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There are those who worship nature inDungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition, and then there are those who know better. Nature itself is not a deity–there are nature gods that govern the actions of the trees, animals, and insects. Worshipping these gods can grant certain individuals powerful boons to carry out their will. These people go on to become clerics of the nature domain.
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Clerics of this domain have an attunement to nature that is rivaled only by druids. But unlike druids, nature domain clerics have no problem with wielding modern weapons in the name of their gods. Here’s how to build a nature domain cleric for your next D&D campaign.
Nature Domain Cleric Features
There area lot of similarities between playing a cleric of the nature domain and playing a druid. You have similar skill proficiencies and learn similar spells through your nature god–you even get a druid cantrip of your choice. However, nature domain clerics gain proficiency with heavy armor, making them better as front-line combatants.
At second level, you can use yourchannel divinity to charm animals and plantswithin 30 feet of you. At sixth level, theDampen Elementsfeature lets you use your reaction to provide resistance to any creature (including yourself) that’s about to take acid, cold, fire, lightning, or thunder damage.
At level eight,Divine Strikeimproves your weapon attacks with 1d8 of cold, fire, or lightning damage. And at level 17,Master of Natureallows you to command plants and animals using your Channel Divinity rather than merely charm them.
Theoptional Blessed Strikes featurecan replace Divine Strike to offer 1d8 radiant damage to either weapon strikes or cantrips. This allows you to play as a pure magic nature domain cleric if you so desire.
As a nature domain cleric,you gain the following spellsat the following levels:
animal friendship, speak with animals
barkskin, spike growth
plant growth, wind wall
dominate beast, grasping vine
insect plague, tree stride
Best Species For Nature Domain Clerics
Most species are capable of being effective as a nature domain cleric. In general, you’ll want toplay as a species that enhances your capabilities as a front-line support character.
Here area few recommended speciesto play as a nature domain cleric.
Astral Elf
You can already learn the astral elf cantrips as a cleric, but this just allows you totake different cantripsto expand your spell list. Aninnate teleportability is also a big help if you decide to be a melee-focused cleric.
Earth Genasi
Heavy armor means poor stealth rolls.Pass without tracemakes your stealth rolls–and that of your party–so much better.Ignoring difficult terrainanddarkvisionare also big boosts.
Hill Dwarf
Darkvision, proficiency withwarhammersandbattleaxes, and someextra hitpointsevery level are all big plusses in the hill dwarf’s column.
Firbolg
Firbolgs really fit the overall nature theme. Being able to castdetect magicanddisguise selfexpands your spell repertoire, and aninnate invisibilityeffect can help with those unfortunate stealth rolls.
Goblin
Fury of the Smallcan really help boost your damage output if you think clerics aren’t quite strong enough.Darkvisionis also great, and being able tohideordisengage as a bonus actionis helpful too.
Goliath
Stone’s Endurancecan keep you in the fight long after other characters are in their death saving throws.Athleticsproficiency is also nice to have.
Half-Elf
As a front-line class, you’ll need asmany ability score improvementsas you can find. Half-elf provides that.Darkvisionand someextra skillsare nice, and you can go high-elf if you want to have access to some elven weapon proficiencies.
Kobold
Draconic Cryis a great ability to have when you’re surrounded on the front.Access to sorcerer cantripscan be fun if you want to have firebolt as your main damage-dealing cantrip, but it’s not strictly necessary.
Shadar-Kai
Sort of like an astral elf, but instead of extra cantrips you gain extradamage resistances. Theteleportis the big draw here, though.
Shifter
Another species that seems to fit the nature theme. Shifting gives youloads of temporary hitpoints, withdarkvisionandsome extra skillsrounding out the offerings here.
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Best Ability Scores For A Nature Domain Cleric
As with all clerics,Wisdom is your most important statin order to fuel your spells. Remember, you’re a spellcaster first, a front-line attacker second. But as a front-line attacker, you’ll want to prioritizeConstitutionandStrengthsecond.
Make sure youhave sufficient Strength to wear heavy armor, which is one of the main reasons to play this class over a druid.
Dexterity,Intelligence, andCharismaare yourdump stats, so don’t bother boosting these ability scores. If using the points buy system to create your character, you should aim to arrive at an ability score spread that looks sort of like this after accounting for ability score boosts from your species.
15 (+2)
10 (+0)
15(+2)
10 (0)
16 (+3)
8(-1)
Best Starting Equipment For A Nature Domain Cleric
With proficiency in heavy armor, you’ll definitely want to takechain mailas your starting armor. Having no proficiency in martial weapons means amaceis likely your preferred starting weapon, and instead of a light crossbow you shouldpick some other ranged simple weapon like a javelindue to your poor Dexterity score.
Anexplorer’s packis generally more useful than a priest’s pack, and ashieldandholy symbolround out your starting equipment.
You’ll definitely want tograb better heavy armor as you level up, eventually wearing full plate for its 18 armor class.
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Best Spells For Nature Domain Cleric
Nature domain clerics gain a number of nature-based spells like animal friendship and speak with animals. For the spells you’re able to choose from the cleric spell list, it makes sense tolean into moretraditional cleric spellsthat heal your allies and provide combat buffs.
Ninth Level Spells
Toll the deadis likely your best ranged damage-dealing cantrip, butsacred flameisn’t a bad option either.Spiritual weaponis the typical cleric damage spell that also takes your turn’s bonus actions.Healing wordandcure woundsboth can heal your party, but it’s up to you whether you prefer higher healing that requires touch or a ranged heal that offers slightly fewer hitpoints.
