Do Grave Domain clerics get the additional Spare the Dying benefits if they already know the spell?

Question

The Grave Domain Cleric learns the spare the dying cantrip at level 1 via the class feature Circle of Mortality, which also gives them extra benefits relating to it. Part of the description of the feature says (XGtE, pg. 20):

... In addition, you learn the spare the dying cantrip, which doesn't count against the number of cleric cantrips you know. For you, it has a range of 30 feet, and you can cast it as a bonus action.

However, what if I multiclass into cleric and I already have the spare the dying cantrip (e.g. via having taken Magic Initiate before now or, in my case, via originally being a Warlock with the Undying patron, which also grants this cantrip at level 1)?

Similar bonus cantrips usually have wording more like the Light Domain Cleric (PHB, pg. 61):

When you choose this domain at 1st level, you gain the light cantrip if you don't already know it.

The Circle of Mortality class feature doesn't say something like "if you don't already know it". Thus, if I already have the cantrip, do the extra benefits still count (i.e. increased range and option to cast it as a bonus action) since this class feature was not the one to grant me this cantrip in the first place?

Answer 1

You learn it, and it works

It is possible to have the same cantrip from multiple classes, unless a feature specifically says you "only get it if you don't know it yet". If you have the fire bolt cantrip as a wizard, you can still pick it when you become a level 1 sorcerer, meaning you have one that scales off Intelligence and one that scales off Charisma.

You effectively now have spare the dying twice, in two different spell lists. I'm not 100% certain if the RAW implication of "For you, it [...]" implies that the version you get from a different class would still be a touch-range normal action or if "it" implies all versions of the cantrip you know, but that is hardly a problem if you can simply pick not to cast that version. It has no attribute-based scaling anyway.

Answer 2

Yes, you gain the other benefits

The Circle of Mortality feature does not state any exceptions/restrictions on how/when you may use those additional benefits; it simply states that you gain them. This means that whenever you cast spare the dying, you can cast it either as a bonus action or as an action - and you can cast it at a range of up to 30 feet.

Also, per the rules on multiclassed spellcasters:

You determine what spells you know and can prepare for each class individually, as if you were a single-classed member of that class.

However, since spare the dying is not dependent on your spellcasting ability in any way (there's no spell attack being made or spell save DC that the target must roll a save against), there's no particular benefit or difference to knowing it via multiple classes/features.

Answer 3

Yes, and you wasted an earlier choice of cantrip.

All the other perks from the Circle of Mortality feature still apply. But you don't duplicate spells known; you either know them or you don't.

If you picked up Spare the Dying from the Magic Initiate feat or by being a Divine Soul sorcerer, then you don't get a replacement because it already doesn't count against the number of cleric cantrips you known. If you picked it up previously via the Pact of the Tome option for the warlock's Pact Boon feature, then you no longer need your Book of Shadows to perform the cantrip (essentially wasting one of those three picks).

A permissive DM in a home game might let you swap out the cantrip from a Book of Shadows if the original is destroyed and a new bargain is struck with the patron. You wouldn't be allowed to in an AL game. But, if you are playing AL, you can rebuild your character however you like before 5th level anyway.