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Human Clockwork Sorcery Sorcerer Build Guide

Human Clockwork Sorcery Sorcerer Build Guide

As a Human Clockwork Sorcerer, your natural adaptability perfectly complements the rigid, probability-bending magic of cosmic order, making you the ultimate battlefield controller.

3/10 Synergy Controller Role Hard Difficulty
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Why Clockwork Sorcery?

The Human Clockwork Sorcery Sorcerer is a master of order and predictability on the battlefield. As a Controller, your job is to dictate the flow of combat, shut down enemies, and protect your allies. The Human's Versatile trait is an incredible asset here, allowing you to select a powerful first-level feat right at the start of your journey. This ensures you can protect your concentration on key control spells or act first in combat to lock down threats before they can move.

At level 3, you gain access to Restore Balance, a subclass feature that lets you neutralize advantages or disadvantages. When combined with the Human's Resourceful trait—which gives you free Heroic Inspiration after every long rest—you gain unparalleled control over the d20. You can easily smooth out the chaotic swings of bad luck for your team while forcing enemies to play by your rules. With your high Charisma (CHA 15) guiding your spellcasting, you will bring absolute stability to any chaotic encounter.

Clockwork Sorcery Features

Clockwork Magic

Level 3

You learn additional spells that don't count against the number of spells you know: Alarm, Protection from Evil and Good (level 1); Aid, Lesser Restoration (level 3); Dispel Magic, Protection from Energy (level 5); Freedom of Movement, Summon Construct (level 7); Greater Restoration, Wall of Force (level 9). You can replace one of these spells with an abjuration or transmutation spell of the same level from the sorcerer, warlock, or wizard list.

Restore Balance

Level 3

When a creature you can see within 60 feet is about to roll a d20 with advantage or disadvantage, you can use your reaction to prevent the roll from being affected by advantage or disadvantage. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Bastion of Law

Level 6

As an action, you can spend 1 to 5 sorcery points to create a shimmering ward around yourself or another creature you can see within 30 feet. The ward lasts until you use this feature again or until you finish a long rest. The ward is represented by a number of d8s equal to the sorcery points spent. When the warded creature takes damage, it can expend any number of those dice, rolling them and reducing the damage by the total.

Trance of Order

Level 14

As a bonus action, you enter a state of clockwork order for 1 minute. During this state, attack rolls against you can't benefit from advantage, and whenever you make an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, you can treat a d20 roll of 9 or lower as a 10. Once you use this feature, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest, unless you spend 7 sorcery points to use it again.

Clockwork Cavalcade

Level 18

As an action, you summon spirits of order that restore 100 hit points total, divided as you choose among creatures within 30 feet. Each repaired creature is also freed from one curse, disease, or one of the following conditions: blinded, deafened, paralyzed, poisoned, or stunned. In addition, each creature of your choice within 30 feet that is damaged has any broken items they are wearing or carrying repaired. Once you use this feature, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest, unless you spend 7 sorcery points to use it again.

Recommended Ability Scores

Strength
10(+0)
Dexterity
13(+1)
Constitution
14(+2)
Intelligence
8(-1)
Wisdom
12(+1)
Charisma
15(+2)
HP (Lv1)
8
AC
11
Initiative
+1
Passive Per.
11
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Human Traits That Benefit Clockwork Sorcery Sorcerer

Versatile

A free Origin feat provides a meaningful boost to any Sorcerer build right from level 1.

Resourceful

Free Heroic Inspiration each long rest gives a reliable reroll for critical moments.

Skillful

An extra skill proficiency expands the Sorcerer's out-of-combat versatility.

Combat Effectiveness

Level HP Melee DPR Spell DPR
Level 5 32 3.9 7.8
Level 11 68 3.58 10.18
Level 17 104 3.58 13.2

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Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths

  • Clockwork Sorcery grants Clockwork Magic at level 3
  • Versatile spellcasting options
  • Flexible build with room for customization

Weaknesses

  • Low hit points — vulnerable in melee
  • No Darkvision — may need light sources in dungeons

Pro Tips

1

Use Restore Balance to cancel an enemy's advantage on a saving throw, ensuring your control spells land successfully.

2

Leverage your Clockwork Magic to swap out spells for abjuration or transmutation options that bolster your defenses and utility.

3

Spend your sorcery points on Bastion of Law to create a protective ward around fragile allies or yourself.

4

Combine your Resourceful Heroic Inspiration with your high Charisma to ensure you never fail crucial social interactions or spellcasting checks.

Other Sorcerer Subclasses for Human

Other Races for Clockwork Sorcery Sorcerer

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Clockwork Sorcery a good subclass for Human Sorcerer?
Yes, it is one of the strongest pairings in the game. The Human's Versatile trait lets you grab a crucial starting feat to boost your high Charisma or protect your Concentration. Meanwhile, your expanded spell list from Clockwork Magic solves the Sorcerer's biggest weakness—limited spell options—giving you a massive toolkit to control the battlefield from level 3 onward.
What makes Clockwork Sorcery different from other Sorcerer subclasses?
Unlike other Sorcerers who thrive on chaotic magic, Clockwork Sorcery specializes in order, defense, and probability manipulation. It grants you way more known spells through Clockwork Magic and lets you negate advantage/disadvantage using Restore Balance. It transforms you from a fragile, unpredictable damage-dealer into a highly durable, tactical controller who dictates exactly how rules apply to the battlefield.

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