Baldur’s Gate 3 Cleric Build Guide Subclasses Feats Races and Spells

In Baldur’s Gate 3, Clerics wield divine power to smite foes and mend allies-but one subclass rises above the rest, armed with feats that turn the tide of battle.

There’s no single best class in Baldur’s Gate 3, and the game gives you as many opportunities for creative problem solving as it does for punching. Finding the best class really just boils down to how you want to play. Even when playing solo, you’ll still manage the rest of your party, so you’ll get to experiment with multiple classes at once.

Read on to find out everything you need to know about the Cleric class in Baldur’s Gate 3, and learn all about the best Cleric subclass, feats, and build.

Update (April 15): Added details of the new subclass introduced in Patch 8, which also adds cross-play support and a photo mode.

Is Cleric the best class for you in BG3?

The Cleric is a versatile choice in Baldur’s Gate 3, balancing strong healing and powerful offensive magic. It suits players who enjoy supporting allies while still dealing significant damage through divine spells. With access to heavy armor and a wide selection of domains, Clerics can adapt to nearly any party role-ranging from frontline protector to backline spellcaster. If you like flexible gameplay that rewards tactical thinking and smart use of divine abilities, this class can be an excellent fit.

Clerics are divine spellcasters – their magic comes from the gods. Clerics are a classic support class and have access to the most healing options. They’re the best class for playing a (relatively) easy-to-understand support character that heals (and buffs) everyone else.

But beyond just being a healer, Cleric Domains (basically Cleric subclasses) make the class one of the most versatile as well. Depending on what flavor of divinity you choose, you can play the class (basically) however you want.

Cleric class features

Clerics in Baldur’s Gate 3 combine divine magic with sturdy combat skills, making them versatile allies in any party. They use Wisdom as their primary spellcasting ability and gain access to healing, protection, and damage-dealing spells drawn from their deity’s domain. Their unique Channel Divinity feature allows them to turn undead or fuel powerful subclass abilities, depending on their divine path. With access to medium armor, shields, and a wide spell list, Clerics can adapt to many roles-from frontline support to artillery caster.

Hit Points

• Hit Dice – 1d8 per Cleric level
• Hit Points at 1st Level – 8 your Constitution modifier
• Hit Points at higher levels – 5 your Constitution modifer per Cleric level after 1st

Spells

Clerics start with 3 cantrips, and 2 level 1 Spell Slots per Long Rest.

Proficiencies

• Weapons – Simple Weapons, Morningstars
• Armor – Light Armor, Medium Armor, Shields
• Skills – History, Insight, Medicine, Religion
• Saving Throws – Wisdom, Charisma

Cleric spells

Cleric spells in Baldur’s Gate 3 combine healing, protection, and divine power, allowing the class to support allies while striking down enemies. Many spells scale with Wisdom, so focusing on this ability increases their potency. From healing word and guiding bolt at early levels to spirit guardians and flame strike later on, Clerics can adapt to nearly any situation. Each subclass grants unique spell access, encouraging different playstyles ranging from aggressive smiting to full support or control-focused casting.

Clerics start with three cantrips from the Cleric spell list.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Cleric cantrip list

Clerics in Baldur’s Gate 3 gain access to these cantrips at level 1: Guidance, Sacred Flame, Thaumaturgy, Light, Resistance, Spare the Dying, and Shape Water. Guidance adds 1d4 to ability checks for allies, Sacred Flame deals radiant damage on a Dexterity save, and Thaumaturgy boosts voice volume or creates minor effects like tremors. Light illuminates dark areas without concentration, Resistance grants temporary hit points against specific damage types, Spare the Dying stabilizes dying creatures at range, and Shape Water manipulates liquid for utility. Select based on party needs for healing, damage, or support.

Clerics also start with two level 1 spell slots per long rest. They can only prepare four spells out of the list of 11.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Cleric spell list

Clerics in Baldur’s Gate 3 have access to a wide selection of spells that support allies, smite enemies, and control the battlefield. Their spell list mixes healing magic like Cure Wounds and Healing Word with protective options such as Bless and Shield of Faith. Offensive choices like Guiding Bolt and Inflict Wounds make them potent divine casters, while higher-level spells such as Spirit Guardians and Flame Strike turn the tide of battle. Each subclass adds unique spells tied to its divine domain, letting players tailor their Cleric to different playstyles.

Cleric subclasses

Cleric subclasses in Baldur’s Gate 3 shape your divine approach in combat and roleplay, offering unique spells, features, and playstyles. The Light Domain excels in radiant damage and crowd control, while the Life Domain enhances healing and survivability. The Trickery Domain favors stealth and illusion tactics, and the Tempest Domain brings destructive elemental power. Each subclass has its advantages depending on your party’s composition and your preferred mix of support, damage, and utility.

Clerics choose their subclass (Domain) during character creation.

Life Domain

Focusing on spells that protect and restore, Life Domain Clerics Focus on health and healing.

• Spells – Cure Wounds, Bless
• Features – Disciple of Life (when casting a healing spell, the target regains an additional 2 the spell’s level HP)
• Proficiencies – Heavy Armor

Light Domain

Light Domain clerics combat both darkness and the undead.

• Spells – Light cantrip, Burning Hands, Faerie Fire
• Features – Warding Flare (use your reaction to impose Disadvantage on an attacker)

Trickery Domain

Trickery Domain Clerics specialize in deception and illusion.

• Actions – Blessing of the Trickster (grant another creature advantage on Stealth Checks)
• Spells – Charm Person, Disguise Self

Knowledge Domain

Knowledge Domain Clerics focus on pursuits of the mind.

• Spells – Command, Sleep

Nature Domain

Nature Domain Clerics are kind of divine Druids.

• Spells – Shillelagh cantrip, Speak with Animals, Animal Friendship
• Features – Learn a Druid Cantrip and gain Proficiency in Animal Handling, Nature, or Survival
• Proficiencies – Heavy Armor

Tempest Domain

Where Nature Domain Clerics are all about the peaceful parts of nature, Tempest Domain Clerics focus more on the scary parts.

• Spells – Thunderwave, Fog Cloud
• Features – Wrath of the Storm (Strike back at an attacking creature with 2d8 Lightning damage
• Proficiencies – Martial Weapons, Heavy Armor

War Domain

War Domain Clerics are the most militant of the subclasses.

• Spells – Divine Favor, Shield of Faith
• Features – War Priest (when you make an attack, spend a War Priest Charge to make an additional attack as a bonus action)

Death Domain

Added in April 2025’s Patch 8, this rounds off the Cleric’s vast subclass selection to be focused on necrotic damage with a variety of cantrips – including Toll of the Dead, which “causes 1-8 damage when your cleric rings the bell of impending doom – a number that scales if your target has already been damaged”, according to developer Larian – as well as adding the ability to blow up corpses and damage any enemies situated close by. Surprise!

Channel Divinity

Channel Divinity allows a Cleric to channel divine power to produce supernatural effects based on their chosen subclass. Each subclass offers unique options-such as Turn Undead for all Clerics or special abilities like Twilight Sanctuary or Preserve Life-that can turn the tide of battle or bolster allies. Since Channel Divinity uses recharge on a short or long rest, strategic timing is key to maximizing its impact during encounters.

At level 2, Clerics gain the ability to Channel Divinity once per day that recharges with a Short or Long Rest.

Every subclass of Cleric gets the Turn Undead Action (pray to Turn all undead that you can see). You get additional Channel Divinity options based on your Domain:

• Life Domain – Preserve Life (heals every ally within 30 feet)
• Light Domain – Radiance of the Dawn (dispel any magical darkness with 2d10 1 Radiant damage)
• Trickery Domain – Invoke Duplicity (distract your enemies with an illusion; within 10ft of the illusion, Attack Rolls have Advantage for you and your allies)
• Knowledge Domain – Knowledge of the Ages (gain Proficiency in all Skills of a chosen Ability)
• Nature Domain – Charm Animals and Plants (channel fey magic to Charm nearby beasts and plants)
• Tempest Domain – Destructive Wrath (when you roll Thunder of Lightning damage, you can roll maximum damage instead)
• War Domain – Guided Strike (gain a 10 to an Attack Roll)

Best Cleric subclass and build in BG3

The best Cleric subclass in Baldur’s Gate 3 is the Light Domain, offering powerful offensive spells, strong support abilities, and radiant damage that excels against undead and fiends. Prioritize Wisdom for spellcasting and Constitution for survivability. The War Caster feat enhances concentration on buffs such as Bless or Spirit Guardians, while Resilient (Constitution) provides extra durability. For weapons, a mace and shield complement the Cleric’s defensive role, with medium armor ensuring balanced protection and mobility.

Baldur’s Gate 3 races don’t really have any direct impact on your class, but certain races and subraces come with features that play well with certain classes like extra movement or proficiency with certain weapons. For Clerics, it’s best to focus on padding out your spell list and getting advantage on Saving Throws:

• Elves, Drow, and Half-Elves have the Fey Ancestry feature that gets you advantage against being Charmed and put to sleep. Both subraces of Drow also get the Dancing Lights cantrip
• All three of the Tiefling subraces get a cantrip – Produce Flame, Mage Hand, and Thaumaturgry, respectively
• Strongheart Halflings get advantage against Poison saving throws and gain resistance to poison damage.
• All subraces of Gnome have the Gnome Cunning feature which gives you advantage on all Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma Saving throws.

When you’re creating and leveling up your Cleric, Wisdom is your most important stat (for spellcasting) followed by Constitution (for hit points and concentration checks).Make Charisma your highest stat and Constitution your second.

You’ll pick your Cleric Domain (subclass) at level 1. The best Cleric Domain for a balance of healing, defense, and offense is the Light Domain. That said, Domains are where you can get creative and flexible with your play style – Life Domain focuses on healing, Trickery Domain focuses on illusions, Nature Domain is a toned-down version of the Druid, and the War Domain is martial-focused.

Best Cleric Feats

Cleric feats amplify divine power through targeted boosts to spellcasting and survivability. War Caster ensures concentration on key buffs like Spirit Guardians amid melee chaos, while Resilient (Constitution) shores up hit points and saves against enemy bursts. Alert keeps you ahead of ambushes with superior initiative, and Ability Improvement pushes Wisdom to 20 for sharper spells. Magic Initiate (Cleric) adds utility cantrips and a domain spell, rounding out your kit without multiclassing. These picks turn fragile healers into frontline threats.

Every four levels, you’ll get the option to either increase your stats or choose a Feat. Feats are special talents that add features to your character. If you’re happy with your stats and start taking Feats, Clerics can benefit from:

• Shield Master. You gain a 2 bonus to Dexterity Saving Throws while wielding a shield. If a spell forces you to make a Dexterity Saving Throw, you can use a reaction to shield yourself and diminish the effect’s damage. On a failed Saving Throw, you only take half damage. On a successful Saving Throw, you don’t take any damage.
• War Caster. You gain Advantage on Saving Throws to maintain Concentration on a spell. You can also use a reaction to cast Shocking Grasp at a target moving out of melee range.

Best race choices for a Cleric build in BG3

Githyanki and Drow emerge as top race choices for Cleric builds in Baldur’s Gate 3, offering superior mobility, vision, and utility that enhance spellcasting and survivability. Wood Elf and Half-Orc provide solid alternatives for frontline Life Domain Clerics with speed and resilience.​

Top Races

Githyanki lead due to Githyanki Psionics (Mage Hand, Enhanced Leap, Misty Step) and Astral Knowledge for flexible skill proficiencies, making Clerics versatile in combat and exploration. Drow excel with Superior Darkvision, Fey Ancestry (charm resistance), and spells like Faerie Fire for crowd control.​

Strong Alternatives

Duergar bring Enlarge, Invisibility, and poison resistance, ideal for tanky Tempest builds. Wood Elf or Half-Orc suit Life Domain healers with increased movement speed or Savage Attacks for durability.​

Race Comparison

Which race pairs best with the Light Domain Cleric

Wood Elf stands out as the best race pairing for Light Domain Cleric in Baldur’s Gate 3, thanks to its boosted movement speed and stealth utility that complement the subclass’s fire-based nuking and mobility needs.​​

Top Race Choice

Wood Elf provides +1.5m movement speed, proficiency in Stealth and Perception, and Fey Ancestry for charm resistance, allowing Light Clerics to reposition quickly for spells like Fireball or Spirit Guardians while avoiding melee threats. This race synergizes with the domain’s Radiance of the Dawn and scorching ray focus by enabling hit-and-run tactics in Honour Mode.​​

Strong Alternatives

Githyanki offers Misty Step and Enhanced Leap for even greater mobility, pairing well with Light’s evasive playstyle. Drow adds Faerie Fire for setup on fire-weak enemies, enhancing domain spells like Burning Hands.​

Race Comparison