A Protector Aasimar Cleric is a legacy 2014 build that combines a Wisdom increase, Healing Hands, Radiant and Necrotic resistance, and the Radiant Soul transformation. It remains usable at tables running the original rules, but Protector Aasimar is not a subrace in revised 2024 D&D.
Rules edition: Original 2014 fifth edition using the legacy Aasimar from Volo’s Guide to Monsters. For a current character, use the revised 2024 Aasimar Cleric build. Do not combine the ability bonuses below with revised background increases.
Legacy Protector Cleric Quick Build
| Choice | 2014 recommendation |
|---|---|
| Ability priority | Wisdom, Constitution, then armor or weapon ability |
| Legacy species increases | +2 Charisma from Aasimar and +1 Wisdom from Protector |
| Core domain | Life, Light, or War, depending party role |
| Transformation | Radiant Soul at character level 3 |
| Role | Full caster, support, and temporary flying threat |
Legacy Species Features
The Volo’s Guide Aasimar grants +2 Charisma, Darkvision, resistance to Radiant and Necrotic damage, the Light cantrip using Charisma, and Healing Hands. In that version, Healing Hands restores Hit Points equal to character level once per Long Rest as an action.
Protector adds +1 Wisdom and Radiant Soul at character level 3. Activating it uses an action, lasts for one minute, grants a flying speed of 30 feet, and can add extra Radiant damage equal to character level to one target once on each of the character’s turns when the qualifying attack or spell deals damage. It is usable once per Long Rest.
Those details differ from the revised Aasimar. Revised Healing Hands uses Proficiency Bonus d4s, Celestial Revelation activates with a Bonus Action, and the revelation form is chosen each time.
Ability Scores
The legacy +1 Wisdom makes Protector the easiest Volo variant for a Cleric. Using the standard array, place 15 in Wisdom to begin at 16, 14 in Constitution, and then choose Dexterity or Strength according to armor and weapon plans. Charisma rises from the base species increase but does not power Cleric spells.
Raise Wisdom toward 20 unless a feat solves a clear problem. Constitution supports Hit Points and Concentration. Strength matters for heavy armor and weapon attacks; Dexterity matters for medium armor and Initiative. Do not invest in both without a reason.
2014 Domain Choices
Life Domain supports spell-based healing and heavy armor. Healing Hands is not a spell, so a feature that specifically improves a healing spell does not automatically improve it.
Light Domain emphasizes fire, radiant offense, and Warding Flare. It aligns thematically with Radiant Soul but does not multiply the transformation damage.
War Domain supports weapon use and heavy armor. It can use flight to reach targets, but a weapon-focused Cleric must balance Wisdom, Constitution, and the attack ability.
Other 2014 domains may be allowed from additional books. Label the source, because subclass level progression and features differ from the revised Cleric.
Radiant Soul Tactics
Because activation consumes an action in the Volo version, it is costly during the first round of a short fight. Activate before combat only when the character reasonably knows danger is immediate; otherwise compare the lost action to the value of flight and repeated bonus damage.
Flight supports safe positioning and access, but the Cleric must remain close enough for chosen spells and Channel Divinity. It does not prevent ranged attacks or protect Concentration automatically. Radiant Soul adds damage only as often and to as many targets as the feature says.
Spell and Resource Plan
Prepare at least one strong Concentration spell, emergency recovery, a useful non-concentration action, and utility for the adventure. Bless and Spirit Guardians both require Concentration in the original rules. Healing Word can return a fallen ally from range, while Healing Hands preserves a slot when touch range and an action are acceptable.
Track Healing Hands, Radiant Soul, Channel Divinity, and spell slots separately. Similar divine themes do not make them one shared pool.
Converting to Revised 2024 Rules
- Replace the legacy Protector variant with the revised Aasimar species.
- Remove +2 Charisma and +1 Wisdom from the species.
- Select a revised background and apply its ability increases and Origin feat.
- Use revised Healing Hands and Celestial Revelation.
- Rebuild Cleric progression with Divine Order at level 1 and Domain at level 3.
- Check every spell against the revised version.
The character may keep “Protector” as an order, family tradition, or personal title. Mechanically, Heavenly Wings can reproduce the core flying image when Celestial Revelation is activated.
Common Legacy Rules Mistakes
- Calling the legacy build revised 2024 D&D.
- Activating Volo’s Radiant Soul as a Bonus Action instead of an action.
- Using the revised Healing Hands dice on the legacy sheet.
- Adding species and revised background ability increases together.
- Applying spell-healing bonuses to Healing Hands without qualifying wording.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Protector Aasimar still legal?
It remains a legacy option for tables that use the Volo’s Guide rules. D&D Beyond supports original and revised rules, but the sheet should clearly identify which one it uses.
What replaced Protector Aasimar?
The revised Aasimar has one species entry and chooses a Celestial Revelation option each time it transforms. Heavenly Wings carries the flying theme without a permanent Protector subrace.
Does Radiant Soul work with Spirit Guardians?
It can add its once-per-turn extra damage when the feature’s conditions are met, but use the exact legacy feature and spell timing. Spirit Guardians remains a Concentration spell.
Official Rules Sources
- D&D Beyond: legacy Volo’s Guide Aasimar
- D&D Beyond Basic Rules 2014: Cleric
- D&D Beyond: continued support for original and revised rules
- D&D Beyond: revised Aasimar changes
For a new character, use the revised Aasimar Cleric guide.
