The Tempest Domain subclass for the Cleric in Baldur’s Gate 3 relies heavily on storm-related spells. The bulk of this build’s playstyle revolves around spellcasting. While some other subclasses for the Cleric class serve as support or tanks for your party, the Tempest Domain build focuses heavily on damage.
Thanks to spells like Shatter, Call Lightning, and Insect Plague, Tempest Domain Clerics in BG3 are masters of the weather, and their performance on the battlefield reflects that.
Starting Abilities and Skills for Tempest Domain Cleric
| Class | Cleric | – |
| Sub-Class | Tempest Domain | – |
| Race | Gold Dwarf | Gold Dwarf is the best race for the Cleric Tempest Domain build during character creation, as it provides you with a bonus +1HP at the beginning of the game. At every level, you will get an additional +1HP. It also provides you with Dwarven combat training. |
| Ability Points Distribution | STR 11, CON 15, DEX 11, INT 10, CHA 11, WIS 17 | Wisdom is the main ability modifier for the Cleric class. |
| Skills | Insight, Religion, Medicine, Persuasion | – |
Best Background
The best background for Cleric Tempest Domain is Acolyte. It gives your character proficiency in Insight and Religion. Due to a high amount of Wisdom, you gain an Insight bonus helping you figure out a person’s true intentions. Being a Cleric, the Religion proficiency also helps you understand various religious aspects of the world and interact with them like temples and statues of deities.
Best Feats for Tempest Domain Cleric in Baldur’s Gate 3
Your character has the option to choose one feat after every four levels. We have covered the best feats for you if you are playing the Cleric Tempest Domain subclass in Baldur’s Gate 3.
| Level | Feat | Description |
| 4 | War Caster | You gain an Advantage on Saving Throws when Concentrating on maintaining a spell. War Caster feat also allows you to cast Shocking Grasp on an enemy that is about to move out of melee range. |
| 8 | Lucky | You get an advantage on Saving Throws and Ability checks. This lucky feat also allows you to reroll enemies’ attacks. |
| 12 | Tough | Unlocking this feat at level 12 grants you a bonus of 24HP instantly. |
Best Spells for Tempest Domain Cleric
| Level | Spells | Description |
| 1 | Fog Cloud and Thunderwave. | Thunderwave allows you to unleash a Thunderous force wave. Once this wave reaches any object or creature, all of them will be pushed away at a far distance. The Fog Cloud spell can bring clouds that prevail to blind and hide anyone within it. |
| 2 | Gust of Wind and Shatter. | Gust of Wind spell gives you the ability to charge a strong wind that will help you to clear the prevailing clouds. Also, upon using this spell, this strong wind will push creatures 5 meters away; the result of this strong wind is making them go Off Balance. Shatter spells can be used to do damage to all the creatures in a range of 18m. Inorganic material creatures have a negative impact on their Saving Throws. |
| 3 | Sleet Storm and Call Lightning. | Sleet Strom spell allows you to summon a storm that affects enemy concentration. Moreover, the usage of this spell will bring ice to the ground. Call Lightning spell can be charged to bring down the lightning, which does damage from 3 to 30, anywhere in this range on the opponents standing in a range of 18m. |
| 4 | Freedom of Movement and Ice Storm. | Freedom of Movement spell gives the ability to not get any impact coming from the spells, water, or hard terrain on the target’s Movement. Ice Storm spell allows you to bring a hailstorm coming from above and doing 6-40 ice damage to every creature within the area. |
| 5 | Destructive Wave and Insect Plague. | Destructive Wave spells let you construct a shockwave that damages creatures in a certain range and makes them prone. The shockwave can be malevolent thunder or divine. Insect Plague spell allows you to summon locusts which will attack your opponents within a specified range of 18m. Creatures will be at a disadvantage when they try to do perception checks. |
Best armor and weapons
The best-fit type of weapons while playing in a Cleric class are Martial and Simple weapons.
Helm – Grymskull Helm: When you have equipped this helm, the attacker is unable to land critical hits on you. It also provides you with fire damage resistance.
Cloak – Cindermoth Cloak: This clock burns the creature who is attacking you within 2m range.
Armor – Reaper’s Embrace: It is a rare armor that provides 19 armor class and reduces all incoming damage by 2.
Gloves – Gloves of the Growling Underdog: When you equip these gloves on your character, it grants you an advantage on melee attack rolls when you are fighting off 2 or more enemies.
Boots – Disintegrating Night Walkers: While wearing these boots, you cannot get Ensnared, Entangled, or Enwebbed on the surface where you experience ice or grease. Moreover, it also gives you the Misty Step spell, which you can use to teleport at a short distance.
Melee – Selune’s Spear of Night: It grants the wearer an advantage on Wisdom Saving Throws, along with that, it also gives an advantage on Perception checks. It allows you to see in the darkness up to 12m. Additionally, this legendary versatile weapon gives you the Moonbeam spell and Moonmote class action.
Amulet – Spellcrux Amulet: This very rare amulet gives your character Spell Slot Restoration.
Ring 1 – Ring of Salving: This ring allows you to increase your healing. You get 2HP whenever you are healing any other creature.
Ring 2 – The Whispering Promise: This ring provides you with 1-4 bonus attack rolls along with 2 turns of saving throws whenever you are healing any creature.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Tempest Domain Cleric Build level progression
| Level | Unlocks | Description |
| 1 | Race, Background, and Ability Points Distribution. Sub-Class selection. Deity selection. Level 1 spell slots unlock. Wrath of the Storm sub-class feature. | Make a selection from the recommendations above. For spells, prepare Fog Cloud and Thunderwave. Wrath of the Storm allows you to deal 2-16 lightning damage as a reaction to the enemy attacking you. Moreover, you gain proficiency in Medium Armour and Martial weapons. |
| 2 | Channel Divinity charges. Turn Undead class action. Destructive Wrath sub-class feature. | You can now channel divine energy. Turn Undead allows you to turn the undead away from you unless you attack them. Destructive Damage lets you deal maximum damage after channeling divine energy. |
| 3 | Level 2 spell slots unlock. | Choose from Gust of Wind and Shatter spells. |
| 4 | The first Feat unlocks. | War Caster to maintain concentration while casting spells. |
| 5 | Destroy Undead class feature. Level 3 spell slots unlock. | You deal 1-4 Radiant damage to the undead enemies once the Turn Undead effect is over. Choose and prepare Sleet Storm and Call Lightning spells. |
| 6 | Improved warding Flare feature | When an enemy attacks your ally, you can put a disadvantage on the enemy’s attack rolls as a reaction. |
| 7 | Level 4 spell slots unlock. | Choose and prepare Freedom of Movement and Ice Storm spells. |
| 8 | The second Feat unlocks. | Lucky to get a bonus on your saving throws and ability checks. |
| 9 | Level 5 spell slots unlock. | Choose and prepare Destructive Wave and Insect Plague spells. |
| 10 | Divine Intervention class feature. | This feature allows you to ask your deity for help. However, you can use this feature once per playthrough. |
| 12 | The final Feat unlocks. | Tough to get 24HP immediately. |
Is Tempest Domain Cleric any good in Baldur’s Gate 3?
Tempest Domain Clerics are summoners of Thunder and Lightning strikes to deal massive damage to the enemies. Unlike the rest of the Cleric sub-classes, they are specialized frontline attackers. They can absorb a lot of damage and deal AoE damage. Due to their proficiency with Martial weapons, they can use them to deal additional damage.
However, Tempest Domain Cleric lacks proper movement speed in Baldur’s Gate 3. They need to concentrate while casting spells and lack bonus actions.
We recommend multiclassing Tempest Domain cleric build with Battle Master Fighter (9/3). Three levels in the Fighter Class will give you access to Action Surge class action and Superiority Dice to use specific maneuvers.
