Cleric FAQ
What subclasses can a Cleric choose?
A Cleric's subclass is called a Divine Domain and is chosen at 1st level in the 2014 rules. Major official pre-2024 Fifth Edition options include Arcana, Death, Forge, Grave, Knowledge, Life, Light, Nature, Order, Peace, Tempest, Trickery, Twilight, and War. Individual campaign availability can still restrict which Domains are selectable.
A Cleric's subclass is called a Divine Domain. Unlike many 2014 classes, the Cleric chooses its subclass at 1st level. The Domain immediately grants features and Domain Spells, then adds further features at 2nd, 6th, 8th, and 17th level. Different official pre-2024 Fifth Edition books introduced additional Domains beyond the original Player's Handbook selection. The exact allowed list is always campaign-dependent.
Player's Handbook Domains
The 2014 Player's Handbook includes:
- Knowledge Domain;
- Life Domain;
- Light Domain;
- Nature Domain;
- Tempest Domain;
- Trickery Domain;
- War Domain.
These establish a broad range of Cleric identities.
Knowledge emphasises lore and information.
Life specialises in healing and preserving life.
Light adds radiant and fire-oriented offense plus defensive light-based abilities.
Nature connects divine magic to the natural world.
Tempest emphasises storm power, thunder, lightning, and martial durability.
Trickery focuses on deception, stealth, duplicates, and illusion.
War pushes the Cleric toward weapons and martial divine power.
Death Domain
Death Domain appears as a villainous or DM-facing option in the 2014 Dungeon Master's Guide.
It focuses on necromancy, death, and necrotic offense.
Because the Domain has a different publication context from ordinary Player's Handbook options, campaign availability should be checked rather than assumed.
Arcana Domain
Arcana Domain combines divine magic with arcane knowledge.
It grants access to arcane-flavoured options and reinforces a Cleric whose faith is closely connected to magic itself.
It is particularly suitable for characters serving deities or philosophies concerned with magic, magical knowledge, or supernatural order.
Forge Domain
Forge Domain focuses on craftsmanship, metal, equipment, fire, and divine creation.
It is a durable Domain with strong thematic links to smiths, artisans, protective gear, and sacred craftsmanship.
A Forge Cleric often feels more heavily armored and equipment-focused than a conventional caster Cleric.
Grave Domain
Grave Domain concerns the boundary between life and death rather than simply causing death.
It is designed around protecting that boundary, helping creatures near death, opposing unnatural manipulation of death, and creating windows in which enemies become especially vulnerable.
It is thematically distinct from Death Domain.
Order Domain
Order Domain focuses on authority, discipline, command, and coordinated action.
Its features reward a Cleric who supports allies while directing the flow of combat.
It fits divine servants of law, hierarchy, civilisation, command, or structured institutions.
Peace Domain
Peace Domain focuses on supernatural bonds between allies.
Its defining mechanics improve cooperative actions and let connected party members support one another in ways a conventional Cleric cannot.
It is a highly support-oriented Domain rather than a purely healing subclass.
Twilight Domain
Twilight Domain focuses on protection, darkness, vigilance, and the boundary between light and night.
It grants powerful darkvision-related utility and a Channel Divinity that creates a protective twilight area.
The Domain is designed as a strong defensive and support option.
How do you choose a Domain?
Choose based on the role and theme you want to emphasise.
A simplified comparison is:
Arcana → divine/arcane crossover and magical knowledge Death → necromancy and necrotic offense Forge → armor, equipment, craftsmanship, fire Grave → life/death boundary and anti-death support Knowledge → lore, information, skill utility Life → healing and durability Light → radiant/fire offense and defensive light Nature → natural magic and nature-oriented utility Order → command, authority, coordinated allies Peace → party bonds and cooperative support Tempest → storms, thunder, lightning, martial durability Trickery → deception, stealth, illusion Twilight → protective darkness, vigilance, support War → weapon combat and martial divine power
This is role guidance, not a replacement for the subclass rules.