A guide to the best Cleric builds in Dark and Darker.

First Published November 24, 2023, 17:46

Table of Contents

When you play Dark and Darker, the first thing you have to do is create a character. They can be one of 8 classes. While the class' character design gives you some visual hints and a brief overview gives you a little insight into its archetype, there's still plenty to left to learn about their playstyle, weapons, and abilities. This guide focuses on the best Cleric builds.

Cleric Class Explained

Clerics wield divine power to benefit their allies and smite their enemies. The range of spells at their disposal provides them with support abilities like healing and removing debuffs from party members. They're not just relegated to being healers though. Proficiencies in blunt weaponry and heavy armor allow them to hold their own in combat. The main downsides of playing as a Cleric is their slow action and movement speed and lack of ranged physical weapons.

All Cleric Perks

Perks are passive buffs to your character stats which effect them throughout their time in the dungeon. As a starter Cleric, you can equip one perk. However, when you hit Level 20, there are four perk slots available to you.

All Cleric Skills

Using the Q and E keys, you can activate your skills. These inflict short-term effects on your character, party, or enemies. Like other magic-using classes in Dark and Darker, the Cleric has a Spell Memory skill used to store spells.

All Cleric Spells

Cleric spells are cast using knowledge. At level 0, you have 12 knowledge. Any spells you add to your loadout that exceed the limit set by your knowledge stat can't be accessed. For example, a Level 0 Cleric with Earthquake (-7), Holy Strike (-4), and Lesser Heal (-3) wouldn't be able to use Lesser Heal until they increase their knowledge stat.

The Best Cleric Builds

Beginner Cleric Build

Recommended loadout: Work on finding items with enchantments which increase your knowledge stat. This will give you a greater pool of more powerful spells to work from.

Recommended perks: Advanced Healer helps you keep your health up when in the dungeons.

Recommended skills: HolyPurification is a helpful skill for beginners who are getting used to clearing mobs of monsters. When working with 12 wisdom the best combination of spells is: Holy Light (-5), Bless (-1), Cleanse (-2), Divine Strike (-3), Protection (-1).

Advanced Cleric Build

Recommended loadout: The campfire kit is an essential item for Clerics. Unlike Wizards, Clerics don’t have a method of refilling their casts on the go. You need to rest at a campfire in order to restore your spells.

Recommended perks: Advanced Healer and Kindness make you an excellent addition to any party. Not only can you tend to your party’s wounds, you restore some of your own health by doing it. Perseverance and Protection from Evil makes for a more resilient Cleric. 

Recommended skills: EquipSmite and Spell Memory with Bless, Resurrection, Holy Light, Holy Strike, and Protection.

Solo Queue Cleric Build

Being such a support-focused class, it may seem like the Cleric isn't a viable option for braving the dungeons alone. However, there is a build that can bolster your strength as a solo Cleric. 

Recommended loadout: Equip a one-handed shield and a Flanged Mace for a solid combination of defense and hefty melee damage. High AR armor like the Templar Armor is a good choice.

Recommended perks: Brewmaster perk will allow you to drink ale in a pinch to increase your health and physical damage output without having to contend with the negative effects. Pair this with Blunt Weapon Mastery, Perseverance, and Undead Slaying for a more combat-ready Cleric.

Recommended skills: In addition to Judgement, take on Spell Memory with the following spells: Protection, Holy Strike, Earthquake, Bless, and Divine Strike. 

Written by Abigail Shannon

Abigail believes character customisation is an art, and one that is entirely worth all the time she wastes on it. She loves horror. She loves wholesomeness. As a result, the tone of her games library is pretty whiplash-inducing. You can find her personal portfolio on the link.

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