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Baldur’s Gate 3can be a tough game for someone new to the series, or new to CRPGDungeons and Dragons-like games in general. A well-balanced party composition should have some kind of support class,which the Cleric happens to excel at. The best Cleric builds aren’t necessarily those that deal the most damage, but those that make full use of this class' unique quirks.
The Life Domain is one of four Domains players can choose inBG3, and it’sa fantastic way to build a Clericthanks to its variety of always-prepared support spells. This leaves players open to pick up other spells when leveling, which gives the Cleric more variety and makes it one of the most versatile classes inBaldur’s Gate 3.
Updated June 15, 2025 by Erik Petrovich: With the release ofPatch 8 for Baldur’s Gate 3, Cleric builds have gained another subclass option to choose from: the Death Domain. Though this new subclass offers a new way to play this class, the best BG3 Cleric build that takes advantage of the class' strengths the most uses the Life Domain. As you journey through Baldur’s Gate 3, the best Cleric builds can benefit greatly from picking up a few permanent buffs. Though these often require you to go out of your way, the best permanent buffs can grant powerful stat upgrades and new abilities that push the best Cleric build to its limits. This guide has been updated to include brief information on the new Death Domain Cleric subclass, as well as a new section that covers the best Cleric permanent buffs and stat upgrades that are worth hunting down.
Cleric Class Introduction & Overview
The Baldur’s Gate 3 Cleric Class, Explained
“Clerics are representatives of the gods they worship, wielding potent divine magic for good or ill.”
Cleric Playstyle & Signature Abilities
The Cleric is a multi-faceted class that puts equal emphasis on support and damage in virtually every BG3 Cleric build.
Clerics are capable of being one of the game’s strongest healers and source of party buffs, but they can also be incredibly powerful spellcasters and melee brawlers that have access to spells similar to the Druid or Wizard’s repertoire. No matter which BG3 Cleric domain you choose, all players get access to the Turn Undead, Destroy Undead, and Divine Intervention abilities at various levels, too.
The Cleric’s unique features are related to one’s choice of Domain, including unique always-prepared spells and Channel Divinity abilities that correspond to the chosen BG3 Cleric subclass.
Domain spells work just like other spells, and are highlighted in the spell list when leveling to avoid picking them twice. Channel Divinity abilities vary from domain to domain, and offer powerful effects from limited Channel Divinity charges. Clerics gain Channel Divinity charges at Level 2 and 6, which replenish on either a Short or Long Rest.
Base Cleric Class Proficiencies: Armor, Weapons, Saving Throws, & Skill Choices
When you first start creating your Cleric Build,BG3offers a selection of basic Class Proficiencies, and a choice of two Cleric Skill Proficiencies.
In addition to Armor, Weapon, and Saving Throw proficiencies that vary for each class, the pool of Skills you’re able to choose from are different for each class. These cannot be changed once you get past character creation.
All Cleric Subclasses
There are a total of eightBG3Domains (subclasses) Cleric players can try out, each of which focuses on different aspects of the class, and offers a selection of unique skills, proficiencies, and other features. As you level up in one of theseBG3Cleric subclasses, you will gain more abilities that are unique to your subclass choice.
Your choice of Cleric subclass can be changed by speaking with Withers, but you will start at Level 1 and have to make your BG3 Cleric build from scratch. Though this chart displays information for all subclasses, if you want to make best Cleric buildBG3has to offer, you should go for the Life Domain.
(new with Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 8)
Cleric Class Features – Level By Level
The max level inBaldur’s Gate 3is Level 12, and most of the time, each level you gain will grant something new for your Cleric build. In character creation, you gain the basics for the Cleric class, then steadily gain Feat Choices, new spells and abilities, subclass features, and increase your Proficiency Bonus.
This chart displays everything you can expect to get at each Level-Up as a Cleric in yourBaldur’s Gate 3journey. The only level when you do not get anything Cleric-related specifically is at Level 11.
+2
+3
+4
1 + WIS modifier
3
2
–
2 + WIS modifier
3 + WIS modifier
4
4 + WIS modifier
5 + WIS modifier
6 + WIS modifier
7 + WIS modifier
1
8 + WIS modifier
9 + WIS modifier
10 + WIS modifier
5
11 + WIS modifier
12 + WIS modifier
BG3 Cleric Subclass Choice – Life Domain
Overview Of BG3 Cleric Life Domain Subclass
“The Life domain is an aspect of many good deities, offering spells that protect and restore the mind, body, and soul.”
What Makes The Life Domain The Best Cleric Subclass?
The Life Domain Cleric isn’t the most powerful Cleric build when it comes to raw damage output. But when one considers the breadth of buffs and support skillsavailable to this subclass, it’s easy to see its benefits and its ability to get a party to get through otherwise overwhelming foes, where extra damage wouldn’t help.
As a support sub-class, the Life Domain Cleric can deal damage when it needs to, but most of the time players will stay far from enemies and close to their teammates, ready with a buff or a heal when needed. The Disciple of Life passive gives a bit of extra healing with each spell cast, and can even heal themself with each cast at later levels.
The build is notably proficient in Heavy Armor, a proficiency granted by the Life Domain subclass itself. Italso has several Cantripsthat keep allies alive and enemies weak when their relatively limited spell slots are expended – but their Domain Spells are always prepared, leaving room for other spells to diversify options.
At several levels, players are given free spells that don’t need to be slotted in and out of the spellbook. These spells include Bless and Cure Wounds at Level 1, Aid and Lesser Restoration at Level 3, and Revivify and Beacon of Hope at Level 5.
These aresome of the most powerful healingand support-oriented skills in the game, not to mention the AoE heal in the form of Preserve Life, a Channel Divinity skill gained at Level 2.
Life Domain Subclass Features – Level By Level
In addition to everything you unlock while leveling as a Cleric, your Subclass also determines what you unlock at certain levels. As a Cleric, you can select a subclass at Level 1, in the character creation menu.
For the purposes of this guide to theBG3best Cleric build, choose the Life Domain when prompted to choose a Subclass.
BG3 Cleric Build Race, Background, Proficiency, Feats, & Stat Choices
Best BG3 Cleric Race: Duergar
The Duergar race is one of the best races for Clerics in Baldur’s Gate 3 because of their powerful Duergar Resilience passive, which is granted from level 1. This passive grants Advantage against Saving Throws for being Charmed or Paralyzed by enemies, as well as against Illusion magic.
At level 3, Duergar get the ability to Enlarge themselves, altering their Strength stat and direct weapon damage. At Level 5, Duergar gain the ability to cast Invisibility as a racial ability. However, unlike many limited-use abilities, Duergar can cast Invisibility on themselves at will when out of combat, though it can only be used once per long rest in combat.
This is incredibly powerful for setting up the Cleric in an optimal position before combat, then once in combat, Invisibility gives the Cleric a way to get out of dangerous spots.
Being a Dwarf means having a slightly reduced total Movement Distance, but what it lacks in mobility it makes up for with Dwarven Resilience, Superior Darkvision, and several weapon proficiencies Clerics don’t normally have.
Best BG3 Cleric Deity: Selûne or Bahamut
One’s choice of deity as a Cleric doesn’t affect the game altogether too much, aside from unlocking some unique dialogue options. As a Life Domain build that’s focused on healing and support, it makes the most sense to go with either Selûne or Bahamut when it comes to deity choice in character creation.
Selûne is the goddess of the moon and stars, and is the most impactful deity choice because of the many dialogue options it opens up with Shadowheart – a worshipper of Selûne’s nemesis, Shar.
Bahamut also makes a lot of sense as the god of mercy and justice, and is a classic choice for a good-aligned Cleric whose righteous cause is helping others.
Best Cleric Backgrounds in BG3: Folk Hero or Guild Artisan
The Folk Hero background can be useful for Clerics because it gives proficiencies to the Animal Handling and Survival skills, both of which rely on the Cleric’s main stat Wisdom. Animal Handling and Survival are both skills that the Cleric typically doesn’t have access to at character creation for its starting proficiencies, too, and can be useful additions to the class.
Typically, Folk Hero characters will earn Inspiration from performing feats of folk heroism, like saving NPCs' lives or taking on fearsome foes then bragging about it later.
However, it can also be useful to pick up the Guild Artisan background instead because the bonuses to Insight and Persuasion can be extremely helpful in dialogue and RP encounters throughoutBaldur’s Gate 3.
Players will have tons of opportunities to trigger these Inspirations, but it means these two skills are pulled out of the total five Cleric starting skill proficiency choices.
Best BG3 Cleric Skill Proficiency Choices: Insight and Persuasion (or Medicine and Religion)
Depending on your choice of background, your choices for Cleric starting skill proficiencies will change. By choosing the Guild Artisan background, players gain Insight and Persuasion proficiency, so it’s ineffective to select these two skills again. Instead, go with Medicine and Religion.
But, if you go with the Folk Hero background, all five Cleric starting skills are up for grabs. In this case, go with Insight and Persuasion over Medicine and Religion.
Either way, be sure to have Persuasion on your cleric as it’s one of the most often-used skills inBaldur’s Gate 3.
Best Cleric Ability Scores & Stat Distribution
To create the bestBG3Cleric build, we recommend putting the majority of points into your Wisdom, followed by Constitution and Dexterity. The primary stat for most Life Domain Cleric spells and abilities inBG3is Wisdom, but Constitution and Dexterity should follow closely behind for survivability and secondary combat bonuses.
Charisma, Strength, and Intelligence are not essential for the Life Domain Cleric build.
10
14
16
8
-1
Best Cleric Spells, Feats, & Other Choices At Every Level
InBaldur’s Gate 3the max level you can reach is Level 12, but not every class gets something every time it levels up. But as a Spellcaster class, thisBG3Cleric build will have something to choose at every level.
This table displays recommendedBG3Cleric build choices for every level, including recommended spells you should add to your Spellbook at each level. These spells synergize well with theBG3Life Cleric build, including a variety of support spells to provide aid to your party and both debuffs and control effects to affect combat more directly.
Fighter
Melee Tank
Great for drawing attention away from other party members while holding her own
Wizard
Ranged Damage
Access to all Spells makes Gale the most versatile starting companion
Rogue
Melee Damage/Utility
Lockpicking is incredibly useful outside of Combat, and Sneak Attacks can be deadly
The best Cleric companions inBG3are Lae’Zel as your melee bruiser, Gale as your ranged damage-dealer, and Astarion as a versatile blend of melee and Stealth maneuvers. Though you can change the class and specialization of any of your companions, these three come with strong pre-determined class and spec combos to balance out your Cleric party composition.
If you are dead set on including a character in your party, simply talk to Withers to respec them to one of the optimal Cleric companion classes listed above. This way, you won’t miss out on that character’s questline, and you won’t have to suffer from an improperly balanced party.
Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Cleric Build Equipment
Get The Best BG3 Cleric Gear In All Three Acts
This section covers the best equipment for Life Domain Clerics in BG3 across all three Acts. Some pieces from early Acts may still be powerful in later ones, though, and will remain equipped through several Acts.
Accept Zevlor’s offered gold after defeating the Goblin camp
Open a locked and trapped chest in the Festering Grove
Hellrider’s Pride
Rewarded by Zevlor for stopping the ritual in the Emerald Grove
Boots Of Aid And Comfort
The Whispering Promise
Purchased from Grat in the Goblin Camp, or Brem in the Zhentarim Hideout
The Blood of Lathander
Explore the depths of the Rosymorn Monastery, after collecting all Ceremonial Weapons and earning the right to collect it. Or, try to steal it.
Wapira’s Crown
Accept Zevlor’s offered gold after defeating the Goblin camp (Act 1)
Slippery Chain Shirt
Open a locked and trapped chest in the Festering Grove (Act 1)
Rewarded by Zevlor for stopping the ritual in the Emerald Grove (Act 1)
Purchased from Grat the Trader at the Goblin Camp (Act 1)
Periapt of Wound Closure
Purchased from Lady Esther just outside the Rosymorn Monastery (Act 1)
Purchased from Omeluum in the Myconid Colony (Act 1)
Purchased from Grat in the Goblin Camp, or Brem in the Zhentarim Hideout (Act 1)
Explore the depths of the Rosymorn Monastery, after collecting all Ceremonial Weapons and earning the right to collect it. Or, attempt to steal it (Act 1)
Cloak of Protection
Purchased from Quartermaster Talli in the Last Light Inn (Act 2)
The Reviving Hands
Purchased from Vicar Humbletoes in Stormshore Tabernacle in the Lower City
Amulet of the Devout
Sentinel Shield
Drops from Lann Tarv, a Bugbear within Moonrise Towers (Act 2)
Best BG3 Cleric Build Consumables
InBaldur’s Gate 3, Cleric builds can be enhanced further with the use of specific consumables. Certain potions, like the Potion of Speed, will let Clerics do more within a single turn and support their allies better, while others, like the Potion of Angelic Reprieve, will let Clerics restore Spell Slots to keep casting.
If you spot any of these useful Cleric consumables as world loot or enemy loot, in trader inventories, or otherwise, be sure to pick them up and store them in your character’s bag for later use.
Consumable Effects
Potion of Angelic Reprieve
Equivalent to a Short Rest, and restores all Level 1 and 2 Spell Slots. Must sleep for two turns to activate the effect.
Potion of Angelic Slumber
Equivalent to a Long Rest, and restores all Spell Slots. Must sleep for two turns to activate the effect.
Elixirs of Arcane Cultivation
Four types, each granting an additional Level 1 (standard), Level 2 (Greater), Level 3 (Superior), or Level 4 (Supreme) Spell Slot.
All Potions of Healing
Instantly restores a set amount of HP. As a Cleric, you can throw these at the foot of party members to shatter it and instantly heal them if you are out of Spell Slots.
Potion of Speed
Grants Hastened for 3 turns, increasing AC by 2 and granting Advantage on DEX saving throws and an additional Action, and increases movement by 30ft.
Best BG3 Cleric Build Permanent Buffs
ThroughoutBG3you will find numerous ways to permanently increase your stats, gain permanent passive bonuses, or otherwise grant your character a permanent buff. For the bestBG3Cleric build in the Life Domain, keep an eye out for these five best Cleric permanent buffs as you adventure through the Sword Coast and beyond:
Auntie Ethel’s Hair
Grants +1 to any Ability Score of your choice
Must complete Mayrina’s quest in Act 1, but don’t kill Auntie Ethel. When she reaches low HP, she will offer to be spared. Accept her deal and you will gain Auntie Ethel’s Hair.
Awakened
All Illithid Powers now cost 1 Bonus Action instead of an Action
You must succeed all three Saving Throws inside the Githyanki Creche’s Zaith’isk to get this buff.
You may also absorb this skill when playing as Laezel by passing a DC 30 Arcana check (which will usually require a nat 20 roll) to take the power for your own.
Lovitar’s Love
Grants +2 to Attack Rolls and Wisdom Saving Throws when under 30% HP
Speak to Abdirak in the Shattered Sanctum inside the Goblin Camp. Ask him about being a follower of Lovitar, then pass two Intimidation checks.
The Tharchiate Codex
Once per Long Rest, gain 20 Temporary HP
Find and read “The Tharchiate Codex” within the Sorcerous Vault, which can only be accessed via Sorcerous Sundries in Baldur’s Gate City. You must use the Remove Curse spell to read it.
Mirror of Loss
Grants +2 to one Ability Score of your choice
Find the Mirror of Loss in the Cloister of Sombre Embrace within the House of Grief, found toward the end of Act 2.
Either offer the Necromancy of Thay (and the buff it grants) or pass a DC 25 Religion check to get +2 to any ability score of your choice.
Best BG3 Cleric Multiclass Choices
Maximize Your BG3 Cleric Build With Complimentary Cleric Multiclass Options
Players can choose to Multiclass beginning at Level 2. Look for the “Add Class” button on the top right of the level up overview menu – this will open up a new menu where players can choose one of any other class inBaldur’s Gate 3when selected.
Fighter Multiclass – Cleric 10/Fighter 2
It might not seem like a natural fit, but dipping two levels into the Fighter class as a Cleric grants an incredibly powerful ability: Action Surge. One of the iconic abilities of the Fighter class, Action Surge is a Bonus Action that grants the caster another Action that turn.
Action Surge can be used once every short or long rest, granting the Cleric another Action to cast a spell when needed. This Cleric multiclass requires two levels in Fighter because Fighters do not start with this ability.
Because of this requirement, players can only put 10 levels into Cleric, locking the character off from Level 6 spells – Clerics unlock the ability to use Level 6 spells at Level 11.
Wizard Multiclass – Cleric 11/Wizard 1
One of the biggest benefits of multiclassing into the Wizard class is that, with just one level dip into the Wizard, a character gains the ability to learn spells from scrolls.
When paired with the Cleric – another Spellcaster class that uses Prepared Spells – this multiclass combination vastly opens up a character’s spell repertoire.
This multiclass choice has little impact on a character’s ability to use high-level spells. Because both classes are Prepared Spellcasters, and the ability to learn from scrolls only requires one level, a Cleric 11 Wizard 1 character will still be able to use Level 6 spells and have Level 6 spell slots unlocked.
