Tempest Cleric Bonus Spells

[Das_Uberboat]

So on page 58 of the PHB, it says that "Each domain has a list of spells- its domain spells- that you gain at the cleric levels noted in the domain description. Once you gain a domain spell, you always have it prepared, and it doesn't count agaainst the number of spells you can prepare each day. If you have a domain spell that doesn't appear on the cleric spell list, the spell is nonetheless a cleric spell for you."

So, by RAW, the Tempest Cleric gains Thunderwave as a spell at level 1. Would this mean it operates as a cantrip: able to be casted at-will, any time, without preparation?
Additionally, does it use Wisdom or Intelligence as a spellcasting ability? It's in the Wizard spell list, but the rules say it's a "cleric spell".

[FadeAssassin]

It is a cleric spell so you use WIS, and it's not a cantrip, so you use your spells slots to cast it. But on top of that and fog cloud, you can prepare WIS+ CLeric levels number of spells from the clerics list. all of these require spell slots to be cast.

[Das_Uberboat]

Oh, alright. So basically, whenever the player prepares his Cleric spells per day, he also has those two prepared without even trying? So he can only use them once per extended rest, as per the rest of his normal cleric spells.
Am I getting this right?

[Edge of Dreams]

Almost right. You do get to prepare those two spells for free on top of your normal spells. However, how many times you can cast is based on your spell slots. A level 1 Cleric has 2 first-level spell slots, so he can cast any two different prepared spells each day, or cast the same prepared spell twice, then he's all out of spell slots for the day.

[Das_Uberboat]

So a 1st level cleric would, after preparing his 2 cleric spells at level 1, have:
-1st level spell
-1st level spell
-Thunderburst/Fog Cloud
-Thunderburst/Fog Cloud
-Cantrips

Sorry if i'm re-asking a lot about this, i'm trying to get this 100% right for sure.

[rlc]

Correct. You always have cantrips.

[Daishain]

So a 1st level cleric would, after preparing his 2 cleric spells at level 1, have:
-1st level spell
-1st level spell
-Thunderburst/Fog Cloud
-Thunderburst/Fog Cloud
-Cantrips

Sorry if i'm re-asking a lot about this, i'm trying to get this 100% right for sure.
You should be able to prepare more than 2 spells. Remember that the number of spells prepared is a function of your wisdom modifier and cleric level. Your spells slots no longer work as in 3.X and similar, and instead function more like the sorcerer's spells per day.

Those 2 slots can be applied any way you wish. You could, once per long rest:

cast thunderburst twice OR
cast thunderburst and fog cloud OR
cast bless twice OR
any other combination

[Edge of Dreams]

You're still confusing the concept of prepared spells with spell slots.

A cleric gets to prepare Wis mod + level spells. So if you're level 1, with a Wisdom of 16, you get 1+3 prepared spells (total of 4) plus your 2 domain spells and your cantrips.

That list of prepared spells is the list you get to choose off of whenever you get to cast. A level 1 cleric gets to cast as many cantrips as he wants, plus 2 first-level spells, because he has 2 first-level spell slots. Whenever he goes to cast a spell using one of those slots, he can pick any spell off the prepared list, it gets cast, and he loses that spell slot until his next long rest. Once he's out of spell slots, he can only cast cantrips.

Note also that casting a prepared spell costs a slot, but it does NOT remove the spell from your prepared list. You still have the spell prepared after you cast it.

[Daishain]

Yeah, they really should have ditched the term spell slots entirely, doesn't reflect what it actually is, and references a very different setup.

[Celcey]

Basically, you can prepare as follows:
Wis mod+Claeric level spells
Thunderburst
Fog cloud
Cantrips

At 1st level, you have two slots to cast your any of your prepared spells (even the same spell twice), and unlimited cantrips. You don't have to prepare a spell twice to cast it twice.

[Justin Sane]

In 3.5 terms: Everyone is a sorcerer now. Your spells known are your prepared spells.

[Major_Invitee]

In 3.5 terms: Everyone is a sorcerer now. Your spells known are your prepared spells.

Eh not quite, clerics are weird, they 'know' all the spells in their list, but have a limited number of prepared spells. (Lvl1 cleric: knows all>prepares some>casts 2)

[Tanarii]

Prepared spells is a list of spells you have ready to cast. Spell slots are what you use to cast them. When you cast a spell, you pick the spell off your list of prepared spells, spend the appropriate spell slot, and cast the spell. You lose the spell slot, but your list of prepared spells is untouched.

Known spells work the same way: it's a list of spells you have ready to cast. You use spell slots to cast them.

The difference is:
1) Known spells are picked when you level up, and stay the same. You don't spend them.
2) Prepared spells are picked after each long rest. You don't spend them.
3) Spell slots are used when you cast a spell, then lost. They regenerate after a long rest. (Except warlocks, which regenerate on a short rest.)

Classes either have Known spells (Bard, Eldritch Knight, Ranger, Arcane Trickster, Sorcerer, Warlock) or Prepared Spells (Cleric, Druid, Paladin, Wizard). Known spells are way less flexible, since they're fixed once you pick them.

Any given spell should only show up once on your list of known or prepared spells. Spell slots can be used to cast the same or different spells whenever you cast a spell.


(Edit: it's possible to swap 1 Known spell each time you level up a class with them, so they aren't completely fixed. But close enough for the simple explanation.)