Cleric 5eClass Guide & NPC Generator
Divine domains, the spell list and slots, Channel Divinity and the stats that matter — then forge a finished cleric NPC, portrait and all, without typing a thing twice.
A cleric is a god’s argument, in armour. They prepare from the entire divine list each morning, heal what should not have survived, and pick a domain at level 1 that decides whether they stand at the back or the front.
Choose your subclass
Cleric Subclasses — The Divine Domains
The domain arrives at level 1 — earlier than any other subclass, and it decides more. Choose one; the forge follows.
The healer
Life Domain
Heavy armour and Disciple of Life — every heal you cast lands harder. The most efficient healer in the game, and the hardest to kill.
Full Life Domain guide →The Forge
Forge Life Domain Cleric
Everything you have chosen travels with you and arrives pre-filled. Nothing to type twice — just press Generate.
Life Domain · level 5 · pre-filled for you
Role in party
The Divine Support
Cleric = the party’s lifeline — full healing, party-wide buffs and a spell for every problem, with enough armour to hold the middle.
You want to keep the party standing and shape the fight — heal, buff and blast, and never be the one who runs out of answers.
Forged this morning
The Village Priest
Life Domain · Level 5 · Neutral Good
Mother Ilsabet
Has buried more of her flock than she saved and keeps a list of both. Will heal you, then tell you exactly what you did wrong to need it.
Chosen lineage
Best Races for a Cleric
Wisdom drives everything, so the best lineages either raise it, harden your Constitution, or hand you the armour to stand at the front.
Hill DwarfGUIDE →
Wisdom and the extra hit point per level — the tankiest, most immovable cleric, at home in heavy armour.
Wood ElfGUIDE →
Wisdom, Mask of the Wild and 35-foot speed — the mobile, hard-to-pin healer for a lighter domain.
Half-OrcGUIDE →
Relentless Endurance and a crit rider suit a War or Tempest cleric who swings as much as they pray.
Variant HumanGUIDE →
War Caster or Resilient (CON) online at level 1 — the build comes together immediately.
AasimarGUIDE →
Darkvision, healing hands and radiant damage — thematically the divine caster made flesh.
Where the points go
Cleric Builds — Where the Points Go
Wisdom is the god talking: it drives your spell save DC and every heal. Constitution is whether you keep hearing it while being hit.
Caster / healer
Wisdom is your spell save DC and every heal. Constitution holds Spirit Guardians up while people hit you.
War / Tempest (front)
Heavy armour and Divine Strike. Strength to swing, Wisdom still first — the spells do the real work.
Trickery / Knowledge
Lighter armour, more skills. Dexterity for armour class and the stealth this domain actually wants.
Top picks
Best Feats for a Cleric
A cleric wins by getting the spell off and keeping it up — so the best feats protect concentration and stretch your action economy.
Divine conduit
Channel Divinity
From level 2 you channel divine energy directly — once per short rest at first, twice by level 6. Every domain adds its own option to the shared one.
Multiclass combos
Best Cleric Multiclass Combos
Full casting and a level-1 domain make the cleric a strong dip and a strong base alike — a few levels either way go a long way.
Cleric / WizardGUIDE →
Armour, healing and a domain bolted onto the biggest spell list — the do-everything toolbox caster.
Cleric / PaladinGUIDE →
Divine Smite and a Fighting Style feeding a full caster’s slots — a front-line priest who hits like a knight.
Cleric / SorcererGUIDE →
Font of Magic and Metamagic bending cleric buffs — Twinned Haste and a domain, on one chassis.
Armory
Best Cleric Equipment by Tier
What to carry as you level — from a first holy symbol to the regalia of a high priest.
The Liturgy
Spell List
Clerics prepare from the whole list every morning — you never permanently miss a spell, only today’s. Spellcasting is online from level 1.
Full caster
Spell Slots by Level
| Cleric level | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Level 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Level 3 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Level 4 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Level 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Level 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Level 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Level 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Level 9 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
| Level 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
| Level 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — |
| Level 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — |
| Level 13 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Level 14 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Level 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Level 16 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Level 17 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Level 18 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Level 19 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Level 20 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
The Long Service
Features by Level
From the forge
Clerics Made Here
Six domains, six faiths. Take any one as your starting point — the whole build travels with it.
Mother Ilsabet
Has buried more of her flock than she saved and keeps a list of both. Will heal you, then tell you exactly what you did wrong.
Use this build →
Hjalmar Stonevow
Prays in the imperative. Has never left the front line, and the line has never broken where he stood.
Use this build →
The Grey Confessor
Still takes confession. Whatever answers him stopped being a god some centuries ago, and he knows it.
Use this build →
Sister Nyx
Robs the rich temples to fund the poor one. There are two of her in the room and neither will admit which.
Use this build →
Stormcaller Bruna
Opens every fight with maximum-damage lightning and a laugh. Sailors book passage just to watch.
Use this build →
Archivist Wren
Knows what is written on the door you are about to open, and would rather you did not.
Use this build →Counsel
Frequently Asked
What is a cleric in D&D 5e?
A full divine spellcaster who fights in armour. Clerics heal, buff, blast and turn undead, choosing a Divine Domain at level 1 that shapes the whole class — from heavy-armour front-liner to stealthy trickster. Wisdom powers everything.
How do I build a cleric in 5e?
Max Wisdom — it is your spell save DC and every heal. Constitution next to hold concentration on Spirit Guardians, then Strength or Dexterity depending on your domain’s armour. Pick your domain at level 1; it decides more than your subclass usually does.
What is the best cleric domain?
Life is the best pure healer and very hard to kill. Light is the best blaster (Warding Flare plus Fireball). War and Tempest fight on the front line in heavy armour. Peace and Twilight are considered the strongest overall in recent books.
Paladin vs Cleric — which should I play?
Play a paladin for the front line, huge burst damage and party-wide auras. Play a cleric for more spell slots, ranged options and full casting. Paladins are simpler and hit harder; clerics are more versatile and heal far better.
What spells should a cleric take?
Clerics prepare from the entire list daily, so you never miss out. Staples: Bless and Guiding Bolt at 1st; Spiritual Weapon at 2nd; Spirit Guardians at 3rd — the single best concentration spell in the class; Death Ward at 4th; Greater Restoration at 5th.
What are the best stats for a cleric?
Wisdom first, always. Constitution second for hit points and concentration saves. Strength if your domain grants heavy armour, Dexterity if it does not. Intelligence and Charisma come last.
Can a cleric be evil?
Yes. The Death Domain in the Dungeon Master’s Guide exists for exactly that, and any domain works for a villain if the god does. An evil cleric who still genuinely believes is one of the best antagonists you can put in a campaign.
Answer the Call
Read the rules, choose your domain, and forge the cleric — all on one page. Your first is free.
Forge a Cleric NPC