With domain features immediately available at level one and an incredibly flexible style of spellcasting, cleric is an excellent choice for a secondary class. Even a single level dip is worthwhile, and two levels will get you access to their powerful Channel Divinity feature.
But while clerics offer a lot as a secondary class, they often don’t have much to gain from dipping into others. That said, there are definitely fun and viable multiclass builds if you want cleric as your core class. There are a few things to keep in mind, however – so let me walk you through some of the better multiclassing options for clerics.
5. Cleric/Bard
While the cleric/bard has support utility and roleplaying potential, it isn't the most optimized by a long shot. One specific problem is that the two classes' ability scores are in conflict with each other, as clerics use Wisdom to cast their spells and bards use Charisma.
Why Cleric/Bard Is Great
- As the bard is a full spellcasting class, you continue to advance your spellcasting and retain all your potential spell slots
- You get access to some unique bard spells like Dissonant Whispers and Vicious Mockery.
- Bard gives access to Jack of All Trades, which lets you add half your proficiency bonus to any ability check you make that doesn't already include it.
- You also get Bardic Inspiration and Cutting Words.
4. Cleric/Druid
There is a significant downside depending on your domain, however, which is that druids can’t wear metal armor or use metal shields.
Why Cleric/Druid Is Great
- Both clerics and druids prepare their spells, instead of having to commit to learning them. This means you have a huge pool of spells that you can immediately make use of from both classes.
- Druids also have some great unique spells like Entangle and Moonbeam.
- Clerics don’t benefit from the druid's Wildshape as much as some of the other classes, but it still adds utility and has versatile applications.
- The biggest boon to this combination is the Disciple of Life feature from the Life Domain combined with the druid’s Goodberry and Healing Spirit. All of your healing abilities and spells are powerfully enhanced by Disciple of Life, and the first level Goodberry ends up restoring a whopping 40 hit points.
3. Cleric/Sorcerer
Divine Soul is probably the most synergetic with the cleric class, though a Tempest Domain cleric with some levels as a Storm sorcerer is also relatively common. Since it’s a full spellcasting class, you can take levels in sorcerer without losing any advancement of spells or spell slots.
The drawback here is that the cleric and sorcerer use different ability scores for spellcasting, and needing high scores in both Wisdom and Charisma could spread your cleric a little thin.
Why Cleric/Sorcerer Is Great
- If you choose the Divine Soul origin, you get the first level ability Favored By The Gods. If you fail a saving throw or miss with an attack roll, you can roll 2d4 and add it to the total, possibly changing the outcome.
- If you decide to go beyond a single level, your cleric can capitalize on metamagic. It’s a great way to boost versatility for any spellcaster, and there are quite a few cleric spells that benefit greatly from metamagic.
- Sorcerer gives you access to a whole new litany of spells, including ones that inflict higher amounts of damage when compared to the cleric's typical damage output.
2. Cleric/Ranger
In terms of roleplaying, this character could be a lone nature-worshipping priest living isolated in the wilderness, the last member of a forgotten religion, or a holy hermit who shuns civilized society.
Why Cleric/Ranger Is Great
- You get the Favored Enemy feature, which works well with the stereotypical cleric who might have a strong dislike or even hatred of undead and fiends. You also get Natural Explorer, which gives you a bunch of bonuses while traveling through your chosen Favored Terrain.
- Rangers have the Hunter’s Mark spell, which can end up inflicting a lot of bonus damage when cast with higher-level cleric spell slots.
- This multiclass is also the easiest route for the cleric to gain an extra attack, which you get with five levels in ranger.
- This combination also has access to the same superpowered healing abilities as the cleric/druid subclass. If you choose the Life Domain, you get Disciple of Life which makes all of your healing spells more effective. This means more powerful versions of Goodberry and Healing Spirit.
1. Cleric/Paladin
This multiclass is an effective way to achieve a more martial cleric that combines the hit points and combat abilities of the paladin with the versatility of the cleric spell list and their higher number of spell slots. If you are looking for a tougher, more martial cleric then this is the best option.
There is one issue with this multiclass. There’s conflict between the classes primary ability scores, as cleric is Wisdom-dependent while dipping into paladin requires a score of 13 in both Strength and Charisma.
Why Cleric/Paladin Is Great
- Two levels in paladin lets you pick a Fighting Style, any of which gives a bonus to your combat abilities.
- Divine Sense is a level one paladin class feature that lets you detect the presence of any Celestial, Fiend, or Undead within 6o feet. You can use this in combination with the cleric’s Turn Undead ability, which compels undead creatures to move as far away from your party as possible and limits their action to dashing or attempting to escape an effect that is preventing it from moving.
- The paladin’s Lay On Hands ability is an additional avenue to healing yourself or party members that doesn’t require the use of a spell slot.
- One of the biggest appeals of this multiclass is the use of the paladin's Divine Smite with the cleric's more numerous spell slots. Additionally, it scales with the level of the spell slot you use to cast it, not with your paladin level.
- You gain an extra attack at level five, if you commit to gaining more levels in paladin at the risk of losing out on higher level cleric abilities and spells.
