Best Cleric Spells by Level: DnD Class Spells #1

A guide on which Cleric spells to prepare at each tier of play in a Dungeons and Dragons game. Reasonable people can definitely agree on what the "best" spells are, since it's super dependent on your campaign and party composition. But hopefully, this is still helpful for new Cleric players playing DnD 5e.

1:02 Best Cleric cantrips
3:40 Best 1st-level Cleric spells
6:50 Best 2nd-level Cleric spells
9:44 Best 3rd-level Cleric spells
12:18 Best 4th-level Cleric spells
14:03 Best 5th-level Cleric spells

The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Fantasy Ambience by Alexander Nakarada

[StanjeBrojila]

I upcast Manipulate Algorithm to pull more people to your channel (no saving throw).

[sheldonfranklin]

Think we’re gonna need one of these for all the classes!

[MaskedMike]

Would love to see this for other classes, especially Warlock because that's my favourite class and pact magic is unique

[lukelavigne]

I’ve only recently found your channel and I love it! Your ability to break down our spell can be used beyond surface level expectations is something that is sorely lacking in this community.

If you haven’t already, can you do this format with the other classes? I’ve already saved your playlist on the usefulness of spells as a resource for my players!

[ninf]

Good to see you work with the feedback! Simple fonts and neutral backgrounds already make video feel much more organized (for me at least).

Also I was surprised to hear you mention bounded accuracy. I really wish that people talked more about it it the community. For anyone interested, there is a great article titled “1D&D: The 5E Skill System Is Bad”. My previous comment got deleted for an external link to it, but you can easily google it. It has some great insights on 5e bounded accuracy systems. And, in spite of the title, it's not only about skills.

Also was glad to hear a shoutout to relatively small Pack Tactics. This plus you knowing about the bounded accuracy makes me feel like you are not only a DnD youtuber, but also a member of a community and you understand the underlying principles of what you are talking about.

Also this video has a lot of small hidden gems, like mentioning why Silence is one of the best spells. I knew it already, but it took me more then a year after coming into 5e to actually understand it's full potential.

In conclusion, this video is so much more than just a regular top-10 crap. Thank you for actully putting your heart, soul and mind into your content!

[HuwEvans-kkrf]

Ayyy good video this was super helpful

[Nick-ntsb]

Just found this video, awesome content! The one problem I have with bless is, that it is concentration and there are so many better spells to concentrate on eventually.

[floofzykitty]

Spirit Guardians is so immensely powerful that DMs have to consider working around it when building encounters. My DM started using more ranged enemies after I started using it to rip encounters apart.

On Twilight Clerics it is especially powerful because they get Heavy Armor and magical, no concentration flight at 6th level. You can fly above melee enemies just out of reach and only ranged enemies can try to break your concentration. Your AC is really good too, so it's not easy to break your concentration with an attack roll, especially if you took Warcaster or Resilient: Con.

[horusemerald]

Great video and great list! will send this to my new player who's pondering his cleric spells. Will you do this for other classes as well?

[kinderdm]

Light could be good or bad, regardless of darkvision, and may be a trap for people that don't know better. It only hurts your perception checks, not combat. So, if you're searching in a dark room for something, and you know you're alone, or the light will fill the room, then it's helpful. However, in this same case, you should be fine to use a torch without issue. But if you're trapsing off into a dark cave with light on your weapon, then you are a shining beacon for enemies (with or without darkvision) to both notice and attack. They'll likely get surprise on you, and if they stay outside of your light (and darkvision if you have it) range, then you don't know where they're attacking form, and you have disadvantage on ranged attacks back even if you did. If you have light cast then they are no longer limited by range on how far away they can see you, but you are limited on how far away you can see them. However, if you rely only on darkvision (assuming you have it), then you are at worst on equal footing against the enemies, and at best at an advantage, as they will not be able to see you back without darkvision of their own. Or they'll be lighting themselves up like a beacon with their own light sources for you to see them from any distance. This is why enemies with darkvision are almost never also using light sources. Because in a potential combat situation its more of a hinderance than an advantage. And its why, unless I have someone in the party without darkvision, or some other way to get it on them, like a pretty common level 2 spell, I will always take another cantrip over light.

[Asaelus]

Fire Strike is basically Cleric's version of Fireball. Granted, it's not as good, but it's the next best thing IMO. Especially because it's not another concentration spell competing for your cleric's brain power. If the concentration spells aren't an issue for you, then Dawn is better than Fire strike. But as for an instant burst of Fire and Radiant damage, I think Fire Strike is pretty good for that. But, as with most spells, this depends on your campaign and the situation.

[kevinboles]

Sacred Flame is FAR better than the 5 foot AoE radiant spell. More damage, RANGED, IGNORES 1/2 and 3/4 cover. It is simply IMPOSSIBLE that those benefits come out second, even for the meleest or melee clerics. And the Undead rider is just silly. This is a CLERIC!! How often will they have MULTIPLE UNDEAD next to them? A very rare BIG miss on this one.

[tsuchinokofamiliar]

Honestly I’ve always found spiritual weapon to be a good spell at least from experience jsut a constant damage stick that’s no concentration? Sign me up

[TheBefrost]

Just a tip, aura of vitality is a paladin spell.

[MaxHolleyBC]

Spare the dying is kinda underrated at lower levels

[GeminiLibra]

Great review! Just to let folks know, Trickery domain's Invoke Duplicity makes a number of touch spells, including Inflict Wounds, a much more viable option since they can be delivered by the duplicate.
🙋‍♂️ 🙋‍♂️🐲

[grndn]

Healing word is perfect for graveyard clerics 😅

[ShugoAWay]

Tbf Pack Tactics doesn't actually play he only whiteroom theory crafts so he tends to be clueless about how things function in campaigns (not to mention he trys to cheat just like dnd shorts)

[ShugoAWay]

Ah i figured you stopped at 5th cuz most 6-9th are for DM spells

[scottburns]

1 hour duration of a combat spell is silly. Combat never last that long and most likely won't see two fights in that hour