D&D (2024) Complete Divine Power: Cleric Domain Tier List

[Mistwell]

Usual story ranking the archetypes. They are being compared to other archetypes not each other. S tier is borderline OP or broken or otherwise ahead of the other archetypes. D is bad. As per usual first ten levels are the most important.

In general the 2024 cleric got some minor buffs overall. Some spells got nerfed a lot got buffed. Spiritual Weapon was the main nerfed spell casualty. Spirit Guardians was the other big note worthy change. While there's a few hypothetical builds around in general a fast or mobile cleric would be useful.

Other small changes are things like divine order and blessed strikes. Every archetype can now double down on wisdom vs the pre tashas domains. The base cleric is also quite good so how much an archetype buffs that base will determine the ranking.

Domain Ranking
Life: B
Light: A
Trickery: A
War

It's tough to rank Cleric because the main buff to Spirit Guardian, to me at least, is broken. And I am not one prone to calling things broken. But it shouldn't trigger every time it enters a foes space once per turn, because there are too many shenanigans available to have everyone make it happen on their turn, and too many ways to ping pong between all the foes.

This is the same problem as a couple other spells too. I hope WOTC will errata the three spells in question in some way.

But until the issue is fixed (if it's fixed) I don't know how to rank them because with the spell, very high mobility will be more important than almost any other factor.

I suppose I could rank them if the spell were banned?

 

[Zardnaar]

It's tough to rank Cleric because the main buff to Spirit Guardian, to me at least, is broken. And I am not one prone to calling things broken. But it shouldn't trigger every time it enters a foes space once per turn, because there are too many shenanigans available to have everyone make it happen on their turn, and too many ways to ping pong between all the foes.

This is the same problem as a couple other spells too. I hope WOTC will errata the three spells in question in some way.

But until the issue is fixed (if it's fixed) I don't know how to rank them because with the spell, very high mobility will be more important than almost any other factor.

I suppose I could rank them if the spell were banned?

Alot of the abuse I think is theoretical. The speed thing is not.

So Orc or magic initiate for jump or lomgstrider seems good. Feats you kind of want anyway.

And spirit giluardians becomes you should probably cast to near must cast with possible domain spells being an exception.

 

[Mistwell]

Alot of the abuse I think is theoretical. The speed thing is not.

So Orc or magic initiate for jump or lomgstrider seems good. Feats you kind of want anyway.

And spirit giluardians becomes you should probably cast to near must cast with possible domain spells being an exception.

I'm also generally bad at ranking, at least until I see all the stuff in play which will be years from now.

Trickery domain: absolutely is appealing to me now where before, as you said, it left something to be desired.
Life: I just wouldn't have as much interest playing it now because it's easier to heal.
Light: has the killer spell list.
War: that's the one I need to theorycraft with a lot more before I decide. Is there a True Strike/ Shillelagh combo that works well? Is there some nasty high AC buff march into foes and smack them into fields of damage combo? Not sure yet.

 

[Zardnaar]

I'm also generally bad at ranking, at least until I see all the stuff in play which will be years from now.

Trickery domain: absolutely is appealing to me now where before, as you said, it left something to be desired.
Life: I just wouldn't have as much interest playing it now because it's easier to heal.
Light: has the killer spell list.
War: that's the one I need to theorycraft with a lot more before I decide. Is there a True Strike/ Shillelagh combo that works well? Is there some nasty high AC buff march into foes and smack them into fields of damage combo? Not sure yet.

Well the shillagh thing I've seen in 2014 and it works.

The old war cleric was beaten by arcane and nature at its thing.

Arcane cleric mixing the battle cantrips with potent cantrip and the spirit guardians/weapon combo.

Lights very easy to rate. It was the best fair cleric before still good.

Lifebi fine but boring and healing is kinda like boom. Niche (invoker also B tier imho).

I like war domain I think it's better than life not ss good ss light hence B+.

Rolled stats coukd buff that up as it's MAD with default or point buy.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Is there a True Strike/ Shillelagh combo that works well?

No. Some people don’t realise that having two abilities that add your casting ability score to damage doesn’t add double your ability score.

 

[Zardnaar]

No. Some people don’t realise that having two abilities that add your casting ability score to damage doesn’t add double your ability score.

Kinda does but not that combo.
Shillagh allows bonus action attacks with your spellcaster modifier and d8,d10 or d12 damage with a club or staff.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Kinda does but not that combo.
Shillagh allows bonus action attacks with your spellcaster modifier and d8,d10 or d12 damage with a club or staff.

Doesn’t combo with True Strike though.

True Strike is better for clerics who aren’t War, but want to hit stuff anyway. Magic Initiate Wizard also gives you Shield.

 

[Zardnaar]

Doesn’t combo with True Strike though.

True Strike is better for clerics who aren’t War, but want to hit stuff anyway. Magic Initiate Wizard also gives you Shield.

It does combo with true strike though. You're gaining a one handed 1d8-1d12 weapon that deals force damage and later radiant as well. Arcane cleric would get to add potent cantrip to that damage. It's competing with sacred flame/toll the dead.

War cleric probably wants Shillelagh now due to MAD requirements on heavy weapons.

I'm also wondering if chromatic orb might be better than Shield. Especially with +10 to hit to start it up.

 

[Mistwell]

No. Some people don’t realise that having two abilities that add your casting ability score to damage doesn’t add double your ability score.

Why not?

 

[Zardnaar]

Why not?

Depends on the ability used.
True strike and shillagh both allow same effect vs say potent cantrip and celestial warlock level 6 iirc ability.