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For as long as spellcasters have existed inDungeons & Dragonsthere have been people asking “can I do that while also still flexing massive muscles and doing kung fu poses?” In Fifth Edition the Bladesinger Wizard answers the Kung Fu question, and the muscles are provided by the Strength Domain Cleric.
As it was initially published for the Planeshift crossover with Magic: The Gathering, the Strength Domain won’t be legal at all tables. It may be better to view it as a type of Official Homebrew with all the considerations that come with that. Ask your DM for permission and be prepared to negotiate balance changes.
What Are The Best Species For A Strength Domain Cleric?
The Amonkhet setting runs a restricted set of playable species, some of which are incompatible with the core features of a Strength Domain Cleric. As long as you avoid those ‘trap’ options you should be able to build a powerful Strength Cleric.
A feat at first level
Bonus skill
Strong
Unchanged from the variant human available in other books,a starting feat gives you a broad swathe of customisation options.
Can survive a fatal blow on 1hp
Natural weapons
Bonus damage on critical hits
Minotaurs are the most archetypically suited for a strength cleric and this is reflected in the traits they are given.They’re hard to kill, hit hard back and are proficient in intimidation.Most GMs will allow a justified use of strength for intimidation skill checks, and minotaurs are self-justifying in this regard.
Immunity to poison
Bonus tool
Medium
The snakelike Naga have comparable natural weapons to the minotaur, anda damage immunity that in most comparable species would only be a resistance.You pay for this by giving up the ability to walk, and having to overstate your sibilant sounds in roleplaying.
Ignores long ranged penalties on weapons
Weak
Aven fill a similar niche to the Aarakocra in other settings: They have a flight speed from first levelbut are unable to fly if wearing medium or heavy armour. That makes them challenging to use for a cleric that wants to wear heavy armour and wade around in melee combat.
Their Hawkeyed feature helps them with using long ranged weapons that a strength cleric is unlikely to use often. It can technically be used with thrown ranged weapons that do utilise strength, but they typically have very short ranges to begin with.
Aven (Ibis headed)
Bonus to intelligence checks
The Ibis headed Aven faces the same issues as the hawk headed aven:They lose their flight when wearing armour. They can add half their proficiency bonus to intelligence skill checks but only when they aren’t already proficient in the skill. History and religion are the two main skills that benefit from this and a cleric can be proficient in both at first level.
Outside the Amonket setting your options open considerably but the same general considerations apply:
What Are The Best Ability Scores For A Strength Domain Cleric?
There is a slightly disappointing moment when going through the Strength Domain features and realising that Strength is optional to the class.
The Acolyte Of Strengthfeature atfirst levelgives you adruid cantrip of your choice,including theShillelagh cantripthat allows you touse your Wisdom modifier with strength based weapons.
Despite that, most people drawn to the strength domain will still want the fantasy of being absolutely ripped, and your ability scores should reflect this:
Wisdom
As much as you can carry
Wisdom empowers your spells (and with Shillelagh your melee power as well).If you plan to focus on spells that don’t utilise your wisdom score (such as shield of faith and haste) you can lower this to prioritise strength, but you’ll ideally want both.
Strength
20% by total mass
Strength lets you perform better in melee as well as move easily in heavy armour.Even if you use shillelagh you’ll want a high strength in order to carry your armour and use weapons that shillelagh doesn’t cover:
You can’t guarantee the availability of enchanted quarterstaves and clubs so being able to wield a mace you find will always be an asset.
Constitution
Your leftover point buy budget
Constitution is always good, especially when treading the line between melee and caster: It not only helps you survive more punishment but lets you maintain concentration on your spells.
TheStrength Domain gains haste as a domain spell, which is disastrous to lose control ofdue to a failed constitution save.
Dexterity
Just a pinch
A dexterity below ten is never good, but strength clerics don’t gain anything from raising it. Leaving this at a low but non-negative value should suffice.
Charisma
To taste
Intelligence
Intelligence doesn’t build into any of your abilities, except for religion and history skill checks. It also has the fewest compatible multiclasses so can be safely left in last placeunless you want to roleplay a more scholarly cleric.
What Are The Best Spells For A Strength Domain Cleric?
The Strength Domain offers some great spells that clerics cannot normally access.The stars of the show are the third level spell Haste and the fifth level spell Destructive Wave.Haste is one of the strongest buffing spells in the game and will be taking up your concentration often once you have it. Destructive wave is similarly strong as a damage dealing spell without concentration and without friendly fire. As a prepared spellcaster you can choose freely between the other spells you have available at the start of a day, planning around upcoming encounters and not having to worry about taking a spell that will lose utility at higher levels.
Here are some staple spells to keep prepared for general use:
Healing Word
Heals at range for 1d4+Wisdom modifier
Most clerics use healing word from the back lines to prop up injured fighters without getting too close to the action. A Strength Domain cleric is already in the fighting but canuse healing word to heal others without drawing opportunity attacks for leaving melee range.
Protection from Good and Evil
Prevents a target from being possessed, charmed or frightened by fey, celestials or other powerful magical creatures.
While itrequires some foreknowledge about whether you’ll be facing any of the creatures this spell protects about,this spell is able to single-handedly save a group from being killed by their own mind controlled barbarian.
Knowing who is the most important person to protect with this spell can be a challenge but when in doubt cast it on yourself first.
Inflict Wounds
Deals 3d8 damage on a touch
Inflict wounds deals a lot of damage for a first level spell and is a useful trump card if you don’t need those spell slots for healing. At first level it dealsmore than as double what you can expect from your melee attacks.
Detect Magic
Lets you identify any creatures or items that carry a magical signature.
When not in combat this is a useful spell to concentrate on whenever possible, and as a ritual you can save spell slots from casting it normally. Spotting magic can let you deduce whenthere is a magical trap, an illusory wall or an enchanted or possessed NPC. It isn’t infallible as it only gives you partial information, but you can’t argue with free.
Sample Strength Cleric Stats
If you just want a quick list to copy down onto your character sheet, this example character should synthesise the main points for a first level character.
Minotaur (+2 strength, +1 constitution)
Ability Scores (using point buy)
14 Strength (+2 from minotaur)
10 dexterity
15 constitution (+1 from minotaur)
15 wisdom
8 charisma
Chainmail (16 AC heavy armour)
Warhammer (Versatile strength weapon, 1d8 or 1d10)
Priests Pack (found in player’s handbook)
Starting hitpoints
10
Spells prepared (can prepare three at level one)
Healing word, Detect Magic, Protection From Evil and Good
