D&D 5E How Would You Build a Life Cleric

[Zardnaar]

As the title says. I'm not after the most optimised build but something half decent.

Myself I would double down on support and I believe clerics should generally be built as primary spellcasters vs weak fighter at least with the default array.

So after racials I would want stats similar to this.

Wisdom 16
Dex 14
Con 14

Medium armor the bottom 3 stats don't matter to much assign how you like.

I wouldn't worry to much about fighting just healing and spells like bless. Guiding bolt and inflict wounds along with cantrips are your attack stats but I would use a crossbow at low levels.

Wouldn't bother to much with melee but if you have to at higher level spiritual guardians/weapon combo plus cantrip.

If you have higher stats generally two 16+ and a 14+ con heavy armor and going into melee is more likely.

 

[aco175]

For some reason I like dwarfs as clerics. You get +1 to Wis and heavy armor. I would take the 14 dex to strength instead. Searing light is always a good go to spell for ranged attack. At 8th level you gain +1d6 or 1d8 to attacks

 

[bedir than]

I'd lean heavier into support and abandon Con and Str. Be a face with four 14+s

 

[Audiomancer]

I played a Life Cleric a couple of years ago, with a group that unfortunately folded after just a few sessions. I don't think I'd played a Cleric before -- definitely not in 5E -- and I didn't mind the idea of being a little bit of a healbot.

I went with 16 WIS (obviously), 14 CON (for the not-dying), and 14 CHA. I envisioned the character as a negotiator type, and had the idea I might try to proselytize to an NPC from time to time.

I also intended to pick spells around three basic functions: heals and buffs, attack, and general utility. So at level 3 I ended up with:
Light, Resistance, Sacred Flame (sometimes Guidance)
Bless, Cure Wounds, Guiding Bolt, Shield of Faith (sometimes Healing Word)
Lesser Restoration, Spiritual Weapon

I put my lowest stat in DEX, figuring I'd mostly use spells for ranged attacks. For melee I had a standard mace.

All in all, it was fun. Medium armor plus shield saved from a lot of hits. The Life Cleric's bonus to healing spells, plus Channel Divinity, meant I could get a downed buddy back into the fight. And I enjoyed being able to hand out some help on attacks and saves. I wish the campaign hadn't folded so quickly.

 

[Iry]

I would build it like a Warlord and bellow at people that "It's just a flesh wound!", "Stop slacking off! Get in there and fight!", or "This is no time for a nap, you knife-eared pansy!"

I would insist that it's not divine power, it's just raw inspiration. My somatic components would usually involve smacking people.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I wouldn't. I would choose a less boring domain.

But my preference is for either a melee or ranged build, caster secondary. If you are a pure caster nothing matters but wisdom.

 

[Undrave]

You could go human and pick Magic Initiate: Druid so you can have an extra heal! I forgot where it was (Twitter or blog?) but it's been ruled by WOTC that a Goodberry gets the bonus to heal from the Life Cleric domain. Or just an extra Healing Word (or Fog Cloud, Fairie Fire or Speak with Animals for more support).

You can get a second attack cantrip (or your first one) in the form of Produce Flames (which doubles as a light source), or Thorn Whip. Personally I like Create Bonfire style-wise, but in practice its Concentration component is a huge hindrance. Also note that Druidcraft can be used to predict the weather so that could be fun RP-wise.

 

[Zardnaar]

You could go human and pick Magic Initiate: Druid so you can have an extra heal! I forgot where it was (Twitter or blog?) but it's been ruled by WOTC that a Goodberry gets the bonus to heal from the Life Cleric domain. Or just an extra Healing Word (or Fog Cloud, Fairie Fire or Speak with Animals for more support).

You can get a second attack cantrip (or your first one) in the form of Produce Flames (which doubles as a light source), or Thorn Whip. Personally I like Create Bonfire style-wise, but in practice its Concentration component is a huge hindrance. Also note that Druidcraft can be used to predict the weather so that could be fun RP-wise.

Shillelagh battle heal bot key everything off wisdom.

 

[Undrave]

Shillelagh battle heal bot key everything off wisdom.

I didn't want to state the obvious

Though, if you want to stay at Range you could always just go Magic Stone instead.

 

[Zardnaar]

I didn't want to state the obvious

Though, if you want to stay at Range you could always just go Magic Stone instead.

At range with 14 Dex use a crossbow switching to cantrips lvl 5.

You can still use spiritual guardians/weapon and say sacred flame.