[RPG] How does the Cleric’s Blessings of Knowledge feature interact with the rules for gaining proficiency when already proficient in a skill

class-featureclericdnd-5eproficiencyskills

Scenario:

I am a level 1 Half-Elf Monk, using a combination of my Monk starting skill proficiencies and Skill Versatility racial features to start with proficiency in Arcana, History, Religion, and Nature.

Upon hitting character level 2, I decide that with where I am in the plot at the time, it would make sense to multiclass into Cleric (and I have the proper prerequisites to do so)- this multiclass is not a preplanned decision made at character creation time.

I pick the Knowledge domain, which lets me pick two skills from Arcana, History, Nature, or Religion to become proficient in as part of the Blessings of Knowledge feature. My proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check I make that uses either of the chosen skills I became proficient in.

By RAW, what skills can I ultimately gain proficiency in, and what skills get the doubled proficiency benefit of Blessings of Knowledge?

The rules for gaining proficiency in the same skill or tool from more than one source are as follows, according to PHB p.125:

If a character would gain the same proficiency from two different sources, he or she can choose a different proficiency of the same kind (skill or tool) instead.

I can see a few different ways to rule this depending on one's interpretation:

  1. The above citation only applies to gaining proficiencies from backgrounds as it's in the "Backgrounds" section, despite the general language of "two different sources". As a result, I gain no proficiencies. I can still choose two of the listed skills to gain doubled proficiency bonuses.
  2. The above citation applies. As a result, I still have to choose two out of Arcana, History, Nature, or Religion, but when that choice goes to give me proficiency in a skill I already have, I can then choose any other skill to gain proficiency in. Then, either:
    • The chosen skills out of Arcana, History, Nature, or Religion get the doubled proficiency bonus. The 'final' skills I newly gain proficiency in do not.
    • Only the 'final' skills I newly gain proficiency in get the doubled proficiency bonus.

Are any of the above interpretations correct?

Best Answer

I haven't been able to find any authoritative ruling on this anywhere, and the various People on the Internet who were talking about it had multiple different rulings, so I'd expect table variation.

At my table, I would rule that you can take a different skill (via the "if something gives you proficiency in a skill you already have you can pick another" rule that you quoted), but that the expertise would only apply to one of those four skills listed under Blessings of Knowledge (and you'd get it for the skill that you already had), so this isn't some backdoor way to get expertise in some random skill. That feels closest to the Rules as Intended IMO.

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