Here's the thing about No Rest for the Wicked: you don't need complicated builds to dominate early bosses. The Faith Cleric setup gives you massive fire damage with minimal investment, making it perfect for players who want results without grinding for hours. You'll be burning through enemies that previously gave you trouble, all with a single weapon and one crucial enchantment.
What Makes the Faith Cleric Build So Effective?
The beauty of this build lies in its simplicity. While other players struggle with complex stat distributions, you'll focus on one primary attribute that amplifies your damage exponentially. Faith scaling transforms the humble Cleric's Mace into a boss-melting machine when paired with fire enchantments.
What most players miss is how accessible this setup is. You don't need rare drops or purple-quality gear to get started. The vendor-bought version works perfectly fine, and the enchantment process costs just 50 coins at Eleanor's station.
Tip
Don't wait for a purple drop. The base Cleric's Mace from vendors scales identically with Faith, making rarity less important than enchantment choice.
Where to Get Your Cleric's Mace
Finding your primary weapon takes seconds. Head to the weapon vendor in Sacrament and purchase the Cleric's Mace directly. You'll spend minimal coins, and the weapon comes ready for enchanting immediately.
The key here is understanding that weapon rarity matters far less than your Faith stat and enchantment. A common-quality mace with Flame enchantment at 40+ Faith outperforms most purple weapons without proper scaling.
How to Enchant for Maximum Fire Damage
Walk over to Eleanor at the enchanting station with your Cleric's Mace and 50 coins. Select the Flame enchantment to add fire damage that scales directly with your Faith attribute. This single modification transforms your weapon from basic to devastating.
The enchantment adds a damage-over-time effect that stacks beautifully with your direct hits. Bosses take continuous burn damage while you maintain safe distance, making previously difficult encounters manageable.
Important
The Flame enchantment scales with Faith, not Intellect. Investing in the wrong stat wastes valuable attribute points.
Faith Stat Priority and Distribution
Your primary focus should be pumping Faith to 40+ as quickly as possible. Every point increases your fire damage significantly, creating a noticeable power spike with each level.
Here's your stat priority breakdown:
At level 13, you can already reach devastating damage numbers with proper Faith investment. The build scales linearly, meaning each Faith point provides consistent returns throughout your progression.
Armor and Equipment Choices
Forget complex armor optimization. Your primary concern is staying below the heavy equipment threshold to maintain normal dodge rolls. Mix and match any armor pieces that keep you mobile while providing basic defense.
The Band of Calmness ring provides excellent utility when you find it, but don't stress about perfect gear. Your damage comes from Faith scaling, not equipment bonuses.
Pro Tip: Prioritize mobility over defense. Dead enemies can't hurt you, and fire damage-over-time lets you maintain distance while they burn.
Boss Fighting Strategies with Fire Damage
The Cleric build excels at boss encounters because fire damage continues working while you dodge. Hit the boss with your enchanted mace, roll away from their attacks, and let the burn effect do work while you reposition.
Against aggressive bosses, use this rhythm:
- Land 2-3 hits with your mace
- Dodge their counterattack
- Circle while burn damage ticks
- Re-engage when safe
- Repeat until victory
The damage-over-time effect means you're always dealing damage, even during defensive phases. This makes the build forgiving for players still learning boss patterns.
Advanced Techniques and Optimization
Once you've mastered the basics, consider these refinement strategies. Grenades complement your fire damage beautifully, adding burst damage between mace strikes. The Drain Health while Tainted enchantment provides sustain during extended fights.
Parrying becomes incredibly rewarding with this build. A successful parry followed by charged mace hits applies maximum fire stacks instantly, creating devastating damage windows. Practice parry timing against regular enemies before attempting it on bosses.
For players wanting even more power, check out our No Rest for the Wicked Best Builds guide to see how Faith Clerics compare to other meta options.
Scaling Into Late Game
The Faith Cleric build continues performing well beyond early game. As you find better rings and armor with Faith bonuses, your damage multiplies without changing your core strategy. The simplicity remains while power increases.
Consider exploring our No Rest for the Wicked Stats Guide for detailed attribute optimization as you progress. Understanding stat breakpoints helps you maximize each level investment.
Optimized Faith stat allocation
Why This Build Works for Beginners
The Faith Cleric requires no complex rotations or ability management. You swing your mace, apply fire, and dodge. That's the entire gameplay loop, yet it remains effective throughout your journey.
Accessibility makes this build special. You'll acquire everything needed within your first hour of gameplay, and the investment pays off immediately. No grinding for rare drops or farming specific enemies required.
For players interested in other straightforward builds, our No Rest for the Wicked Crafting and Enchanting Guide explains how to further optimize your gear as you progress.