The Best Spells for Clerics of D&D 5e ☀️ Holy Spell Selection by Level

Clerics are front-loaded with powerful spells and a few deceptively underwhelming spells. Their high-level spells need to be amazing to compete with simply upcasting low-level spells like Bless and Spirit Guardians. Let's see how the list shakes out!

My full write-up is available for #Cleric spell preparation in #DND5e (#dungeonsanddragons):

⏰Time Stamps:
00:00​ Intro about Clerics
00:34 Cleric cantrips
01:25 1st-level Cleric spells
02:30 2nd-level Cleric spells
03:48 3rd-level Cleric spells
04:58 4th-level Cleric spells
05:57 5th-level Cleric spells
07:08 6th-level Cleric spells
08:49 7th-level Cleric spells
09:40 8th-level Cleric spells
10:42 9th-level Cleric spells
11:21 What do you think are the best Cleric spells?

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[ShardPFe]

I think one of Inflict Wounds or Guiding Bolt is a must have. If your party is caster heavy Bane may be a better pick than Bless. I really like Bestow Curse, especially concentration free when upcast to lvl5, the 'Wisdom save or lose your Action' effect can be amazing.

[davecorriveau]

Thanks for this video. With my own cleric, I'm often lost on priorities about my spells. Very useful, indeed! :)

[kwaksea]

You can mix and match Spell Slots (not Cantrip though) every Long Rest, so dont be afraid of trying out

[crapstirrer]

Locate Object as an Apple Airtag is about all I use it for.

[yototrash]

Aura of Vitality is an amazing 3rd level spell for an action economy (it spends a bonus action, plus you can use it for the whole minute)

[deantitus]

I believe that you made a grave omission from the list of 6th level spells, that being Heroes Feast!! Even though it takes one hour to cast, up to 12 allies get to chow down in style AND get the following benefits: 2d10 added to all HP maximums, immunity to being frightened and poisoned, making all Wisdom saving throws with advantage and these effects last for 24 hours!!

[natashasurvivallady]

My only problem with the cleric spell list is that between Bless and Spirit Guardians, it's hard to justify picking other concentration spells most of the time because those two are just so good. And there are a lot of good concentration spells you could be using! But you always have to weigh them against those two, and that can be a little boring to me.

[PlasticCupify]

Sanctuary makes me feel good (especially as someone who focuses on buffing, healing, and debuffing) the idea that a god made a creature second guess hitting you is fun.

[scottjohnson]

Just played in a lvl 20 1 shot. I played a 17 twilight cleric and 3 paladin of retribution. Hero's feast + Aid + twilight aura is easy 50+ extra hit points for 3 and and still 30+ for any other party member. Circle of power is also good to give your whole team advantage on saving throws. We fought an Elder Brain Dragon and I about carried the party of 4 thru the fight.

[kathleenwilson-dail]

Thanks! I'm new to the game, this is very helpful

[mikececconi]

I enjoy the concept of the Knowledge Cleric 1 / Lore Bard X character a lot, of someone inspired by their god to go out and find their own stories / their own knowledge, and one level of Knowledge Cleric really just rounds out the Lore Bard concept so well. I think a Bard should have at least a small multiclass (conceptually, because they're a jack of all trades, mechanically, because if you manage to play to 20, the bard's capstone is trash, perhaps on purpose) and Knowledge Cleric just pulls the room together like The Dude's rug. Medium armor, shields, two more expertise and then... as you're talking about, the spells. Bard is limited on attack cantrips and ranged spell attack options, especially early, and Cleric fixes that. Take the Toll The Dead cantrip and prepare the Guiding Bolt 1st level spell to mostly paper over the early-level Bard's problems with early level ranged damage. Then you take Guidance and Spare The Dying cantrips and prepare Bless and you're leaning into the Bard's strengths as a support. You may be a little MAD, having to put a few points into WIS but, hey, you still have all your levels worth of spell slots. The Cleric's early spells are SO good for rounding out any support-control leaning character.

[HighSummonerBWM]

What about Summon Celestial? You left that one out. I truly love that spell.

[wwade]

I think you mentioned Bless applies to ability checks. It only applies to attacks and saves.

[Kerinnon]

hey flutes i‘m interested in your opinion of the different totems of the path of the totem warrior. since tasha‘s came out the barbarian got himself a few nice optional features and maybe this can change the perspective on the more often chosen totems

[Siegsoul]

Weirdly mending if your a grave cleric sometimes you don't want to put up with a close casket some times you need to fix up the skeleton after you bash it's skull in

[psusac]

The mechanical effects of spare the dying can be accomplished with a healer's kit. The cantrip is worthless. The grave domain gets it at range as a bonus action for free so there is that.

[TheRobversion]

Here's a few great cleric spells of level 6 or under that i think you missed out on:

1st: inflict wounds- one of the best attack spells in the game especially in combination with path to the grave and other dmg boosters.

1st- sanctuary- one of the best defensive spells in the game that works best on grapple tanks or on someone who's maintaining spells like telekinesis.

3rd- call lightning (tempest)- one of the best sustained dmg spells in the game. in the hands of a tempest cleric with quickened spell and action surge, this is also one of the best burst dmg spells in the game.

3rd- bestow curse- upcast to 5th for one of the few non-concen control spells in the game which is always good.

3rd- aura of vitality- combine with extend spell for the best out of combat healing in the game (well since healing spirit was nerfed).

4th- stone shape- one of the best defensive spells in the game as long as you have stone around. make yourself a bunker that can only be opened from within along with some peep holes to launch spells from.

5th- summon celestial- one of the best summons in the game. the defender in particular is like having the inspiring leader feat that you can use pre-combat and in-combat. being a large flyer also means they make great grapple tanks. having the ability to heal also widens your reach as a healer.

6th- heroes feast- i can't believe you missed out on the best 6th level cleric spell. so many bonuses that lasts for the whole combat day.

[tillfangohr]

Ceremony! Two PCs walk into a temple, disguised, and request to get married. Great role playing moments! For optimization: every cleric should use this spell at level 1 to give a +2 to AC for a week to 2 party members, etc.)
Also, it's a Ritual Spell, so anybody with the Ritual caster feat can get it and become a priest where there is no pastoral care, or just become an impostor and make some mint of it.
However, I don't understand why this is a spell and not just abilities that every cleric possesses.

[SnoConeWars]

Surprised to hear you suggest not casting Cure Wounds during combat

[hopeforescape]

Not a fan of spare the dying since a healers kit does the same thing and only costs 5 GP
also bless does not give a d4 to ability checks
95% of the time you are going to be concentrating on bless or spirit guardians so there is steep competition but here are some I think you missed:
-Summon celestial: Clerics lack good ranged options so this is a good choice when fighting a fast flying creature like a dragon in which spirit guardians might not do anything.
-Planar binding: the best 5th level in the game amass a small army of minions over time, I can't stress how powerful this spell is.
-Hero's feast: too expensive to cast everyday (Or maybe not I don't know how rich you are) but It can be a great pre-buff the day before a big fight.
-Conjure celestial: only one good option and its the couatl its has a nice selection of spells and its really tanky 97 hp 19 AC (24 AC if it casts shield) b/p/s resistance and good Dex, Con and Wis saves.
unfortunately most high level cleric spells are bad they have no good 9th level spells they don't even get foresight, which is the middle of the road for 9th level spells.