Clerics have the most versatile spell list, mixing support, utility, and damage. Since they have access to all their spells and it’s all about which ones to prepare, it can be overwhelming to pick the best ones. Here are my top 10 best Cleric spells in Baldur’s Gate 3.
What are the Top 10 Best Cleric Spells in Baldur’s Gate 3?
In this list, I’m only looking at the base Clericspell list. I’m not including spells you get from your subclass. That said, there are some great options there, like getting Fireball from the Light Domain or Hold Monster from the War Domain. Still, let’s focus on the base package since there are some awesome supportive, defensive, and offensive options here. Here’s a quick overview before we dive into the details:
- Guidance
- Healing Word
- Spiritual Weapon
- Hold Person
- Prayer of Healing
- Spirit Guardians
- Revivify
- Flame Strike
- Heal
- Planar Ally
10. Guidance
Guidance is one of the best roleplay Cantrips in BG3 because of its sheer value in any conversation. You get a +1d4 to any skill check, which is most likely be during conversation since you can automatically activate it from the dice roll menu. I can’t describe how many Persuasion or Sleight of Hand checks I’ve succeeded just because I had Shadowheart casting Guidance regularly. Bless is also great since it can affect multiple targets and boost their attack rolls and saving throws, which is well worth the Concentration early on.
9. Healing Word
I beat Baldur’s Gate 3 and had Healing Word prepared on my Cleric the entire time. Healing is just part of its utility. You can revive downed allies automatically. Even a single point of magical healing stabilizes a downed character and allows them to get back into the fight. Best of all, unlike Cure Wounds, Healing Word is a ranged spell and a Bonus Action. Any Cleric should have this spell prepared. I highly recommend it alongside The Reviving Hands from the Stormshore Tabernacle in Act 3 for a quick Bonus Action Blade Ward on any target.
8. Hold Person
Hold Person is superb when it works. First, it must target humanoid characters, but there are plenty of those in BG3. Second, they must fail a saving throw. You’ll most likely target regular and elite enemies with this instead of bosses due to Legendary Resistance. Still, in these scenarios, affected enemies lose a few turns, and you get to critically strike them for free while in melee range. Best of all, Hold Person scales incredibly well in the late game since you can target an additional foe for each spell slot spent higher than Level 2.
7. Prayer of Healing
If we’re talking out-of-combat healing, Parayer of Healing is the best restorative spell in the game. It’s essentially Mass Cure Wounds but better — as long as you’re not in combat. Upcasting it is also very viable, and unlike the tabletop version of this spell, the BG3 version takes an Action rather than 10 minutes. I always combo it with Wapira’s Crown and the Ring of Salving. Furthermore, you can also prepare another Cleric spell once you’re done using Prayer so you get more options in combat.
6. Spiritual Weapon
Unlike other damage-per-round spells like Flaming Sphere, Spiritual Weapon doesn’t require concentration. This means you can have it up and running in addition to any concentration spells you cast. Furthermore, it’s just a Bonus Action to cast, and you get a free body on the board that deals decent damage, applies a harmful status effect on enemies, and can sometimes even tank. I recommend the Maul for that AC reduction or Spear for party-wide damage boosts.
5. Spirit Guardians
As far as AoE damage goes for Clerics, Spirit Guardians is the best spell to have if you can stay in melee safely. It’s better on War Clerics than others, but any Cleric subclass with good AC can use it. It deals a lot of AoE Radiant or Necrotic damage per turn, especially when you upcast it. Additionally, you slow down all enemies, thus protecting your backline. I recommend combining this with Luminous items that apply Radiant Orb and the Boots of Striding and any source of Advantage on Constitution saving throws to prevent you from losing concentration. With the Luminous Armor and some other items, this spell is one of the core advice of my BG3 solo run tips.
4. Revivify
This is a no-brainer. Clerics are one of the rare classes that get to resurrect their allies on death. Resurrection scrolls can be expensive, but Revivify brings your fallen allies back from the dead for free. I suggest bringing this on Tactician and Honour mode but it’s not a must-have on lower difficulties.
3. Flame Strike
While Flame Strike isn’t the most impressive AoE damage spell when we look at all classes, this is the best Clerics have when it comes to ranged nukes. Relative to the Cleric spell list, this is the best AoE burst damage you have since Spirit Guardians is more of a sustained damage spell. If I don’t have AoE burst from my Cleric subclass — such as from the Light or Tempest domain — I always prepare Flame Strike.
2. Heal and Harm
Heal is the ultimate Level 6 healing spell that’s useful in and out of combat. It straight up restores 70 hit points and cures Blindness and diseases. Yes, you can chug a lot of healing potions for the same effect, but this is much quicker and helps you in a pinch when you’re out of consumables. On the other hand, Harm does the opposite to your enemies dealing up to 84 Necrotic damage from range. Both of these are powerhouses for burst single-target healing and damage.
1. Planar Ally
Ultimately, you can’t beat an extra party member on the battlefield. Planar Ally summons either a Cambion, Genie, or an Angelic Deva to your aid. All three stick with you until you Long Rest. Best of all, you don’t have to concentrate on this spell; they’re just there to help out whenever you need them. I suggest mostly using the Deva. It’s the best option for a frontline damage dealer but the Genie’s also not bad as it has some neat utility abilities for manipulating the battlefield if you already have too many frontliners.
Moreover, they can also help in exploration by scouting places with their Flight or moving treasure chests to your location that you cannot reach. I usually summon a Deva at the beginning of the day and then use a Spellcrux Amulet to get my Level 6 slot back. This is one of the best spells in the entire game.
That concludes my list of the top 10 best Cleric spells in Baldur’s Gate 3. For more BG3 guides, check out my list of the best Cleric and Paladin gear as well as best Wizard spells.
