Animal Domain
The Animal Domain turns animals, beasts, animal companionship, wild creatures and relations between people and beasts into a cleric’s sacred practice and usable rules. Its exact mechanics depend on edition, so the published Pathfinder and 3.5e versions are kept separate rather than blended together.
At a Glance
| Divine Sphere | Animals, beasts, animal companionship, wild creatures and relations between people and beasts |
|---|---|
| Typical Role | Wilderness support priest, animal speaker and companion-focused cleric |
| Published Rules | Pathfinder 1e and D&D 3.5e |
| Modern D&D Status | No official same-named Animal Domain in 2014 or 2024 D&D; the 2014 Nature Domain is the nearest official Cleric subclass. |
| Typical Patrons | Artemis, Pan, Sobek, Ullr |
| Primary Ability | Wisdom in Pathfinder 1e; edition-specific Cleric rules otherwise |
Edition Applicability
No official same-named Animal Domain in 2014 or 2024 D&D; the 2014 Nature Domain is the nearest official Cleric subclass. This page does not create a modern rules panel merely to fill an edition slot. The tabs below contain the published Animal Domain rules for the editions in which this same-named domain exists.
Animal Domain — Pathfinder 1e
Rules status: published Pathfinder 1e Core Rulebook domain.
Speak with Animals
You can use Speak with Animals for a total number of rounds per day equal to 3 + your Cleric level. The rounds need not be consecutive. Knowledge (nature) is a class skill for you.
Animal Companion
At 4th level you gain an animal companion. Your effective Druid level for the companion is your Cleric level – 3.
Pathfinder 1e Animal Domain Spells
| 1st | Calm Animals |
|---|---|
| 2nd | Hold Animal |
| 3rd | Dominate Animal |
| 4th | Summon Nature’s Ally IV (animals only) |
| 5th | Beast Shape III (animals only) |
| 6th | Antilife Shell |
| 7th | Animal Shapes |
| 8th | Summon Nature’s Ally VIII (animals only) |
| 9th | Shapechange |
Animal Domain — D&D 3.5e
Rules status: published D&D 3.5e SRD domain.
Granted Power
You can use Speak with Animals once per day as a spell-like ability, and Knowledge (nature) is a Cleric class skill for you.
D&D 3.5e Animal Domain Spells
| 1st | Calm Animals |
|---|---|
| 2nd | Hold Animal |
| 3rd | Dominate Animal |
| 4th | Summon Nature’s Ally IV (animals only) |
| 5th | Commune with Nature |
| 6th | Antilife Shell |
| 7th | Animal Shapes |
| 8th | Summon Nature’s Ally VIII (animals only) |
| 9th | Shapechange |
How the Animal Domain Plays
Animal clerics are strongest when beasts are part of the campaign rather than decoration. Pathfinder makes the bond especially concrete by granting a companion at 4th level, while 3.5e keeps the granted power lighter and pushes more identity into the domain spell list.
Who Grants the Animal Domain?
Artemis, Pan, Sobek, Ullr are strong existing site patrons where the relevant sphere is established in their portfolio. The domain should not be assigned solely because a deity has a superficial association with the same word or element.
Priests, Temples and Rites
Animal cults differ according to whether the patron is a hunter, protector of wild creatures, animal-shaped deity, herding power or master of a particular sacred species. Temples, symbols and rites should therefore grow from the patron culture rather than from a generic domain template.
What Are Animal Priests Doing Now?
Animal priests are settling disputes over hunting grounds, tracking unnatural migrations, rescuing sacred beasts, investigating livestock panics and deciding when a dangerous predator is a monster, an omen or simply an animal defending its territory.
Related Domains and Character Options
Rules Sources and Licensing
- Pathfinder 1e: powers and spell list follow the Pathfinder Core Rulebook Cleric domain reference.
- D&D 3.5e: granted power and spell list follow the 3.5 SRD Cleric Domains.
- Modern D&D: No official same-named Animal Domain in 2014 or 2024 D&D; the 2014 Nature Domain is the nearest official Cleric subclass.
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