Subclass Cleric War Domain

What Is the War Domain?

The War Domain is a martial Cleric subclass. It provides a Bonus Action attack resource and a Channel Divinity that enhances attack rolls for yourself or an ally, both granted at Level 3, plus a Level 6 upgrade that lets you cast two of its buff spells for free.

This rework gives the War Domain a completely new resource — War Priest Action Points — that replenish on Short Rest, a Channel Divinity that enhances attack rolls, and a spell list that ends with Steel Wind Strike as an always-prepared option at Level 9. Note: the base Cleric class (not War Domain specifically) also grants a choice between Divine Strike and Potent Spellcasting at Level 7 — see Class-Cleric's Blessed Strikes for that feature.

The War Domain Cleric combines a full prepared spell list with consistent melee weapon attacks.

Class Features

Progression Overview

LEVEL	FEATURE
3	War Domain Spells, War Priest, Guided Strike, War God's Blessing
5	War Domain Spells (expanded)
6	War God's Blessing (Free Spells)
7	War Domain Spells (expanded)
9	War Domain Spells (expanded)

Level 3 Features

War Domain Spells

Your Domain grants an expanding spell list that is always prepared and doesn't count against your limit:

CLERIC LEVEL	SPELLS ADDED
3	Magic Weapon, Spiritual Weapon, Guiding Bolt, Shield of Faith, War Priest
5	Crusader's Mantle, Spirit Guardians
7	Fire Shield, Freedom of Movement
9	Hold Monster, Steel Wind Strike

10 spells total — a mix of buffs, summons, and control. Spirit Guardians at Level 5 and Steel Wind Strike at Level 9 are two of the strongest spells available to any martial caster. The War Domain Cleric has both always prepared.

War Priest

A Bonus Action attack powered by its own resource, War Priest Action Points, which replenish on a Short or Long Rest.

• Cost: 1 War Priest Action Point + Bonus Action
• Effect: Make one weapon or Unarmed Strike attack
• Condition: Not available while an Extra Attack is still pending on the same turn

War Priest gives you a Bonus Action attack without requiring Extra Attack. If you gain Extra Attack from a multiclass, War Priest deactivates — the two don't stack.

War Priest Action Points scale with Wisdom:

WISDOM SCORE	CHARGES PER SHORT REST
13 or lower	1
14–15	2
16–17	3
18–19	4
20–21	5
22–23	6
24+	7

Guided Strike and War God's Blessing — Channel Divinity

A single Level 3 passive (WarGodsBlessing) unlocks two Channel Divinity Reaction options together — there is no separate Level 6 unlock for the ally version:

• Guided Strike: When you make an attack roll, spend a Reaction + Channel Divinity charge to add +10 to your own roll — turning a near-miss into a hit.
• War God's Blessing: When a nearby ally makes an attack roll, spend a Reaction + Channel Divinity charge to add +10 to their roll instead.

Both are declared after seeing the roll, before knowing if it hits, and both cost one Channel Divinity charge. From Level 3 onward, every Channel Divinity charge can be spent on either your own attack or an ally's, whichever needs it more.

+10 to an attack roll is the difference between hitting and missing on almost any result. A Rogue's Sneak Attack, a Paladin's Smite setup, or a Fighter's Action Surge attack can each be pushed to a near-guaranteed hit with your Reaction.

Level 6 Features

War God's Blessing (Free Spells)

At Level 6, War_6_WarGodsBlessing unlocks Channel-Divinity-powered versions of two spells already on your Domain list — Shield of Faith and Spiritual Weapon — that you cast for free instead of spending a spell slot:

• Cost: Bonus Action + 1 Channel Divinity charge (no spell slot)
• Shield of Faith: Same AC buff as the normal spell
• Spiritual Weapon: Summons the same weapon
• Neither version requires Concentration — each lasts 10 turns, and casting the same spell again ends the earlier one

This is unrelated to the Level 3 Guided Strike/War God's Blessing Reactions despite the shared name — it's a spell-slot-free casting option for two of your most-used buffs, freeing your prepared slots for other spells.

Playstyle Summary

The War Domain is a frontline martial Cleric.

Your combat identity:

1. War Priest — every Short Rest, spend Wisdom-modifier Bonus Action attacks; stay in melee and use them all
2. Guided Strike / War God's Blessing — from Level 3, every Channel Divinity charge can add +10 to your own attack roll or an ally's; be the party's hit guarantee
3. Spirit Guardians at Level 5 — always prepared; position yourself in melee and let it chip everything around you
4. War God's Blessing (Free Spells) at Level 6 — cast Shield of Faith or Spiritual Weapon via Channel Divinity without spending a spell slot
5. Steel Wind Strike at Level 9 — always prepared; teleport and hit up to 5 targets in one action