Patch 8 of Baldur's Gate 3 has been announced for 2025. The new update will introduce 12 new subclasses, one for each class. Many of these new additions were excellent choices and fit well into the existing game. Many have pointed out the potential for a Shadow Magic sorcerer in the Shadow-Cursed lands or how the Swashbuckler fits the pirate characters found in Act 3.

The newest cleric subclass is the Death Domain. This is a subclass focused on dealing Necrotic damage, and comes with unique Necromancy spells. It also comes with a brand-new Homebrew ability, allowing players to explode nearby corpses. It's also the perfect choice for one of the origin characters in BG3 and it's not hard to figure out who.

The Death Domain Is Perfect For Shadowheart

In Dungeons & Dragons, Shar's Clerics Follow The Death Or Trickery Domain

Baldur's Gate 3 is set inside the world of Dungeons & Dragons, and the majority of its lore and mechanics are pulled from DnD books. However, there is one feature which works slightly differently. In Dungeons & Dragons, clerics will usually be limited to certain subclasses, or "domains," depending on their deity. For example, clerics of Kelemvor, the god of the dead, have the options of the Death and Grave domains. However, this is not exactly set in stone, and obviously, rules will vary from table to table.

Many Baldur's Gate 3 players prefer 12 new subclasses coming in Patch 8. This is the second domain available to clerics of Shar in DnD.

Another character who may fit the subclass thematically is BG3's Dark Urge, if not an evil Tav. Though there is no longer an option in the game to worship Bhaal or any other member of the Dead Three, a cleric well versed in the forces that control and cause death would be an unconventional but seemly choice for a murderous character.

Personality-wise, either subclass works great for Shadowheart, but the Death Domain would make the most sense for a playthrough where she becomes a Dark Justiciar in Baldur's Gate 3. Turning her from a trickster to a dangerous spellcaster works perfectly for an unholy warrior. It makes sense for her to follow the trickery domain initially, given how she can sneak in and out of a Githyanki creche unscathed with the astral prism, so it's established early on that she's cunning and sneaky, but respeccing her to the Death Domain in Act 2 may make her character arc feel more real and compelling.

Will The Death Domain Be Better Than The Trickery Domain?

The Subclasses Have Different Focuses

Since release, the Death Domain has been a fairly requested subclass, as players have felt like the Trickery Domain's transition from tabletop to video game has been pretty lackluster. The Trickery Domain cleric's abilities can be useful in certain situations, but they are generally quite challenging to use correctly and will usually be overshadowed by other classes and cleric subclasses. Many unique spells that come with his subclass can also be learned by rogues, which players may be better off using, though the Trickery cleric does multi-class well with the rogue class.

In Baldur's Gate 3, clerics are the least popular class, and many underestimate their ability to be damage dealers. The Death Domain is a damage-focused subclass, whilst the Trickery Domain functions more as a , confusing enemies and buffing allies with their "blessing of the trickster" ability, or "invoke duplicity" to give their party advantage on attack rolls. With the subclass not officially out, it's hard to accurately compare the Trickery and Death domains. But with new necrotic damage cantrips being introduced specifically for the latter, it's safe to say that it will likely perform better as an offensive spellcaster.

The Death Domain is a highly anticipated addition and it's perfect for any cleric player who doesn't want to play as a healer or is just looking for their character to have a bit of a darker theme to them, much like Shadowheart. The subclass has lots of potential for interesting interactions and story implications, particularly with Withers, who already has unique dialogue with clerics of Kelemvor. For those unhappy with the Trickery domain in Baldur's Gate 3 but still want Shadowheart's class to remain lore-accurate, the Death domain will be the best choice.

Source: Baldur's Gate 3/X, Larian Studios Community Update #30