Clerics are powerful spellcasters in the world of Dungeons & Dragons. They rely on their connection to a deity or divine power to cast spells and perform miracles that can aid their allies or smite their enemies.
But how do clerics manage their magical abilities? That’s where spell slots come in.
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Spell slots are a mechanic that define how many spells a cleric can cast before needing to rest and regain their magical energy. Each time a cleric casts a spell, they expend one of their available spell slots for the day. The number of spell slots available to a cleric depends on their level, subclass, and ability scores.
Let’s take a closer look at how these mechanics work:
Spell Slots by Level
At 1st level, a cleric has access to two 1st-level spell slots. As they gain levels, the number and level of available spell slots increases. Here’s a breakdown:
- 1st-2nd level: two 1st-level spell slots
- 3rd-4th level: three 2nd-level spell slots
- 5th-6th level: four 3rd-level spell slots
- 7th-8th level: five 4th-level spell slots
- 9th-10th level: six 5th-level spell slots
- 11th-12th level: seven 6th-level spell slots
- 13th-14th level: eight 7th-level spell slots
- 15th-16th level: nine 8th-level spell slots
- 17th-20th level: ten 9th-level spell slots
It’s important to note that clerics don’t necessarily have to use all of their higher-level spell slots for higher-level spells. They can choose to cast lower-level spells using higher-level slots, which can enhance the spell’s effect. For example, a cleric might cast a 2nd-level spell using a 3rd-level spell slot to make the spell more potent.
Spell Slots by Subclass
In addition to their level-based spell slots, clerics also gain bonus spell slots based on their subclass. Here are the subclasses and their bonus slots:
- Knowledge Domain: two extra 1st-level spell slots
- Life Domain: two extra 1st-level spell slots
- Light Domain: one extra 1st-level spell slot, one extra 2nd-level spell slot
- Nature Domain: one extra 1st-level spell slot, one extra 2nd-level spell slot
- Tempest Domain: one extra 1st-level spell slot, one extra 2nd-level spell slot
- Trickery Domain: two extra 1st-level spell slots
- War Domain: one extra 1st-level spell slot, one extra 2nd-level spell slot
Spell Slots by Ability Scores
A cleric’s ability scores can also affect their total number of available spells for the day. If a cleric has a high Wisdom score (the ability score that governs their magic), they will have more spells available. Conversely, if their Wisdom score is low, they will have fewer spells available.
It’s important to manage your cleric’s spells carefully, as running out of available slots mid-battle can be disastrous. Make sure to consider factors like the enemies you’ll be facing, your allies’ abilities and limitations, and any environmental hazards or obstacles you might encounter.
In conclusion, clerics use a combination of level-based slots, subclass bonuses, and ability scores to manage their spellcasting abilities. With careful planning and a bit of luck, they can use their spells to turn the tide of battle and achieve great feats of magic.
