Clerics of the False God Domain are living idols. Through fervent worship—whether genuine or coerced—they command supernatural influence over minds and, to some extent, reality itself. Their power need not stem from a true deity; it can arise from a twisted relic, an eldritch seed of divinity, or the potent echo of faith that shapes the planes.
You gain domain spells at the cleric levels listed in the False God Domain Spells table. See the Divine Domain class feature for how domain spells work.
Hypnotic Pattern, Spirit Guardians
Compulsion, Greater Invisibility
Starting at 1st level, your persona commands reverence—or terror—through supernatural force.
Skill Proficiency. You gain proficiency in your choice of Deception or Persuasion.
Divine Countenance. When you make a Charisma (Deception) or Charisma (Persuasion) check, you can use your Wisdom modifier in place of your Charisma modifier (choose each time you make the check). Your presence is fueled by the aura of worship clinging to you rather than your personal magnetism.
Also at 1st level, you learn to manifest a faint but potent illusion that reflects your “godhood.”
As an action, you can wreath yourself (and your gear) in an illusory visage. This can be as subtle as a halo of light or as grand as taking on a larger-than-life form. The effect lasts for 10 minutes or until you end it early as a bonus action, and grants the following benefits:
At-Will Disguise. You can alter the illusion’s appearance—changing your apparent clothing, minor physical features, or coloration—at any time during the duration without taking another action. This works similarly to Disguise Self.
Subtle Terror or Awe. Whenever a creature first sees your illusory mantle, you have advantage on your next Charisma (Intimidation) or Charisma (Persuasion) check against that creature before the mantle ends.
You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, regaining all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
Channel Divinity: Awe the Masses
Starting at 2nd level, you can use your Channel Divinity to overwhelm nearby creatures with your terrifying or transcendent presence.
As an action, you present your holy symbol and invoke the worship (or dread) you embody. Each creature of your choice within 30 feet of you that can see or hear you must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, a creature is Charmed by you for 1 minute or until it takes damage. While charmed in this way, it regards you as a godlike figure and cannot willingly attack you or target you with harmful abilities or magical effects. If a creature’s saving throw is successful, it becomes immune to this feature for 24 hours.
A creature charmed by this effect can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
At 6th level, your followers’ faith extends to shield your allies—or to punish those who dare harm them.
When a creature you can see within 30 feet of you is hit by an attack, you can use your reaction to invoke your false-god powers in one of the following ways:
The attacker must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Wisdom modifier). On a failed save, the attack misses instead of hitting. If the attacker fails the saving throw by 5 or more, it also becomes Frightened of you until the end of its next turn.
The attacker must make a Wisdom saving throw (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Wisdom modifier). On a failed save, it takes 2d8 damage of a type you choose that suits your faith (e.g., radiant, necrotic, psychic, thunder, etc.). If the attacker fails by 5 or more, it is also Frightened of you until the end of its next turn. On a successful save, it takes half damage and is not frightened.
You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of once), and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
Potent Spellcasting (or Divine Strike)
At 8th level, you gain further ability to channel your faith-based might.
Choose one of the following options:
Potent Spellcasting. You add your Wisdom modifier to the damage you deal with any cleric cantrip.
Divine Strike. 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 damage of a type you choose that suits your faith. When you reach 14th level, the extra damage increases to 2d8.
Revelation of the False God
Starting at 17th level, you can briefly become the very essence of your followers’ faith.
As an action, you exude a magnificent (or terrifying) aura for 1 minute or until you end it early as a bonus action. While this aura is active, you gain the following benefits:
Aura of Worship (or Dread). Any hostile creature that starts its turn within 30 feet of you must make a Wisdom saving throw (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Wisdom modifier). On a failed save, it becomes Charmed (or Frightened, your choice when you activate this feature) by you for 1 minute. A creature charmed or frightened in this way cannot willingly move closer to you, attack you, or include you in harmful effects. It can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Shield of Devotion. Allies of your choice within 30 feet of you have advantage on all saving throws while in your aura.
Ineffable Aspect. You have resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical attacks while this aura lasts.
Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.
Playing a False God Cleric
Appearance and Theme: Are you worshiped as a serene sun-god, a nightmarish plague deity, a storm-lord, or something else entirely? Let your illusions and magic reflect that theme.
Cult or Congregation: Do you maintain a steady group of believers, or do you roam the land, gathering worshipers as you go?
Conflict with True Deities: Real gods or rival cults may despise you as a heretic. Are you an upstart who threatens the established pantheon, or a puppet of darker forces?
By blending illusions, enchantments, and raw force of personality, a False God cleric shapes the battlefield and the minds of those within it—whether through reverence or terror. Above all, they stand as proof that belief alone can reshape reality.
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