Necro Cleric for new players

[EllisDee37]

Updated version of this build for the enhancement pass.

This is a pure 20 DC caster cleric who (of course) can also raid heal. No tomes are required and no pay classes or races are involved; this is a solid choice for a new player who wants to play a cleric. It works fine as a healbot, plus it can offer much more once you get comfortable healing. It is also a capable soloer, though you'll need to use timing to get through traps. (Most traps have a safe way to get through them.)

The build calls for a feat respec after level 10, just before taking level 11. This costs 10,000 plat and 10,000 siberys dragonshard fragments, both of which should be affordable for a brand new player on a first life. Try to save your free feat respec for something else. At the same time as the feat respec the Divine Disciple tree gets reset, which will cost another few thousand plat.

The framework of this build works fine for an evo build instead of necro; simply change the Necro Focus feat(s) to Evo focus and put the Magister twist on Evo. Then you can take the Draconic twist for Evo as well. Then maybe tack on 3 sorc past lives for another +3 evo DC. heh.

I personally prefer jump over balance because I like the agility, especially when using blade barrier. You can add in balance starting at level 7 if you have a +2 int tome.

Any alignment will work fine. True Neutral is generally best, but if you want to use Forgotten Light you may not have enough UMD to wield it if you aren't good aligned.

The previous version of the output is available here.


Necro Cleric
Cleric 20
Neutral Good Human


Stats
. . . . . . . .28pt . . 32pt . . 34pt . . 36pt . . Level Up
. . . . . . . .---- . . ---- . . ---- . . ---- . . --------
Strength. . . . 10. . . .10. . . .10. . . .10. . . .4: WIS
Dexterity . . . .8. . . . 8. . . . 8. . . . 8. . . .8: WIS
Constitution. . 14. . . .14. . . .14. . . .14. . . 12: WIS
Intelligence. . 14. . . .14. . . .14. . . .14. . . 16: WIS
Wisdom. . . . . 16. . . .18. . . .18. . . .18. . . 20: WIS
Charisma. . . . 12. . . .10. . . .12. . . .14. . . 24: WIS
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28: WIS

Skills
. . . . . 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
Concent . 4. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Heal. . . 4. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Spellcr . 4. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Jump. . . 1. 1. . .1 . . 1. . .1 . . 1. . .1 . . 1. . .1 . . 1. . .1 .11
UMD . . . 2. . .1 . . 1. . .1 . . 1. . .1 . . 1. . .1 . . 1. . .1 . . 11
Tumble. . 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
. . . . .20. 5. 5. 5. 5. 5. 5. 5. 5. 5. 5. 5. 5. 5. 5. 5. 5. 5. 5. 5


Feats

.1. . . . : Maximize Spell
.1 Human. : Empower Spell
.1 Deity. : Follower of: Sovereign Host
.3. . . . : Empower Healing Spell
.6. . . . : Quicken Spell
.6 Deity. : Unyielding Sovereignty
.9. . . . : Spell Focus: Necromancy OR Evocation
10 Swap. .: Spell Penetration replaces Empower Spell
12. . . . : Heighten Spell
15. . . . : Greater Spell Penetration
18. . . . : Greater Spell Focus: Necromancy OR Evocation
21 Epic . : Epic Spell Penetration
24 Epic . : Epic Spell Focus: Necromancy OR Evocation
26 Destiny: Epic Spell Power: Negative OR Force OR Light
27 Epic . : Embolden Spell OR Intensify Spell
28 Destiny: Mass Frog
29 Destiny: Fount of Life
30 Epic . : Master of: Light OR Alignment
30 Legend : Scion of: Shadowfell OR Celestia


Spells

1. Cure Light Wounds, Nightshield, Nimbus of Light, Remove Fear, Protection from Evil, <Any>, <Any>
2. Cure Moderate Wounds, Resist Energy, Owl's Wisdom, Seek Eternal Rest, <Any>, <Any>
3. Cure Serious Wounds, Magic Circle Against Evil, Protection from Energy, <Any>, <Any>, <Any>
4. Cure Critical Wounds, Death Ward, Freedom of Movement, <Any>, <Any>, <Any>
5. Mass Cure Light Wounds, Slay Living, Greater Command, True Seeing, Divine Punishment, Protection from Elements
6. Mass Cure Moderate Wounds, Blade Barrier, Heal, Banishment, Undeath to Death, Cometfall
7. Mass Cure Serious Wounds, Destruction, Mass Spell Resistance, Resurrection, Greater Restoration, Mass Protection from Elements
8. Mass Cure Critical Wounds, Mass Death Ward, Symbol of Death, Holy Aura, Death Pact, <Any>
9. Energy Drain, Implosion, Mass Heal, True Resurrection, Summon Monster IX

Enhancements (80 AP)

Divine Disciple (42 AP)

• Emissary: Darkness, Sacred Defense, Enervation, Necrotic Ray, Power Word: Stun, Transcend: Darkness
  
  1. Spellpower: Universal III, Spell Critical: Universal, Spell Points III
  2. Spell Penetration II, Spellpower: Universal III, Efficient Maximize III, Spell Critical: Universal
  3. Spellpower: Universal III, Spell Critical: Universal, Wisdom
  4. Necromancy DC, Spell Critical: Universal, Wisdom

Radiant Servant (33 AP)

• Healing Domain, Pacifism, Positive Energy Burst, Improved Empower Healing
  
  1. Extra Turning III, Wand Mastery III
  2. Improved Turning III, Mighty Turning, Efficient Empower Healing III
  3. Wisdom
  4. Endless Turning III, Wisdom
  5. Positive Energy Aura

Human (5 AP)

• Skills Boost, Wisdom
  
  1. Improved Recovery

Leveling Guide

1. DD0 Emissary: Light; DD1 Nimbus of Light I, II, III
2. DD1 Spell Points I, II, III; DD1 Spellpower: Light I
3. DD0 Sacred Defense; DD1 Spellpower: Light II; DD3 Searing Light I, II
4. DD3 Searing Light III; DD1 Spellpower: Light III; DD2 Spellpower: Universal I, II
5. DD2 Spellpower: Universal III; DD3 Spellpower: Light I, II, III
6. DD4 Holy Smite I, II, III; DD0 Sun Bolt
7. Rad0 Healing Domain; Rad1 Extra Turning I, II, III
8. Rad1 Wand Mastery I; Rad2 Improved Turning I, II, III
9. Rad2 Mighty Turning; Rad0 Pacifism; Rad0 Positive Energy Burst
10. Rad1 Wand Mastery II, III; Rad2 Efficient Empower Healing I
11. Reset Divine Disciple
    
    • Divine Disciple: Emissary: Darkness, Sacred Defense
      
      1. Spellpower: Universal III, Spell Points III
      2. Spellpower: Universal III
      3. Spellpower: Universal III
    • Radiant Servant
      
      1. (none)
      2. Efficient Empower Healing III
      3. Wisdom
      4. Endless Turning III, Wisdom
12. Rad5 Positive Energy Aura; DD3 Wisdom
13. DD2 Spell Penetration I, II
14. DD0 Enervation; DD0 Necrotic Ray; DD4 Necromancy DC
15. DD2 Efficient Maximize I, II
16. DD2 Efficient Maximize III; DD4 Wisdom
17. DD1 Spell Critical: Universal; DD2 Spell Critical: Universal
18. Hum0 Skills Boost; Hum1 Improved Recovery; Rad0 Improved Empower Healing
19. DD3 Spell Critical: Universal; DD4 Spell Critical: Universal
20. Hum0 Wisdom; DD0 Power Word: Stun; DD0 Transcend: Darkness

Destiny (24 AP)

Exalted Angel

1. Radiant Power III, Endless Faith III, Healing Power III, Wisdom
2. Wisdom
3. Wisdom
4. Wisdom
5. Leap of Faith, Wisdom
6. Divine Wrath, Wisdom

Twists of Fate (11 fate points)

1. Renewal (Tier 3 Sentinel)
2. School Specialist: Necromancy (Tier 2 Magister)

The basic concept for leveling is to rely on the Divine Disciple light SLAs (nimbus of light, searing light, holy smite) to carry you until you get the higher power spells like blade barrier, slay living, destruction and implosion. Both Maximize and Empower are taken at creation, and they are free when applied to SLAs.

After finishing level 10, but before taking 11, respec to the darkside, drop all the SLAs, and swap out Empower for Spell Penetration. Then take level 11 and go crazy with blade barrier, slay living, and (soon after) destruction. Note that this respec only resets the Divine Disciple tree, and then only re-spends a handful of points back into Divine Disciple, dumping the rest into Radiant Servant so you can get Positive Energy Aura when you take level 12.

My recommendation is to feature blade barrier while soloing and greater command while grouping. When I run this build I virtually never cast blade barrier in groups, and virtually never cast greater command while solo. I cast both of them very frequently the other way around, and the end result is that the build feels very different when soloiing and when in groups. This helps spice up the variety of playing, and I find this change between group types very nice.

Of course, no matter what type of group I'm in, slay living, destruction and implosion are always fun. heh.

This build benefits greatly from a single wizard past life, not the least of which is that the wizard will be able to farm up the gear and destiny twists much easier than a cleric can. Second life xp requirements aren't too bad at all; nowhere near a third life. So a single wizard life followed by this life to end as a Hero is my recommendation. However, this is by no means required. The build works on a first life just fine.

[EllisDee37]

reserved

[EllisDee37]

reserved for future use

[EllisDee37]

Just reserving a few posts; not sure what I want to put here yet.

[Varus]

Unless I miscounted it looks like you're only taking two enhancements from the racial tree. I wanted to try and find a workable version of this for the Morninglord, but what's the point when they've made it too expensive to get any of the goodies in the Morninglord racial tree? All you're left with is the missing feat and bonus skills you could have gotten from human.

Hopefully Turbine fixes the racial tree issue so I have a reason to consider a Morninglord again.

[EllisDee37]

Yep, all the builds I've looked at so far skip the racial tree apart from just taking tier 1 amp, or (for the PM) human adaptability.

I've tried to justify spending AP in the human tree but it's just not worth it.

EDIT: Geez, I forgot to take recovery 1. Hmmm, maybe I can squeeze it in...

EDIT 2: I suppose dropping Incredible Healing to I (or completely and taking Intense Healing to III) is the easiest way to fit in the first human amp. I'm leaving amp off for now. Note that Divine Disciple has the absolute minimum AP spent to unlock the capstone, so you can't really pull any AP out of that tree.

[SirValentine]

Like almost every build, gender doesn't matter for this one.

*Almost*?

OK, you've got me curious. Which builds DOES it matter for?

[SirValentine]

If you end up with an odd Wisdom, you can squeeze out one more point by spending less in Radiant Servant, and putting 12 points in Protection. +1 Wisdom, 15 hit points, and Efficient Metamagic, plus some universal spellpower, seems plausible.

[Soulfurnace]

*Almost*?

OK, you've got me curious. Which builds DOES it matter for?

Wizard Toasters. Don't ask.

[EllisDee37]

*Almost*?

OK, you've got me curious. Which builds DOES it matter for?

Human unarmed monks who want to use Great Cleave. Details here.

If you end up with an odd Wisdom, you can squeeze out one more point by spending less in Radiant Servant, and putting 12 points in Protection. +1 Wisdom, 15 hit points, and Efficient Metamagic, plus some universal spellpower, seems plausible.

This would prevent taking aura, which to me a dealbreaker. (Without aura I see no advantage to taking cleric instead of FVS.)

Aura requires 30 points spent in tree, costs 2 AP (32 AP minimum)
DD capstone requires 40 points spent in tree, costs 1 AP (41 AP minimum)

That's 73 AP at the very least in the two trees, assuming you want aura and a capstone from a different cleric tree. (Divine Intervention is the protection capstone, for example.) I pared the Divine Disciple down to the absolute minimum 41 AP in this build, spent 3 in human for +1 wisdom, leaving me only 4 AP to play with.

I could conceivably spend those 4 on 15 HP from protection; if the "caster level" / "max caster level" enhancements don't buff aura I probably will.

[SirValentine]

That's 73 AP at the very least in the two trees, assuming you want aura and a capstone from a different cleric tree.

You could take the capstone from the same tree as your Tier 5s. Then there's enough AP to go around. If you really want aura, is the RS capstone so bad? It has the same +2 Wisdom, but some healing thing instead of +2 on saves.

[EllisDee37]

I prefer getting both a searing light SLA and adding enervate & necrotic ray to the spell book.

That would also leave me only 24 AP to spend in DD, for just 1 extra wisdom.

[CE2JRH123]

Is the empower swap out a little early? Blade Barrier spell power seems pretty important until late heroic/early epic?

Otherwise, I'll definitely be playing this on my non-TR cleric. You rock, EllisDee.

[EllisDee37]

Is the empower swap out a little early?

It is, yes. In a perfect world you would wait until 14 when you're about to take 15. But then it's much more expensive and you probably should use the free respec.

As written there's a larger chance you can just pay for it @ 12 and save the free respec for down the road.

But yeah, next time I TR into this build I'll likely hold off on the swap until 14 going on 15. I have dragonshards coming out the wazoo...

[CE2JRH123]

Also, would you be so kind as to put Update 19 in brackets after the title? When I was coming back I had a lot of trouble telling which builds were dated by how much, and was thinking that it would be really helpful if guides had update ## tags in their titles.


When I tried to do the Radiant Servant section, it looked like it cost 36 points, then when I hit accept, shrunk to 22 points, but then wouldn't let me accept. Seems buggy, going to try resetting the tree.

Eventually got it to work after a few resets by hitting "accept" after each purchased enhancement.

[EllisDee37]

Also, would you be so kind as to put Update 19 in brackets after the title? When I was coming back I had a lot of trouble telling which builds were dated by how much, and was thinking that it would be really helpful if guides had update ## tags in their titles.

I considered it and then didn't because barring massing changes to game mechanics (such as U19) I keep the builds updated as each update rolls along. If my old builds said "U11" in the title, for example, they would have looked like old abandoned builds despite me keeping up with them.

[Undre]

First off, love playing your builds. However I am curious if it is still possible to take one level of wizard(possibly at 2) for the extra feature and the continued use of wands and scrolls by eating +2 tome to add back the lost skill point in healing? With the feat I was planning to keep empower or add extend.

[EllisDee37]

First off, love playing your builds. However I am curious if it is still possible to take one level of wizard(possibly at 2) for the extra feature and the continued use of wands and scrolls by eating +2 tome to add back the lost skill point in healing? With the feat I was planning to keep empower or add extend.

Yep, absolutely. It still works fine, it's just that now that toughness isn't so required I couldn't justify losing out on the +2 wisdom from the capstone. The capstone also grants you both necrotic ray as a spell and searing light as an sla, which is full of win. (Without the capstone you choose one or the other, but can't have both.)

It will work fine with the one wizard level at 2, and will likely be noticeably more fun to play from levels 2-10. The problem is the low strength; I'd cannibalize the skill points by dropping intelligence down to 10 and kicking strength back up to 14. (Assuming you wanted to play it the same way as the old build plays.)

Your early feats then become:

1: Maximize
1H: Power Attack (becomes Spell Penetration @ 12)
2W: Empower

The rest of the feats stay the same.


Regarding extend: I see no real value from it on a cleric. It doesn't extend aura (confirmed personally in testing it on lama 2 days ago) so really it would just be for prayer and recitation.

[EllisDee37]

When I tried to do the Radiant Servant section, it looked like it cost 36 points, then when I hit accept, shrunk to 22 points, but then wouldn't let me accept. Seems buggy, going to try resetting the tree.

Eventually got it to work after a few resets by hitting "accept" after each purchased enhancement.

Yep, I had the same bug while testing one of my builds on lama over the weekend. It could very well have been the cleric, but I kind of remember it being the ranger. Ah well, it wasn't a showstopper, just annoying, so no biggee in the grand scheme.

[Varus]

Yep, I had the same bug while testing one of my builds on lama over the weekend. It could very well have been the cleric, but I kind of remember it being the ranger. Ah well, it wasn't a showstopper, just annoying, so no biggee in the grand scheme.

Same bug. Having to hunt down the holes in the tree where I had points is annoying as he'll. I didn't catch it the first time and was wondering where my searing light SLA went. Cost me some plat.