Although it has been out for over two years,Baldur’s Gate 3still conjures quite a few interesting conversations, particularly those that have also turned up in manyD&Dcircles. One big debate is how important a healer really is to a party, and specifically whether potions can make up for a lack of a cleric, given that clerics tend to be the go-to healer class. This debate somewhat discredits the overall usefulness of a cleric, and while many can get through the game by making Shadowheart a barbarian, it doesn’t mean she isn’t as useful in her native class.
This debate exists inD&Dtables, too, sincegetting someone to act as the party’s dedicated healer can often be a tall order. Potions aren’t always as useful inD&Das inBG3, as using them officially requires an action, although any table I’ve played with uses the bonus action potion homebrew rule. It also depends on the chosen difficulty setting, but how useful a healer can be and how effective a cleric is shouldn’t be underestimated, especially in certain sections of the game that allow them to shine.
BG3 Healers Are For More Than Healing
Although Healing Is Still Very Useful
Any class that can heal usually has some very effective utility,from the bard and its inspirations to the cleric and its buffs and nerfs, although it shouldn’t be overstated how useful healing in general is. While potions can be an effective medium, they’re also a drain on resources, especially at the start when gold isn’t as readily available. In Act 3, when the party has all its gear together and the player has tens of thousands of coins to spend, using that money on potions is never a bad thing. Still, having a healer can make traveling more efficient.
Just hitting a foe with damaging abilities is certainly a strategy, and one that has worked for me inPokémon, butbeing able to debuff enemies and make allies more effective with concentration spells while also being able to healis very useful. While concentrating on something like Bless or Bane while throwing in the occasionalCure Woundsis devastatingly effective, it can also help allies take less damage by succeeding rolls. These are early game spells too, where any damage feels like big damage, and mitigating and recovering from this damage isvital in Act 1.
Out of combat, being able to recover health and keep going means that a party can get more done before needing to stop for a long rest. A bard using Song of Rest to get another short rest is extremely useful for those trying to get as much done as possible, especially when there is a time limit imposed on them, as is the case with Orin and the party member she abducts. Something likePrayer of Healing as an AOE heal out of combat is great too,for when the party cannot leave a location but needs healing.
Clerics Have Some Incredible Baldur’s Gate 3 Abilities
Clerics Can Be Very Useful In Act 2
While building a cleric to do nothing but heal is a bit of a waste, that doesn’t mean that a healing cleric can’t be the party’s most effective member, especiallyin Act 2. While I’ve respecced Shadowheart away from her Trickster subclass more than once, this is usually in exchange for another cleric option, andI oftenchoose Light cleric because of her Selunite roots and how powerful it is in Act 2 with all the undead. The Radiance of Dawn Channel Divinity is amazing during Act 2 to melt those undead foes, especially the wraiths.
Shar and Selune are twin sisters, and the pair is in constant conflict with one another.
Clerics also have an incredible spell list, and many of those spells are unique to them.Spirit Guardiansis immense, and the ability to choose radiant or necrotic damagecovers most bases. This spell becomes very effective duringHalsin’s Act 2 quest, when trying to protect the portal to the Shadowfell. With many spells being concentrations, dealing out some healing between buffing, debuffing, or zoning foes with power, AOE spells make a cleric into a perfect, highly effective option when dealing with numerous foes. The healing and AOE damage are great for when the turn economy goes against the player.
Having a cleric on hand is also very useful for helping out Astarion during Act 3, given that the party ends up facing a lot of vampires.Casting Daylight on Cazador’sstaff will always be hilarious, and burning away foes with radiant damaging abilities will thin the numbers. In these kinds of fights, which can often drag on for many turns,having a cleric to heal while thinning out the herd can often save the bonus actions of other party members. These bonus actions are sometimes vital to a playstyle, and this keeps them available for extra attacks and more.
Multiclassing Unlocks New Healer Opportunities
Combining Cleric With Other Classes Can Be Extremely Effective
Multiclassing cleric with other classes can be surprisingly effective,mainly in making use of a subclass’s Channel Divinity. For instance, combining Tempest cleric with Storm sorcerer can lead to a character dealing more lightning damage than Zeus, while also having the option to throw out aHealing Wordto downed allies at a distance. Although it’s not a lot of healing, having a character heal just enough to bring allies back up when they are knocked unconscious will prevent them from dying, letting you avoidthrowing gold at Withersfor anything but respeccing.
It is assumed that Withers is actually Jergal, Faerun’s original God of the Dead, before giving up his position.
Multiclassing into cleric looks even moreappealing when moddingand using the Unlock Level Curve mod, which allows party members to go beyond level 13 by multiclassing to reach higher levels.Throwing in some healing or taking advantage of a cleric’s unique spell list with a typically melee-orientated class, such as fighter, could be an interesting experience, castingspirit guardiansto make the fighter effective with AOE. The War cleric subclass is great for this set up specifically, allowing a fighter to make even more attacks while remaining a stalwart healer for the party.
Ultimately, healing andclerics, specifically, shouldn’t be discounted inBaldur’s Gate 3. There’s a reason why’never disrespect your healer’is an unwritten rule inD&Dand why a lot of people go out of their way to convince their friends to be the group’s support. Healing is sometimes seen as the dirty role no one wants to do, but with multiclassing and a bit of creativity, there are plenty of ways to make a fun, powerful, and effective character who can also act as the party’s healer to keep them going a little longer before the next long rest.
