10 Best Cleric Multiclass Combos In D&D 5e (2023)

Every class in Dungeons and Dragons has its pros and cons. But why decide on just one? For every class that a player might be interested in, there are dozens of options for multiclassing. By using different subclasses, fans can create synergistic multiclass builds that optimize a character's capabilities.

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Clerics make a fantastic base for multiclassing due to their versatility and variety of domain options. While some multiclass possibilities increase combat capability, others provide quality roleplay and narrative opportunities. Which class is best to multiclass into from cleric depends on one's play style and goals, especially given how diverse the choices are.

Updated August 19, 2022 by Declan Lowthian: Multiclassing is a great way to expand flavor and mechanical options for any D&D character. We've expanded this list with even more info about some of the powerful and unique multiclass combinations a cleric can and should consider.

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10 The Ultimate Armored Artisan

Forge Domain Cleric/Armorer Specialist Artificer

10 Best Cleric Multiclass Combos In D&D 5e (1)

Any cleric with this multiclassing combination will have the best gear on the field, guaranteed. Both clerics of the Forge domain and artificers with the Armorer specialty have the ability to infuse their armor with magic, and these features can stack to create a truly incredible suit of armor.

(Video) Our Top 5 Multiclass Combinations in Dungeons & Dragons 5e

  • Access to magical gear from first level
  • Enhanced combat capabilities for self and others

Forge clerics gain the class feature Blessing of the Forge at first level, allowing them to make any armor magic. At third level, artificers with the Armorer specialty can use the class features Arcane Armor and Armor Model to imbue their armor with a variety of improvements to efficacy, defense, and attack capacity.

9 A True Master Of Death

Death Domain Cleric/Way Of The Long Death Monk

10 Best Cleric Multiclass Combos In D&D 5e (2)

No one has a deeper understanding of death than a character with these classes. Both Death domain clerics and monks who study the Way of the Long Death develop an intricate understanding of death and its machinations. Features for both subclasses allow them to manipulate or absorb the life force of other living beings.

  • Enhanced survivability through temporary hit points and life draining
  • Increased damage output through necrotic powers

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Death clerics earn the Channel Divinity ability Touch of Death, through which they can do necrotic damage equal to five plus twice their cleric level. Monks following the Way of the Long Death can access a class feature that's also called Touch of Death, which grants them temporary hit points anytime they kill a creature within five feet.

8 Mischief Both Holy And Arcane

Trickery Domain Cleric/Arcane Trickster Rogue

10 Best Cleric Multiclass Combos In D&D 5e (3)

Though their ideals make a perfect match, the main upside to combining these two subclasses is double-dipping on magical ability. Clerics have their divine spell list and spellcasting rules, while Arcane Trickster rogues have minor arcane talent. They learn and can cast spells from the wizard spell list, many of which are not available to standard clerics.

  • Huge versatility between two spell lists
  • Play against type for both classes, creating a fun narrative hook

By bringing these abilities together, a player has two sets of spell slots to choose from each day, effectively doubling . Combining these subclasses makes for a completely unorthodox and unique cleric build perfect for any party.

(Video) Top 5 Underrated but POWERFUL Multiclass Builds In D&D

7 Untouchable Defender Of The Natural World

Nature Domain Cleric/Circle of Land Druid

10 Best Cleric Multiclass Combos In D&D 5e (4)

For a cleric of the Nature domain, it only makes sense to multiclass into druid. Both are ardent protectors of the land and the animals that live on it. This particular combination grants the player two extra cantrips to work with, which can be incredibly useful because they do not require spell slots.

  • Expanded spellcasting from two full spell lists
  • Hugely enhanced defenses against all kinds of magic and elemental damage

At higher levels, both subclasses also offer resistance or immunity to different types of damage. Between the cleric's Dampen Elements feature, which they can use for resistance to elemental damage, and the druid's Nature's Ward, which makes them immune to poison and disease, this multiclass blend offers remarkable heartiness and protection.

6 A Ruthless Warrior

War Domain Cleric/Oath Of Conquest Paladin

10 Best Cleric Multiclass Combos In D&D 5e (5)

War is not merciful. Neither is this cleric. By combining the War domain with the Oath of Conquest, players can create an optimal build for a warrior. This union of classes gives players access to three powerful Channel Divinity abilities and the option to make weapon attacks as bonus actions.

  • Great melee damage backed up with ranged magic potential
  • Balanced mix of offensive and support capabilities

Cleric/paladins also gain two different spellcasting abilities, drastically increasing the amount of magic they can do per day. A character with these subclasses would be deadly and effective, raining down damage upon their enemies via both magic and melee.

(Video) 5 Most Unusual But POWERFUL Multiclasses In D&D

5 The Quintessential Student

Knowledge Domain Cleric/Wizard

10 Best Cleric Multiclass Combos In D&D 5e (6)

Knowledge domain clerics and wizards have one important belief in common: knowledge is power. It's perfectly reasonable that a cleric who has dedicated their life to seeking out knowledge in service of their god could specialize that knowledge in the study of the arcane.

  • Access to two large spell lists
  • Thematic synergy with potential for inner conflict

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Since wizards must learn new spells by discovering them in books and copying them into their spellbook, a cleric with this drive would make an excellent wizard as well. The Knowledge domain lets characters learn two additional languages, opening doors for the character to read from even more spellbooks.

4 Embodying The Storm Itself

Tempest Domain Cleric/Storm Sorcerer

10 Best Cleric Multiclass Combos In D&D 5e (7)

When it comes to the synergy between classes, it's hard to beat the relationship between a Tempest domain cleric and a Storm sorcerer. The abilities of both feed into and support one another to create a caster with unsurpassed control of the weather. They can use thunder and lightning to strike down their enemies and invoke the elements of air and water to provide protection.

  • Fantastic thematic overlap
  • Enhanced damage output both in melee and at range

Both classes provide improvements to lightning and thunder damage with the features Heart of the Storm and Wrath of the Storm. With these features' enhancements, a player could do some serious damage with .

(Video) Top 10 D&D 5e Multiclass Builds | Nerd Immersion

3 A Healer And A Combatant

Life Domain Cleric/Way Of Mercy Monk

10 Best Cleric Multiclass Combos In D&D 5e (8)

By integrating these two classes, players can double up not only on but also on styles of combat. While clerics who fight in melee tend to be more weapon-forward, monks are experts in unarmed strikes. The class features for both of these subclasses offer significant amplifications to healing spells and abilities.

  • Improve the already stellar healing abilities of the cleric
  • Grants some versatility in combat

The Way of Mercy monk subclass also includes the feature Hands of Harm, through which monks can use their knowledge of healing to bestow wounds instead. Story-wise, the ideals of both of these ways of life are highly compatible, as they are both dedicated to preserving the sacred energy of life.

2 Guardians Of Beauty And Art

Light Domain Cleric/College Of Creation Bard

10 Best Cleric Multiclass Combos In D&D 5e (9)

This is another multiclass option that lends itself well to fun narratives. Both clerics of the Light domain and bards of the College of Creation value beauty and artistry as things to be sanctified and revered. While clerics of Light see the creation of artistic works as a holy gift to improve the soul, bards from the College of Creation use them to tell others of the Song of Creation.

  • Overall versatile spellcasting abilities
  • Fun potential narrative hooks

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The Song of Creation is the music that inspires all of the cosmos to life, even the trees and stones. Many believe that the Song brought the first dawn upon the world, making it the bearer of all sacred light.

1 Respect For The Circle Of Life

Grave Domain Cleric/Ranger

10 Best Cleric Multiclass Combos In D&D 5e (10)

(Video) Cleric Multiclass Guide

The place of death as a natural part of the life cycle is most apparent in the wild. Animals must kill and die for the ecosystem to continue. It is not malicious or evil, but a simple truth that cannot be denied. Grave domain clerics believe this to be of the utmost importance.

  • Expanded options for dealing with every manner of creature
  • Synergistic flavor options

Rangers spend their time on the outskirts of society, communing with the wilds of the world and learning their ways. Not only does a multiclass between these two foster improvements to both of their features and traits, but opens up a lot of fascinating avenues for roleplay and character development.

FAQs

10 Best Cleric Multiclass Combos In D&D 5e? โ€บ

Clerics and Druids are easy to multiclass together because they both use Wisdom as their common spellcasting ability score. Clerics can invest in Wisdom to improve their spellcasting. They can use Dexterity or Strength to wear medium or heavy armor (depending on the Cleric domain's armor proficiency).

What is the best multiclass with a cleric? โ€บ

Clerics and Druids are easy to multiclass together because they both use Wisdom as their common spellcasting ability score. Clerics can invest in Wisdom to improve their spellcasting. They can use Dexterity or Strength to wear medium or heavy armor (depending on the Cleric domain's armor proficiency).

What is the strongest multiclass in 5E? โ€บ

D&D: The Five Most Powerful Multiclass Melee Builds in 5E
  • Fighter / Barbarian / Ranger.
  • Fighter / Wizard.
  • Paladin / Warlock.
  • Sorcerer / Paladin.
Nov 14, 2022

What goes best with cleric? โ€บ

As a Cleric, you can use a staff, spellbook, and mace, amongst others. It's generally best to stick with the mace and shield combo for basic fights and switch to a magical weapon for healing, buffs, and magical attacks. The Spellbook comes highly recommended thanks to its high speed.

What is a good multiclass for life cleric? โ€บ

Life Cleric pairs nicely with the 1st level Goodberry spell. The Druid cantrip Shillelagh would allow him to made WIS-based melee attacks, if he's wanting to be more of a frontliner. Also gets him some basic Wild Shape capabilities for out of combat scouting/exploration.

What is the strongest cleric subclass? โ€บ

Best Cleric Subclasses โ€“ Forge Domain

Most Clerics are, actually, but Forge Domain Clerics do it where it countsโ€“in the middle of a fight. With abilities that give them among the highest potential armor classes and resistance to fire damage, they are a powerful defensive subclass.

What is the most overpowered DnD Class 5e? โ€บ

The paladin is perhaps the most powerful combatant of all of D&D 5e's classes. It combines the best aspects of the fighter and cleric into a single character. Paladins get a fighter's weapons, spellcasting like a cleric, and several unique features. These make paladins terrifying to fight.

What is the hardest class to play in 5e? โ€บ

The 10 Most Difficult Classes To Play In Dungeons And Dragons
  1. Wizard. Wizard is in my opinion the most difficult class in DnD, especially for new players.
  2. Bard. ...
  3. Druid. ...
  4. Monk. ...
  5. Sorcerer. ...
  6. Cleric. ...
  7. Warlock. ...
  8. Rogue. ...

Which cleric is the best healer? โ€บ

Clerics of the Peace Domain are among the best healing party members in all of D&D. A subclass that focuses on the bonds of one's party, these clerics can improve the saving throws of their allies, and even allow them to take hits for each other.

How do you make the strongest cleric? โ€บ

To build a cleric, make Wisdom your highest score, followed by Constitution. Choose an odd-numbered Constitution score. Traditionally, clerics rely on Strength, but a cleric's cantrips can bring more damage than weapon attacks, especially with the Blessed Strike option in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything.

What cleric subclass does the most damage? โ€บ

The Light Cleric is a Controller and a Striker, specializing in dealing damage both to single targets and to areas. Clerics already have the best Radiant damage spells in the game, and the Light Domain supplements those spells with some of the best Fire damage spells.

What cleric spell does the most damage? โ€บ

Inflict WoundsPHB: Inflict Wounds is the highest single-target damage of any 1st-level spell (though Magic Missile is still better in some ways).

Why is cleric so strong? โ€บ

Clerics are powerful healers due to the large number of healing and curative magics available to them. With divinely-granted abilities over life or death, they are also able to repel or control undead creatures.

Which is stronger cleric or paladin? โ€บ

While it is possible for clerics to end up wearing heavy armor or use martial weapons, only the paladin automatically gets these proficiencies. Tack on the paladin's d10 hit die versus the cleric's d8 hit die and it becomes immediately apparent that the paladin is the better option to tank with.

Can a cleric beat a paladin? โ€บ

A cleric CAN fight, but a Paladin will always be a better fighter. A Paladin CAN cast spells, but the Cleric is always going to be a better spellcaster. If we're going by roles; the Cleric is the best healer in the game (except MAYBE a Lore Bard who uses Magical Secrets for healing spells from cleric and paladin).

Do clerics need a God? โ€บ

Clerics are driven by their faith; that faith gives them the connection to the source of magic that they need. Sometimes the source will be a divinity, and sometimes that faith will be in a divinity, but neither is mechanically necessary. The narrative point is up to the DM. No, a cleric doesn't need to worship a god.

Should I multiclass my cleric? โ€บ

Clerics make for some of the best classes to multiclass, and a big part of this is because clerics get a lot of proficiencies and bonus spells even at level 1. A level or two of cleric can make a huge difference for any class.

Can you be a chaotic good cleric? โ€บ

Can a cleric be Chaotic Good? In Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, a cleric can be Chaotic Good if that's the alignment of their deity.

What is the best stat for a cleric? โ€บ

Cleric 5e stats

Despite all the different subclasses and playstyles, all Clerics will follow the same basic rules. They're primary spellcasters, so (and there is no arguing allowed here) maxing out their Wisdom (Wis) score is always going to be top priority, as it's their spellcasting ability.

What is the most picked class in DnD? โ€บ

What Are The Least And Most Popular Classes In DnD?
  1. Fighter. As I mentioned above, the fighter is the most popular DnD class by quite a margin. ...
  2. Rogue. The rogue takes the second most popular spot on this list. ...
  3. Wizard. Wizards are the third most popular class in DnD. ...
  4. Barbarian. ...
  5. Cleric. ...
  6. Ranger. ...
  7. Paladin. ...
  8. Warlock.

What is the most op spell in D&D? โ€บ

15 Most Powerful Spells In The Dungeons & Dragons Player's Handbook
  • 7 Power Word Heal, 9th Level Evocation. ...
  • 6 Symbol, 7th Level Abjuration. ...
  • 5 Clone, 8th Level Necromancy. ...
  • 4 True Polymorph, 9th Level Transmutation. ...
  • 3 True Resurrection, 9th Level Necromancy. ...
  • 2 Foresight, 9th Level Divination. ...
  • 1 Wish, 9th Level Conjuration.
Apr 18, 2021

What class has the highest damage in D&D? โ€บ

1 Wizard - School Of Evocation

As Evocation spells tend to be some of the highest damaging in the game, it's no surprise that the Wizard's School of Evocation is one of the best DPS subclasses in D&D, abling its adherents to deal massive amounts of damage quickly.

What is the least popular class in 5E? โ€บ

โ€œIn the last eight years, as we have looked at player data, we have found that for as beloved as the Druid is from a sentiment standpoint, in actual play the Druid is the least played class in Fifth Edition of the classes that are in the player's handbook,โ€ Crawford reveals.

What is the easiest class to play in 5E? โ€บ

Dungeons and Dragons: Easiest Classes For New Players
  1. 1 Barbarian.
  2. 2 Fighter. ...
  3. 3 Paladin. ...
  4. 4 Ranger. ...
  5. 5 Bard. While Bard can be a little difficult to get started with, it's a great class for those that want to see some action during combat, but don't necessarily want to be on the front lines. ...
Sep 12, 2019

What is the weakest god in D&D? โ€บ

Demigods. They are the weakest of the deities, and are able to grant spells and perform a few deeds that are beyond mortal limits. Lesser deities. These entities can perform more powerful deeds than demigods can, and have keener senses where their portfolios are concerned.

What is the strongest race in D&D? โ€บ

Half-orcs

Half-orcs are one of the strongest of the playable races/species in D&D. Image: Wizards of the Coast. Half-orcs might not be as bulky as their full-blooded orc brethren, but if you're looking to create a character who is stronger and hardier, then the half-orc is your best bet from the core D&D races/species.

Who is the strongest D&D villain? โ€บ

8 Strongest D&D Villains, Ranked
  • 8 Xanathar.
  • 7 Jarlaxle Baenre.
  • 6 Strahd Von Zarovich.
  • 5 Orcus.
  • 4 Zariel.
  • 3 Demogorgon.
  • 2 Vecna.
  • 1 Tiamat.
Mar 15, 2023

Is a cleric fighter multiclass good? โ€บ

Why Play a Fighter Cleric Multiclass? Fighter and cleric are debatably the most versatile core classes in 5e and by combining them you have possibly the widest range of options possible.

Is a cleric wizard multiclass good? โ€บ

Why Play a Cleric Wizard Multiclass? With full access to both class spell lists and with divine spells and arcane spells these mages essentially have about 90% of the game's spells at your fingertips. No other dual-classed character gets you this much access to additional spellcasting options.

What is the best cleric subclass for healer? โ€บ

Clerics of the Peace Domain are among the best healing party members in all of D&D. A subclass that focuses on the bonds of one's party, these clerics can improve the saving throws of their allies, and even allow them to take hits for each other.

Is Paladin cleric a good multiclass? โ€บ

In general paladin and cleric do not multiclass particularly well, especially in point buy games due to stat requirements. Paladin requires 13 strength and 13 charisma, and really wants more than that.

What is better cleric or warlock? โ€บ

A cleric has no real power, and instead acts as a sort of gateway for their deity's power. Meanwhile, a warlock has power permanently granted to them via a pact with a powerful being that doesn't necessarily need to be a deity.

Is a cleric better than a warlock? โ€บ

After considerable scrolling on the internet, it is pretty one-sided that the Cleric is considered one of the strongest classes in game, while Warlocks are at the lower spectrum of power.

Do clerics need a god? โ€บ

Clerics are driven by their faith; that faith gives them the connection to the source of magic that they need. Sometimes the source will be a divinity, and sometimes that faith will be in a divinity, but neither is mechanically necessary. The narrative point is up to the DM. No, a cleric doesn't need to worship a god.

Who is a better healer cleric or paladin? โ€บ

A Paladin CAN cast spells, but the Cleric is always going to be a better spellcaster. If we're going by roles; the Cleric is the best healer in the game (except MAYBE a Lore Bard who uses Magical Secrets for healing spells from cleric and paladin).

Why is cleric the best class? โ€บ

More generally, Clerics are the best healers in the game, and have among the best support, utility, and divination options in the game. However, they are by no means limited to healing and support roles. Clerics have abundant offensive options, and can even be effective with weapons.

Is Aasimar good for cleric? โ€บ

Despite their Charisma increase offering very little to clerics, the Aasimar still makes a decent cleric. Resistance to necrotic and radiant damage is great for a class which frequently confronts celestials and/or undead, and Healing Hands is a useful complement to your healing spells..

Are clerics stronger than Paladins? โ€บ

While their spells are not as powerful as the cleric's, paladins' innate abilities further cement them as great leaders. At later levels, they can gain holy auras that bolster their allies simply by being near them.

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