Thunderbolt Strike
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I find the Thunderbolt Strike feature of the Tempest Cleric very appealing, but, in building a tempest cleric, I get stuck with the lack of spells to use with this feature. There are 10 spells that can do lightning damage in PHB plus prismatic spray, but the damage type is random but none of them are on the clerics list.
Just one of these is given to the tempest cleric via domain spells. So, normally without multiclassing, feats, or other ways to get stuff from other classes , there are 2 ways of using this feature: Wrath of the Storm, which works very well, and Lightning Strike. But to me, it seems a bit weird to use it with lightning strike, as it pushes away from you, but the bolts in this spell come from above.
It seems like it was designed to use with a lightning attack coming from you, thus the push.
Of course there is always an option to just homebrew and change the damage type on the existing spells, but I'm curious about other people opinion on this. Do you guys think this lack of lightning damage is on purpose, for a matter of balance? Or was it just bad design? Worth noting that this is deceptively more useful than you would think.
When you use Wrath of the Storm with Thunderbolt Strike, the creature that attacked you is pushed back immediately. From the section on. I find the Thunderbolt Strike feature of the Tempest Cleric very appealing, but, in building a tempest cleric, I get stuck with the lack of spells to use with this feature. Just one of these is given to the tempest cleric via domain spells. There is Lightning Lure on SCAG, but.
On paper, it seems like it counters itself, but what it does is do the pull first, and the push second. The only requirement is that it has to be a straight line to and away from you. For both the push and the pull. If you're thinking of facing them head on, and just pulling them forward and pushing them back to the same place, it can seem lack luster, but there's nothing stopping you from thinking in straight diagonal lines. You could pull someone diagonally from you to directly in front of you, and then push them along the opposite diagonal line in another direction, basically pushing them upwards of 10 feet from their original position.
You can also pull and push them up to the amount listed, so you have a much larger array of options. Yep, you could certain stop anywhere from the full distance as well. All in all, it makes it really handy for some minor re-positioning of enemies, especially since its at will. Haven't thought about it that way. Though, still, would require a feat, or multiclassing, or going moon elf or half moon elf to get it.
Yeah, it's definitely not a 'must have' for a tempest cleric, especially since it's kind of 'expensive' to actually get, but it's much more useful than it looks at face value.
Your Answer
All of the options suggested are valid. Though, it seems like it always comes to multiclassing or using a racial feature, like breath weapon or elf cantrip, or a feat. The class itself doesn't offer an option. A simple lightning based cantrip would do the trick.
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I'd ask your DM if you can extend it to thunder or lightning damage, much like the other abilities tempest clerics have. I disagree with this, mostly because your divine strike is thunder damage, and getting free pushes every time you hit with an attack is a bit too strong I'm looking at you warlocks. And you don't even get it until level 8, with no extra attack. Plenty easy for the enemy to simply reengage at that point. I guess you could do it with a javelin or something, but it's still only 10 feet.
Though, I'm curious to hear why you think pushing with an attack like this is overpowered. I think it would be a bit too strong if paired with booming blade. Arcane tricksters can have the same effect booming blade trigger on an enemy they aren't in melee with without ant feats. Strong, sure but I'd hardly call it overpowered. How do they do that? Never played one, can't find the ability. Would they use their mage hand to wield the blade? Booming blade only does extra damage if the target willingly moves.
Thunderbolt Strike I
Forced movement won't trigger it. Yeah, buy it would get you out of the enemy's reach.
That makes it way more likely they would have to move and trigger the booming blade second damage. I liked in the past getting materials that introduced more spells because of this. Elemental Evil helped a lot in this regard. But, to my surprise, no Cleric spells, and worst, no lightning spells whatsoever And none is available to clerics. My advice would be to try playing it and see what happens. I ran a 15th level game for fun with one character being the tempest cleric and it was a lot of fun for him to throw up a call lightning then maximize the damage on it. Yeah I'm in the process of making a Tempest Cleric myself and was trying to figure out a way to make this feature more versatile than just pairing it with Wrath of the Storm.
Sadly only way I know is by taking Magic Initiate Wizard or Sorcerer to get either Shocking Grasp or Lightning Lure but I don't have the necessary stats to make good use of either of those for it to be really worth getting. Yea, it's a bit restrictive, I think it was designed mostly to be used with the reaction ability. Your DM might let you houserule it to work with thunder spells With the exception of booming blade, because that would be really OP.
If feats and multiclassing are not an option, you could go high elf and take the shocking grasp cantrip. I think it was on purpose, and done for game balance. I think their other divine domain abilities are intentionally someone toned down because of this. I envision the Thunderbolt Strike as throwing the target creature away from it, not gently pushing it away. I mean lightning is an instantaneous thing and 10' is more than just losing your balance.
The Thunderbolt Strike of a Tempest Cleric leaves me with many questions.
If he does not have 10' of movement left after being pushed, does he lose his other 2 attacks against me if no other targets are near him or does he get all 3 attacks before he is blasted away from me? When you use Wrath of the Storm with Thunderbolt Strike, the creature that attacked you is pushed back immediately. From the section on reactions:. The creature doesn't get to finish its turn, then get hit by your reaction - your reaction happens straight away, interrupting their turn.
Thunderbolt Strike and the lack of lightning spells : dndnext
Then, if it has movement remaining, it can move up to you and finish its Multiattack sequence. If it does not have enough movement to get back within reach of you, it will have to either end its turn without completing its Multiattack, or take the other attack s on a creature that is within its reach.
Might be considered a fair enough trade-off. Elemental Evil helped a lot in this regard. You'd be trading the better damage type in Radiant for something you could use more with this feature. Still, I don't think a simple lightning cantrip with the sacred flame damage dices would be unreasonable. This site uses cookies to deliver our services and to show you relevant ads and job listings. I think their other divine domain abilities are intentionally someone toned down because of this.
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