This is a legacy 2014 Genasi Cleric guide. It pairs the original Genasi options from Elemental Evil Player’s Companion with the 2014 Cleric and Divine Domains. The four Genasi lineages have different fixed ability increases and innate spells; choose one rules version for your character and do not add these increases to a revised background’s increases.
Rules edition: Legacy 2014 D&D 5e. Genasi traits use Elemental Evil Player’s Companion; Cleric features use the 2014 Player’s Handbook / Basic Rules. Forge Domain is from Xanathar’s Guide to Everything. The revised 2024 Cleric and updated Genasi options are not used in this guide.
Start with Wisdom and Constitution
Wisdom powers your 2014 Cleric spells and class features. Constitution supports hit points and Concentration, which matters when you maintain a spell after taking damage. The legacy Genasi share a +2 Constitution increase; each lineage adds a different +1: Air adds Dexterity, Earth adds Strength, Fire adds Intelligence, and Water adds Wisdom. Treat those as the fixed 2014 increases. If you use the 2014 standard array, put a high score in Wisdom and a second-highest score in Constitution before applying the Genasi increases. Water Genasi get a small extra Wisdom bump; other lineages can still make effective Clerics by prioritizing Wisdom during later Ability Score Improvements.
Choose a Divine Domain for its actual features, not because a species label promises a damage bonus. Tempest, Nature, and Light are 2014 Player’s Handbook domains; Forge first appeared in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything. Domain spells are always prepared at the listed Cleric levels and do not count against the number of Cleric spells you prepare.
Air Genasi: Tempest Domain
The 2014 Air Genasi increases Dexterity, can hold its breath indefinitely while not incapacitated, and can cast Levitate once per Long Rest through Mingle with the Wind. Levitate provides vertical movement but is not flight; it also requires Concentration. These traits can support a mobile storm-themed Cleric, but the Tempest Domain’s features—not the species—supply its storm combat tools.
Tempest grants heavy armor and martial weapon proficiency, a reaction that can damage a nearby attacker, and Channel Divinity options that work with the domain’s lightning and thunder spells. Its domain spell list includes spells such as Call Lightning, Control Water, and Destructive Wave at the appropriate Cleric levels; it does not add Lightning Bolt to the Cleric list. An Air Genasi Tempest Cleric can emphasize weather and movement while still preparing healing or support spells for the party.
Earth Genasi: Forge or Nature Domain
The legacy Earth Genasi increases Strength, moves through difficult terrain made of earth or stone without extra movement, and can cast Pass without Trace once per Long Rest through Merge with Stone. That spell requires Concentration. Forge Domain can suit a character who protects a community of builders or treats the forge as a sacred place: it grants heavy armor and smith’s tools proficiency and lets you bless one weapon or suit of armor after a Long Rest.
Forge Clerics gain Soul of the Forge at 6th level. It grants resistance to fire damage and +1 AC while wearing heavy armor; it does not grant fire immunity or advantage on saves against magic. Nature Domain is another option if you want to emphasize stewardship of stone, land, and natural cycles rather than crafting. Choose a domain because its features fit your intended job in the party, not because it is the only workable pairing.
Fire Genasi: Light Domain
The legacy Fire Genasi adds Intelligence, Darkvision, resistance to fire damage, and Reach to the Blaze. The trait grants Produce Flame; starting at character level 3, it also lets you cast Burning Hands once per Long Rest. Constitution is the spellcasting ability for these Genasi spells. Light Domain is a thematic fit: it adds the Light cantrip, Warding Flare, and radiant area damage through Channel Divinity. Its domain spells include Burning Hands and Faerie Fire at Cleric level 1, followed later by fire and radiant options.
The free Genasi spell and the Light Domain’s prepared Burning Hands come from separate features, but both use the same spell. Do not count either as a bonus to your Cleric spell save DC: use Constitution for the Genasi trait and Wisdom for Cleric spells. If you want a current-rules Fire Genasi Cleric using the revised Cleric and Monsters of the Multiverse species, see our separately labeled revised Fire Genasi Cleric guide.
Water Genasi: Tempest or Nature Domain
The legacy Water Genasi increases Wisdom and gains acid resistance, the ability to breathe air and water, a 30-foot swimming speed, and Call to the Wave. That trait grants Shape Water and, starting at character level 3, one Long Rest casting of Create or Destroy Water as a 2nd-level spell. Constitution is the spellcasting ability for the trait’s spells.
Tempest Domain can support a storm-at-sea concept; Nature can suit a protector of rivers, coastlines, or marine life. These are narrative and tactical fits rather than special damage combinations. Use the printed domain spell lists and Cleric spell rules instead of assuming that every water or weather spell belongs to a domain.
Choose spells and feats for the campaign
A Cleric is not limited to the spells suggested by a Genasi lineage. Prepare a balance of healing, protection, control, and damage based on the next day’s challenges. Your domain spells are always prepared; your Cleric spells are selected under the 2014 preparation rules. Genasi trait spells use their own specified spellcasting ability, so keep those attack modifiers and save DCs distinct when they differ from Wisdom.
If your table uses the 2014 feat rules, War Caster can help a Cleric who often takes damage while concentrating, while Resilient (Constitution) can be useful if improving an odd Constitution score and gaining saving throw proficiency fits your build. Feats are optional in the 2014 rules, and neither is mandatory. Choose the background and skills that give the party useful coverage rather than assuming a Cleric must serve as its only healer or face.
