Suffering Domain

The gods of suffering are patrons of those who undergo great hardship, torment, or persecution. The gods of suffering simply teach that suffering is a real, inescapable part of life, and a part that leads to great tempering of the soul and possibly enlightenment. Though most teach that those who inflict torment on the innocent should be sought out and punished severely. Clerics of these deities do not recoil from pain and suffering, but embrace it and allow it to give them, and their companions, strength. They can even use their magic to inure themselves against pain in order to take more burdens from others. Or return agony to the guilty. Deities of this domain include Ilmater and the Broken god of Damara-Vaasa.

Suffering Domain Features

Cleric Level Feature 1st Domain Spells, Bonus Proficiency, Shield Against Misfortune 2nd Channel Divinity: Redemption 6th Bearer of Burdens 8th Divine Strike (1d8) 14th Divine Strike (2d8) 17th Drinker of Sorrow

Domain Spells

You gain domain spells at the cleric levels listed in the Suffering Domain Spells table. See the Divine Domain class feature for how domain spells work.

Suffering Domain Spells

Cleric Level Spells 1st false life, compelled duel 3rd calm emotions, warding bond 5th beacon of hope, life transferrence 7th death ward, otiluke's resilient sphere 9th greater restoration, mass cure wounds

Bonus Proficiency

At 1st level, you gain proficiency with martial weapons.

Shield Against Misfortune

At 1st level, you gain the ability to take upon yourself the suffering of others. Whenever a friendly creature you can see within 60 feet takes damage, you may use your reaction to take all of the damage upon yourself. The original target receives no damage. The damage you receive cannot be reduced or mitigated in any way.

You may use this feature a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of once). You regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Channel Divinity: Redemption

Starting at 2nd level, you can use your Channel Divinity to heal others by the power of your own wounds.

Art by Gran-Esencia

As an action, inflict any amount of damage on yourself that will not reduce you below 1 hitpoint. You gain a pool of hitpoints equal to 2x the amount of damage inflicted.

Choose any number of creatures you can see within 60 feet, and divide those hitpoints among them. You can't use this feature to heal an Undead, a Construct, or yourself.

Bearer of Burdens

Starting at 6th level, you gain the ability to endure horrific torment. Whenever you cast a spell of 1st level or higher, you gain temporary hitpoints equal to your Wisdom mod + the spell level.

Additionally, you gain proficiency in Constitution saves.

Divine Strike

Starting at 8th level, you gain the ability to infuse your weapon strikes with the pain and sorrow that your target has inflicted upon others. Once on each of your turns when you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can cause the attack to deal an extra 1d8 psychic damage to the target. When you reach 14th level, the extra damage increases to 2d8.

Drinker of Sorrow

At 17th level, you have embraced that, for you at least, existence and pain are one and the same. And that pain no longer easily disrupts your holy purpose.

You add double your proficiency bonus to Constitution saves.

Additionally, having 0 hit points doesn't knock you unconscious. You still make death saving throws, and you still suffer the normal effects of taking damage while at 0 hit points.