D&D 5E Nature cleric advice

[pukunui]

Hi all,

I want to make a ghostwise halfling nature cleric, but I'm not entirely sure how to go about it. I'm cool with the popular method of going pure-Wis and taking shillelagh as the bonus druid cantrip ... but what then do I do with my Str and Dex? Should I ignore the bonus heavy armor proficiency and go with, say, 14 Dex and scale armor? Or should I ignore Dex and go with Str so I can start with chain mail (and pick up something else instead of shillelagh)?

I'm allowed to use either standard array or point buy.

What would you guys recommend?

 

[Herobizkit]

I'd say ignore the heavy armor and jack up your Dex and shield. You can use the shilellagh one-handed whether it's a staff or a club and it still does d8+Wis damage.

High Dex also nets you decent ranged attack ability and stealth capability (so long as you don't take an armor that grants Disadvantage on Stealth checks - Chain Shirt is your friend).

 

[pukunui]

OK. So using point buy, I could go with something like STR 13 DEX 14 CON 14 INT 8 WIS 16 CHA 10, or even STR 10 DEX 16 CON 14 INT 8 WIS 16 CHA 10, if I were to MC ranger (or even start as one).

 

[Willie the Duck]

Get you wisdom as high as you can, your con as high as you reasonably can, your Dex to 14 (or 16 if you think you will have the ASI free for MAM, or just really like that +1 more to initiative and dodging fireballs), and then place the rest based on the skills you intend to use the most. The entire value of the nature-shillelagh build is that by being a (nearly) Wis-only dependent class, you can focus on other things, be that skills, feats, or what-have-you.

Another option (for a nature cleric, not so much for a halfling) is to make a str-based, plate mail wearing cleric with a mace and take thorn whip as your druid feat. When you hit 5th level and start using spirit guardians, being able to drag enemies into your damage zone (and possibly away from your allies) becomes a fun little gimmick.

 

[jaelis]

Heh you're going to be kind of like yoda.

 

[pukunui]

Another option (for a nature cleric, not so much for a halfling) is to make a str-based ...

I can get STR 15 DEX 10 Con 14 INT 8 WIS 16 CHA 10 with point buy.

 

[Willie the Duck]

You're right. I've heard it so often that you shouldn't bother with a build unless you can start with a 16 in the primary stats that I've integrated other people's assumptions. You absolutely can do that. Maybe get +1 Str, +1 Con at 4th level and eventually Resilient:con for the other +1 there.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

You can go either dex based or str based. Str is easier AC and has advantages on carrying and so on, but dex will give better stealth.
My Ideal array would then be:

Str 13, Dex 12+2, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 15+1, Cha 8

That way you can use either medium armor or heavy armor. If you find the need to put on better armor at some point, you can raise str to 15.

 

[Zardnaar]

Take polearm master as well.

Wife played a nature cleric and if you do not have the stats spare to boost dex much medium might actually be good (due to shillagh)

What book are ghostwise halflings in?

OK found it SCAG.

If I was playig it I think I would key everything of wisdom and have a 14 dex to reduce MAD.

Point buy

Widom 19 (9)
Dex 12 (4)
Con 14 (7)

That leaves 7 points left over. You can have a 12,10,9 or 10,10, 11 with no dump stat. After racials you have 16 wisdom and 14 dex. Itys a rare case of medium armor not being to bad as you reduce MAD via shillagh.

 

[pukunui]

What book are ghostwise halflings in?

Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide