In Baldur’s Gate 3, most classes have a choice of three subclasses they can use to specialize. Clerics are the exception; here are the seven Cleric subclasses inBaldur’s Gate 3ranked from best to worst.
Baldur’s Gate 3: Best Cleric subclasses, ranked
You get to choose your Cleric subclass (known as a “Domain”) right from the start. In general, the Cleric is a healer and focuses more on defensive skills, though you can find some subclasses that turn their eye toward offensive capabilities (especially as they develop throughout the campaign). Whatever you decide, verify toselect the Cleric subclass that complements your favored approach.
Related:Baldur’s Gate 3: Cleric class and skills guide
1. Life Domain
In my opinion,the best Clerics focus on support. The Cleric subclass that does this best is the Life Domain. At level one, you get Disciple of Life which makes your healing spells restore more health points. At level five, you learn Revivify which is useful to reduce save scumming.
This subclass ensures you have a Cleric in its purest form. Thanks to theDisciple of Lifeability, your healing magic gains additional proficiency the higher your character level. TheCure Woundsspell you already possess improves, plus you gainHeavy Armour Proficiency.
That keeps you around to provide healing for longer without suffering a disadvantage while attacking. At higher levels, your healing magic continues to improve and you learnRevivifyto assist those who have fallen in battle.
2. War Domain
The second best Cleric subclass is the War Domain because of how strength-forward it is. You’ll be playing a lot more offensively with War Domain thanks to Heavy Armor Proficiency, War Priest which allows you to hit again, and Guided Strike which permanently adds plus 10 to your Attack Roll. Needless to say, War Domain isvery strong.
As one of several subclasses that provideHeavy Armour Proficiency, this one stands apart from the others by also addingMartial Weapon Proficiency. The usefulWar Priestability lets you land an extra attack in exchange for a charge, and you can useDivine Favorto enhance your weapons.
You are an adversary to the unrighteous,unafraid to wade into the thick of battle. If you want a purely offensive Cleric, this is your most straightforward option. It just may not have as many relevant options against some foes compared to the Tempest subclass.
Related:Baldur’s Gate 3: Best Cleric multiclass build
3. Tempest Domain
Take the Tempest Domain if you want to bean offensive Cleric. I personally love the Tempest Domain as it helps you roleplay as a storm summoner with amazing spells like Call Lightning and Sleet Storm, both of which unlock at level five.
There’s a storm on the battlefield when you choose this subclass.Wrath of the Stormprovides lightning damage, and the powerfulThunderwavespell has a similar effect. Meanwhile,Fog Cloudputs foes at a disadvantage if your party members want to take a stealthy approach.
Besides all of that, you enjoyMartial Weapon ProficiencyandHeavy Armour Proficiency, which allows you to remain a threat to your enemies long after weaker party members fall. As offensive subclasses go, this one gives you the most versatility.
4. Light Domain
Light Domain is the stereotypical Cleric subclass thatfocuses on dispelling darkness. Since Baldur’s Gate 3 is a game with a lot of darkness, meaning many enemies are weak to Radiant damage, Light Domain is a good choice.
Despite losing proficiency with heavier armor, this class attempts to make up for it with powerful spells centered around light and fire. Stealthier foes will have a harder time managing sneak attacks from the shadows, thanks toDaylight, a spell learned at level five.Radiance of the Dawnallows the Cleric to attack with holy light and deal Radiant damage, nearly from the start. It all fits the spirit of being a Cleric, and there are definite advantages to the approach, but it’s not hugely useful compared to some superior options.
5. Knowledge Domain
Knowledge Domain allows you tocontrol your enemies from a distance. If you want to play a Cleric that buffs your allies but debuffs enemies in equal measure, Knowledge Domain is the way to go.
This subclass enhances the power of theCommandspell and adds theSleepspell. Those are both useful spells. At level two, it addsKnowledge of the Ages, which ensures proficiency in a variety of skills. Essentially, the subclass works best when controlling the minds of adversaries and sowing confusion and fear on the battlefield.
Related:Best Knowledge Domain Cleric build in Baldur’s Gate 3
6. Nature Domain
Nature Domain isn’t too strong becauseit takes the worst things from the Druid class. There are some interesting spells to enjoy, like Barksin and Grasping Vine, but by and large, Nature Domain is disappointing.
This subclass still providesHeavy Armour Proficiency, but much of the focus is on abilities you would associate with the Druid class. You even gain theSpeak with AnimalsandAnimal Friendshipspells. Also, theAcolyte of Natureability lets you learn a Druid cantrip right from the start, to go along with the powerfulShillelaghcantrip. At higher levels, you can attack with ice and locusts, a development your foes are unlikely to welcome. These are nice perks, but not as broadly useful as super effective healing magic.
7. Trickery Domain
The main reason why Trickster Domain is the least-best Cleric subclass isit tries to do what Rogues already do well. There are some fun spells including Mirror Image and Cloak of Shadows, but every other subclass is stronger.
As one of three subclasses without Heavy Armor Proficiency, this one makes up for it withBlessing of the Trickster. The action adds stealth capabilities to another party member. Additionally, theCharm PersonandDisguise Selfspells add depth to a Cleric that has gone Rogue. Since there are already other classes (including the Rogue itself) that handle that side of things, a Trickery approach feels like a bit of a waste when the Cleric has so many other options at its disposal.
We’ve ranked the subclasses above, but any Cleric subclass provides a reason to give it a try.Choose the subclass that best suits your style of play. And if you change your mind, check our guide onhow to respec your characterswith a little help from Withers.
Jason Venter
Jason Venter is a contributing writer for PC Invasion since 2022 who can trace his love for video games back to the Apple IIe port of Mario Bros. in the late 80s. He remains a diehard Nintendo fan to this day and loves JRPGs, adventure games, and platformers in particular, but he still plays games in most genres and on most hardware. After founding indie gaming site HonestGamers in 1998, he served as an editor at Hardcore Gamer Magazine during its entire print run. He has since freelanced for a variety of leading sites including IGN, GameSpot, and Polygon. These days, he spends most of his time writing game guides and entertaining readers with his fantasy novels.
