Battle Cleric

[Vaardalia]

Trying to get through 20 levels of cleric as stress free as possible while also trying to enjoy the class and learn something from the experience. So tell me if this will work:

Race: Human
Base stats at level 20:
Str: 17 + 3 tome at lvl 11 (36 point build)
Dex 17 + 3 tome at lvl 11
Con 17 + 3 tome at lvl 11
Int 17 + 3 tome at lvl 11 + 2 tome at lvl 7
Wis 22 + 3 tome att lvl 5 points from leveling
Cha 17 + 3 tome at lvl 11

Feats:
lvl 1: Mental Toughness
Emp Healing

lvl 3: Bastard Sword

lvl 6: Extnd Spell

lvl 9: Two Wep

lvl 12: Imp Mental Toughness

lvl 15: Imp Two Wep

lvl 18: Greater Two Wep

Skills I will work will be: concentrate, heal, diplo, balance, jump, and then work in tumble once the tome kicks in or something else.

The feats really have me torn between dropping the meta magic’s and picking up toughness and power attack so I have a lot of hp and sp but my magic is lacking, or droping both mental toughness and grabbing quicken feat and toughness. When going for a melee magic user you have to make hard choices I know, so I am pulled atm between the variables. I have 4 past lives Arti, Bard, Rogue, and Wiz. Did two-wep as the Bard and worked out fine but I went with 3 metas magic’s was a half elf and had no tough or mental tough. After reading the post below my stats may be off as well. I think I am just program to dump all points into Wis but maybe some points spread around so I am rocking an 18 base in all stats but Int would work better? I appreciate the advice up front, and thanks for your time!

[Vaardalia]

Oh yeah maybe I could drop bastard sword and use Master Touch scrolls and roll with war hammers and long swords / battle axes?

[hiryuu42]

Class: The Cleric capstone doesn't do much for Battle Cleric. Consider Fighter for more feats and weapons, or Monk for Evasion and skills.

Ability Stats: It looks like you're starting with 14 in each ability. I would suggest shorting Int and Cha some to boost Str and Wis better. Probably remove 4 to boost the others 2.

Feats: Swap Extend and Empower Heal. Extend is nice at low levels for those 1 min/level spells. It stays useful on melee clerics for Divine Power/Favor. This build is so short on feats, Bastard Sword and the second Mental Toughness are hard to justify. Toughness and Maximize give you better value.

Skills: Heal is a terrible skill. A couple points in Tumble is enough. Diplo and Jump are nice, but can be left behind if you short Int.

[firemedium_jt]

Trying to get through 20 levels of cleric as stress free as possible while also trying to enjoy the class and learn something from the experience. So tell me if this will work:

Race: Human
Base stats at level 20:
Str: 17 + 3 tome at lvl 11 (36 point build)
Dex 17 + 3 tome at lvl 11
Con 17 + 3 tome at lvl 11
Int 17 + 3 tome at lvl 11 + 2 tome at lvl 7
Wis 22 + 3 tome att lvl 5 points from leveling
Cha 17 + 3 tome at lvl 11

Feats:
lvl 1: Mental Toughness -delete
Emp Healing

lvl 3: Bastard Sword-delete


lvl 6: Extnd Spell-delete after level 6-9, but some keep it longer


lvl 9: Two Wep

lvl 12: Imp Mental Toughness-delete


lvl 15: Imp Two Wep

lvl 18: Greater Two Wep

Skills I will work will be: concentrate, heal, diplo, balance, jump, and then work in tumble once the tome kicks in or something else.

The feats really have me torn between dropping the meta magic’s and picking up toughness and power attack so I have a lot of hp and sp but my magic is lacking, or droping both mental toughness and grabbing quicken feat and toughness. When going for a melee magic user you have to make hard choices I know, so I am pulled atm between the variables. I have 4 past lives Arti, Bard, Rogue, and Wiz. Did two-wep as the Bard and worked out fine but I went with 3 metas magic’s was a half elf and had no tough or mental tough. After reading the post below my stats may be off as well. I think I am just program to dump all points into Wis but maybe some points spread around so I am rocking an 18 base in all stats but Int would work better? I appreciate the advice up front, and thanks for your time!

Um those feats and stats need a lot of work. There are tons of builds posted on the forums. Just search the last few pages of threads and maybe click on the names of those posting and responding that probably have more info under their threads and postings.

Maximize is a must, maybe empower too. quicken or heighten will even help a melee cleric.

Your healing will work but your STR and WIS are to low. Raise one or the other. Melee then base STR 16+ and level ups in STR. Casting then base WIS 16+ and lvl ups in WIS.

[Habreno]

Race: Human
Stats:
Str: 18 Base, 5 Level, +3 tome.
Dex 14 Base, +3 Tome.
Con 14 Base, +3 Tome.
Int 8 Base, +2 Tome.
Wis 12 Base, +3 Tome.*
Cha 12 Base, +3 Tome. Increases TU's.

* Allows L9 spells disjuncted thanks to Owl's Wisdom +4 spell.

Feats:
lvl 1: Toughness
Human: Emp Healing

lvl 3: Extend Spell

lvl 6: Maximize

lvl 9: TWF

lvl 12: ITWF

lvl 15: GTWF

lvl 18: IC: Slashing

Note: Quicken is nice, but no room. Extend is your only option, one I think you'll miss on your short term buffs.

Skills: Concentration, UMD. After tome, add to Balance.


There's my suggestions. OM NOM NOM, enjoy

[akash]

Oh yeah maybe I could drop bastard sword and use Master Touch scrolls and roll with war hammers and long swords / battle axes?

For human cleric, as far as I know you don't need to cast master-touch to get long-sword proficiency, because if you select Sovereign Host religion you can cast Dol Dorn's Champion on you which will give you long sword proficiency.

[firemedium_jt]

Long swords????

Take keen falchions scims rapiers kukri

No power attack? Thought 2wf still took it?

[Vaardalia]

Long swords????

Take keen falchions scims rapiers kukri

No power attack? Thought 2wf still took it?

I think we're talking about in a pinch, finding a way to lose weapon fea tof any kind all together. I also think power attack is a must with two weapon fighting just as a pure Cleric you have to make some hard choices.

If my STR or WIS is a little low I think I can raise it by 2 with human enhancement. The Battlepriest of Siberys (these builds are based off first time use only so they may be sub-par?) does not have one stat at 20 and flip flops between WIS and STR each level so I was going off this that an 18 would work fine. DEX 17 is the only must and a few levels of fighter would ruin the 20 pure Cleric for completionist. I feel the feats is where I was struggling most and these post help put things into perspective. I am curios to how a Cleric makes use of UMD, from the Battlepriest build they had balance.

[axel15810]

OP - Are you insisting on staying pure? Kinda tough to run a battle cleric that way. It's probably more optimal to splash monk or fighter. I just made a thread asking battle cleric questions...check my threads you'll find it.

And for your stats you proably need to have either a low CHA or low WIS so you can have a high STR...if you want to do relevant melee damage. If you just want to run around with a paralyzer or curespewer you can lower it.

CHA gives you divine might and more turns...wis gives you a little bit more SP and higher DCs. I've seen people argue for both sides...CHA and WIS. Some don't think Divine Might is worth it so they go WIS. Others like lots of turns so they go CHA. Or if you don't want to be a damage dealer you can lower STR some. You kinda have to choose 2 out of the 3 depending on your preference.

Oh and you might want to be careful saying "battle cleric" around here. It's a pet peeve to not use that term, I still don't understand why but for some reason that urks people around here.

[Varashad]

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.9.1
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 True Neutral Half-Orc Male
(2 Fighter \ 18 Cleric) 
Hit Points: 316
Spell Points: 1107 
BAB: 15\15\20\25\25
Fortitude: 18
Reflex: 6
Will: 12

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(34 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             20                    31
Dexterity             8                    10
Constitution         16                    19
Intelligence         11                    12
Wisdom               11                    13
Charisma              6                     8

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Constitution used at level 3
+1 Tome of Intelligence used at level 3
+1 Tome of Wisdom used at level 3
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 7
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 7
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 7
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 7
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 7
+3 Tome of Strength used at level 11
+3 Tome of Constitution used at level 11

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance              -1                     5
Bluff                -2                    -1
Concentration         7                    27
Diplomacy            -2                    -1
Disable Device        n/a                   n/a
Haggle               -2                    -1
Heal                  0                     4
Hide                 -1                     0
Intimidate           -2                    -1
Jump                  5                    10
Listen                0                     1
Move Silently        -1                     0
Open Lock            n/a                    n/a
Perform              n/a                   n/a
Repair                0                     1
Search                0                     1
Spot                  0                     1
Swim                  5                    10
Tumble                0                     1
Use Magic Device     -1                    10

Level 1 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Healing Spell
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Favored Soul


Level 2 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Power Attack


Level 3 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 4 (Cleric)


Level 5 (Cleric)


Level 6 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Spell


Level 7 (Cleric)


Level 8 (Cleric)


Level 9 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Maximize Spell


Level 10 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons


Level 11 (Cleric)


Level 12 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Shield Mastery


Level 13 (Cleric)


Level 14 (Cleric)


Level 15 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Quicken Spell


Level 16 (Cleric)


Level 17 (Cleric)


Level 18 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Shield Mastery


Level 19 (Cleric)


Level 20 (Cleric)
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Cleric Radiant Servant I
Enhancement: Cleric Radiant Servant II
Enhancement: Unyielding Sovereignty
Enhancement: Follower of the Sovereign Host
Enhancement: Orcish Extra Action Boost I
Enhancement: Orcish Melee Damage I
Enhancement: Orcish Melee Damage II
Enhancement: Orcish Strength I
Enhancement: Orcish Strength II
Enhancement: Cleric Improved Empower Healing I
Enhancement: Cleric Improved Empower Healing II
Enhancement: Cleric Improved Empower Healing III
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Improved Heal I
Enhancement: Improved Heal II
Enhancement: Cleric Prayer of Life I
Enhancement: Cleric Prayer of Incredible Life I
Enhancement: Cleric Smiting I
Enhancement: Cleric Smiting II
Enhancement: Cleric Smiting III
Enhancement: Cleric Smiting IV
Enhancement: Cleric Life Magic I
Enhancement: Cleric Life Magic II
Enhancement: Cleric Life Magic III
Enhancement: Cleric Life Magic IV
Enhancement: Cleric Energy of the Zealot I
Enhancement: Cleric Energy of the Zealot II
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness I
Enhancement: Cleric Divine Vitality I
Enhancement: Cleric Extra Turning I
Enhancement: Cleric Extra Turning II
Enhancement: Cleric Extra Turning III
Enhancement: Cleric Improved Turning I
Enhancement: Cleric Wand and Scroll Mastery I

This is what my Battle Cleric will look like. It's a second life toon, but just drop a point of strength(19), and a point of intelligence, and add a point of constitution or two into wisdom if you don't have tomes.

Battle clerics are generally not going to have a high spell DC because they dumped wisdom, which means they're better off with just enough wisdom for level 9 spells, or, generally, 9-13 with a +1 to a +4 tome respectively, and a +6 item. Charisma gives you extra turns which are effectively extra free heals.

[akash]

DEX 17 is the only must and a few levels of fighter would ruin the 20 pure Cleric for completionist.

Are you sure that multi-classing will ruin the "Completionist"? As far as I know you only need to have access to all past life feats to access that feat but I may be wrong too, as I'm not a Completionist yet.

[Hobgoblin]

Are you sure that multi-classing will ruin the "Completionist"? As far as I know you only need to have access to all past life feats to access that feat but I may be wrong too, as I'm not a Completionist yet.

you are right. you just have to have the cleric icon when you tr. so all past life feats.

i dont run meele clerics - (just a personal preferance) but most pure "battle" clerics are actually bad-le clerics

some splashes i have seen that are good -

12 cleric 7 monk 1 rogue (no idea on the stats on these guy, was more of a dps then a healer. Would do a six man epic with him, might not take him into raids.)

18 cleric/2fighter.

tough build, can add some meele dps while healing/dping. has the stigma of people not trusting him

18 cleric/2 monk
see above.

hob

[firemedium_jt]

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.9.1
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 True Neutral Half-Orc Male
(2 Fighter \ 18 Cleric) 
Hit Points: 316
Spell Points: 1107 
BAB: 15\15\20\25\25
Fortitude: 18
Reflex: 6
Will: 12

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(34 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             20                    31
Dexterity             8                    10
Constitution         16                    19
Intelligence         11                    12
Wisdom               11                    13
Charisma              6                     8

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Constitution used at level 3
+1 Tome of Intelligence used at level 3
+1 Tome of Wisdom used at level 3
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 7
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 7
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 7
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 7
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 7
+3 Tome of Strength used at level 11
+3 Tome of Constitution used at level 11

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance              -1                     5
Bluff                -2                    -1
Concentration         7                    27
Diplomacy            -2                    -1
Disable Device        n/a                   n/a
Haggle               -2                    -1
Heal                  0                     4
Hide                 -1                     0
Intimidate           -2                    -1
Jump                  5                    10
Listen                0                     1
Move Silently        -1                     0
Open Lock            n/a                    n/a
Perform              n/a                   n/a
Repair                0                     1
Search                0                     1
Spot                  0                     1
Swim                  5                    10
Tumble                0                     1
Use Magic Device     -1                    10

Level 1 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Healing Spell
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Favored Soul


Level 2 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Power Attack


Level 3 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 4 (Cleric)


Level 5 (Cleric)


Level 6 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Spell


Level 7 (Cleric)


Level 8 (Cleric)


Level 9 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Maximize Spell


Level 10 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons


Level 11 (Cleric)


Level 12 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Shield Mastery - delete


Level 13 (Cleric)


Level 14 (Cleric)


Level 15 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Quicken Spell


Level 16 (Cleric)


Level 17 (Cleric)


Level 18 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Shield Mastery - delete


Level 19 (Cleric)


Level 20 (Cleric)
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Cleric Radiant Servant I
Enhancement: Cleric Radiant Servant II
Enhancement: Unyielding Sovereignty
Enhancement: Follower of the Sovereign Host
Enhancement: Orcish Extra Action Boost I
Enhancement: Orcish Melee Damage I
Enhancement: Orcish Melee Damage II
Enhancement: Orcish Strength I
Enhancement: Orcish Strength II
Enhancement: Cleric Improved Empower Healing I - delete
Enhancement: Cleric Improved Empower Healing II - delete
Enhancement: Cleric Improved Empower Healing III - delete
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Improved Heal I
Enhancement: Improved Heal II
Enhancement: Cleric Prayer of Life I
Enhancement: Cleric Prayer of Incredible Life I
Enhancement: Cleric Smiting I
Enhancement: Cleric Smiting II
Enhancement: Cleric Smiting III
Enhancement: Cleric Smiting IV
Enhancement: Cleric Life Magic I
Enhancement: Cleric Life Magic II
Enhancement: Cleric Life Magic III
Enhancement: Cleric Life Magic IV
Enhancement: Cleric Energy of the Zealot I - delete
Enhancement: Cleric Energy of the Zealot II - delete
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness I
Enhancement: Cleric Divine Vitality I
Enhancement: Cleric Extra Turning I
Enhancement: Cleric Extra Turning II
Enhancement: Cleric Extra Turning III - delete
Enhancement: Cleric Improved Turning I
Enhancement: Cleric Wand and Scroll Mastery I

This is what my Battle Cleric will look like. It's a second life toon, but just drop a point of strength(19), and a point of intelligence, and add a point of constitution or two into wisdom if you don't have tomes.

Battle clerics are generally not going to have a high spell DC because they dumped wisdom, which means they're better off with just enough wisdom for level 9 spells, or, generally, 9-13 with a +1 to a +4 tome respectively, and a +6 item. Charisma gives you extra turns which are effectively extra free heals.

You are close to my next build except what I would "- delete" for recs below.

But why no orcish power attack?

Once you get Divine Power with that STR you should hit? If not turn it off.

No critical smiting for DP?

shield mastery with a 2 hander build?

[hiryuu42]

For Past Life purposes, it's just whatever class has the most levels when you TR. Details here:
http://ddowiki.com/page/Past_Life_Feats

That can be as absurdly low as 7 in this case (7 Cleric/7 Monk/6 Fighter).

[Habreno]

For Past Life purposes, it's just whatever class has the most levels when you TR. Details here:
http://ddowiki.com/page/Past_Life_Feats

That can be as absurdly low as 7 in this case (7 Cleric/7 Monk/6 Fighter).

QFT.


Most levels in a class, or if two classes are tied first alphabetically is the icon and past life.

[Kmnh]

To answer the question in the OP: No, it will not work.

You are taking the improved two-weapon fighting feat at level 15. By the time you reach level 15, you won't be meleeing anything - the trash will be kited through bladebarriers, caster mobs get Slain or Destructed, bosses do enough damage that you will want to divine punishment and kite, or divine punishment and shieldblock.


Dump bastard sword and two weapon fighting for the more standard power attack/falchion/improved critical combination. Dump the mental toughnesses for caster feats - maximize and empower are very good, they make your divine punishments and bladebarriers shine. Heighten helps your instakills and crowd control at the very late levels, I think it's worth it.

[Varashad]

You are close to my next build except what I would "- delete" for recs below.

But why no orcish power attack?

Mostly because I'm currently having two hit issues with my Warforged Favored Soul if he has ranks in it. I blame this on a lack of gear, but for the moment I am assuming similar pain will be experienced with my melee cleric. If it works out later, I will do so. Also, its expensive and this is an AP starved build. I have no idea why wizards/sorcerers get their spell modifiers for 1 ap per tier, but clerics/favored souls have to spend 1/2/3/4 -_-

No critical smiting for DP?

I couldn't afford the costs. Radiant Servant costs quite a bit since I need Unyielding Sovereignty.

shield mastery with a 2 hander build?

There comes a time in every players life when **** has hit the floor, and you want a board on your arm to block some damage. Unlike my favored soul who has 14 DR, my cleric will have none, or at least not general resistance to everything. Shield Mastery grants me this survivability, and allows me to turtle while soloing quests. Also I couldn't think of much else worth taking.

EDIT: It's also worth mentioning I'm a total ****** and forgot that I'd taken, for some reason I cannot remember, Spell Point enhancements that cost 6 AP. Ignore me, I'm a idiot today.

[Vaardalia]

I read the feat "You win DDO! You've leveled to 20 in every class, and for your effort can take this feat to get a +2 bonus to all skills and ability scores. When more classes are added, this feat will deactivate and you will need to gain those past lives before this benefit reactivates." as needing to be level 20 in each class, if this is not true I will so multi-class.

[Habreno]

To answer the question in the OP: No, it will not work.

You are taking the improved two-weapon fighting feat at level 15. By the time you reach level 15, you won't be meleeing anything - the trash will be kited through bladebarriers, caster mobs get Slain or Destructed, bosses do enough damage that you will want to divine punishment and kite, or divine punishment and shieldblock.


Dump bastard sword and two weapon fighting for the more standard power attack/falchion/improved critical combination. Dump the mental toughnesses for caster feats - maximize and empower are very good, they make your divine punishments and bladebarriers shine. Heighten helps your instakills and crowd control at the very late levels, I think it's worth it.

I disagree with the meleeing bit. He's building a melee Cleric. He's going to be hitting stuff, right up to cap, and even in Epics. I do it now on what is mainly a casting Cleric, but I have some melee in there. On a melee build, he could melee all the way through and into 20 fairly well. A build with insane self healing comparatively to the mobs needs only enough DPS to take mobs down before they drain his SP. That's a rather low amount on a Cleric, between RS Aura and Conc-Op and Torq, it's sometimes a nonexistent amount of DPS needed.



And OP, if all you want is the Cleric PL, go with a 13/x/x build. This gives RS II, CL 15 on aura, and then whatever you want for 7 levels.

[Gorbadoc]

I read the feat "You win DDO! You've leveled to 20 in every class, and for your effort can take this feat to get a +2 bonus to all skills and ability scores. When more classes are added, this feat will deactivate and you will need to gain those past lives before this benefit reactivates." as needing to be level 20 in each class, if this is not true I will so multi-class.

Yeah, no, you only need to have the (non-selected) past life feat from each class. EVERY time you TR, you gain another non-selected past life feat. You get the feat for whichever class has the plurality of your levels. So, for example, an 8 cleric, 6 artificer, 6 rogue would get Past Life: Cleric. The only exception is that you can stack each past life feat only up to 3 times.