Cleric | Character classes Sword Coast Legends Guide
Last update: 11 May 2016
Cleric is a character that has skills used for healing his allies and that is on what the player choosing this character should focus on. Since cleric is in most cases a backup for the team, try to avoid making him join the direct battle. Your place is far from the center of the battle, behind the back of the warrior. Sometimes, enemies are targeting the cleric in first order, so it is important to avoid standing still in such cases - you should run and wait for your allies to kill the opponents. As cleric, you are tasked with casting buffs on your party. Such buffs might increase the damage dealt by your party and overall defense, making the battle much easier. Invest mostly in wisdom and constitution when gaining new levels. Playing as cleric is based on few principles:
Cleric does not fight - Don't try to deal damage. Frequently, after receiving damage the enemy is targeting the attacker. You want to avoid that at all cost when playing as cleric. Remain at the back and help your allies during battle by casting various buffs, healing the wounded or resurrecting the fallen.
There is no definitive equipment type - You can make the cleric wear whatever you want. After buying the ability to wear heavy armor, you can make him into a resistant character. Focus mostly on increasing the wisdom statistics and reducing the reload time of skills. The latter is most important when selecting equipment.
You make an inseparable pair with fighter/paladin - As cleric, you are responsible for keeping the warrior that receives most of the damage alive. Very often, the warrior might be put to sleep or stunned. Your job is to clean him of any negative effects. If the fighter or paladin will fall, you can be sure that you are next to die. Sadly, you will never be as resistant as the warrior and the battle will quickly end in failure.
Character development
When advancing to next character level, in first order you should buy skills related to healing. The higher the level of ability, the more health points you will be able to restore. Once you will have two-three such skills, spend points on the ability that allows you to clean the allies of any negative effects. This ability is especially useful later in the game. Below you will find an example set of skills that work well with rest of the team:
Righteous Champion
Healing Word | This skill heals a single target. Level four required for maximum effect. |
Light
Cure Wounds | This skill heals a single target. Level four required for maximum effect. |
Prayer of Healing | This skill heals all allies on a limited territory. Level four required for maximum effect. |
Disciple of Light | A passive ability that increases the number of restored health points and that gives bonus to resistance to radiant damage. Level four required for maximum effect. |
Life
Bless | A blessing that increases allies' chance for receiving a resistance to spell. Second level required for maximum effect. |
Aid | A blessing that increases the defense of all allies. The effect also adds small boost to maximum damage. Third level required for maximum effect. |
Beacon of Hope | Marks an ally to become the central point of the effect. Each ally that is nearby will receive a bonus to the number of restored health points. Level four required for maximum effect. |
Restoration | Removes the negative effects that affect your ally. Level two required for maximum effect. |
Game style
Cleric is not participating in direct battle. His task is to stand behind the back of his allies, cast buffs and heal the wounded heroes. When the battle starts, cast Bless, Beacon of Hope and Aid buffs. This will aid your allies during battle, mostly by increasing their defense. Cast the Beacon of Hope only on your warrior. He will be the central point of each battle and he is the one who needs the most of regenerated health points.
When playing as cleric and fighting against the Illithids, have in mind that enemy can take control of the mind of warrior or rogue at any point of the battle. If it's the rogue that is dominated, you must quickly cleanse him of the curse with the Restoration skill. If you won't do it, you can be sure that you will be his first target. Since rogue is trained in quickly eliminating his opponents, you will drop dead before you know it.
Equipment
Cleric doesn't specialize in one specific weapon type that would give him advantage on the battlefield as it is in case of rogues. You can always invest a point in heavy armor using specialization and wear plate armor. Cleric doesn't have a default weapon that he can use as well. It can be a staff, a bow or a sword. However, have in mind that it's not the damage that is important in case of clerics. The most important attributes are ability reload speed, wisdom and constitution statistics and damage resistance.
Cleric's jewelry should contain a reduction of skill's reload time. Later in the game you will obtain a ring that is healing your character and that has a bonus to overall defense - Cerric's Ring (available after completing Illydia's quest). Another aspect of the jewelry should be boost to wisdom statistic and to damage resistance.
As for the armor, focus on maximizing the effect of skill reload time reduction. When exploring the second act, you will find few pieces of Breakneck set which has that bonus. Cape of Eillistrae is a perfect cape for the cleric, it will increase the number of regenerated health points. However, the most important item for the cleric is the legendary head gear which you can obtain by completing the Speak No Evil side mission. This item is called the Mask of Relentless Compassion and it will reduce the damage you deal by 99% while increasing the number of restored health points by 100%.