Can you cast Divine Smite on your fists?
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Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
The answer to whether you can cast Divine Smite on your fists is no, as Divine Smite requires a melee weapon attack, and while an unarmed strike can be used to make such an attack, the text of Divine Smite also refers to the “weapon’s damage,” and an unarmed strike isn’t a weapon. According to the rules, unarmed strikes count as a “weapon attack” only when an attack is made, but a natural weapon, such as a fist or foot, is NOT considered a weapon for the purpose of spells, features, fighting styles, or traits.
Related FAQs
1. Can you Smite with your fists?
You can’t use battle master tricks, barb rage powers, paladin smite, etc. with your fists.
2. Can Divine Smite be non-lethal?
A paladin with a greataxe, swinging with all the power of a Divine Smite behind them, getting a critical hit and dealing 20 slashing and 50 radiant damage… can just casually say, “yeah, it’s nonlethal,” and now you have an unconscious and perfectly stable lich on your hands.
3. Can you Smite with claws?
Claws, horns, and other natural weapons: natural weapons, make melee weapon attacks, and also count as unarmed strikes. Therefore they can be used with just about everything as they count as weapons and unarmed strikes … so they would work with both Divine Smite AND as the bonus attack for Martial Arts for the monk.
4. Can you Divine Smite on each attack?
You can declare a use of Divine Smite after the outcome of an attack roll is determined. Divine Smite can be used whenever you successfully hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, and Divine Smite can be used multiple times per turn.
5. What are the rules for Divine Smite?
Divine Smite Starting at 2nd level, when you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you can expend one spell slot to deal radiant damage to the target, in addition to the weapon’s damage. The extra damage is 2d8 for a 1st-level spell slot, plus 1d8 for each spell level higher than 1st, to a maximum of 5d8.
6. Is Divine Smite doubled on a crit?
If you’re referring to the provisions in the Divine Smite Feature, they exist to keep multiclasses from using 6+ slots to soup the smite up further still. Any damage die that are a part of an attack that hits critically are doubled per RAW.
7. Can you Smite on a thrown dagger?
A dagger is a melee weapon, so any attack made with it is an “attack with a melee weapon“, but you can use that dagger to make a “melee weapon attack” at 5ft, or a “ranged weapon attack” by throwing it. Smites like this can only be used with a “melee weapon attack“, not an “attack with a melee weapon“.
8. Can you Smite on a grapple?
Grapples are not melee weapon attacks, and also don’t do damage, so Divine Smite doesn’t apply.
9. Can you Smite with vampiric bite?
You can empower yourself with your bite a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest. Initially, this is all well and good. However, as written, the Vampiric Bite trait is eligible for abilities like Hunter’s Mark and Divine Smite.
10. Can you Smite off green flame blade?
If your sorcerer-paladin has Booming Blade (or Green-Flame Blade) you can smite with it, as a melee weapon attack is part of the spell.
11. Can you divine Smite with a bow?
RAW, you can’t use Divine Smite with a ranged weapon or one that is thrown for that matter (but a weapon with the thrown property that is used in melee can).
12. Can you divine Smite with a dancing sword?
You can divine smite when you hit with a melee attack. Dancing sword doesn’t say you make an attack roll with the sword (like spiritual weapon). Instead, it says the sword uses your stats to make its own attack roll. Since you aren’t making the attack, you can’t divine smite it.
13. Do fists count as dual wielding?
RAW, no, an Unarmed Strike isn’t a Weapon Attack, and it doesn’t have the ‘Light‘ property, so it can’t be dual-wielded.
14. Are fists finesse weapons?
RAW, the answer would be no, as a fist is not a Finesse weapon. However, it passes my Rule of Cool, having a rogue smacking someone from behind to knock someone out. “Head Butt Sneak Attack!”
15. Can you Smite through echo?
It’s still the fighter making the attack, you can just choose to have the attack come from the location of the echo. Searing Smite is a self only spell, it can’t be cast on another character.