Can You Divine Smite Twice? Understanding Paladin Combat Tactics
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The simple answer is: yes, you absolutely can Divine Smite twice, or even more, in a single turn in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (5e), provided you meet certain conditions. This potent ability is a cornerstone of the Paladin class, allowing them to deliver devastating bursts of radiant damage. However, it’s crucial to understand the nuances of how Divine Smite functions to maximize its effectiveness. Let’s delve deeper into this powerful feature.
How Divine Smite Works
Divine Smite isn’t a spell; it’s a class feature unique to the Paladin. It allows you to channel divine energy to amplify a melee weapon attack. The core rules are:
- Trigger: It’s activated when you successfully hit a creature with a melee weapon attack.
- Resource: It requires the expenditure of a spell slot.
- Damage: It adds extra radiant damage to the attack. The base damage is 2d8 for a 1st-level spell slot, and it increases by 1d8 for each spell level higher than 1st, with a maximum of 5d8.
- Undead/Fiends: When used against an undead or fiend, the damage automatically increases to a maximum of 6d8.
- Timing: You choose to use Divine Smite after you hit with a melee weapon attack.
The key here is that it is tied to each successful melee weapon attack, not to the number of times you can use it per turn. This is where the potential for multiple uses per turn comes into play.
The Importance of Extra Attack
The primary reason you can Divine Smite multiple times is due to features like Extra Attack, which allows characters to make more than one attack per action. For instance, if you are a Paladin with the Extra Attack feature, you can attack twice in a single action. If both of these attacks hit, you can opt to use Divine Smite on each successful hit by expending one spell slot per hit.
The lack of restriction on the number of Divine Smites per turn, other than spell slot limitations, is pivotal. You could theoretically use it more than twice if you had abilities granting you additional attacks, such as certain feats or spells.
Tactical Considerations
While the idea of stacking multiple Divine Smites in a single turn is tempting, you must consider your spell slot availability and the strategic implications:
- Resource Management: Burning through multiple spell slots early in an encounter can leave you vulnerable in later stages.
- Damage Output: Sometimes, it might be better to distribute your Smites over multiple turns or reserve higher-level spell slots for more critical situations.
- Enemy Type: Consider whether your target is particularly vulnerable to radiant damage (e.g., undead) or resistant to it (e.g., some devils).
- Other Actions: Don’t forget that you may need to use your bonus action for other abilities such as spellcasting or tactical maneuvers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I Divine Smite on every attack?
Yes, you can use Divine Smite on every melee weapon attack that hits, provided you have the spell slots and choose to use it. There is no limit on the number of Divine Smites you can use per turn, other than your spell slots and the number of successful melee attacks you make.
2. Does Divine Smite require an action?
No, Divine Smite does not require an action, bonus action, or reaction. It is triggered after a successful melee weapon attack.
3. Can I combine Divine Smite with other Smites?
Yes, you can combine Divine Smite with other smite spells, like Branding Smite or Thunderous Smite. However, remember that smite spells often require a bonus action to cast and may have concentration requirements. Divine Smite, on the other hand, has no action requirement.
4. Can I use Divine Smite and Eldritch Smite together?
Yes, but with restrictions. You can use both Divine Smite and Eldritch Smite on the same attack if both are available to you. However, Eldritch Smite requires a warlock spell slot, and Divine Smite can be powered by any spell slot including warlock slots. Additionally Eldritch Smite can only be used once per turn, while you can Divine Smite every successful attack.
5. Can Divine Smite be used with a natural weapon?
Yes, you can use Divine Smite with natural weapons, such as claws or horns, because they are considered melee weapon attacks.
6. Is Divine Smite doubled on a critical hit?
Yes, the damage dice from Divine Smite are doubled on a critical hit, per the rules regarding doubling dice on a critical attack. This makes critical hits incredibly potent for Paladins.
7. What is the maximum damage for Divine Smite?
The maximum damage for Divine Smite is 5d8 radiant damage, but it increases to 6d8 against undead or fiends. This is before any critical hit dice are applied.
8. Does Divine Smite work with unarmed strikes?
No, Divine Smite does not work with unarmed strikes because the feature specifies that it’s added to “the weapon’s damage,” and unarmed strikes are not considered weapons.
9. Can I Divine Smite with a ranged weapon?
No, you cannot use Divine Smite with a ranged weapon. It is explicitly limited to melee weapon attacks.
10. Can Divine Smite break my concentration on a spell?
No, Divine Smite itself does not break concentration. However, if you are using a smite spell that requires concentration, then that spell can break concentration if you are hit.
11. Can I use Divine Smite after hitting, or before?
You use Divine Smite after a successful hit. You declare if you are using Divine Smite after you know you have made a successful attack.
12. Does Improved Divine Smite stack with Divine Smite?
Yes, Improved Divine Smite stacks with Divine Smite. Improved Divine Smite adds 1d8 radiant damage to all melee weapon attacks, while Divine Smite adds extra damage through spell slot expenditure on a per-hit basis.
13. Is Divine Smite considered a spell?
No, Divine Smite is not a spell. It’s a class feature. It requires the expenditure of a spell slot, but it’s not cast like a spell.
14. Can I Divine Smite with a Dancing Sword?
No, you cannot use Divine Smite with a Dancing Sword. Divine Smite is a feature triggered by the Paladin using their weapon to make an attack. A Dancing Sword is not a part of a Paladin’s weapon attack, it is separate.
15. Can a Barbarian use Divine Smite if they multiclass into Paladin?
Yes, a Barbarian can use Divine Smite if they multiclass into Paladin. They retain all the core abilities and features of the Paladin class, including Divine Smite.
Conclusion
Divine Smite is a powerful and versatile feature that, when used strategically, can turn a Paladin into a formidable force in combat. The ability to potentially use it multiple times per turn, combined with the potential for critical hits, means that a Paladin can often deliver a huge amount of burst damage. Understanding the rules and restrictions around Divine Smite allows a player to maximize its potential and use it most effectively. Keep in mind that thoughtful resource management and tactical awareness are key to making the most of this defining class feature.