D&D 5E (2014) Best Wizard and Cleric Subclasses (Level 1 to 10)

[CTurbo]

Are you choosing one of each class? or trying to decide on one character?

 

[Vitor Bastos]

Are you choosing one of each class? or trying to decide on one character?

trying to decide between Divination Wizard and Tempest Cleric, actually.

 

[Rossbert]

trying to decide between Divination Wizard and Tempest Cleric, actually.

The choice breaks down to:

Are you proactive? Scry, detect, portent. Divination will help solve mysteries and help either avoid conflict or be packing the right gear and spells for the threats you face.

Are you reactive? Maximized thunder and lightning damage, heavy armor and healing will bring the hurt and save your allies as a Tempest cleric.

 

[CTurbo]

Tempest Cleric all the way!

Str build options

Vhuman with HAM at level 1 with 16 Str, 14 Con, 16 Wis. Plate + shield 20 AC
Vhuman with Res(con) at level 1 with 16 Str, 14 Con, 16 Wis. Plate + shield 20 AC
Vhuman with Warcaster at level 1 16 Str, 14 Con, 16 Wis. Plate + shield 20 AC

Dex build options

Vhuman with Res(con) at level 1 with 16 Dex, 14 Con, 16 Wis. Half Plate + shield 19 AC
Vhuman with Defensive duelist at level 1 with 16 Dex, 14 Con, 16 Wis. Half Plate + shield 19 AC
Vhuman with Warcaster at level 1 16 Dex, 14 Con, 16 Wis. Half Plate + shield 19 AC
Hill Dwarf 14 Dex, 16 Con, 16 Wis. Plate + shield 20 AC + extra hit points
Wood Elf 16 Dex, 14 Con, 16 Wis. Half Plate + shield 19 AC

Either way you go, I'd probably bump Wis at 4 and 8. If I had to choose just 1 feat, I'd probably go Res(Con) since you can get it at level 1.

You can sit back and just blast if you want, but you'd get your money's worth by getting down into melee, even if you never even attack with your weapon.

Turn on Spirit Guardians, Spiritual Weapon, and sit down on the front lines and use your action for whatever you want whether it be attacking with your weapon, attacking with a spell, heal somebody, casting a utility spell, or just simply using the dodge action. You'll be a melee monster even with your one weapon attack. Lets count the d8s you'll be doing lol

2d8 with your weapon attack, 1d8 with your bonus action, 3d8 to every enemy within 15ft of you, and another 2d8 with your reaction if hit with an attack lol

Spirit guardians scales up pretty well 1d8 per up-cast so 5d8 from a 5th slot.

And then twice per fight, you can drop a maximized Shatter, Thunderwave, Call Lightning, etc....

 

[Vitor Bastos]

The choice breaks down to:

Are you proactive? Scry, detect, portent. Divination will help solve mysteries and help either avoid conflict or be packing the right gear and spells for the threats you face.

Are you reactive? Maximized thunder and lightning damage, heavy armor and healing will bring the hurt and save your allies as a Tempest cleric.

Thats a nice way to approach it! I'll think about this for sure

 

[Vitor Bastos]

Tempest Cleric all the way!

Str build options

Vhuman with HAM at level 1 with 16 Str, 14 Con, 16 Wis. Plate + shield 20 AC
Vhuman with Res(con) at level 1 with 16 Str, 14 Con, 16 Wis. Plate + shield 20 AC
Vhuman with Warcaster at level 1 16 Str, 14 Con, 16 Wis. Plate + shield 20 AC

Dex build options

Vhuman with Res(con) at level 1 with 16 Dex, 14 Con, 16 Wis. Half Plate + shield 19 AC
Vhuman with Defensive duelist at level 1 with 16 Dex, 14 Con, 16 Wis. Half Plate + shield 19 AC
Vhuman with Warcaster at level 1 16 Dex, 14 Con, 16 Wis. Half Plate + shield 19 AC
Hill Dwarf 14 Dex, 16 Con, 16 Wis. Plate + shield 20 AC + extra hit points
Wood Elf 16 Dex, 14 Con, 16 Wis. Half Plate + shield 19 AC

Either way you go, I'd probably bump Wis at 4 and 8. If I had to choose just 1 feat, I'd probably go Res(Con) since you can get it at level 1.

You can sit back and just blast if you want, but you'd get your money's worth by getting down into melee, even if you never even attack with your weapon.

Turn on Spirit Guardians, Spiritual Weapon, and sit down on the front lines and use your action for whatever you want whether it be attacking with your weapon, attacking with a spell, heal somebody, casting a utility spell, or just simply using the dodge action. You'll be a melee monster even with your one weapon attack. Lets count the d8s you'll be doing lol

2d8 with your weapon attack, 1d8 with your bonus action, 3d8 to every enemy within 15ft of you, and another 2d8 with your reaction if hit with an attack lol

Spirit guardians scales up pretty well 1d8 per up-cast so 5d8 from a 5th slot.

And then twice per fight, you can drop a maximized Shatter, Thunderwave, Call Lightning, etc....

Wow CTurbo! you always deliver man! =)
Awesome stuff!
Let me ask you, what are the main differences regarding STR build and DEX build?

 

[FrogReaver]

If you have never played a caster before I recommend cleric. Clerics start out smoother than wizards IME.

As far as domain there's so many good and cool things you can do with each cleric. I recommend tempest. It will provide a sterotypical cleric experience with very strong spell-like effects and spell enhancements.

Early game it's probably the strongest cleric subclass (war competes really well early too). The reaction ability for 2d8 damage is almost as good as hellish rebuke (a level 1 spell). If you take a high wisdom this will feel like you are getting 2-3 extra spells per day. You get a really good aoe option early in thunderwave and shatter and being able to maximize the damage of those spells is just amazing!

By later mid game you'll be better at sustain damage than spike damage but you'll still have some potential there.

If non-PHB options open up you can consider taking magic initiate and booming blade later to help increase your sustained damage potential.

 

[jgsugden]

Enchanter wizard is undervalued. The Hypnotic Gaze is a powerful ability, essentially giving you a limited hold monster as a cantrip. However, it isn't the power level that makes it the choice - it is the RPG options. Diviner has a powerful feature, but it doesn't spawn a lot of great role playing opportunities in my experience... and it has always felt a bit flat to me. I thoroughly recommend a Deep Gnome Enchanter for a fun time.

For cleric I am less opinionated. I find that all of the domains are fun, but my favorite cleric is a human cleric of Thor that is a bit of a musician...

 

[CTurbo]

Wow CTurbo! you always deliver man! =)
Awesome stuff!
Let me ask you, what are the main differences regarding STR build and DEX build?

Str builds get you +1 to AC, opens up more melee weapon options, but your initiative will take a hit. Dex builds take the -1 hit to AC, has more ranged weapon options, and has a much better initiative. Dex is generally more useful than Str. You'll want Athlete proficiency if Str, an Acrobatics proficiency if Dex either way.

My vhuman Tempest Cleric took HAM at level one and he was more more melee focused on purpose. I started Morningstar + Shield but when we found a +1 Greatsword, and nobody wanted it, I ditched the shield and used the +1 Greatsword lol. The HAM feat allowed me to take the AC hit. This is not the most optimized way to play of course, and I did not spam Spirit Guardians. I still ended up stealing the show most of the time anyway whether I was maximizing the damage or using my domain spells. In fact, every one of my domain spells had a encounter changing moment at one point or another.

 

[Vitor Bastos]

If you have never played a caster before I recommend cleric. Clerics start out smoother than wizards IME.

Good to know!Seems like Cleric has a way bigger survavibility than Wiz too.

Str builds get you +1 to AC, opens up more melee weapon options, but your initiative will take a hit. Dex builds take the -1 hit to AC, has more ranged weapon options, and has a much better initiative. Dex is generally more useful than Str. You'll want Athlete proficiency if Str, an Acrobatics proficiency if Dex either way.

My vhuman Tempest Cleric took HAM at level one and he was more more melee focused on purpose. I started Morningstar + Shield but when we found a +1 Greatsword, and nobody wanted it, I ditched the shield and used the +1 Greatsword lol. The HAM feat allowed me to take the AC hit. This is not the most optimized way to play of course, and I did not spam Spirit Guardians. I still ended up stealing the show most of the time anyway whether I was maximizing the damage or using my domain spells. In fact, every one of my domain spells had a encounter changing moment at one point or another.

Nice! Looks like you enjoy it a lot playing as a Tempest Cleric!! =D