Like the popular tabletop game, Dungeons & Dragons Online is a free-to-play multiplayer RPG experience that allows players to build their own characters to battle and explore its open world. Though the game has been out for over a decade, developers have continued to produce updates, the most recent of which introduced the Wood Elves and a new dragon battle. As in the classic tabletop RPG, character creation is central to the game, and, with 17 races, 14 classes, and several billion possible combinations of skills, abilities, and appearances, players can create almost anything they could imagine.
While many are likely familiar with the general idea of fighters, wizards, and rogues, players looking for a different experience may choose the cleric class for their characters. Clerics are a powerful class that can cast divine spells and, sometimes more importantly, heal ailments and injuries. Clerics serve the gods and derive their power from them. Unlike other casters, they are also able to switch their spells when resting with the party at a tavern or shrine to better suit their current quest. They also can wear heavy armor and don a shield while other casters cannot. They have self-healing powers. For players who find such power enticing, this guide will offer a primer on how to play as a cleric in Dungeons & Dragons Online.
Important Cleric Abilities in Dungeons & Dragons Online
Depending on a character's race, they may receive bonuses or penalties to certain ability areas. Players will need to work around these and keep them in mind when choosing to play as a cleric. For example, humans are well-suited to the cleric class because they automatically receive 4 extra skill points at the start of the game, and an additional skill point each time they level up. They also get one bonus feat at level one, a 1+ bonus in two different stats, and an added 30% boost to self-healing abilities. Elves, however, are a less ideal choice because, while they automatically have 2 extra Dexterity, 2 extra save against spells or Enchantments, sleep spell immunity, bonuses with different weapons, and access to the Undying Court, they automatically have two fewer constitution points. Those benefits, unfortunately, are not great for the cleric role. Players should choose their race wisely to begin.
The most important stat for clerics is Wisdom. Wisdom makes cleric spells harder for opponents to break and grants them more spell points, making them more effective in battle. Players should focus primarily on raising this stat. Though players can assign points during character creation however they choose, they may want to raise their Wisdom score to at least 16 to 18 from the start of the game using points. Starting at 16 or higher will ensure a player can eventually reach 30 for Wisdom as they increase their level, add enhancements or upgrade their gear.
Players should also pay attention to their cleric's constitution score from character creation. Constitution affects Hit Points (HP), so the higher the constitution, the better. Players should start with a relatively high score here, around 14 or 15 if possible. This ability is integral to a cleric's spellcasting abilities, so it should be the next highest score during character creation.
Players should also ensure their cleric is strong enough to hold their own in melee combat and carry the loot they find. The Cleric 101 guide from Dungeons & Dragons online suggests starting with 12 strength from level 1.
Other abilities that may be good choices for clerics include Intelligence, Charisma, and Dexterity. A higher Intelligence score primarily determines how many new skills a cleric may pick up when they level up. It can also help clerics achieve a high Armor Class when fighting. Charisma is most important if clerics plan to use and enhance the Use Magical Device, Intimidate, and Turn Undead skills. More Charisma will grant the cleric more Turn Undead attempts, so players should plan carefully for that if this skill is one they intend to use frequently. Dexterity is the least important of the three for a cleric to focus on unless the player wants to be able to use two weapons or increase their Armor Class. Unless this is a preferred playstyle, players should focus their initial points on the other five ability areas.
Important Cleric Feats and Skills in Dungeons & Dragons Online
There are many spells and feats a cleric can use to the party and perform well in combat situations. Players should focus on a few from the start of a new game and work up to others as the need arises and as they level up.
Almost all players should begin with Toughness from the very first level. This grants them more HP from the start of the game and offers substantial HP boosts as they level up. They may also want to pick up the Empower Healing Spell feat. This feat makes healing spells 50% more effective, but it does cost an extra 10 spell points to cast.
Beyond that, players can choose their feats in any order and at any level they choose. Other good options include the following:
- Extend Spell: Duration spells will last twice as long but cost 10 extra spell points.
- Quicken Spell: Clerics can cast spells twice as fast without interruption from enemies, but each costs an extra 10 spell points.
- Maximize Spell: Damage and Healing spells are twice as effective as usual but each cost an extra 25 spell points.
- Diehard: A cleric will automatically stabilize after falling unconscious during battle.
- Empower Spell: All spells do 50% more damage but cost an extra 15 spell points.
- Spell Penetration: A cleric's caster level check goes up by two to help defeat an enemy's spell resistance.
If a player wants to play as a Battle build, they will need to leave some room to pick up some weapons-based feats too. Players can also pick up enhancements to improve their feats and skills. While choices will vary based on a player's personal style and preferences, generally any enhancements that increase healing and number of spell points are worth grabbing.
Clerics will need a large amount of Concentration from the start of the game to cast spells with the least amount of interruption. It is recommended that players max out Concentration first when creating their character. Then, the remaining points should be awarded to Balance. Players should reserve two points to invest in Tumble, though this is not required. However, two points in Tumble grants the cleric a 1.0 rank and unlocks that skill for combat.
As players level up in the game, they should always devote their points first to maxing out Concentration and Balance. They should also consider investing points in the Use Magic Device skill to overcome race-restricted items and save spell points.
Cleric Healer/ Build in Dungeons & Dragons Online
Generally, the healer and ive builds tend to be the most popular for cleric players. Players can choose to build their character any way they want in Dungeons & Dragons Online, but these are generally the areas players should focus on when building to beef up their cleric's stats and make them a force to be reckoned with.
At character creation, players should devote the following range of points to each of the following abilities:
- Wisdom: 16-18
- Constitution: 14-16
- Strength: 10-12
- Intelligence: 8-10
- Charisma: 8-10
- Dexterity: 8
They should put their extra ability point buys at every fourth level into Wisdom to keep it as high as it can go.
They should max out Concentration, devote two points to Tumble, and put the rest in Balance. This will ensure they can cast with as few interruptions as possible. They may also wish to pick up Heal to add one Spellpower per rank. When enhancements become available, players should focus primarily on those that promote better healing. For example, players may want to invest in the Cleric Life Magic, Radiant Servant, and Follower of the Sovereign Host enhancements and all their possible upgrades.
Spellcaster clerics should begin the game with Toughness and Empower Healing Spell, as these can be useful when starting as a healer character.
Finally, healing and clerics should keep some potions and other loot on hand at all times. Though they can heal the party and themselves, it is always a good idea to have a few healing potions while out on a quest for more difficult battles. These players should also look for Ability Tomes in dungeons that give a cleric more Wisdom points and maximize spellcasting at any level. Special gear can also raise stats, so players should seek loot as often as possible.
Battlecleric Build in Dungeons & Dragons Online
Some players may prefer to create a Battlecleric rather than a ive healer. There are a few key differences in the character build that will better suit a cleric for battle, though most of the main stats will remain the same.
Battleclerics should have around the same amount of Wisdom to start as clerics who primarily cast spells. However, Battleclerics will want to have more Strength, Constitution, and Dexterity than exclusive spellcasters would. Players should divide their ability points according to the following ranges:
- Wisdom: 14-18
- Strength: 16-18
- Constitution: 14-16
- Intelligence: 8-10
- Charisma: 0-8 (Battlecleric players can ignore this stat and boost Wisdom, Strength, or Constitution instead unless they plan to also use Turn Undead)
- Dexterity: 8-15 (Dual wielders will want to start at 15 and no fewer to unlock two-weapon fighting feats)
Like the Healer/ build, Battleclerics should have the maximum possible level of Concentration and Balance. Players may want to invest a few extra points into Tumble, Jump, or Use Magic Object as well. They will also want to seek Devotion or Potency weapons and armor, as these will increase stats and can stack with skills and feats. As for enhancements, while many are excellent, Battlecleric players may benefit from the Radiant Servant enhancements most.
Players will need to be sure to make room for Toughness, Power Attack, and Improved Critical. Power Attack and Improved Critical will need to be in one of the three melee types, slash, bludgeon, or pierce. For dual wielders, there are three special feats to spend points on when possible. Players should include one to two levels of fighter for weapon and armor proficiency to be effective in battle.
Dungeons & Dragons Online is available on PC and Mac.
