Like all good priests, a good Cleric 5E character has a history. In many cases, this character is a part of an adventuring party at the petition of their patron god. It may be something as easy as seeking out an ancient holy relic or as dramatic as spreading the word about a divine chose one. No matter what route a Cleric takes in their religious quest, they are most likely to bring a positive influence to the world.
The base class for Cleric 5E characters is the Paladin. Priests, again, fall into this category. While not as common as fighter or monk types, Cleric combatants can make up for that with their superior expertise with both armor and spellcraft. They also benefit from a large number of defensive capabilities, especially versus enemy attacks of the Divine. Clerics can change forms to become a fighter, a wizard, or a warlock, and even get to pick up some offensive capabilities; however, none of these paths is mandatory for a Cleric character. You can play any of these roles at level 10 and beyond.
Combat-wise, a Cleric has an advantage over other characters because their skills can be used against both melee opponents and enemies in their own humble home realm. A good Cleric can turn the tide of battle with a well-placed healing spell or a defensively strong stance. More experienced Cleric characters can turn the tide of combat by casting powerful area spells or even shocking their foes with a bolt of lightning. In short, the Cleric can be a force to be reckoned with in even the direst of situations.
Cleric 5E builds often emphasize their ability to spread the word about their patron deity. Because Cleric characters are priests of a god, they can have a number of beneficial abilities which they can use in combat as well as in exploration and adventuring. The Cleric does not have any weapon attack capabilities, but their prayers can be channeled into powerful spells that can turn the tide of battle or simply cause fear. Cleric 5E builds often seek to maximize their ability to heal others while also empowering their abilities to cast powerful area spells.
One of the more popular paths for a Cleric is to choose to be a Divine Spirit Cleric. These Cleric characters are both extremely spiritual and can summon divine energy to themselves as well as others. When you reach level two, your Cleric can choose to turn undead, a path that will enable him or her to be stronger against enemies of the undead variety. A good Cleric can also channel divinity to heal others and heavily damage their adversaries with powerful area spells.
While Cleric 5E is a class that promotes combat prowess, it does not mean that they can't perform other roles while in combat. At level two, you can choose to become a Spiritmaster. This is a class that focuses on using both their skills and their divine power to aid allies in combat. This class usually starts out being a melee DPS fighter who uses strong area spells and attacks from afar. Once you gain some proficiency in both areas, the class can specialize in healing. As you move up in levels, you can become a DPS-focused Cleric, using area spells and attacks to quickly take down opponents.
A Cleric in the game can also choose to be Godbound, which means that they can bind themselves to a single deity and follow that deity's rules. Being Godbound gives Cleric characters an additional set of advantages. They are completely immune to diseases, and their hit points are greatly increased due to their constant cleansing of themselves of negative energy. In addition to this benefit, when a Godbound becomes a devout follower of his or her deity, that person becomes permanently resistant to all negative energy (including damage). Being Godbound can often lead a Godbound to become a Holy Knight, as the class features several beneficial abilities which allow them to withstand enemy attacks and damage for several long periods of time.
While Cleric 5e characters have a variety of different abilities available to them, the two most important aspects of gameplay for any character - spells and prayer - are always accessible. When choosing a Cleric, make sure to choose a character with a fast healing cantrip, high damage output in a combat situation, and high prayer skills. At level 10, you will be able to purchase a level 7 cantrip called Faith Pinterest. Faith is a powerful healing cantrip that allows you to rapidly regain either your Hit Points or your MP.
