that you can get with this attribute split.


Starting Equipment – Mace, Chain Mail, Explorer’s Pack, a Shield, Holy Symbol, 5gp + 50gp from background

Standard fare for heavy armor Clerics.


Class – Cleric

Starting out, Clerics get two abilities – Spellcasting and Divine Order (Protector).

Spellcasting is pretty much the same as the other full casters and will be expounded on in other sections.

Divine Order lets you choose between Protector and Thaumaturge. Protection gives you heavy armor and martial weapon proficiency and Thamaturge gives you an additional cantrip and the ability to add your WIS modifier to Arcana and Religion checks. Obviously, there is no contest here on which to choose – Protector gives you substantially more value.


Starting Spells

SPELL LEVELSPELL NAME
CantripGuidance
CantripLight
CantripSacred Flame
1st Level SpellBless
1st Level SpellDetect Magic (R)
1st Level SpellGuiding Bolt
1st Level SpellHealing Word

This is going to be an extremely standard spell list for a level one Cleric. You have good cantrips and versatile level one spells with varying effects with buffs, damage, and healing. Simple and effective.



The Build Level 2 Onward


Level 2-5


Level 2

Class Features: Channel Divinity (x2)

Spell Change Log: + Protection from Evil and Good

SPELL LEVELSPELL NAME
CantripGuidance
CantripLight
CantripSacred Flame
1st Level SpellBless
1st Level SpellDetect Magic (R)
1st Level SpellGuiding Bolt
1st Level SpellHealing Word
1st Level SpellProtection from Evil and Good

Level two brings another spell, but more importantly, your Channel Divinity!

Your Channel Divinity brings two charges per day and two features to the table with Turn Undead and Divine Spark. Turn Undead potentially makes undead run in fear if they fail a WIS save which is a unique feature, but not always the most useful as this obviously only works against undead. Divine Spark lets you use your action to either deal or heal a little bit of damage. Definitely not great, but the healing can be helpful in a pinch.

For your spell, you can pick up Protection from Evil and Good. This is a pretty niche protection spell, it is really good against extraplanar enemies for pretty cheap.


Level 3

Class: Knowledge Domain

Class Features: Blessings of Knowledge, Knowledge of the Ages, Knowledge Domain Spells

Spell Change Log: + Command (Knowledge) + Identify (Knowledge) + Aid + Augury (Knowledge) + Suggestion (Knowledge)

SPELL LEVELSPELL NAME
CantripGuidance
CantripLight
CantripSacred Flame
1st Level SpellBless
1st Level SpellCommand (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellDetect Magic (R)
1st Level SpellGuiding Bolt
1st Level SpellHealing Word
1st Level SpellIdentify (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellProtection from Evil and Good
2nd Level SpellAid
2nd Level SpellAugury (Knowledge) (R)
2nd Level SpellSuggestion (Knowledge)

Level 3 brings your subclass which gives you many abilities and new spells!

The first ability you get is Blessings of Knowledge which gives you additional skill proficiencies and doubles your PB with it. This is a pretty nice ability, even if it isn’t always the most impactful. Assuming you invest into the base attribute at all (which this build does a bit), you should be rolling extremely high on the chosen skills in the mid to later levels. To that end, I would probably pick Arcana and History as the skill proficiencies, but literally any of the four can be great depending on your setting. Languages are campaign or backstory dependent, so you can choose those freely.

For your Domain spells, you get a bunch of them with Command, Identify, Augury, and Suggestion.

While I’m not the biggest fan of it, Command is a decent save or suck option at lower levels. Unlike other slightly higher level save or suck options in other classes, with Command you are trading your action and a first level spell slot just for the chance of ridding the enemy of their action. This is obviously not a particularly good trade in a vacuum. However, as you increase the spell level when casting this, you get to target an additional enemy so you have the chance for one spell to rid multiple enemies of their actions. Not necessarily the highest impact, but can be useful in some scenarios.

Identify is not a particularly strong spell, but it is a Ritual making it purely utility. If you are unsure what an object is, take the ten minutes to Identify it and there won’t be any mystery surrounding it!

Augury is a solid Divination ritual that pretty much gives you one free question a day which is great if you’re trying to plan a course of action. It is technically limited by your creativity in the question asked and how amenable your DM is to giving information, but this is a powerful ability.

Suggestion is an excellent save or suck spell that can really turn around a combat by bringing an enemy to your side and has very good utility on top of it. Just an excellent spell all around and this is the crown jewel for the Knowledge Domain spell list.

With level two you get access to the Knowledge Domain Channel Divinity – Knowledge of the Ages. For 10 minutes, you can give yourself a proficiency. This is incredibly niche normally, but can really help to round out holes in your party that none of you are good at, like picking a lock without a Rogue. This isn’t very exciting and will likely not be used often, but it can be excellent in the right circumstances.

For this level, you can pick up a new spell with Aid.

Aid is an excellent temporary health buffer for your team as 15 total points for a second level slot is quite nice, and better yet, this scales quite well with higher spell slots put into it.


Level 4

Feat: War Caster (WIS)

Class Feature: None

Spell Change Log: + Word of Radiance + Lesser Restoration

SPELL LEVELSPELL NAME
CantripGuidance
CantripLight
CantripSacred Flame
CantripWord of Radiance
1st Level SpellBless
1st Level SpellCommand (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellDetect Magic (R)
1st Level SpellGuiding Bolt
1st Level SpellHealing Word
1st Level SpellIdentify (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellProtection from Evil and Good
2nd Level SpellAid
2nd Level SpellAugury (Knowledge) (R)
2nd Level SpellLesser Restoration
2nd Level SpellSuggestion (Knowledge)

Level four brings a feat, cantrip, and new spells!

For your first feat, you absolutely have to pick up War Caster. Buffing your Wisdom to 18, getting advantage on concentration checks, and being able to spellcast when you don’t have two free hands is excellent.

For your cantrip, you already have the best ones, but Word of Radiance can be alright if you find yourself surrounded often enough. Since you may be getting into the fray relatively often, you should find ample opportunities to use this.

For your spell, you can pick up Lesser Restoration! While you won’t be using it often, being able to heal most conditions can be useful in a pinch so it’s good to have prepared!


Level 5

Class Feature: Sear Undead

Spell Change Log: + Nondetection (Knowledge) + Revivify + Speak with Dead (Knowledge) + Spirit Guardians

SPELL LEVELSPELL NAME
CantripGuidance
CantripLight
CantripSacred Flame
CantripWord of Radiance
1st Level SpellBless
1st Level SpellCommand (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellDetect Magic (R)
1st Level SpellGuiding Bolt
1st Level SpellHealing Word
1st Level SpellIdentify (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellProtection from Evil and Good
2nd Level SpellAid
2nd Level SpellAugury (Knowledge) (R)
2nd Level SpellLesser Restoration
2nd Level SpellSuggestion (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellNondetection (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellRevivify
3rd Level SpellSpeak with Dead (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellSpirit Guardians

For level five, your Turn Undead feature upgrades with Sear Undead. Now undead that fail the saving throw for Turn Undead take damage equal to your WIS modifier in d8s. While this is still a pretty niche ability, it’s much better than the Clerics old features.

Your Domain spells this level are two more utility options with Nondetection and Speak with Dead. Unfortunately, both of these are not particularly great (especially Nondetection) as they’re very niche and limited even when you would want them. Speak with Dead can be ok in some scenarios, but it is definitely not very exciting.

For your third level spell choices, you get two excellent spells immediately with Revivify and Spirit Guardians.

Revivify is a staple spell that can bring back a freshly killed friend back, but generally, that’s more than good enough. You want minimum one Revivify user on your team to ensure that nobody has to go down permanently.

Your next choice is yet another Cleric staple – Spirit Guardians. This spell is egregiously good and really shines on tanky clerics as enemies will have a very hard time breaking your concentration on this. Walking up to a group of enemies, triggering this and then moving slightly out of the way so allies can shove them back into this is going to be a super common play pattern.


Level 6-10


Level 6

Class Features: Channel Divinity (x3), Channel Divinity: Read Thoughts

Spell Change Log: + Dispel Magic

SPELL LEVELSPELL NAME
CantripGuidance
CantripLight
CantripSacred Flame
CantripWord of Radiance
1st Level SpellBless
1st Level SpellCommand (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellDetect Magic (R)
1st Level SpellGuiding Bolt
1st Level SpellHealing Word
1st Level SpellIdentify (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellProtection from Evil and Good
2nd Level SpellAid
2nd Level SpellAugury (Knowledge) (R)
2nd Level SpellLesser Restoration
2nd Level SpellSuggestion (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellDispel Magic
3rd Level SpellNondetection (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellRevivify
3rd Level SpellSpeak with Dead (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellSpirit Guardians

For level 6 you get a another use of your Channel Divinity with Read Thoughts, and you’ll never guess what this does. While the upfront ability is very niche, being able to chain this into a free Suggestion that the target automatically fails makes this extremely interesting both out of combat and right before combat.

For your spell choice, you can pick up Dispel Magic, and since Clerics don’t naturally have Counterspell, this is the next best thing.


Level 7

Class Features: Blessed Strikes (Potent Spellcasting)

Spell Change Log: + Arcane Eye (Knowledge) + Banishment + Confusion (Knowledge)

SPELL LEVELSPELL NAME
CantripGuidance
CantripLight
CantripSacred Flame
CantripWord of Radiance
1st Level SpellBless
1st Level SpellCommand (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellDetect Magic (R)
1st Level SpellGuiding Bolt
1st Level SpellHealing Word
1st Level SpellIdentify (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellProtection from Evil and Good
2nd Level SpellAid
2nd Level SpellAugury (Knowledge) (R)
2nd Level SpellLesser Restoration
2nd Level SpellSuggestion (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellDispel Magic
3rd Level SpellNondetection (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellRevivify
3rd Level SpellSpeak with Dead (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellSpirit Guardians
4th Level SpellArcane Eye (Knowledge)
4th Level SpellBanishment
4th Level SpellConfusion (Knowledge)

Level 7 brings a new class ability and more spells to the table.

Your ability for this level is Blessed Strikes which gives your melee weapons an additional 1d8 damage per turn (Divine Strike) or you get to add your WIS modifier to cantrip damage (Potent Spellcasting). At this point you’re almost certainly moving away from attacking with your weapon, so the cantrip improvement would be my choice.

You get two more Domain spells to add to the list with Arcane Eye and Confusion.

Arcane Eye is likely the best surveillance spell in the game having a really long duration, it can go extremely far, it’s hard to detect, and it grants no save. A fourth level slot is a bit pricey, but information gathering can be invaluable to keeping your whole squad alive.

Confusion, on the other hand, is definitely a very, very rough CC spell (not in the good way). I am really not a fan of this spell as spending a fourth level slot to sometimes get a CC spell, even when the targets fail their save, is not what I’m about. That being said, Clerics really don’t get access to AOE CC, so having this as an option may sometimes be a decent choice in a tougher combat.

For your actual spell choice, you can pick the best one available with Banishment. Banishment is a solid CC spell that can take an enemy out of the fight for the length of the spell, but if the enemy is an extraplanar being, you have a chance to send them back to their home plane if they fail both saving throws! This can obviously be helpful in campaigns with a lot of extraplanar enemies, but will still be good in your average campaign.


Level 8

Feat: Resilient (CON)

Class Features: None

Spell Change Log: + Divination

SPELL LEVELSPELL NAME
CantripGuidance
CantripLight
CantripSacred Flame
CantripWord of Radiance
1st Level SpellBless
1st Level SpellCommand (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellDetect Magic (R)
1st Level SpellGuiding Bolt
1st Level SpellHealing Word
1st Level SpellIdentify (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellProtection from Evil and Good
2nd Level SpellAid
2nd Level SpellAugury (Knowledge) (R)
2nd Level SpellLesser Restoration
2nd Level SpellSuggestion (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellDispel Magic
3rd Level SpellNondetection (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellRevivify
3rd Level SpellSpeak with Dead (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellSpirit Guardians
4th Level SpellArcane Eye (Knowledge)
4th Level SpellBanishment
4th Level SpellConfusion (Knowledge)
4th Level SpellDivination (R)

Level 8 brings a new feat and new feature!

Level 8 brings your second feat and this is a good time to pick up Resilient (CON). Getting more health on top of proficiency in constitution saving throws is really good for casters, especially in conjunction with War Caster.

For your spell choice, you can pick up Divination,

Divination is a really nice ritual spell which lets you ask a god or their servant a question and you’ll receive a truthful reply, even if it’s a bit cryptic. Free information is really powerful in D&D and generally underrated as well, so I like picking this up at this point.


Level 9

Spell Change Log: + Commune + Greater Restoration + Legend Lore (Knowledge) + Scrying (Knowledge)

SPELL LEVELSPELL NAME
CantripGuidance
CantripLight
CantripSacred Flame
CantripWord of Radiance
1st Level SpellBless
1st Level SpellCommand (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellDetect Magic (R)
1st Level SpellGuiding Bolt
1st Level SpellHealing Word
1st Level SpellIdentify (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellProtection from Evil and Good
2nd Level SpellAid
2nd Level SpellAugury (Knowledge) (R)
2nd Level SpellLesser Restoration
2nd Level SpellSuggestion (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellDispel Magic
3rd Level SpellNondetection (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellRevivify
3rd Level SpellSpeak with Dead (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellSpirit Guardians
4th Level SpellArcane Eye (Knowledge)
4th Level SpellBanishment
4th Level SpellConfusion (Knowledge)
4th Level SpellDivination (R)
5th Level SpellCommune
5th Level SpellGreater Restoration
5th Level SpellLegend Lore (Knowledge)
5th Level SpellScrying (Knowledge)

Level 9 brings your final Domain spells and fifth level spells!

The first spell Domain spell you get is Legend Lore which can really vary in how useful it is. In most campaigns, this is probably not going to be good at all. The conditions for it to even be usable may be a big barrier and having additional knowledge on people or locations may not even help. However, there are a few campaigns with a lot of mystery (like the one I’m running as of writing of this article), that this can be helpful to get to the bottom of what happened in a certain area or who someone really is. Most of the time, though, not helpful.

Your final Domain spell is Scrying, which again, is unfortunately not that great. This is good for keeping tabs on a particular person, but them getting a save sucks as them passing the save and you getting nothing for your fifth level spell slot can be really punishing. Furthermore, like Legend Lore, not every campaign is going to have super important figures that need to be kept under watch. Maybe more helpful in some campaigns than others, but not something that’s going to be used often.

For your chosen spells, your first choice is the best Divination spell in the game – Commune. Unlike the other Divination spells, you get three questions rather than just one. This is a lot of information to gather and getting specific answers is extremely good.

Your second spell choice is a lot more niche, but still great, with Greater Restoration. While this is not something you’re going to cast often, it’s definitely invaluable when you need to cure conditions like exhaustion, petrification, or cursed item attunement. While these sometimes can wait, sometimes fixing this quickly can be extremely important and time sensitive.


Level 10

Class Features: Divine Intervention

Spell Change Log: + Toll the Dead + Summon Celestial

SPELL LEVELSPELL NAME
CantripGuidance
CantripLight
CantripSacred Flame
CantripToll the Dead
CantripWord of Radiance
1st Level SpellBless
1st Level SpellCommand (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellDetect Magic (R)
1st Level SpellGuiding Bolt
1st Level SpellHealing Word
1st Level SpellIdentify (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellProtection from Evil and Good
2nd Level SpellAid
2nd Level SpellAugury (Knowledge) (R)
2nd Level SpellLesser Restoration
2nd Level SpellSuggestion (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellDispel Magic
3rd Level SpellNondetection (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellRevivify
3rd Level SpellSpeak with Dead (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellSpirit Guardians
4th Level SpellArcane Eye (Knowledge)
4th Level SpellBanishment
4th Level SpellConfusion (Knowledge)
4th Level SpellDivination (R)
5th Level SpellCommune
5th Level SpellGreater Restoration
5th Level SpellLegend Lore (Knowledge)
5th Level SpellScrying (Knowledge)
5th Level SpellSummon Celestial

Level 10 brings you a really unique feature in Divine Intervention. Now once per day, you can call upon your deity to get a spell effect that’s 5th level or lower without using a spell slot or any components. Even if it’s one free spell per day, being able to choose any lower leveled spell is extremely powerful as you aren’t limited to spells you actively prepared, giving you a much wider pool of spells to pick from.

You get your final Cleric cantrip now, and since you already have all the good ones, you just have to pick from what’s left. You can now pick up Toll the Dead which isn’t particularly helpful as you already have an attack cantrip, but it can deal a little more damage than Sacred Flame which is nice.

This is also a good opportunity to pick up a Cleric’s best summoning option – Summon Celestial. While it’s not the greatest at level 5, upcasting it to level 6 gives your summon more health, AC, and attacks making it a substantially better option and a sixth level spell in spirit!


Level 11-15


Level 11

Class Features: None

Spell Change Log: + Heal

SPELL LEVELSPELL NAME
CantripGuidance
CantripLight
CantripSacred Flame
CantripToll the Dead
CantripWord of Radiance
1st Level SpellBless
1st Level SpellCommand (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellDetect Magic (R)
1st Level SpellGuiding Bolt
1st Level SpellHealing Word
1st Level SpellIdentify (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellProtection from Evil and Good
2nd Level SpellAid
2nd Level SpellAugury (Knowledge) (R)
2nd Level SpellLesser Restoration
2nd Level SpellSuggestion (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellDispel Magic
3rd Level SpellNondetection (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellRevivify
3rd Level SpellSpeak with Dead (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellSpirit Guardians
4th Level SpellArcane Eye (Knowledge)
4th Level SpellBanishment
4th Level SpellConfusion (Knowledge)
4th Level SpellDivination (R)
5th Level SpellCommune
5th Level SpellGreater Restoration
5th Level SpellLegend Lore (Knowledge)
5th Level SpellScrying (Knowledge)
5th Level SpellSummon Celestial
6th Level SpellHeal

Level 11 brings sixth level spells!

For your spell, it’s hard to go wrong with the classic Heal. 70 flat points of recovery with some status recoveries is some solid in combat healing, even if it’s a bit pricey.


Level 12

Feat: Wisdom to 20

Class Feature: None

Spell Change Log: None

SPELL LEVELSPELL NAME
CantripGuidance
CantripLight
CantripSacred Flame
CantripToll the Dead
CantripWord of Radiance
1st Level SpellBless
1st Level SpellCommand (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellDetect Magic (R)
1st Level SpellGuiding Bolt
1st Level SpellHealing Word
1st Level SpellIdentify (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellProtection from Evil and Good
2nd Level SpellAid
2nd Level SpellAugury (Knowledge) (R)
2nd Level SpellLesser Restoration
2nd Level SpellSuggestion (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellDispel Magic
3rd Level SpellNondetection (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellRevivify
3rd Level SpellSpeak with Dead (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellSpirit Guardians
4th Level SpellArcane Eye (Knowledge)
4th Level SpellBanishment
4th Level SpellConfusion (Knowledge)
4th Level SpellDivination (R)
5th Level SpellCommune
5th Level SpellGreater Restoration
5th Level SpellLegend Lore (Knowledge)
5th Level SpellScrying (Knowledge)
5th Level SpellSummon Celestial
6th Level SpellHeal

Twelfth level brings your third feat and you can now max out your Wisdom for the strongest spells possible.


Level 13

Class Feature: None

Spell Change Log: Guiding Bolt / + Conjure Celestial + Plane Shift

SPELL LEVELSPELL NAME
CantripGuidance
CantripLight
CantripSacred Flame
CantripToll the Dead
CantripWord of Radiance
1st Level SpellBless
1st Level SpellCommand (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellDetect Magic (R)
1st Level SpellHealing Word
1st Level SpellIdentify (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellProtection from Evil and Good
2nd Level SpellAid
2nd Level SpellAugury (Knowledge) (R)
2nd Level SpellLesser Restoration
2nd Level SpellSuggestion (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellDispel Magic
3rd Level SpellNondetection (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellRevivify
3rd Level SpellSpeak with Dead (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellSpirit Guardians
4th Level SpellArcane Eye (Knowledge)
4th Level SpellBanishment
4th Level SpellConfusion (Knowledge)
4th Level SpellDivination (R)
5th Level SpellCommune
5th Level SpellGreater Restoration
5th Level SpellLegend Lore (Knowledge)
5th Level SpellScrying (Knowledge)
5th Level SpellSummon Celestial
6th Level SpellHeal
7th Level SpellConjure Celestial
7th Level SpellPlane Shift

Seventh level spell time and you can pick up really good ones with Conjure Celestial and Plane Shift.

For your first spell, you can pick up Conjure Celestial! You create a pillar of light that you can move for free to sear enemies while healing allies. In a tough fight, this can be invaluable as the hit point differential you can make with this spell is massive.

For your second spell, you can pick up the best teleportation option available to Clerics – Plane Shift. While you can’t use it for travel within the same plane, this can be a decent escape tool provided you aren’t in combat and you have the magic fork attuned to the plane you’re trying to go to. What’s nice about this, though, is that if you’re going back to your original plane, this doesn’t have a fail chance like Teleport would. In a real pinch, you can try to banish creatures with this as well making it rather versatile.


Level 14

Class Features: Improved Blessed Strikes

Spell Change Log: None

SPELL LEVELSPELL NAME
CantripGuidance
CantripLight
CantripSacred Flame
CantripToll the Dead
CantripWord of Radiance
1st Level SpellBless
1st Level SpellCommand (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellDetect Magic (R)
1st Level SpellHealing Word
1st Level SpellIdentify (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellProtection from Evil and Good
2nd Level SpellAid
2nd Level SpellAugury (Knowledge) (R)
2nd Level SpellLesser Restoration
2nd Level SpellSuggestion (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellDispel Magic
3rd Level SpellNondetection (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellRevivify
3rd Level SpellSpeak with Dead (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellSpirit Guardians
4th Level SpellArcane Eye (Knowledge)
4th Level SpellBanishment
4th Level SpellConfusion (Knowledge)
4th Level SpellDivination (R)
5th Level SpellCommune
5th Level SpellGreater Restoration
5th Level SpellLegend Lore (Knowledge)
5th Level SpellScrying (Knowledge)
5th Level SpellSummon Celestial
6th Level SpellHeal
7th Level SpellConjure Celestial
7th Level SpellPlane Shift

You get a somewhat new feature this level with Improved Blessed Strikes, and now you get some temporary health to dole out when you cast cantrips. Even just a bit of temporary health can go a long way.


Level 15

Spell Change Log: + Holy Aura

SPELL LEVELSPELL NAME
CantripGuidance
CantripLight
CantripSacred Flame
CantripToll the Dead
CantripWord of Radiance
1st Level SpellBless
1st Level SpellCommand (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellDetect Magic (R)
1st Level SpellHealing Word
1st Level SpellIdentify (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellProtection from Evil and Good
2nd Level SpellAid
2nd Level SpellAugury (Knowledge) (R)
2nd Level SpellLesser Restoration
2nd Level SpellSuggestion (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellDispel Magic
3rd Level SpellNondetection (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellRevivify
3rd Level SpellSpeak with Dead (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellSpirit Guardians
4th Level SpellArcane Eye (Knowledge)
4th Level SpellBanishment
4th Level SpellConfusion (Knowledge)
4th Level SpellDivination (R)
5th Level SpellCommune
5th Level SpellGreater Restoration
5th Level SpellLegend Lore (Knowledge)
5th Level SpellScrying (Knowledge)
5th Level SpellSummon Celestial
6th Level SpellHeal
7th Level SpellConjure Celestial
7th Level SpellPlane Shift
8th Level SpellHoly Aura

Eighth level spells and you may as well pick the best one – Holy Aura. Granting advantage on saving throws and disadvantage on attacks made against those covered by the aura is really strong and makes your allies very hard to meaningfully hurt for the extent of the combat.


Level 16-20


Level 16

Feat: Heavy Armor Master (CON)

Class Feature: None

Spell Change Log: None

SPELL LEVELSPELL NAME
CantripGuidance
CantripLight
CantripSacred Flame
CantripToll the Dead
CantripWord of Radiance
1st Level SpellBless
1st Level SpellCommand (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellDetect Magic (R)
1st Level SpellHealing Word
1st Level SpellIdentify (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellProtection from Evil and Good
2nd Level SpellAid
2nd Level SpellAugury (Knowledge) (R)
2nd Level SpellLesser Restoration
2nd Level SpellSuggestion (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellDispel Magic
3rd Level SpellNondetection (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellRevivify
3rd Level SpellSpeak with Dead (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellSpirit Guardians
4th Level SpellArcane Eye (Knowledge)
4th Level SpellBanishment
4th Level SpellConfusion (Knowledge)
4th Level SpellDivination (R)
5th Level SpellCommune
5th Level SpellGreater Restoration
5th Level SpellLegend Lore (Knowledge)
5th Level SpellScrying (Knowledge)
5th Level SpellSummon Celestial
6th Level SpellHeal
7th Level SpellConjure Celestial
7th Level SpellPlane Shift
8th Level SpellHoly Aura

You get your final ASI and you can pick up Heavy Armor Master (CON)! Being able to reduce the damage of attacks hitting you can add up really quickly, especially since your proficiency bonus is quite high at this point.


Level 17

Class Feature: Visions of the Past

Spell Change Log: + Mass Heal

SPELL LEVELSPELL NAME
CantripGuidance
CantripLight
CantripSacred Flame
CantripToll the Dead
CantripWord of Radiance
1st Level SpellBless
1st Level SpellCommand (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellDetect Magic (R)
1st Level SpellHealing Word
1st Level SpellIdentify (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellProtection from Evil and Good
2nd Level SpellAid
2nd Level SpellAugury (Knowledge) (R)
2nd Level SpellLesser Restoration
2nd Level SpellSuggestion (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellDispel Magic
3rd Level SpellNondetection (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellRevivify
3rd Level SpellSpeak with Dead (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellSpirit Guardians
4th Level SpellArcane Eye (Knowledge)
4th Level SpellBanishment
4th Level SpellConfusion (Knowledge)
4th Level SpellDivination (R)
5th Level SpellCommune
5th Level SpellGreater Restoration
5th Level SpellLegend Lore (Knowledge)
5th Level SpellScrying (Knowledge)
5th Level SpellSummon Celestial
6th Level SpellHeal
7th Level SpellConjure Celestial
7th Level SpellPlane Shift
8th Level SpellHoly Aura
9th Level SpellMass Heal

Level 17 brings your final subclass feature and most importantly, ninth level spells.

Your final subclass feature is Visions of the Past. This is a very weird ability that’s going to massively range in helpfulness depending on how much your DM wants to play ball. If your DM is really tight-lipped, this ability can be terrible, however, if they’re generous, this can be great for history or information gathering. Not a bad ability at all, but leaving it up to the DM isn’t something I would be excited about.

For your spell choice, you’re going to pick up the best ninth level option available to Clerics with Mass Heal. Simply put, this heals 700 damage split how you choose, so this will be a full heal for every party member more often than not. In fights where multiple party members are heavily injured, this can easily turn the tide back in your favor.


Level 18

Class Features: Channel Divinity (x4)

Spell Change Log: + Antimagic Field

SPELL LEVELSPELL NAME
CantripGuidance
CantripLight
CantripSacred Flame
CantripToll the Dead
CantripWord of Radiance
1st Level SpellBless
1st Level SpellCommand (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellDetect Magic (R)
1st Level SpellHealing Word
1st Level SpellIdentify (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellProtection from Evil and Good
2nd Level SpellAid
2nd Level SpellAugury (Knowledge) (R)
2nd Level SpellLesser Restoration
2nd Level SpellSuggestion (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellDispel Magic
3rd Level SpellNondetection (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellRevivify
3rd Level SpellSpeak with Dead (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellSpirit Guardians
4th Level SpellArcane Eye (Knowledge)
4th Level SpellBanishment
4th Level SpellConfusion (Knowledge)
4th Level SpellDivination (R)
5th Level SpellCommune
5th Level SpellGreater Restoration
5th Level SpellLegend Lore (Knowledge)
5th Level SpellScrying (Knowledge)
5th Level SpellSummon Celestial
6th Level SpellHeal
7th Level SpellConjure Celestial
7th Level SpellPlane Shift
8th Level SpellAntimagic Field
8th Level SpellHoly Aura
9th Level SpellMass Heal

Level 18 gives you four charges of Channel Divinity and an additional spell!

For your spell choice, you can pick up Antimagic Field. While this isn’t a spell you’ll need often, having the ability to turn magic off when needed is really powerful.


Level 19

Epic Boon: Boon of Fate

Class Features: None

Spell Change Log: + Gate

SPELL LEVELSPELL NAME
CantripGuidance
CantripLight
CantripSacred Flame
CantripToll the Dead
CantripWord of Radiance
1st Level SpellBless
1st Level SpellCommand (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellDetect Magic (R)
1st Level SpellHealing Word
1st Level SpellIdentify (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellProtection from Evil and Good
2nd Level SpellAid
2nd Level SpellAugury (Knowledge) (R)
2nd Level SpellLesser Restoration
2nd Level SpellSuggestion (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellDispel Magic
3rd Level SpellNondetection (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellRevivify
3rd Level SpellSpeak with Dead (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellSpirit Guardians
4th Level SpellArcane Eye (Knowledge)
4th Level SpellBanishment
4th Level SpellConfusion (Knowledge)
4th Level SpellDivination (R)
5th Level SpellCommune
5th Level SpellGreater Restoration
5th Level SpellLegend Lore (Knowledge)
5th Level SpellScrying (Knowledge)
5th Level SpellSummon Celestial
6th Level SpellHeal
7th Level SpellConjure Celestial
7th Level SpellPlane Shift
8th Level SpellAntimagic Field
8th Level SpellHoly Aura
9th Level SpellGate
9th Level SpellMass Heal

Level 19 brings your Epic Boon, and it’s hard to go wrong with Boon of Fate. Being able to potentially turn a failure into a success and vice versa, even if it’s once per short or long rest, can be the difference between surviving an encounter and not.

Clerics have very few ninth level options, but in terms of versatility, your next best option is Gate. There are a lot of interesting uses for this spell, but one of the most interesting is the forced transport of a creature in a different plane from you, no save given. If you have an enemy that you know is hiding in a different plane, force them out. If they’re on the same plane as you, Plane Shift away and then gank them with a Gate spell.


Level 20

Class Feature: Greater Divine Intervention

Spell Change Log: + True Resurrection

SPELL LEVELSPELL NAME
CantripGuidance
CantripLight
CantripSacred Flame
CantripToll the Dead
CantripWord of Radiance
1st Level SpellBless
1st Level SpellCommand (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellDetect Magic (R)
1st Level SpellHealing Word
1st Level SpellIdentify (Knowledge)
1st Level SpellProtection from Evil and Good
2nd Level SpellAid
2nd Level SpellAugury (Knowledge) (R)
2nd Level SpellLesser Restoration
2nd Level SpellSuggestion (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellDispel Magic
3rd Level SpellNondetection (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellRevivify
3rd Level SpellSpeak with Dead (Knowledge)
3rd Level SpellSpirit Guardians
4th Level SpellArcane Eye (Knowledge)
4th Level SpellBanishment
4th Level SpellConfusion (Knowledge)
4th Level SpellDivination (R)
5th Level SpellCommune
5th Level SpellGreater Restoration
5th Level SpellLegend Lore (Knowledge)
5th Level SpellScrying (Knowledge)
5th Level SpellSummon Celestial
6th Level SpellHeal
7th Level SpellConjure Celestial
7th Level SpellPlane Shift
8th Level SpellAntimagic Field
8th Level SpellHoly Aura
9th Level SpellGate
9th Level SpellMass Heal
9th Level SpellTrue Resurrection

Your final level up gives you Greater Divine Intervention, which is the Wish spell in a sense! Every week or so, you can entreat your deity to give you a Wish which is obviously super sick.

For your spell choice, this is a decent opportunity to pick up True Resurrection if you want it. It’s rare that you’re going to need this over the humble Revivify, and even rarer you’ll be in a scenario where it can’t wait a day, but you have it if you need it. Realistically, between this level and next, anything you pick here isn’t going to matter much as you’ve more or less exhausted every option you’d normally be interested in.


DoggertQBones
DoggertQBones

DoggertQBones is an avid player of games, predominately D&D! Previously a highly published author for another popular Wizards of the Coast game, Magic: the Gathering, he's been playing D&D since childhood as both player and DM!

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