The New 2025 D&D Knowledge Domain Cleric (Subclass Deep Dive)
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Divine spell casters who quite literally prove that knowledge is power, the Knowledge Domain Cleric has been a fan-favorite subclass since it first appeared in the pages of the 2014 Player’s Handbook. It’s a more scholarly and cerebral take on the traditional DnD 5e Cleric, with the subclass tapping into unique mental powers, a wider range of skill proficencies and even the ability to see into the past.
Now, the Knowledge Domain Cleric has been updated for the D&D 2024 rules in the pages of the new Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerûn player expansion. So does this updated subclass have anything new to teach us? Below, we seek out the truth and take a look at all their new features.
What’s changed in the new 2025 Knowledge Domain Cleric?
The table below lists all of the changes to the new Knowledge Domain Cleric as detailed in Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerûn. For ease of reference we’ve included the level of each feature and whether or not it’s changed from the previous Legacy Knowledge Domain Cleric that was featured back in the 2014 Player’s Handbook.
| Knowledge Domain Cleric Feature | Level | Changed from 2014? | Changes to the 2025 DnD Knowledge Domain Cleric |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knowledge of the Ages | 2 | Yes | This 2014 feature has been removed from the 2025 Knowledge Domain Cleric. It previously allowed you to use an action to gain proficiency with one skill or tool for 10 minutes. |
| Subclass Access | 3 | Yes | In the 2014 rules, players accessed the Knowledge Domain Cleric subclass at Level 1. In the new version, players aren’t able to access the subclass until Level 3 (which is the case with all subclasses using the new D&D 2024 rules). |
| Blessings of Knowledge | 3 | Yes | The 2025 version grants proficiency with one type of Artisan’s Tools (which the 2014 version did not). The 2014 version also granted two additional languages of your choice, which has since been removed in the 2025 version. All other features are the same. |
| Knowledge Domain Spells | 3 | Yes | The new 2025 Knowledge Domain Cleric includes all of the prepared spells from the 2014 version but also adds several new spells, including: Comprehend Languages, Detect Magic, Detect Thoughts, Mind Spike, Dispel Magic, Tongues, Banishment and Synaptic Static. |
| Mind Magic | 3 | Yes | This is a new feature for the 2025 Knowledge Domain Cleric. |
| Read Thoughts | 6 | Yes | This 2014 feature has been removed from the 2025 Knowledge Domain Cleric. It previously allowed you to read a creature’s thoughts (if it failed a Wisdom saving throw) and also cast the Suggestion spell on the target without using a spell slot. It has essentially been replaced with the new “Unfettered Mind” feature (see below). |
| Unfettered Mind | 6 | Yes | This is a new feature for the 2025 Knowledge Domain Cleric. |
| Potent Spellcasting | 8 | Yes | This 2014 feature has been removed from the 2025 Knowledge Domain Cleric. It previously allowed you to add your Wisdom modifier to the damage you dealt with any Cleric cantrip. |
| Visions of the Past | 17 | Yes | This 2014 feature has been removed from the 2025 Knowledge Domain Cleric. It previously allowed you to see a vision of the past related to a specific object or area. It has essentially been replaced with the new “Divine Foreknowledge” feature (see below). |
| Divine Foreknowledge | 17 | Yes | This is a new feature for the 2025 Knowledge Domain Cleric. |
What are the new Knowledge Domain Cleric features?
The Knowledge Domain values learning and understanding above all. Clerics who tap into this domain study esoteric lore, collect old tomes, delve into secret places and examine the processes of the mind. To them, knowledge is more valuable than material wealth, and learning is an act of worship. Libraries, universities and other educational institutions also draw on the power of the Knowledge Domain.
Gods of knowledge vary from masters of arcane magic to patrons of craft and invention. In Faerûn, Clerics of the Knowledge Domain worship deities of learning and ingenuity such as Oghma and Gond, among many others.
Level 3: Blessings of Knowledge
You gain proficiency with one type of Artisan’s Tools of your choice and in two of the following skills of your choice: Arcana, History, Nature or Religion. You have Expertise in those two skills.
Level 3: Knowledge Domain Spells
When you reach a Cleric level specified in the Knowledge Domain Spells table, you thereafter always have the listed spells prepared.
| Cleric Level | Prepared Spells |
|---|---|
| 3 | Command, Comprehend Languages*, Detect Magic*, Detect Thoughts*, Identify*, Mind Spike* |
| 5 | Dispel Magic, Nondetection, Tongues* |
| 7 | Arcane Eye*, Banishment, Confusion |
| 9 | Legend Lore*, Scrying*, Synaptic Static |
*Spell of the Divination school
Level 3: Mind Magic
As a Magic action, you can expend one use of your Channel Divinity to manifest your magical knowledge. Choose one spell from the Divination school on the Knowledge Domain Spells table that you have prepared. As part of that action, you cast that spell without expending a spell slot or needing Material components.
Level 6: Unfettered Mind
You gain telepathy out to 60 feet. When you use this telepathy, you can simultaneously contact a number of creatures equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of one). Additionally, you gain proficiency in Intelligence saving throws. If you already have this proficiency, you instead gain saving throw proficiency with one ability in which you lack it.
Level 17: Divine Foreknowledge
As a Bonus Action, you magically expand your mind to the future. For 1 hour, you have Advantage on D20 Tests. Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a Long Rest. You can also restore your use of this feature by expending a level 6+ spell slot (no action required).
Is the new Knowledge Domain Cleric worth playing?
The new 2025 Knowledge Domain Cleric has seen some relatively big changes from its 2014 counterpart, leaning more into mental magic and providing a bit of a bump when it comes to skill proficiencies. It feels like a slight upgrade, while maintaining the overall theme of the subclass and working well with the new 2024 DnD Cleric class features. If you’re looking to play a Cleric with an endless thirst of knowledge and the power to manipulate minds, then you’ll definitely be on the same page with this subclass.
You can try the new Knowledge Domain Cleric for yourself by picking up Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerûn now on D&D Beyond and Amazon.
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Cameron Nichols is a Senior Editor who lives in Boston, Massachusetts, and has been playing D&D since the early 90s, when he was introduced by his older brother and cut his teeth on AD&D 2nd Edition. Since then he’s played virtually every RPG he could get his nerdy little mitts on (including a weird Goth phase in the early 2000s when he rocked Vampire: The Masquerade pretty hard). His favorite D&D campaign setting is the Forgotten Realms and his favorite character to play was a Half-Orc Barbarian named Grug (who was unfortunately devoured by a gelatinous cube).
