In Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, storm gods are deities who hold dominion over weather, sky, thunder, lightning, and the sea, and they appear in most official campaign settings, each with unique portfolios, alignments, and worshippers. The most prominent are Thor (Forgotten Realms), Kord (Dawn War pantheon), Storms (Eberron), and the various storm-related powers in Theros and Ravnica, but nearly every setting includes at least one deity with the Tempest domain.
What Defines a Storm God in 5e
In game terms, a storm god is typically any deity who offers the Tempest Domain to their clerics. This domain, found in the Player’s Handbook, grants domain spells like fog cloud, gust of wind, call lightning, and control weather, plus heavy armor and martial weapon proficiencies. Storm gods are usually chaotic or neutral in alignment, reflecting the unpredictable nature of weather, and they often hold multiple portfolios: sky, sea, war, and fertility are common combinations.
Mechanically, the Tempest Domain’s Channel Divinity, Destructive Wrath, lets a cleric maximize lightning or thunder damage, which makes storm clerics potent blasters. The domain’s later features, like Thunderbolt Strike and Stormborn, reinforce the theme of being a living storm. While any deity with the Tempest domain is a storm god, not all storm gods are exclusively weather deities—many are also gods of war, sailors, or agriculture.
Storm Gods in the Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms, the default setting for 5e, has several storm deities, each with a distinct role in the pantheon.
- Talos – The god of storms, destruction, and chaos. He is chaotic evil and is known as the Storm Lord. His worshippers seek to unleash destruction through weather, and he is feared rather than loved. His clergy often operate in small, violent cults.
- Umberlee – The goddess of the sea, tides, and waves, often called the Bitch Queen. She is chaotic evil and demands tribute from sailors before they set out. Her clergy are common in coastal cities, and she is known for her cruelty and capriciousness.
- Valkur – A lesser god of sailors, wind, and favorable weather. He is chaotic good and is the patron of those who brave the sea. He is a counterpoint to Umberlee, offering protection to sailors who pray for safe passage.
- Thor – In the Forgotten Realms, Thor is a member of the Norse pantheon and is the god of storms, thunder, and lightning. He is chaotic good and is worshipped by those who value strength and courage. His clerics often take the Tempest domain.
These deities are detailed in Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide and Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes, though their stats are rarely given—they are typically portrayed as unkillable forces.
Storm Gods in Other Official Settings
Each campaign setting in 5e has its own take on storm gods, often drawing from real-world mythology.
- Dawn War Pantheon (Nentir Vale) – Kord is the god of storms and battle, chaotic neutral. He is a primal force of strength and courage, and his clerics are often warriors. He is the default storm god for the core rules if you use the Player’s Handbook pantheon.
- Eberron – The Sovereign Host includes the Devourer (god of the sea and storms, neutral evil) and the Fury (goddess of wrath and storms, neutral evil). The Silver Flame also has a saint, but the main storm deity is the Devourer, who is both feared and respected by sailors.
- Theros – The god Keranos is the god of storms and wisdom, chaotic neutral. He is one of the fifteen gods of Theros, and his followers seek knowledge through the fury of the storm. He is a complex figure, both destructive and insightful.
- Ravnica – The Gruul Clans worship the god Ilharg, the Raze-Boar, who is a storm god of destruction, chaotic neutral. He is more of a primal force than a traditional deity, but he grants Tempest domain powers to his shamans.
- Dragonlance – The gods of Krynn include Zeboim, the goddess of the sea and storms, chaotic neutral. She is the daughter of Takhisis and is known for her tempestuous nature.
These settings are covered in their respective sourcebooks, such as Eberron: Rising from the Last War, Mythic Odysseys of Theros, and Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica.
How to Choose a Storm God for Your Character
When selecting a storm god for a cleric, paladin, or even a warlock patron, consider the following factors:
- Alignment – Storm gods range from good (Valkur) to evil (Talos). Your character’s alignment should roughly match, though clerics can be within one step of their deity’s alignment.
- Portfolio – Do you want to focus on sea travel, weather control, or battle? Each god has a different emphasis. Umberlee is for sailors who fear the sea, while Kord is for warriors who seek strength.
- Setting – If you are playing in a specific setting, use that setting’s pantheon. A Forgotten Realms campaign should use Talos or Umberlee, not Kord, unless the DM allows cross-pantheon worship.
- Roleplay – Think about what your character believes. A storm god of chaos might demand reckless behavior, while a god of wisdom (like Keranos) might require contemplation.
For a classic storm cleric, the Tempest domain is the obvious choice. But you can also play a storm-themed sorcerer (Storm Sorcery) or a warlock with a tempestuous patron, such as a kraken or a primordial.
Common Misconceptions About Storm Gods
One common misconception is that all storm gods are evil or destructive. While many are chaotic, some are benevolent, like Valkur or Thor. Another is that storm gods only care about weather—they often have broader portfolios, such as war, fertility, or wisdom. For example, Zeus in real mythology was also a god of justice, and in DnD, Keranos is a god of wisdom.
Another misconception is that clerics of storm gods must be clerics of the Tempest domain. In 5e, a cleric can choose any domain that fits their deity, but the Tempest domain is the most thematic. Some storm gods, like Thor, also grant the War domain, and in older editions, they had different domains. Always check with your DM to see which domains are allowed.
Finally, many players assume that storm gods are all-powerful and cannot be defeated. In 5e, gods are typically not given stat blocks, but some are portrayed as avatars or lesser powers that can be fought. The Dungeon Master’s Guide provides rules for creating god-like NPCs, but it’s up to the DM whether a god can be fought directly.
Storm Gods vs. Other Weather Deities
Storm gods are a subset of weather deities. While all storm gods control weather, not all weather deities are storm gods. For example, the goddess Chauntea in the Forgotten Realms is a nature deity who controls gentle rain and growth, but she does not grant the Tempest domain. Similarly, the god Lathander is a sun god, not a storm god, even though he controls light and warmth.
In real-world mythology, storm gods are often the king of the gods (like Zeus, Thor, or Indra), but in DnD, they are usually not the head of the pantheon. Talos is a major power, but he is not the ruler of the Forgotten Realms pantheon; that role belongs to Ao, the overgod. This distinction matters for roleplay: a storm god’s worshippers might see their deity as the most powerful, but other gods may disagree.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most powerful storm god in DnD 5e?
There is no official ranking of deity power in 5e. In the Forgotten Realms, Talos is a major power, but Thor is also a major power in the Norse pantheon. In the Dawn War pantheon, Kord is a god, but not the most powerful—that would be the overgod, if any. Power is relative to the setting and the story.
Can a storm god be a warlock patron?
Yes, a warlock can have a storm god as a patron, though it’s not typical. The Player’s Handbook suggests that a warlock’s patron could be a powerful being like a god, but the Fiend, Great Old One, and Archfey are the standard options. A storm god could be reflavored as an Archfey or Great Old One, or you could use the Hexblade or Fathomless (from Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything) with a stormy twist.
Which storm god is best for a tempest cleric?
The best storm god depends on your setting and alignment. For a good-aligned tempest cleric, Thor or Valkur are good choices. For a neutral or evil one, Talos or Umberlee work. In a generic campaign, Kord is a solid choice because he is neutral and focuses on battle and storms.
Are there any storm gods in the core rulebooks?
The Player’s Handbook includes a list of deities from the Dawn War pantheon, which includes Kord. The Basic Rules also mention Kord. However, the full details for Forgotten Realms storm gods are in the Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide or Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes.
Can a storm god grant spells to a non-cleric?
In 5e, any class can worship a god, but only clerics and some paladins receive spells from a deity. A warlock’s patron can be a god, but the mechanics are different. A sorcerer’s power comes from within, so they don’t need a god. However, a character can be a devout follower of a storm god without being a cleric, and the DM might allow a paladin to swear an oath to a storm god.
What happens if a cleric betrays their storm god?
In 5e, there are no strict rules for losing divine powers. The DM may decide that a cleric who betrays their god loses their spells until they atone, or they might become an oathbreaker (for paladins). The Dungeon Master’s Guide has optional rules for divine punishment, but it’s up to the DM. In lore, gods often curse or abandon their followers, but the game mechanics are flexible.
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