BG3 Bladesinging Tempest Cleric Build Guide (Max Damage Setup)

 

BG3 Wizard Cleric Combo: Bladesinging Tempest Build Explained

Introduction

If you're searching for one of the craziest powerful builds in Baldur’s Gate 3, look no further than combining the Bladesinging Wizard with the Tempest Domain Cleric. This setup blends high mobility, devastating thunder magic, and insane single-target burst damage into one unstoppable force. Whether you want to dominate melee fights or rain down lightning from a distance, this multiclass covers all your bases.

In this guide, we'll break down how to create the ultimate Wizard Cleric combo in BG3, optimizing your stats, spells, equipment, and combat tactics to hit like a truck. Whether you're new to multiclassing or a veteran player, you'll walk away knowing exactly how to build and play this powerhouse. Let’s dive into the details!

Choosing Your Starting Class and Stats

When setting up this Bladesinging Tempest Cleric build, it’s best to start as a Wizard. While Clerics have a smoother start early on, starting with Wizard gives you immediate access to important spells and sets you up for a huge power spike at level six with Extra Attack. Plus, Bladesingers get some of the best mobility and defensive buffs right out the gate.

For your ability scores, here’s what you want to prioritize:

• Intelligence: Max this first. It's your bread and butter for spellcasting and damage output.

• Constitution: Second priority. Helps you survive and maintain concentration spells.

• Dexterity: Early on, you’ll want high Dex for armor class, especially if you pick up the Gloves of Dexterity.

• Wisdom: You can leave this lower until you multiclass into Cleric.

• Strength and Charisma: Dump stats. You don’t need them at all.

Suggested Starting Stat Spread (Before Modifiers):

• Strength: 8

• Dexterity: 14

• Constitution: 14

• Intelligence: 17

• Wisdom: 10

• Charisma: 8

Once you grab items like the Dexterity Gauntlets, you can easily adjust your armor class without needing to boost Dexterity too much through leveling.

Picking Cantrips and Early Spells

In the early stages of your BG3 Bladesinging Tempest Cleric build, choosing the right cantrips and spells is super important to set up your combos.

Must-Have Cantrips:

• Booming Blade: This is your main damage tool. It pairs perfectly with Thunderbolt Strike once you multiclass into Tempest Cleric.

• Shocking Grasp: Great for avoiding enemy reactions when you need to reposition.

• Bone Chill: Solid pick to prevent enemies from healing.

• Ray of Frost (Optional): Slows enemies down, giving you better control on the battlefield.

Early Wizard Spells to Grab:

• Mage Armor: Essential until you have better armor options.

• Shield: Always have this ready for emergency defense.

• Thunderwave: Strong synergy with Tempest Cleric’s Thunderbolt Strike.

• Magic Missile: Reliable damage that can’t miss.

• Witch Bolt (Optional): Good early game, but falls off later.

• Find Familiar: Useful for scouting and combat tricks.

• Chromatic Orb: Flexibility to hit enemies with various elemental types.

• Longstrider (Ritual Spell): Buffs movement speed for the entire party without using spell slots.

Getting these spells early builds the foundation for heavy hitting and slick mobility later on.

Choosing Your Bladesinging Subclass and Leveling to 6

At level 2, it’s time to pick the Bladesinging subclass for your Wizard. This is where things start to get spicy. Activating your Bladesong gives you:

• A bonus to Armor Class (AC) based on your Intelligence.

• +3 meters to your movement speed.

• Advantage on Constitution saving throws for concentration.

• Bonus to Dexterity (Acrobatics) checks.

Bladesong basically turns you into a super agile, hard-to-hit spellblade, and it stacks perfectly with what we’ll build toward as a Tempest Cleric.

Weapon Choice:

• Grab a Rapier for your Bladesinging weapon. It’s finesse-based and lets you maximize Dexterity and Intelligence bonuses.

Spell Picks at Level 2+:

• Ice Knife: Great for AoE damage if you also grab Silence.

• Fog Cloud: Good for escapes or controlling a fight.

• Tasha’s Hideous Laughter: Strong crowd control.

• Grease: Amazing for setting up crowd control zones.

As you level up to Level 3 and 4, things open up even more:

• Misty Step (Level 2 spell): Insanely useful for teleporting out of danger or into key spots.

• Scorching Ray: Excellent multi-target damage spell.

• Hold Person: Free paralyze if they fail their save — huge for crit setups.

At Level 4, you’ll also pick up another cantrip.
Recommended choice:

• Fire Bolt: For blowing up barrels and setting things on fire when needed.

Also, grab Shadow Blade.
This spell works amazingly with your build because it benefits from melee bonuses and triggers item synergies we'll talk about later. Plus, it scales crazy well with Extra Attack.

Feat at Level 4:

• Boost Intelligence by +2 (make it 18 minimum).
  Higher Intelligence = harder hitting spells + better AC + tougher concentration checks.

Level 5-6 Wizard Highlights:

• Level 3 spells unlocked. Pick:

  • Lightning Bolt: Thematically and practically perfect. Big AoE thunder damage.

  • Fireball: Still a classic if you need more AoE.

  • Counterspell: Mandatory for dealing with enemy casters.

• At Level 6:
  Extra Attack feature unlocks.
  This is the moment where your melee combat becomes truly insane, especially once we start mixing in Tempest Cleric abilities!

Adding Tempest Cleric to the Build

Once you hit Wizard Level 6, it’s time to multiclass into Tempest Domain Cleric.
This part takes your build from "pretty strong" to "absolutely broken."

Why Tempest Cleric?

• Thunderbolt Strike: Push enemies when you deal thunder or lightning damage.

• Destructive Wrath: Channel Divinity lets you max out lightning/thunder damage rolls — no dice rolls, just max damage.

• Heavy Armor Access: If you want, you could use heavier armor setups later.

• Strong support spells: Healing, buffs, and utility.

How to Multiclass Properly:

• You’ll need at least 13 Wisdom to multiclass into Cleric.
  (Don’t worry — early on, Wisdom can stay lower until you plan your respec or get stat boosts.)

• Plan for Wisdom boosting gear later, or just rely on Intelligence-based offense primarily.

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Tempest Cleric Features Breakdown:

✅ Level 1 — You get:

• Wrath of the Storm: Punish enemies who hit you.

• Thunderwave (already familiar) and Fog Cloud as domain spells.

✅ Level 2 — Big spike:

• Destructive Wrath becomes available.
  When you hit with Lightning Bolt or Chain Lightning, you automatically max the damage.
  Imagine hitting for 80+ guaranteed damage.
  (And that’s before buffs or combo setups.)

✅ Level 3 — Extra tools:

• Shatter: AoE thunder spell, great for grouped enemies.

• Gust of Wind: Battlefield control.

✅ Level 4 — Boost your stats or pick another feat:

• Recommended: +2 Intelligence again if possible. (Wisdom feats are optional depending on your playstyle.)

✅ Level 5 — Top it off:

• Spirit Guardians: One of the best cleric spells. Constant AoE damage aura.

• Mass Healing Word: Emergency group healing option.

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By the time you finish your Cleric levels, your combo looks like this:

• Stack Booming Blade and Thunderbolt Strike for massive, forced movement burst damage.

• Max out Lightning Bolt or Chain Lightning damage with Destructive Wrath.

• Maintain insane mobility with Misty Step and Bladesong.

• Layer buffs and healing spells as needed.

It’s a devastatingly versatile, high-damage playstyle!

Choosing Gear and Equipment for Maximum Power

In Baldur’s Gate 3, gear can make or break a build. With the Bladesinging Tempest Cleric, smart item choices boost your spell damage, AC, and mobility even higher.

Here’s what you want to prioritize:

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Best Gear for the Bladesinging Tempest Cleric Build:

Helmet:

• Hood of the Weave: +2 bonus to Spell Save DC and Spell Attack Rolls.
  (Helps your spells land harder and stick.)

• Helmet of Arcane Acuity (Alternative):
  Stacks Arcane Acuity, increasing your Spell Save DC by up to +10. Insane for locking down enemies.

Armor:

• Cloak of Protection: Bonus to Armor Class and saving throws.
  Essential since Bladesingers love stacking defenses.

• Light Armor Options:
  Look for armor that boosts spellcasting or offers defensive bonuses.
  (Ballistic armor works if you’re supporting piercing weapon users, but light armor is best.)

Gloves:

• Gloves of Dexterity: Early game MVP — instantly boosts AC and Dex-based actions.

• Helldusk Gloves (Late Game): Boosts Spell DC and Spell Attack Rolls further.

Boots:

• Boots of Speed or anything boosting movement helps keep your Blade Song advantage alive.

Rings:

• Killer's Sweetheart: Grants free critical strikes after a kill — great for chain fighting.

• Ring of Protection: Extra AC and saves. Always useful.

Weapons:

• Rapier (main weapon early): Best for finesse attacks.

• Shadow Blade (Spell-Created Weapon):
  Summoned weapon that scales with Intelligence and dishes out massive psychic damage.

• Duelist Prerogative: Grants an extra reaction if your off-hand is empty, boosting your melee versatility.

• Longbow (optional backup): For situations where you need range.

Accessories:

• Band of the Mystic Scoundrel: Enables Hold Person setups for guaranteed crits. Very strong.

Staffs (Backup Option):

• Staff of Spellpower: Grants a free cast (use it for free-casting Shadow Blade or Haste).

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Quick Early Game Equipment Priorities:

• Get Gloves of Dexterity early (boost AC and attack rolls).

• Snag a Rapier and Mage Armor for defense.

• Focus on movement boosts to stay agile in fights.

Combat Strategy: How to Dominate Fights with This Build

Now that your Bladesinging Tempest Cleric is fully geared up, it’s time to wreck enemies with devastating combos. This build is all about flexibility, high burst damage, and constant movement.

Here’s how to crush it:

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Opening Moves:

• Activate Blade Song immediately at the start of combat.

  • Boosts your AC, Concentration checks, and mobility.

• Cast Longstrider (before fights) on your party if possible for extra movement.

• Summon Shadow Blade using a free-cast staff or before diving into battle.

Early Fight Setup:

• Engage multiple enemies: Run right into enemy groups.

• Booming Blade your primary target:

  • Deals melee damage + thunder damage + triggers Thunderbolt Strike knockback.

• Thunderwave or Shatter to push multiple enemies if needed.

• Misty Step if you get surrounded or need to reposition fast.

Mid-Fight Combos:

• If enemies move after being hit with Booming Blade, they take massive extra thunder damage.

• Chain Lightning (scrolls or learned) is your nuke option:

  • Use Destructive Wrath to guarantee maximum lightning damage without rolling.

  • Create Water first if you can — doubles lightning damage!

Sustain Tactics:

• Keep Spirit Guardians active (after you pick it up at Cleric level 5):

  • Melts enemies who get too close.

• Use Shield reaction when enemies try to hit you — staying alive means keeping the pressure up.

• Healing Word or Mass Healing Word if your team starts dropping low.

Finishing Moves:

• If an enemy is paralyzed (Hold Person combo), crit them automatically with Booming Blade.

• Use Shadow Blade to finish targets with massive psychic crits.

• Move constantly to stay out of danger zones and abuse high movement speed.

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Summary of Core Combos:

• Booming Blade + Thunderbolt Strike = Knockbacks + Thunder damage

• Lightning Bolt + Destructive Wrath = Guaranteed massive AoE wipe

• Spirit Guardians + Blade Song = Mobile aura of death

• Chain Lightning + Create Water = Insane, party-wide nukes

Full Leveling Guide & Spell Selection Per Level

Here’s the optimized path for leveling your BG3 Bladesinging Tempest Cleric Build, including spell picks and key power spikes:

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Levels 1–6 (Wizard Progression):

• Level 1 Wizard:

  • Key Cantrips: Booming Blade, Shocking Grasp, Bone Chill.

  • Spells: Mage Armor, Magic Missile, Thunderwave, Shield, Find Familiar, Chromatic Orb.

  • Focus: Survive early fights and scribe extra spells.

• Level 2 Wizard:

  • Subclass: Bladesinging.

  • New Spells: Ice Knife, Fog Cloud, Tasha’s Hideous Laughter.

  • Focus: Use Blade Song every battle for survivability.

• Level 3 Wizard:

  • 2nd-Level Spells: Misty Step, Scorching Ray.

  • Focus: Blink around the field with Misty Step; burst damage with Scorching Ray.

• Level 4 Wizard:

  • Ability Score Increase (ASI): +2 Intelligence (get to 18+).

  • New Cantrip: Fire Bolt.

  • Spells: Add Shadow Blade.

  • Focus: Shadow Blade becomes your main melee weapon for burst damage.

• Level 5 Wizard:

  • 3rd-Level Spells: Lightning Bolt, Fireball, Counterspell.

  • Focus: Start deleting entire groups with Lightning Bolt. Use Counterspell defensively.

• Level 6 Wizard:

  • Extra Attack feature unlocked!

  • Spells: Add Haste and Counterspell (if not taken yet).

  • Focus: Double Booming Blade attacks per round if needed; crazy synergy incoming.

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Levels 1–5 (Tempest Cleric Progression):

• Level 1 Cleric:

  • Domain: Tempest Domain.

  • Free Spells: Thunderwave (again), Fog Cloud.

  • Cantrips: Sacred Flame, Toll the Dead, Thaumaturgy (flex pick).

  • Focus: Extra options for battlefield control and radiant damage.

• Level 2 Cleric:

  • Channel Divinity: Destructive Wrath (guaranteed max thunder/lightning damage).

  • Focus: Nuking groups with maxed Lightning Bolt/Chain Lightning.

• Level 3 Cleric:

  • Spells: Shatter, Gust of Wind.

  • Focus: More thunder-themed damage options.

• Level 4 Cleric:

  • Ability Score Increase (ASI): +2 Intelligence again (if possible) or +2 Wisdom if you need higher Cleric spell effectiveness.

  • Focus: Boost overall power.

• Level 5 Cleric:

  • Spells: Spirit Guardians, Mass Healing Word.

  • Focus: Constant AoE damage aura and emergency healing.

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Power Spikes You Must Hit:

• Level 6 Wizard: Extra Attack unlocked.

• Level 2 Cleric: Destructive Wrath unlocks.

• Level 5 Cleric: Spirit Guardians — turning you into an unstoppable movement hazard.

Combat Rotation Examples (Maximize Your Damage Output)

Now that you're fully built, here's how you should sequence your actions for maximum impact during fights.

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Standard Opener (Normal Fights):

1. Blade Song On — Always activate first to boost AC and movement.

2. Cast Longstrider (pre-fight if possible) for more mobility.

3. Summon Shadow Blade — Use it as your main melee weapon.

4. Misty Step into the enemy backline or a safe high ground if needed.

5. Booming Blade attack your primary target:

   • Trigger initial damage + Thunderbolt Strike push.

   • If they move, they eat even more thunder damage.

6. Extra Attack — Follow up with another melee or Shadow Blade hit.

7. Reaction — Use Shield if someone tries to hit you.

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Burst Damage Combo (Bosses or Tough Groups):

1. Activate Blade Song.

2. Create Water (if possible) — doubles lightning damage.

3. Position yourself so that multiple enemies are lined up.

4. Cast Lightning Bolt across multiple targets.

5. Use Destructive Wrath to automatically deal max damage.

   • Example: Lightning Bolt normally does ~40-80 → now it’s guaranteed 80+ to everyone!

6. Mop up survivors with Booming Blade + Extra Attack.

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Sustained Damage Setup (Mob Fights or Longer Battles):

1. Cast Spirit Guardians once you are Cleric Level 5.

2. Stay mobile using Blade Song movement bonuses.

3. Pull enemies into your aura — Spirit Guardians melt them automatically.

4. Use Booming Blade on enemies trying to escape or close distance.

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Emergency Defense:

• Shield whenever hit unexpectedly.

• Healing Word if you or an ally drops too low.

• Misty Step to reposition instantly out of danger.

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✅ Remember:

• Booming Blade + Thunderbolt Strike is your bread and butter every round.

• Destructive Wrath + Lightning Bolt/Chain Lightning is your nuke when things get messy.

• Spirit Guardians + Blade Song = infinite crowd control and survival.

Conclusion

The Bladesinging Tempest Cleric build in Baldur’s Gate 3 is pure power packed into a highly mobile, insanely durable spellblade.
You get incredible single-target burst with Booming Blade combos, massive AoE wipes with Lightning Bolt and Destructive Wrath, and survivability through Blade Song and Spirit Guardians.

If you enjoy juggling offense, defense, and crazy tactical plays — this multiclass is a dream.
Whether you're zooming across battlefields, blasting entire groups into ash, or bullying bosses with Thunderbolt pushbacks, this build never gets boring.

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Key Takeaways:

• Start Wizard, rush to Level 6 for Extra Attack.

• Multiclass to Tempest Cleric for Destructive Wrath and Thunderbolt Strike.

• Prioritize Intelligence, gear for mobility and spell power.

• Use Booming Blade + Thunderbolt combos to dominate every fight.

• Drop Spirit Guardians and roam free, deleting enemies who come too close.

• Unleash Chain Lightning + Create Water + Destructive Wrath for absurd burst damage.

Master this setup and you’ll easily be running one of the BG3 best multiclass builds available!

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