Baldur's Gate 3: The Unwritten Rules of Playing a Cleric…

Summary

Clerics in Baldur's Gate 3 can take on various roles like tanks, healers, DPS, or support, depending on their subclass and build.
Clerics are not limited to being healers; they can deal massive damage with spells and have high AC, making them formidable in combat.
Players can choose a deity for their Cleric, with many options available, each allowing for different roleplaying opportunities.

According to Larian's updates on player stats, Cleric is the least played class in Baldur's Gate 3. This is a pity, because the Cleric is a versatile class with many roleplaying opportunities. Clerics are divine warriors; empowered by their chosen deity, they travel the lands and enact the will of their god on their behalf.

As opposed to Paladins, who swear a sacred oath, Clerics are bound by faith rather than an oath. More spellcasters than warriors, Clerics are the living embodiment of their god's divine will, and often go great lengths to do what must be done. That said, there are many different deities in Baldur's Gate 3, and many more ways to roleplay a Cleric, with the motives for their worship open to the player.

Roleplaying a Cleric in Baldur's Gate 3

Decide the Cleric's Role

Clerics are one of the most versatile subclasses in Baldur's Gate 3. Depending on the class and build of the Cleric, they can take on the role of tanks, healers, DPS, or support. Deciding early on what role the Cleric should have in the party will help when choosing a subclass and build. Clerics thrive under all conditions as long as they're built with a purpose in mind; deciding that purpose early on will make that role clear.

Clerics Aren't Limited to Healing

Clerics are commonly known as healers, but this limits their potential as a class, especially considering their subclasses. There are seven Cleric subclasses in BG3, and only one of them is centered on healing. With a high AC and spells with massive damage output, Clerics can be monsters in combat that hold their own alongside the likes of Paladins and Barbarians. The Oath of Ancients Paladin is actually more suited as the healer of the team, leaving the Cleric open to dealing high damage with spells like Inflict Wounds and Fireball.

Choose a Deity

There are many gods in BG3's Faerun and the Sword Coast. Clerics act as the hands of their chosen deity, where they enact the will of the divine. Each Cleric must choose a god to worship in character creation at Level 1. There are a wide range of gods to choose from, some good, some evil, and some neutral. Some of these gods are patron deities of certain races, such as Lolth, Vlaakith, Garl Glittergold, and Yondolla. Some of them are more extreme; for example, Lolth-sworn Drow Clerics can only choose Lolth as their patron deity, while only Githyanki Clerics are able to worship Vlaakith.

Building a Cleric in Baldur's Gate 3

Choose a Cleric Domain

The Cleric is blessed with many subclasses, each of which facilitates different playstyles and builds. These take the form of Domains, and the magic they channel takes the form of the Domain they have command over. The best Domain depends on the type of character being played, but generally the most popular Domains for Cleric are the Light, Tempest, and War Domains due to their damage output.

Life Domain

Gains heavy armor proficiency
Specializes in healing and buff spells

Light Domain

Light Clerics use very powerful spells centered on AoE fire and radiant damage
Excels at fighting the undead
Gains Fireball and can Blind their attackers

Trickery Domain

Helps the player and their allies deceive enemies
Uses stealth and illusion magic
Can grant other creatures Advantage on stealth checks

Knowledge Domain

Useful for a utility build
Gain proficiency in two skills: Arcana, History, Nature, or Religion
Spells centered on dominating other beings

Nature Domain

Very similar to Druids
Gains Heavy Armor proficiency
Can choose cantrips from the Druid cantrip list

Tempest Domain

Gains Heavy Armor and Martial Weapon proficiency
Good DPS through thunder and lightning spells
React to attacking creatures with a burst of damage

War Domain

Specializes in melee combat
Gains Heavy Armor and Martial Weapon proficiency
Gains an additional attack as a Bonus Action

Important Scores for Clerics

Clerics use Wisdom as their spellcasting modifier, meaning their Wisdom score determines if their spells land or not. Maximizing a Cleric's Wisdom score will make all the difference in their effectiveness, and can be done so through feats during leveling, rewards for certain quests, and through certain rare equipment. Also important for a Cleric is Dexterity and, depending on their Domain, their Strength score.

Playing a Cleric in Baldur's Gate 3

Must-Have Starting Spells and Cantrips

Guidance is the most useful cantrip in Baldur's Gate 3 and is on the roster of every player, whether it's through Shadowheart or a Cleric player character. It adds 1d4 to Ability Checks, and could mean the difference between a pass or fail for all important moments. Another valuable but underrated Level 1 spell is Sanctuary, which prevents enemies from targeting an ally, or the caster. Sanctuary helps control the flow of a battle, and if there's an item to be collected or a target to be protected, it can be a godsend.

Pitted Against Shadowheart

The party already has a Cleric: Shadowheart. Shadowheart is a Cleric of the Trickster Domain, thanks to her worship of the goddess Shar. Picking one of the other gods (particularly Selune, who is in direct conflict with Shar) creates an interesting dynamic with Shadowheart, and adds more depth to Shadowheart's relationship with the player.

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OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Avg: 96 /100 Critics Rec: 97%

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Released: August 3, 2023
ESRB: M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
Developer(s): Larian Studios
Publisher(s): Larian Studios
Engine: Divinity 4.0
Multiplayer: Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
Cross-Platform Play: Full cross-platform play.