How to build a Light Domain cleric
Want to know how to build a Light domain cleric in D&D? Light is essential in the world of Dungeons & Dragons, and Light Domain Clerics are champions of the sun against creatures of the dark. As a cleric, you can utilise divine magic to help your party overcome obstacles and vanquish foes, but which race and class combination is best?
The Light Domain is one of the eight domains available to clerics in the 5th edition of Dungeons & Dragons. Clerics of this domain are typically dedicated to a god, such as Corellon Larethian, Lathander, Eilistraee, The Silver Flame, Path of Light, Morninglord, and Tharmekhûl. However, with the Xanathar’s Guide To Everything, clerics can follow a set of ideals or a belief system instead. We’ve got everything you need to build a cleric in D&D, including our advice on making a Light Domain cleric in Dungeons & Dragons, what abilities they have, and what you need to be the most optimised Light Domain cleric possible.
How to build a Light Domain cleric
At the first level, Light Domain Clerics gain proficiency in medium armor and martial weapons, as well as the Light cantrip, which sheds light on an object. It can also use its light to blind enemies with the Warding Flare ability, which it can use with its Channel Divinity ability, Radiance of the Dawn. At the second level, Light Domain Clerics can use their Channel Divinity ability, Radiance of the Dawn, to harm enemies and dispel magical darkness.
At the sixth level, Light Domain Clerics gain the Improved Flare ability, which allows them to impose disadvantage on creatures attacking others. Potent Spellcasting, gained at the eighth level, increases the damage output of cleric cantrips. The 17th level ability, Corona of Light, creates an aura of sunlight that imposes disadvantage on enemies’ saving throws against fire or radiant damage.
Recommended race and classes for a Light Domain cleric
The recommended race and classes for a Light Domain cleric are as follows:
Deep gnomes have a number of spells on their spell list that are useful for a cleric, including light and sacred flame. They also have access to the Guidance Cantrip, which is useful for roleplay, and many of their racial traits can help your cleric be more durable.
Duergar make excellent Light Domain Clerics thanks to their spell list and defensive capabilities. You can pick up many spells from the duergar spell list, including alter self, blur, catnap, color spray, crown of madness, darkness, detect thoughts, disguise self, fog cloud, gust of wind, jump, knock, levitate, magic mouth, mirror image, misty step, pass without trace, phantasmal force, phantom menace, shadow blade, sleet storm, stinking cloud, and wall of water.
Earth genasi have a number of useful spells on their spell list, including thunderwave and stinking cloud, and many of their racial traits make them naturally defensive characters.
Eladrin are excellent Light Domain Clerics due to their mobility. You can pick up many spells from the eladrin spell list, including dancing lights, detect magic, ghost sound, light, misty step, and shield. They also have access to the Guidance Cantrip, which is useful for roleplay.
Goblin make excellent Light Domain Clerics for their mobility. You can pick up many spells from the goblin spell list, including disguise self, faerie fire, light, and magic weapon. They also have access to the Guidance Cantrip, which is useful for roleplay.
Wisdom should be your highest stat as a Light Domain Cleric, as this increases your awareness, passive Wisdom (Perception) score, and proficiency bonus. Dexterity is important for increasing your armor class, and Constitution is crucial for a higher hit point maximum. Your Charisma can be useful for roleplay-focused parties, but you can always just leave it at a lower stat. If you’re interested in the Religion skill, you might want to focus on Intelligence instead. Otherwise, strength is not necessary for an optimized Light Domain Cleric build and you can just leave it at a lower stat.
The best Dungeons & Dragons races for a Light Domain Cleric are:
Cantrips are spells that you can cast without using a spell slot and can provide buffs, low-damage output, or utility in roleplay. Clerics have a number of useful cantrips, including cleric Light cantrips, Guidance, Sacred Flame, Spare the Dying, and Thaumaturgy.
Here is a list of the best Light Domain cleric spells:
Light Domain cleric build
Here’s what you’ll need to optimise a Light Domain cleric build:
With those suggestions in mind, here’s the best Light Domain cleric build:
That’s how you build a Light Domain cleric in Dungeons & Dragons, the most optimised version of this class in 5th edition. For more on Dungeons & Dragons, check out our guides to the best D&D races, the best D&D classes, and the best D&D gods, or maybe you’d like to try a Warlock build instead.
