Cleric FAQ
What are the main Cleric class features?
The 2014 Cleric's main features are prepared Spellcasting, a Divine Domain, Channel Divinity, Turn Undead, Destroy Undead, and Divine Intervention. Domain features arrive throughout the class progression and provide always-prepared Domain Spells plus specialised Channel Divinity and later abilities. Together these systems make the Cleric a durable and highly adaptable divine full caster.
The Cleric's 2014 class structure is comparatively compact. Much of its power comes from full prepared spellcasting and from a Divine Domain that adds features throughout the progression. The base class then adds Channel Divinity, anti-undead tools, and eventually Divine Intervention.
1st level: Spellcasting
Clerics are Wisdom-based prepared full spellcasters.
They gain cantrips and spell slots at 1st level and eventually reach 9th-level spell slots.
After a long rest, a Cleric prepares a number of Cleric spells based on level and Wisdom modifier.
This gives the class exceptional flexibility.
The Cleric does not need to permanently commit to the same utility, healing, control, and combat spells every day.
1st level: Divine Domain
The Divine Domain is chosen at 1st level.
It grants Domain Spells and a subclass feature immediately.
Further Domain features arrive at 2nd, 6th, 8th, and 17th level in the 2014 structure.
Domain Spells are always prepared once acquired and do not count against normal prepared-spell capacity.
This means every Cleric has a fixed subclass spell package plus a flexible prepared list.
2nd level: Channel Divinity
Channel Divinity allows the Cleric to channel divine power into specific effects.
The base class starts with Turn Undead.
The chosen Domain adds at least one additional use.
A Cleric begins with one Channel Divinity use between rests.
The class gains a second use at 6th level and a third at 18th level.
Expended uses return after a short or long rest.
Turn Undead
Turn Undead uses Channel Divinity against undead creatures in range that can perceive the Cleric's holy symbol and are affected by the feature.
A failed Wisdom saving throw causes the undead to become turned.
A turned creature must spend its turns trying to move away and is restricted in the actions it can take under the feature.
The effect can end early if the turned creature takes damage.
Turn Undead uses the targeting and behavior defined by the 2014 Cleric feature.
5th level onward: Destroy Undead
Destroy Undead improves Turn Undead.
When an undead of sufficiently low Challenge Rating fails its saving throw against Turn Undead, it is destroyed.
The threshold progresses with Cleric level:
5th level → CR 1/2 or lower 8th level → CR 1 or lower 11th level → CR 2 or lower 14th level → CR 3 or lower 17th level → CR 4 or lower
This makes high-level Clerics extremely effective against groups of weaker undead while powerful undead can still resist or simply exceed the destruction threshold.
Domain features
Domain features arrive throughout the Cleric progression.
The 2nd-level feature often adds a Domain-specific Channel Divinity option.
The 6th-, 8th-, and 17th-level features reinforce the Domain's specialist identity.
For example, the Life Domain gains stronger healing, Preserve Life, self-healing when healing others, radiant Divine Strike, and ultimately maximum healing dice through Supreme Healing.
Other Domains replace those benefits with different offensive, defensive, social, martial, or utility mechanics.
10th level: Divine Intervention
Divine Intervention allows the Cleric to request direct assistance from divine power.
In the 2014 rules, the chance of success depends on Cleric level.
A successful intervention is controlled by the DM rather than chosen like an ordinary spell.
The feature suggests Cleric or Domain spells as useful guidance for the nature of the effect.
If the intervention succeeds, the feature has a much longer reuse restriction than if the attempt fails.
20th level: Divine Intervention improvement
At 20th level, Divine Intervention succeeds automatically.
The Cleric no longer needs the percentile roll to determine whether the divine request is answered.
The DM still determines the exact form of the intervention.
How the features work together
Prepared Spellcasting provides daily flexibility.
Domain Spells ensure a reliable subclass-specific spell package.
The Divine Domain shapes role and equipment.
Channel Divinity provides a short-rest divine resource.
Turn Undead and Destroy Undead give the class a specific advantage against undead.
Divine Intervention provides a rare high-level form of divine aid.
The Cleric's power is therefore not limited to healing.
It is a combination of adaptable spell preparation and fixed sacred specialisation.