Clericzilla (3.5e Optimized Character Build)

Introduction

This is not the only way to optimize a divine caster, nor can it be considered the best. It does, however, produce a massively powerful character capable of fighting on the front lines at least as well as a typical martial character, and extremely deadly to undead foes.

References

SRD, Complete Divine, Complete Champion

Game Rule Components

Classes

Cleric of Pelor 7/Radiant Servant of Pelor 10.

Progression

Starting Ability Scores (Before Racial Adjustments): Wis 18, Cha 15+, Con 13+, Int 10+, Str 11+

Race (Templates): Human.

Starting Racial Traits: Bonus feat, 4 additional skill points at 1st level, 1 additional skill point every level after.

ECL	Class/HD/LA	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Feats	Class Features	Special
			Fort	Ref	Will
1st	Cleric 1	+0	+2	+0	+2	Extra Turning, Persistent Spell	Turn Undead, Extend spell	Sun Domain, Planning Domain
2nd	Cleric 2	+1	+3	+0	+3
3rd	Cleric 3	+2	+3	+1	+3	Divine Metamagic (Persistent Spell)
4th	Cleric 4	+3	+4	+1	+4
5th	Cleric 5	+3	+4	+1	+4
6th	Cleric 6	+4	+5	+2	+5	Reach spell
7th	Cleric 6/Radiant Servant of Pelor 1	+4	+7	+2	+7		Extra Greater Turning, Radiance, Turn Undead	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
8th	Cleric 6/Radiant Servant of Pelor 2	+5	+8	+2	+8		Divine Health, Empower Healing	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
9th	Cleric 6/Radiant Servant of Pelor 3	+6/+1	+8	+3	+8	Power Attack	Aura of Warding	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
10th	Cleric 6/Radiant Servant of Pelor 4	+7/+2	+9	+3	+9			+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
11th	Cleric 6/Radiant Servant of Pelor 5	+7/+2	+9	+3	+9		Glory Domain	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
12th	Cleric 6/Radiant Servant of Pelor 6	+8/+3	+10	+4	+10	Spontaneous Domains	Maximize Healing	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
13th	Cleric 6/Radiant Servant of Pelor 7	+9/+4	+10	+4	+10			+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
14th	Cleric 6/Radiant Servant of Pelor 8	+10/+5	+11	+4	+11		Positive Energy Burst	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
15th	Cleric 6/Radiant Servant of Pelor 9	+10/+5	+11	+5	+11	Strength Devotion	Turn Undead	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
16th	Cleric 6/Radiant Servant of Pelor 10	+11/+6/+1	+12	+5	+12		Supreme Healing	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
17th	Cleric 7/Radiant Servant of Pelor 10	+12/+7/+2	+12	+5	+12

Highlights

With 6 levels of Cleric, you meet the requirements for Radiant Servant of Pelor. This Prestige class continues to improve all the Cleric's abilities and gives further bonuses and power boosts to those that weren't already powered up, as well as martial weapon proficiencies. You thus reach 17th level with all the same abilities as a 17th level Cleric, plus the substantial bonuses from the prestige class. From here, feel free to take 3 levels as a Hierophant, or a Shadowstriker, or some combination of martial classes, or even round out your Cleric levels. Preparing a Reach spell lets you use Persistent spell for it.

Munchkin-Size Me

It's Clericzilla. It's already munchkin-sized. But if you really want your GM to throw the book at you add on the Saint template as long as LA buy off is allowed. Then only question is if you wamt to take your last levels in Hierophant for more options in spellcasting, or in Shadowstriker for some Paladin-esque abilties, or as a Ranger and Fighter for feats and favored enemy (undead), or just top out your Cleric levels and be more of a caster. This is assuming you're not going into epic levels, of course.

if you take Hierophant levels you can get the Divine reach ability which gives your touch spells a set range for Persistent spell with no increase in spell level.

I would rather improve the casting ability with some metamagic rather than take power attack. At this level optimized fighters are way beyong what you can get from a cleric anyway. Also, there are prestige classes that should be considered instead of the 6th and 7th levels of cleric.

Side Notes

Limitations

Pelor doesn't have access to the Planning Domain. This isn't to say this build is impossible, you just can't get some of the feats listed because you have to get Extend Spell yourself to have access to Persistent Spell.

DM Counters

Have enemies dispel the persisted buffs. Disallow Sun domain and/or Sun-related deities. Disallow Divine Metamagic and/or Persistent Spell. Note that if you're going to do this, you might as well disallow the Radiant Servant of Pelor itself.

Woefully low Ref save makes it the perfect target for spells like Fireball and Lightning Bolt, which hit their peaks before this build does.

Put against it some positive energy spirit (there are positive energy versions of undead). A battle inside an antimagic field also makes it almost powerless.

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