Knowledge Domain Clerics in BG3 should be evident from their names. This Cleric subclass is proficient in some extra skills by default without you having to unlock those skills. The Baldur’s Gate 3 Knowledge Domain Cleric build relies on disabling enemies through mind-altering status effects like Sleep, Calm Emotions, and Dominate Person. On top of that, the Knowledge Domain subclass can also boost the damage done by Cantrips by scaling with Wisdom ability.
How good is Knowledge Domain Cleric in BG3?
Knowledge domain Clerics in BG3 are amazing for exploration and gaining the upper hand during dialogue sequences. You can use this class to pass multiple dialogue checks with ease. Knowledge Clerics help their allies during combat scenarios by supporting and controlling the crowd with their specialized cantrips and spells.
However, Knowledge Domain Clerics lack proper movement speed and can’t equip heavy armor. Unlike the other cleric classes, like Life Domain, their spell and cantrip selection is quite limited.
Starting Abilities and Skills for Knowledge Domain Cleric
| Race | High Elf | This race is the way to go, as Clerics are not often used as the offense, and this race gives you proficiency with bows that maintain your distance from enemies. |
| Skills | Religion, Insight, History, Persuasion, Medicine, Perception. | |
| Ability Point Distribution | 8 STR, 14 DEX, 14 INT, 13+1 CON, 14+2 WIS, 8 CHA. |
Best Background for Knowledge Domain Cleric
The best BG3 background for Knowledge Domain Cleric is Acolyte. The Acolyte background gives Insight and Religion skill proficiency in Baldur’s Gate 3. They both scale with Wisdom and Intelligence, two stats that you have an ample amount of.
Best Feats for BG3 Knowledge Domain Cleric
Since we are going with a single class, we can select 3 feat points as we level up the Cleric Knowledge Domain subclass. Below is my recommendation for the best feats to select for your character.
Ability Improvement: At level 4, go with ability improvement to get 2 additional ability points. Increase the Wisdom ability stat to 18. Improves your spell and cantrip damage.
Magic Initiate: Druid: This level 8 feat will allow you to learn two cantrips and 1 spell from the druid spell book. We recommend you pick Poison Spray or Shillelagh and Thorn Whip. Pick any spell you like.
War Caster: At level 12, select War Caster feat, which allows you to maintain concentration in Baldur’s Gate 3 while casting spells.
Best Spells for Knowledge Domain Cleric in BG3
| Level 2 | Hold Person | This level 2 enchantment spell is one of the best crowd-control spells in BG3. It allows you to hold a humanoid creature in its place, making them unable to attack you and take more damage when you attack them. |
| Level 3 | Beacon of Hope, Revivify | Beacon of Hope is a level 3 abjuration spell that allows your allies to heal maximum HP and give them an advantage with saving throws; Revivify is a necromancy spell that can revive your ally from death with 1HP. |
| Level 5 | Dominate Person | Beacon of Hope is a level 3 abjuration spell that allows your allies to heal maximum HP and give them an advantage with saving throws, Revivify is a necromancy spell that can revive your ally from death with 1HP. |
Best Armor and Weapons for Knowledge Domain Cleric
Helm: Wapira’s Crown. Gain 1d6 hit points when healing.
Chest: Githyanki Half Plate, or you can use any chest plate.
Gloves: Reviving Hands – Healing an ally automatically provides them Blade Ward.
Cape: Mantle of Holy Warrior – can cast Crusador Mantle, making nearby allies do extra radiant damage.
Boot: Feather light boots – when health is below 50%, your speed is increased by 3m
Necklace: Amulet of Greater Health – This amulet, stolen from House of Hope, increases your Constitution to 23, meaning your Knowledge Domain Cleric gets a nice HP boost.
Rings: Till Death Do Us Apart and Orphic Ring
Melee Weapon: Blood of Lathander – Blood of Lathander is easily one of the best BG3 weapons, being a legendary item in BG3 and an ideal choice for most Cleric builds.
Bg3 Knowledge Domain Cleric build level progression
| Level | Unlocks | Description |
| 2 | Level 1 spell slot, Knowledge of Ages action | This action gives you proficiency in all skills of the ability you have chosen. |
| 3 | Level 2 spell slot, Level 1 Spell slot, Calm Emotion spell, Hold Person Spell | Calm Emotion makes humanoid immune to being Charged, Frightened, and Enraged, while Hold Person makes the enemy unable to move, and attacks within 3m are always critical. |
| 4 | Ability Improvement feat | Increase Wisdom feat to 18 |
| 5 | Level 3 Spell slot, Destroy Undead class feature, Slow spell, Speak with Dead spell | Slow changes time around 6 enemies, making their movement speed restricted, and the Speak with Dead spell enables you to speak with the dead humanoids. You can answer up to 5 questions. |
| 6 | Level 3 Spell slot, Channel Divinity charge | |
| 7 | Level 4 Spell slot, Confusion spell, Outiluke’s Resilient Sphere spell | Confusion makes the enemies confused, causing them to attack at random; Outiluke’s Resilient Sphere encloses the enemies into a sphere stopping them from attacking you and vice versa. |
| 8 | Level 4 spell slot, Potent Spellcasting class feature, Magic Initiate: Druid feat | Class feature Potent Spellcasting adds wisdom modifiers to the damage dealt with Cantrips. |
| 9 | Level 5 Spell slot, Telekinesis spell, Dominate Person spell | You can throw objects using telekinesis, while Dominate Person makes a humanoid creature fight by your side. |
| 10 | Level 5 Spell slot, Divine Intervention | Divine Intervention is a cleric class-specific spell that you can only use once per playthrough. |
| 11 | Level 6 Spell slot | |
| 12 | War Caster feat | This feat allows you to maintain concentration while casting spells. |
Knowledge Domain Cleric Multiclass in BG3
You can always multiclass your Knowledge Domain Cleric with fighter class (10/2) or Wizard (11/1) to gain access to some unique class features. However, this will make you lose either the War Caster feat or the level 6 spell slot. Our knowledge cleric build is heavily focused on using its feats to maximize the spell casting, so multiclass is not a good option, in my opinion.
