Death Domain FAQ
How do you build and play a Death Domain Cleric?
Keep Wisdom high for Cleric spellcasting, decide whether the martial weapon proficiency will actually be part of the build, and use Reaper or Improved Reaper when two valid enemies are close enough to share a necromancy effect. Touch of Death rewards landing a melee attack, but the subclass remains a full Cleric and should not be played as though every turn must be a weapon attack.
Wisdom remains the spellcasting ability
Spell attacks, save DCs and prepared-spell capacity still use Wisdom. Reaper does not create a new spellcasting ability.
Martial weapons are an option, not an obligation
The Domain gains martial weapon proficiency and later Divine Strike, so weapon combat is supported. A Death Cleric can still rely heavily on cantrips and leveled spells where that is more effective.
Look for paired targets
Reaper and Improved Reaper become more valuable when two enemies are within the required distance of one another. Positioning, forced movement from allies and target selection can therefore matter more than on a conventional Cleric.
Use Touch of Death on meaningful hits
Channel Divinity is limited. Spending Touch of Death on a minor target that was already going to fall may be poor resource use. A boss, dangerous caster or enemy that must be removed immediately is a better candidate.
Remember concentration and action economy
The subclass adds damage tools but does not remove normal Cleric concentration rules. A strong concentration spell can keep producing value while the Cleric uses weapon attacks, cantrips or Channel Divinity on later turns.
Check campaign availability
Because the subclass comes from the DM-facing villainous options in the 2014 Dungeon Master's Guide, player use should be explicit rather than assumed.