Baldur’s Gate 3 – Cleric Build Guide

Harness the raw power of storms with this comprehensive Tempest Domain Cleric build guide for Baldur’s Gate 3. This specialized divine caster combines devastating elemental offense with robust party support capabilities.

The optimal Baldur’s Gate 3 Cleric configuration leverages the class’s most potent attributes: elemental devastation and divine protection. These dual strengths enable you to safeguard companions while systematically eliminating threats through calculated electrical assaults. Our detailed exploration focuses on maximizing the Tempest Domain’s unique storm-themed abilities.

Clerics have Divinity Charges that work wonders against undead foes.

Our Baldur’s Gate 3 Cleric build analysis provides an in-depth examination of the Tempest Domain, enhanced through strategic application of lightning and thunder-based damage sources. Additionally, we offer a Cleric class overview highlighting optimal choices during initial character configuration.

As a design consideration, we concentrated on a pure class progression without multiclassing complications. However, players retain the option to respec and change classes whenever desired for increased adaptability.

As referenced in our comprehensive overview, we’ll optimize the Cleric’s full potential. The class acquires magical spell benefits through Wisdom attribute investment, alongside proficiency with all armor classifications. We suggest these configurations for your Baldur’s Gate 3 Tempest Cleric:

• Race: Human or Wood Half-Elf – Both provide valuable mobility and utility benefits
• Background: Any selection works, though Acolyte and Folk Hero offer particularly synergistic bonuses.
• Abilities: 8 STR, 14/15 DEX, 16 CON, 8 INT, 17 WIS, and 8/10 CHA.
• Weapons and armor: Utilize any armor type; primary weapons should ideally include maces, warhammers, or spears for melee engagement flexibility.

For our Baldur’s Gate 3 Tempest Cleric progression roadmap, we identify spells selected during character initialization, ensuring they’re properly configured for extended campaign progression. For subsequent character levels, we specify premium selections among available magical options.

Level 1

Subclass Selection:

• Tempest Domain: Wrath of the Storm class capability – Retaliate against attacking entities, potentially inflicting 2-16 lightning damage; if targets fail their saving throws, you deliver half of a 2-16 thunder damage calculation.

Essential Cantrips:

• Guidance – Designated target receives 1d4 bonus to capability checks.
• Sacred Flame – Inflict damage while enveloping a target in radiant, flame-like energy.
• Optional: Thaumaturgy – Obtain advantage for Intimidation and Performance skill checks.
• Optional: Resistance – Target acquires 1d4 bonus to saving throws.
• Optional: Blade Ward – Sustain only half damage from bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing assaults.

Level 2

Core Class Features:

• Spell Slots – You possess a specific quantity of spell slots corresponding to particular tier levels. These recharge completely when performing an extended rest period.
• Channel Divinity Charges – Expend Divinity Charge to activate specific spells. The initial capability is Turn Undead, with additional options unlocking later based on subclass specialization. You also gain extra Divinity Charges at elevated character levels.
• Turn Undead – Inhibit adjacent undead creatures from executing actions, bonus actions, or reactions; the condition terminates upon receiving damage.

Subclass Specialization:

• Destructive Wrath – When rolling thunder or lightning damage, you may utilize Channel Divinity to inflict maximum potential damage.

Spell Selections:

• Create or Destroy Water – Summon rainfall or eliminate water-based surfaces.
• Healing Word – Restore a target’s health by 4-7 HP.
• Guiding Bolt – Deal 4-24 radiant damage; subsequent attack rolls against the affected target gain advantage.
• Bless – Grant three targets 1d4 bonus to attack rolls and saving throws.
• Optional: Thaumaturgy – Secure advantage on Intimidation and Performance checks.
• Optional: Bane – Impose -1d4 penalty to attack rolls and saving throws on three targets.
• Optional: Command – Direct a creature to retreat, advance, immobilize, prone, or discard its melee weapon.
• Optional: Sanctuary – You or a companion cannot be targeted until harming another entity; still vulnerable to area-of-effect attacks and spells.

Given our primary focus on thunder and lightning damage for this Baldur’s Gate 3 Cleric configuration, the Create or Destroy Water spell can generate damp terrain, meaning adversaries become significantly more susceptible to electrical effects.

Level 3

Subclass Spell Additions:

• Shatter – Inflicts 3-24 thunder damage across a broad area; targets composed of inorganic substances suffer disadvantage to their saving throws.
• Gust of Wind – Repel creatures up to five meters, rendering them unbalanced.

Additional Spells:

• Add: Spiritual Weapon – Conjure a floating weapon under your control; deals 4-11 force damage.
• Add: Prayer of Healing – Restore health to all visible allies for 5-19 HP.
• Remove the previously selected optional spell.

Apart from thunder and lightning elemental spells, Clerics are amazing support units due to their heals and buffs.

Level 4

Feat Selection: Ability Improvement – Increase Wisdom by +2; ensure you defeat Auntie Ethel to achieve the 20 Wisdom maximum.

Cantrip Enhancement: Select any remaining options previously mentioned.

Level 5

Class Advancement:

• Destroy Undead – When successfully turning an undead creature, it also receives 4-24 radiant damage.

Subclass Spell Expansions:

• Call Lightning – Electrical strikes affect all targets within range, dealing 3-30 damage; for 10 turns following, you can summon lightning again without consuming a spell slot.
• Sleet Storm – Interrupts spellcaster concentration, extinguishes flames, and generates icy surfaces.

Prepared Spell Updates:

• Mass Healing Word – Restores 5-8 HP for up to six allies.
• Spirit Guardians – Concentrate to manifest a spiritual aura rotating around you, inflicting 3-24 radiant or necrotic damage to enemies within proximity.
• Optional: Daylight – Cause an object to radiate sunlight or summon a sphere of illumination that eliminates darkness.
• Optional: Beacon of Hope – Focus so all companions receive maximum HP when healed; allies gain advantage to Wisdom saving throws and death saving throws.

Level 6

Subclass Enhancement:

• Thunderbolt Strike – When delivering thunder or lightning damage to a target that’s large or smaller, you can additionally push it up to three meters.

Level 7

Subclass Spell Progression:

• Ice Storm – Deals 6-40 cold damage across a wide area; the resulting frost formation can cause individuals within it to slip and fall prone.
• Freedom of Movement – Eliminates stun from an ally; challenging terrain cannot impede them; cannot be magically paralyzed or restrained.

Spell Additions:

• Guardian of Faith – Generate a divine protector that assaults enemies within its range; it will diminish HP equivalent to the damage it inflicts.
• Death Ward – Shield a target from death; lethal damage will instead maintain them at 1 HP.

Level 8

Subclass Combat Actions:

• Divine Strike: Tempest – Once per combat round, inflict 1-8 thunder damage in addition to your weapon’s base damage when executing melee attacks.

Feat Acquisition:

• War Caster – Obtain advantage on saving throws utilized to sustain concentration on a spell. Permits using a reaction to cast Shocking Grasp at a target when it exits melee range.

Level 9

Spell Upgrades:

• Flame Strike – Cause 10-60 fire and radiant damage; summons a pillar of fire from celestial realms.
• Mass Cure Wounds – Heal 7-28 HP for yourself and nearby companions.

Level 10

Class Capstone: Divine Intervention – Appeal to your deity for assistance during critical moments; can be employed only once per character throughout the entire campaign.

Level 11

Spell Advancements:

• Planar Ally – Summon either a Deva, Djinni, or Cambion to combat alongside you.
• Blade Barrier – Create a zone that becomes difficult terrain, injuring those who approach too closely.

Level 12

Final Feat Selection – This represents the concluding phase of gameplay. You might choose Shield Master for +2 Dexterity saving throw enhancement, and potential to halve or negate spells requiring Dex saves. Alternatively, Mobile increases movement distance, prevents difficult terrain from slowing movement when dashing, and avoids opportunity attacks when retreating from enemies after performing melee assaults.

Mastering the Tempest Cleric requires understanding elemental combinations and positioning tactics. The Create or Destroy Water spell creates wet surfaces that double lightning damage effectiveness – coordinate with party members who can exploit this vulnerability. Position your Cleric mid-range to maximize area control spells while maintaining healing accessibility.

Optimal party composition includes a frontline tank to draw aggression, allowing your Cleric to control the battlefield. Use Thunderbolt Strike strategically to push enemies into environmental hazards or separate them from their allies. Against spellcasters, Sleet Storm provides exceptional disruption capabilities.

Advanced players should master the timing of Destructive Wrath – save it for critical moments when maximum damage can eliminate high-priority targets. Combine Spirit Guardians with War Caster to maintain this powerful area denial effect throughout extended engagements.

Avoid these common Tempest Cleric pitfalls: Don’t waste Destructive Wrath on minor enemies, conserve Channel Divinity charges for boss encounters. Avoid positioning in melee range without proper backup – your strength lies in controlled engagement distances.

Gear optimization should prioritize items that enhance Wisdom, improve saving throws, or provide additional lightning damage. Look for equipment that reduces thunder damage resistance among enemy types.

For players seeking comprehensive character building guidance, our Class Guide provides detailed analysis of optimal progression paths and ability synergies.

Remember that while this build focuses on pure class progression, the game’s flexibility allows for experimentation. Our Complete Guide offers additional insights into advanced gameplay mechanics.

No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » Baldur’s Gate 3 – Cleric Build Guide Master the Tempest Domain Cleric with lightning damage optimization, strategic spell selection, and combat tactics