Should a Cleric take War Caster or Resilient (Con)?

War Caster is generally better for frontline Clerics who cast in melee (Life, War, Forge, Tempest domains) because it also covers somatic components with weapons/shield held. Resilient (Con) is often better for backline Clerics (Trickery, Knowledge) who take fewer hits and want the stat bump alongside the proficiency. Many Clerics take both over the campaign.

Which Cleric domains change feat priorities most?

War and Forge Clerics get heavy armor and want to melee, so they prioritize War Caster and Sentinel. Life and Light Clerics primarily support and control from the backline, so they prioritize Resilient (Con) and Fey Touched. Trickery and Arcana Clerics lean caster, so Shadow Touched and Spell Sniper become more viable. Domain defines your feat path more than almost anything else.

Does Telekinetic work well for a Cleric?

Very well. A Cleric with Spiritual Weapon and Spirit Guardians often has their bonus action already spent, but Telekinetic's shove is excellent between Spiritual Weapon attacks and on turns where Spirit Guardians alone is running. Pulling enemies back into the Spirit Guardians aura when they try to leave is a particularly strong use.

Should a Cleric ever take Great Weapon Master?

Only for War Clerics or Forge Clerics who heavily invest in Strength and melee combat. War Clerics get Extra Attack at level 17 via their Channel Divinity, but most Clerics do not make enough melee attacks for GWM to be worth the feat slot over concentration protection.

Best Feats for Cleric in D&D 5e 2014, Ranked

Q: Is Sentinel good for a Cleric?

Yes for frontline Clerics, War and Forge in particular. Sentinel combined with Spirit Guardians (enemies take damage entering your aura) creates a powerful zone. Enemies that enter your Spirit Guardians range get hit by the aura and, if they trigger Sentinel, also stop moving and take your opportunity attack damage.

Clerics are the most domain-dependent class in 5e for feat selection. A Life Cleric primarily heals from the backline; a War Cleric charges into melee alongside the Fighter. These two builds have almost entirely different feat priorities. The universal constant: Clerics concentrate on their most powerful spells constantly, so concentration protection is always the first priority regardless of subclass.

Clerics receive four ASI/feat slots by level 12 and have Wisdom as their primary stat, making Wisdom-based feats the most efficient investments.

D&D 5e Best Feats for Cleric

Disclaimer

This guide uses 2014 D&D Player's Handbook rules and TCoE. This is not a 2024 edition guide.

Cleric Feat Priorities

Wisdom 20 - Spell save DC and prepared spells
War Caster or Resilient (Con) - Concentration protection (depends on domain)
Sentinel - For frontline Clerics who activate Spirit Guardians
Fey Touched / Telekinetic - Utility and action economy

The domain you choose determines whether you are frontline or backline, and that determines almost everything about your feat path.

Top Feats for Cleric

● War Caster

Frontline Clerics hold a weapon and shield while casting. War Caster covers somatic components, gives advantage on concentration saves (protecting Spirit Guardians, Bless, or Banishment), and allows opportunity attack spells. Essential for War, Forge, Life, and Tempest Clerics who stand in melee. War Caster guide

● Resilient (Constitution)

Backline Clerics who do not fight in melee prefer Resilient (Con). The proficiency bonus scaling provides better concentration protection at higher proficiency bonuses than War Caster, and the Constitution bump improves HP and secondary saves. Resilient guide

● Sentinel

Spirit Guardians + Sentinel is one of the most oppressive defensive builds in the game. Enemies entering the aura take necrotic/radiant damage; if they trigger Sentinel's opportunity attack, they stop moving completely. With Sentinel, enemies cannot easily escape the aura. Sentinel section

● Fey Touched

Free Misty Step once per long rest. Bless as the chosen enchantment spell (free daily cast, the best support spell in the game). The Wisdom bump improves spell save DC. Outstanding value. Fey Touched guide

● Telekinetic

The bonus action shove pulls enemies back into Spirit Guardians when they try to leave. This is one of the strongest Telekinetic uses in the game. Combined with Spirit Guardians, enemies take damage entering, get shoved back if they leave, and stop moving if Sentinel fires. Telekinetic guide

● Tough

Frontline Clerics take significant hits. Tough adds +2 HP per level retroactively. At level 10, that is 20 extra HP that keeps them standing between Channel Divinity refreshes. Tough guide

● Heavily Armored (non-heavy-armor domains)

Clerics without heavy armor from their domain (Trickery, Arcana, Nature, Grave) can use Heavily Armored + the Strength bump to reach plate mail. Situational and usually outclassed by simply choosing a heavy-armor domain. Heavily Armored guide

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Feats to Avoid

Great Weapon Master: Clerics do not typically make enough attacks for GWM to outperform concentration protection feats except in War Cleric builds at high levels.

Magic Initiate: Clerics already have a broad spell list and prepare daily. Adding one more spell from another list via Magic Initiate rarely adds meaningful value.

Sharpshooter: Clerics are not ranged weapon attackers.

Example Feat Progression

Level 4: War Caster (frontline Cleric) or ASI to Wisdom (backline Cleric). Getting Wisdom to 20 is a legitimate alternative to War Caster at this level; it depends on your domain and how often you take melee hits in early-campaign encounters.

Level 8: Sentinel (frontline) or Resilient (Con) (backline). Frontline Clerics running Spirit Guardians want Sentinel for the pull-back interaction with Telekinetic. Backline Clerics want the Constitution proficiency.

Level 12: Fey Touched (stat bump + Bless + Misty Step) or Telekinetic (Spirit Guardians combo). Both are excellent. If your Wisdom is already 20, Fey Touched is the most efficient investment for the free Bless cast.

FAQ

War Caster vs Resilient (Con)? War Caster for frontline Clerics; Resilient (Con) for backline Clerics.

Which domains change feat priorities? War and Forge lean toward Sentinel; Trickery and Arcana lean toward Shadow Touched; Life and Light are flexible.

Is Sentinel good for a Cleric? Yes, especially paired with Spirit Guardians for zone control.

Does Telekinetic work for a Cleric? Very well. Pulling enemies back into Spirit Guardians is one of the best Telekinetic uses in the game.

Should a Cleric take GWM? Only for War Clerics heavily invested in melee combat.