The Drow or Dark Elves have been a fascination in the lore of fantasy settings for many years. The story of the separation of the elven races, the rise of of the Spider Queen, Lolth, and harsh Drow culture that rose from the cruel dark underworld they called home. The Underdark is alien from the surface world, many players and dungeon masters have treked and dealt with many denizens of great renown: beholders, mind flayers, and including the Drow.

There have been countless stories, game supplements, and attention placed on these beloved enemies. It is almost considered a rite of passage of an adventuring party dealt with a Drow ambush, from their poison darts to their ability to summon clouds of darkness. If the unlucky party should become captured, their adventure continues deeper into the alien world below.

Many novels and stories have been written about the Drow, from the War of the Spider Queen saga, the infamous Legends of Drizzt Do’urden, the latest Out of the Abyss 5e module has spawned its own novel series. The Drow will always continue to fascinate and intrigue players and fans of D&D, no matter what editon the game finds itself.

Today we bring the darkness out of the dark. I present to you: a Darkness Domain Cleric for D&D 5e!

A drow priestess

Darkness Domain

Cleric Level – Spells

1st – arms of Hadar, dissonant whispers
3rd – blindness/deafness, darkenss
5th – hunger of Hadar, nondetection
7th – Evard’s black tentacles, phantasmal killer
9th – dream, mislead

Eyes of Darkness: Starting at 1st level, you gain Darkvision up to 60 feet. If you already possess Darkvision, your range increases another 60 feet. This sight is not impeded by natural or magical darkness.

Guardian Shade: Also at 1st level, you can interpose divine darkness between yourself and an attacking enemy. When you are attacked by a creature within 30 feet of you that you can see, you can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on the attack roll, causing wisps of shadow to form before the attacker before it hits or misses. An attacker that can’t be blinded is immune to this feature.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of 1). You regain all expended uses after a long rest.

Channel Divinity – Terror from the Dark: Starting at 2nd level, you can use your Channel Divinity to harness the darkness, banishing light and dealing psychic damage to your foes. As an action, you present your holy symbol, and any non-magical and magical light within 30 feet of you are snuffed and dispelled. Additionally, each hostile creature within 30 feet of you must make a Wisdom saving throw. A creature takes psychic damage equal to 2d10 + your cleric level on a failed saving throw, and half as much damage on a successful one. A creature that has total cover from you is not affected.

Improved Warding Shade: Starting at 6th level, you can use your Warding Shade feature when a creature that you can see within 30 feet of you attacks a creature other than you.

Divine Strike: At 8th level, you gain the ability to infuse your weapon strikes with divine energy. 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.

One with the Dark: At 17th level, using an action, you create a darkness that invokes fear and terror, making foes susceptible to your power. For 1 minute or until you dismiss it using another action. You emit a cloud of darkness in a 60-foot radius that wraps around cover. Enemies in the cloud of darkness have disadvantage on saving throws against any spell that deals cold or psychic damage.

Alright guys, hope that inspires some dread and darkness in your next adventure into the Underdark! Or maybe you’ll use it for a different deity? Please like, comment, and share. If you want to stay updated with us, please follow us on Facebook and Twitter. We have an Instagram for behind-the-scenes and board game fun. We have a donate button and an Amazon store link for you D&D product needs, a little comes back our way. Thanks again guys, see you soon!