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Orc War Domain Cleric Build Guide

Orc War Domain Cleric Build Guide

Unleash the fury of Gruumsh as an Orc War Domain Cleric, combining relentless physical ferocity with divine magic to dominate the frontlines.

4/10 Synergy Striker Role Medium Difficulty
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Why War Domain?

The Orc War Domain Cleric is a powerhouse striker that blends heavy armor, weapon strikes, and divine magic. As a War Cleric, you are not just standing back and healing; you are right in the thick of battle. Your War Priest feature lets you make extra weapon attacks as a bonus action, ensuring you make the most of your strength on the frontline.

This aggressive playstyle is perfectly supported by your Orc heritage. When you need to close the distance to unleash your divine wrath, Adrenaline Rush lets you dash as a bonus action while gaining temporary hit points to absorb incoming damage. Should a powerful foe manage to bring you down, Relentless Endurance keeps you standing at 1 hit point instead of falling unconscious, allowing you to cast a crucial healing spell or land one last devastating blow.

By balancing your high Wisdom for spells with your physical Strength, you can easily transition from casting destructive spells to crushing foes with a mace. This build is ideal for players who want the versatility of a spellcaster but the hearty, unstoppable feel of a classic fantasy warrior.

War Domain Features

Guided Strike

Level 3

When you or a creature within 30 feet of you that you can see misses with a weapon attack, you can use your Reaction to grant that attack a bonus to the attack roll equal to your Wisdom modifier.

War Domain Spells

Level 3

Your connection to this divine domain ensures that you always have certain spells prepared.

War Priest

Level 3

As a Bonus Action, you can make one weapon attack or an Unarmed Strike. When a weapon attack hits a creature, the target takes an extra 1d8 damage of the same type as the weapon damage.

War God's Blessing

Level 6

You can expend one use of your Channel Divinity to grant a magical blessing. When a creature within 30 feet of you that you can see makes an attack roll, you can use your Reaction to add your Wisdom modifier to the attack roll.

Avatar of Battle

Level 17

You gain Resistance to Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing damage.

Recommended Ability Scores

Strength
14(+2)
Dexterity
8(-1)
Constitution
13(+1)
Intelligence
10(+0)
Wisdom
15(+2)
Charisma
12(+1)
HP (Lv1)
9
AC
9
Initiative
-1
Passive Per.
12
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Orc Traits That Benefit War Domain Cleric

Adrenaline Rush

Bonus action Dash with temp HP gives the Cleric both mobility and survivability.

Relentless Endurance

Dropping to 1 HP instead of 0 once per rest is a powerful survival tool for frontline Clerics.

Darkvision

Orc Darkvision helps Clerics scout ahead and fight in darkness without needing a torch.

Combat Effectiveness

Level HP Melee DPR Spell DPR
Level 5 33 3.9 7.8
Level 11 69 3.58 10.18
Level 17 105 3.58 13.2

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Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths

  • War Domain grants Guided Strike at level 3
  • Darkvision for dungeon exploration
  • Versatile spellcasting options

Weaknesses

  • Low Dexterity means poor initiative and AC
  • May require careful feat selection to optimize

Pro Tips

1

Save your War Priest bonus attacks for rounds where you are not using Adrenaline Rush to close the distance.

2

Use Guided Strike on high-damage spell attacks or critical weapon swings to guarantee they hit when it matters most.

3

If Relentless Endurance triggers and keeps you at 1 HP, use your action to cast a self-healing spell immediately.

4

Keep your concentration spells active while in melee; your high Constitution and Orc survivability will help you maintain them.

Other Cleric Subclasses for Orc

Other Races for War Domain Cleric

Frequently Asked Questions

Is War Domain a good subclass for Orc Cleric?
Yes, it is an excellent choice. The Orc's physical resilience and mobility features like Adrenaline Rush perfectly complement the War Domain's frontline striker role. While traditional Clerics stay in the back, this combination allows you to dive into melee range safely, utilize your heavy armor, and deliver extra attacks with War Priest without fearing sudden defeat thanks to Relentless Endurance.
What makes War Domain different from other Cleric subclasses?
Unlike utility or healing-focused domains, the War Domain specializes in direct martial combat. It grants proficiency with martial weapons and heavy armor, and features like Guided Strike ensure your crucial attacks never miss. It transforms the Cleric from a supportive spellcaster into a devastating hybrid striker who can lead the charge and buff allies' accuracy.

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