Another problem is merging two classes with different primary stats (Wisdom for clerics, and Charisma for sorcerer). When doing so you must carefully choose which stats to favor over others, and therefore race selection has more of an impact then it would if you were to go with a pure build. In this build, consider Charisma as primary stat with Constitution and Wisdom following it. The Wisdom ability score should be at least 13 if you decide take your first level in sorcerer, so that you can multiclass in cleric later.
The simple idea behind this build is simply synergy overload with the Channel Divinity ability from the Tempest Domain and the powerful spells and abilities that are granted to the sorcerer. This build Requires a cleric level of at least 2 for the channel divinity with the rest of the levels being taken in sorcerer. The sorcerous origins options should be an easy pick of the Draconic bloodline (Blue or Bronze ancestry) or Storm sorcery (if you have the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide book) - both have good synergy for this build. Storm sorcery origin option is slightly better of the two because of the bonus proficiency of the tempest domain and Draconic Resilience AC overlap.
The core abilities of this build are:
- Channel Divinity: Destructive Wrath - Each time you deal lightning or thunder damage you can deal maximum damage instead of rolling
- Powerful lightning and thunder spells - Chromatic orb, Thunderwave, Witch bolt, Lightning bolt, etc.
- When using an ability that would cause you deal massive amounts of lightning or thunder damage (particularly lightning bolt at sorcerer level 5+) - use Channel Divinity to maximize the damage dealt.
The weaknesses:
- Clearly the weakness here is over dedication to a particular element. Creatures such as demons have resistances to lightning - where you may have to switch thunder damaging spells instead of lightning for the Destructive Wrath usage.
Combining the powerful damage output of Destructive Wrath and the powerful spells of the sorcerer, the Lightning Lord will dominate the battlefield. Additional options from the sorcerer class and feats will further increase the damage output of this class combo.
Powerful additions to this build:
- Elemental Adept is an extremely powerful feat for any magic user that decides to specialize in particular element. This feat is almost a must have for this as it negates resistances to lightning damage and increases die rolled as a 1 to 2.
- Empowered Spell is a powerful metamagic option to increase damage, as it can be used when Destructive Wrath is unavailable and you need to pump out a bit of extra damage.
- War Caster is also a useful feat if you've chosen cleric at first level. You are able to absolutely punish creatures when they provoke attacks of opportunity by casting a spell instead of using a melee attack. As well as allowing you to wield a shield and a weapon while casting - futher increasing your AC. The advantage on Con saves to keep concentration is also a powerful trait.
- Race choice should be a consideration for this build as high stats in Charisma, Constitution, and Wisdom is highly favorable. Half-elf is a clear candidate for this role with +2 Charisma and putting +1 in Constitution and Wisdom, although human and hill dwarf are also viable options for this build.
The interesting decision that must be made for this combination is which class to choose at level 1 to decide your proficiency bonuses. Both will still allow for heavy armor because of the bonus proficiency option of the Tempest domain, as well as the charisma saving throws proficiency, but I would argue that the cleric option is slightly more useful at level 1. This is because of guaranteed hit point increase, the proficiency in shields, and having proficiency in wisdom saving throw. Although one must not discount the importance of being proficient in constitution saving throws.
Thank you for reading. Please comment - what would be the better first level class pick for this combination in your opinion, cleric or sorcerer?
How do you suggest level progression go? Assuming level 20 end, should we go Tempest Cleric 2/ Storm Sorcerer 18?
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, thank you very much for commenting :D
ReplyDeleteReally how you progress in levels should depend on how the campaign is unfolding. But I personally suggest planning for the Tempest Cleric 2 / Storm Sorcerer 18, yes.
But there is a strong argument for Tempest Cleric 6/ Storm Sorcerer 14. This gives you an additional Channel Divinity (2) which will let you deal max damage twice instead of once. Also this gives you to the more powerful Cleric spells at spell level 3 (like revivify) if you want to be more versatile. Which makes two really mean lighting bolts each day :)
If you really like cleric you can go cleric 8/ sorcerer 12 for the ability score increases and level 4 cleric spells, but now your relying more on class abilities and boosting spells up levels... this means your sacrificing power for versatility, and I think the price gets too high at this point.
I was tossing up between Life and Light cleric, and now I have a tempting third option XD
ReplyDeleteHey I found this after I created a Paladin 2/Tempest Cleric 6/Storm Sorcerer 12. We are starting at level 3 and I went human (variant) w/ War Caster. We haven't played yet, but I am hoping to get off some divine smites, while using that lighting synergy.
ReplyDeleteIt might be an idea to point out the synergy between Thunderbolt Strike and Booming Blade.
ReplyDeleteThunderbolt Strike and Booming Blade don't synergize well at all, since Booming Blade does thunder damage and Thunderbolt Strike only works with lightening damage.
DeleteDestructive wrath is nice and all, but multiclassing just for one use between each rest (or giving up even more levels for two uses) is not a very good trade off in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteIts not just for Destructive Wrath, you will need the armor,shields and maybe weapons proficiency to be effective in melee range (which is the position storm sorcerer forces you to have). And Tempest Cleric gives you all that and 2 abilities that synergize well with SS, Wrath of the storm, which gives enemies a reason to think twice before attacking you, being a little weaker Hellish Rebuke that doesn't use slots, and even tho it might be forgotten after you get lvl16 (14sorcerer) because of a better version of it comes online,you can't just ignore all the 15 lvls it has been helping you out in melee, and there is Destructive Wrath, that isn't just good, it is a very strong ability that wouldn't have its full potential in a full Tempest Cleric build due to the lack of Lightning spells, being able to do max dmg is no joke, specially when you have the right spells to max. You also get other benefits, like 3 other cantrips for a total of 7, and more spells and lvl1 slots, which can include a healing spell.
DeleteWould you recommend taking the two cleric levels before taking any sorcerer? Or some other progression. Any details to the progression would be appreciated.
ReplyDelete