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Among the creatures ofDungeons & Dragons, light is paramount to the lives of those who dwell within the surface world. From a campfire at night providing a brief haven from the terrors of the dark to the sunlight that guides a group through a forest, light illuminates, revitalizes, nurtures, and above all, burns.
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Clerics of the Light Domain often find themselves at the center of artistic pursuits, while others stand as champions of the sun against creatures that stalk the night. A level of responsibility is often placed upon the shoulders of these clerics, whether they’re incinerating their enemies or providing support to their team.
Deities Of The Light Domain
As a Cleric of the Light Domain,you may be called upon to worship a god.Within the various settings of Dungeons and Dragons,there are many to choose from.
Corellon Larethian
Forgotten Realms
Considered the god of all things elven, Corellondeals heavily with magic, art, beauty, and war.They often appear as an androgynous elf in armor, andcondemn those that flee from their foes.
Lathander
Lathander isthe god of the dawn, renewal, and rebirth, and he often appears as a golden figure using the sun in his imagery. Lathander is known to be as proud as he is beautiful, and oncetried to reshape the pantheon in his image to correct it.
Eilistraee
Known as the drowgoddess of the moon, beauty, song, and hunting, Eilistraee often takes the form of a young drow woman or a sliver of moonlight. She is known toguide the drow to the surface worldand considers her enemy to be her mother, Lolth.
The Silver Flame
Eberron
The esotericdeity of all things goodandlawful, their church emphasizes enlightenment and inspiration. Many beings from all walks of life worshipThe Silver Flame.
Path of Light
This faith is primarily worshipped by kalashtar, a humanoid species aligned to spirits. This path emphasizes the idea of a new age arising, andoften violently combats evil and darkness.
Morninglord
Ravenloft
Once considered to be an aspect of Lathander, the religion of the Morninglord originated from Barovia, a Domain of Dread.Hope, compassion, and the purifying qualities of sunlightmake up the Morninglord’s ideals, even surrounded by darkness.
Tharmekhûl
Tharmekhûl is the right hand to the dwarven god Moradin. His portfolio includesdestruction, fire, and creation.His followers associate him with the forge, withprayers often offered at said forges in his honor.
As per Xanathar’s Guide To Everything, a clericdoes not technically have to follow a god.A cleric can be beholden to a set of ideals or a belief system, as well as concepts like the energy of the sun. Instead,the divinity may come from the power of their belief.If this seems more feasible, talk with your Dungeon Master about your cleric serving a philosophy, idea, or concept.
Light Domain Cleric Features Overview
At the first level, your cleric will gain several interesting traits and features. Your character will acquireproficiency in medium armoras well asmartial weaponsto help customize your cleric outside spellcasting.
Bonus Cantrip
At the first level, your cleric will receive the Light cantrip, which will add to whatever cantrips you already have. Light is autility cantripdesigned to shed light off of an object for 30 feet.
Additionally, you gain the ability to use your light todisorient your enemy, blinding them temporarily.
Warding Flare
You can use your reaction toimpose a disadvantage on an attack rollagainst a foe within 30 feet. You can use this feature several times equal to your Wisdom modifier, andyou’ll regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.If the creature is unable to be blinded,this feature does not apply!
At the second level, your Light Domain Cleric will gain the ability to wield sunlight to harm your enemies by presenting your holy symbol andusing your Channel Divinity Ability: Radiance of the Dawn.
Radiance of the Dawn
As an action, anymagical darknesswithin 30 feet of you is dispelled. Every hostile creature within that same 30 feet must make a Constitutionsaving throw. They will take radiant damage equal to 2d10 + your cleric level upon failing the saving throw but will take half as much damage if they succeed on the saving throw.If the creature is behind total cover,it won’t be affected.
At the sixth level, you’ll gain the abilityImproved Flare.This ability improvesWarding Flare, the feature you gain at the first level.
Improved Flare
You can use your Warding Flare toimpose a disadvantageon a creature that you can see within 30 feetof you if they attack a creature other than you.
By the time you reach theeighth level, you gain the abilityof Potent Spellcasting, which improves your damage output.
Potent Spellcasting
You add your Wisdom modifierto the damage you deal with any cleric cantrip.
By the time you reach the17th level, you can activate an aura of sunlight around you toimpose a disadvantageon enemies around you.
Corona of Light
you may use your action toactivate an effect that lasts for 1 minute unless you dismiss itusing a subsequent action.Bright light emits from you in a 60-foot radius and dim light for 30 feet past that. Hostile creatures in the bright light will havea disadvantage on saving throws against spells that deal fire or radiant damagefor the duration of the effect.
Best Light Domain Cleric Species
Deep gnomes and Duergar can work well as clerics in any setting, but especially for settings like theUnderdark, where you can use spells likeDaylight to incapacitate enemies with Sunlight Sensitivity,which duergar and deep gnomes thankfully lack. Their spell lists bothcomplement the cleric’s spellcasting by padding it, andthe deep gnome’s Magical Resistanceadds to your resilience.
As a player, you’re going to want to make sureyour spellcasting cleric can stay up long enough to fight and heal, so species likeearth genasialso provide the cleric with defensive capabilities.It’s essential to have enough spells for longer rounds of combat, and inherent casting doesn’t cost a spell slot the first time you cast a spell using it, making all of these species viable options.
Bearing that in mind, eladrin provides you with Misty Step, which can help you tomobilize and get out of dangerous situationsduring combat. Goblin functions similarly,utilizing Nimble Escape to move around the map.
Regardless of play style, you’ll stay up, andyour party can rely on you to buff, heal, or fight.
Description
Wisdom
As a cleric,Wisdomis your spellcasting modifier, and as such,it should be your highest stat.Not only does it mean you’ll have a stronger will and can succeed on saving throws that the other more martial classes may fail, but in terms of damage, your modifier is supremely important.
Wisdom makes up five of the skills on your character sheet, so any positive bonus to it means you’ll be more utilitarian. This is extremely appealing for groups whoperform more skill checksand rely on perception and insight.
Dexterity
The Light Domain only gives you access to medium armor,making increasing your Dexterity and Armor Class, a priority.
While it may not appeal to the average cleric, increasing your Dexterity will improve skills like stealth,which is always useful outside of subterfuge and thievery.
Constitution
It’s wise to put thought into your Hit Point maximum, soConstitution should usually be high on your listunless you appreciate the risk of low health during combat.
Charisma
Charisma for this build will be more superfluous except in parties that rely on higher-powered roleplay with consequences. Aside from that,the main benefit comes from filling out more skills with positive bonuses, which may work for some players.
Intelligence
Heartbreakingly, Intelligence may only end up mattering if one wantsa high proficiency in rolls made with the Religion skill.While important to have access to lore at a moment’s notice, it won’t be useful unless those skills matter to you as a player. Not enough spells make you make Intelligence saving throws to sustain it otherwise.
Strength
Strength is more or less up to you as a player, but an optimized build for a Light Domain Cleric will not require it.
That being said, this becomes more situationalif you want to take feats to become proficient with heavy armor,so consider your play style carefully before assigning anythingto your scores.
WhileIntelligencesaving throws are few, some incapacitating spells likeFeeblemindandPsychic Screamrequire them. If you’re playing a campaign where you may run afoul of an Illithid, perhapsconsider bumping Intelligence above Charismafor your general well-being.
Recommended Spells For Light Clerics
Cantrips are spells that your character cancast without the expense of a spell slot.They can be cast as many times as you like and can serve your characters through small buffs, low-damage output, or utility in roleplay.
You receive theLightcantrip by choosing the class, which leaves you open to take other spells.
Guidance
This adds a d4 to every ability check, which allows you to potentially pass checks you may fail. It can be used fairly liberally during any scenario, making itone of the best choices for a cleric build.
Sacred Flame
Sacred Flame lets you havea source of radiant damagewhen you’ve burned through your spell slots, which cannot be overstated.Radiant damage has few creatures resistant to it,and even fewer that are immune, making this cantrip extraordinarily valuable to have on hand.
Spare the Dying
For the cleric whose party members won’t stop going down. Spare the Dyingcan be employed to stabilize a dying creatureand the unlimited uses will help when a bigger spell can’t be burned.
Thaumaturgy
One particularly creative way to use Thaumaturgy istocheck if doors or windows are locked.This becomes a roundabout way to theoreticallycheck them for traps from a safe distance, especially if your party is missing a rogue. While not particularly useful in combat and situational, the other numerous magical benefits are often entertaining while roleplaying and, with a lax Dungeon Master,could make for aiding you during social situations.
Spells level with your character. The higher you climb in level, the more impressive spells you can cast, andthefeatsor ability score improvements will become available to you.
As a cleric, you’ll have access to a plethora of spells that you can cater to your character’s needs. The Light Domain Cleric is a somewhat flexible subclass and lends itself well toflinging damage at your foesorcreating areas of safety for your teammatesthrough healing and bolstering them.
Because of the lack of heavy armor proficiency,it may be wise to keep yourself from taking hits, especially in close quarters. You’ll have access to the entire cleric spell list, andyou can switch them out every long rest.
Here are a couple of spells that you can use at thefirst level.
Guiding Bolt
Guiding Bolt not only deals a lot ofradiant damageatearly levelsbut also lets your party gain anadvantageon theirnext attacks.If you’re going to take a damage-dealing spell, heavily consider this one.
Healing Word
Even if you choose not to gear your cleric toward healing, this spell is a useful one to have due to beingone of the few ranged healing spells.A little bit of health is the difference between the death or survival of a character.The spell casts a bonus actionand heals a creature of your choice. As you level, you add an additionald4to the healing.
Protection from Evil and Good
One of the conventional spells for clerics, and for good reason. This spellprotects your alliesfrom all manner of unsavory creatures bygiving the hostile creature types a disadvantagewhileattacking your ally.While potentially a sacrifice in combat due to the ten minutes of concentration required, it’s a sacrifice well-made in your and the ally you’ve chosen’s favor.
Command
Light Domain Clerics have access to several spells inherently as they level. These spells are granted to you automatically.
Ninth
Flame Strike, Scrying
Consult with your party about what you’re all expecting of one another, so you may build your spell list accordingly. Because you can change your spell list every long rest,you’ll have more freedom with your build, so don’t be afraid totry new combinationsand see what you like.
