Can You Divine Smite with a Bow? A Comprehensive Guide
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The burning question on many a Paladin player’s mind: Can you unleash the holy fury of a Divine Smite through a ranged attack, specifically with a bow? The short, definitive answer is no, you cannot use Divine Smite with a bow. Divine Smite, a cornerstone of the Paladin class in Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition (5e), is specifically designed to be used with melee weapon attacks. Let’s delve deeper into the mechanics of Divine Smite and why ranged weapons, such as bows, are not compatible with this powerful ability.
Understanding Divine Smite
The Mechanics
Divine Smite is a class feature unique to Paladins. It allows them to expend spell slots to add a significant amount of radiant damage to a successful melee weapon attack. The damage scales with the level of the spell slot used, making it a potent ability for both single-target damage and critical hits. Crucially, the ability specifies that it requires a “melee weapon attack”. This is where the distinction between melee and ranged combat becomes critical.
Why Bows Don’t Work
Bows are ranged weapons, and attacks made with them are considered ranged weapon attacks. This fundamental difference is the key reason why Divine Smite cannot be used with a bow. The rules of 5e are explicit in their differentiation between these two types of attacks. Divine Smite is designed for close-quarters combat, enhancing the impact of a weapon wielded in hand.
Alternative Ranged Options
So, what’s a Paladin to do when a ranged option is needed? While Divine Smite is off the table, Paladins aren’t entirely without options. They can:
- Use strength-based throwing weapons, such as javelins, as these are considered melee weapon attacks when thrown.
- Employ spells that offer ranged attacks.
- Rely on allies to cover the ranged combat role.
While these alternatives exist, they lack the raw power of a smite in many situations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can you Divine Smite with a ranged weapon at all?
No, Divine Smite requires a melee weapon attack. Ranged weapons, by definition, do not qualify. This means no smiting with bows, crossbows, or firearms (if your campaign uses them).
2. Does Divine Smite work with thrown weapons?
Yes and no. Thrown weapons that are considered melee weapons (such as javelins or spears when thrown) do allow for Divine Smite. However, weapons that are purely ranged (e.g., darts, thrown daggers as a ranged attack) do not qualify.
3. Can you use Eldritch Smite with a bow?
Yes, Eldritch Smite (a Warlock ability) can be used with a bow, provided the bow is your pact weapon. Unlike Divine Smite, Eldritch Smite doesn’t require a melee weapon attack, just an attack made with your pact weapon.
4. Can you Divine Smite with your fists?
Technically, you can make a melee weapon attack with an unarmed strike, but the text of Divine Smite refers to the “weapon’s damage,”, and an unarmed strike isn’t considered a weapon. Most DMs rule that you can’t Divine Smite with fists alone because they do not deal weapon damage.
5. Can you use Divine Smite multiple times per turn?
Yes, Divine Smite can be used multiple times per turn as long as each use is triggered by a successful melee weapon attack. There’s no limit to the number of smites you can use, provided you have spell slots to expend.
6. Can you Divine Smite and cast a spell in the same turn?
Yes, you can combine Divine Smite with other actions. Divine Smite doesn’t require a bonus action, allowing you to cast a bonus action spell or a regular action spell alongside it, provided you have the available actions and bonus actions.
7. Is Eldritch Smite better than Divine Smite?
This is situational. Eldritch Smite does force damage which is generally less resisted. Divine Smite does radiant damage, which is very effective against undead and fiends. In terms of sheer power, Divine Smite tends to have greater potential for burst damage, but Eldritch Smite’s damage type can be more reliable.
8. Can a Barbarian use Divine Smite?
Yes, a Barbarian can use Divine Smite if they have at least two levels in Paladin. Multiclassing allows the combination of abilities, but generally, a primarily Barbarian character will not have enough Paladin levels to make Divine Smite a reliable damage source.
9. Can you use non-Paladin spell slots for Divine Smite?
Yes, you can use any spell slot to fuel Divine Smite, regardless of its source. This means you can use spell slots gained from multiclassing, feats, or other features to power up your smites.
10. What does Divine Smite scale with?
Divine Smite scales with the level of the spell slot expended. A 1st level spell slot adds 2d8 radiant damage; a 2nd level adds 3d8, and so forth, up to a 5th level spell slot which will be 6d8 (or 7d8 against Fiends and Undead.) It can reach a maximum of 5d8 (or 6d8 against undead or fiends) on a hit, or 10d8 (12d8) on a critical hit against undead or fiends, making it a powerful damage boost.
11. Can you Divine Smite with a Javelin?
Yes, throwing a javelin is considered a melee weapon attack, so Divine Smite can be used. This makes javelins an excellent ranged option for Paladins that can still trigger their smites.
12. Can you Divine Smite on a Booming Blade attack?
Yes, Booming Blade requires a melee attack with a weapon, so Divine Smite can be applied. This combination of spells and abilities can lead to devastating damage in melee combat.
13. Does Rage prevent Divine Smite?
No, Rage does not prevent the use of Divine Smite. Divine Smite is not considered a spell, even though it uses spell slots. Therefore, it is not affected by conditions that prohibit spellcasting.
14. Can you use Divine Smite with a Flame Blade?
By RAW, the answer is no, as Flame Blade is not a melee weapon. However, DMs can choose to allow it on a case-by-case basis. In general, Divine Smite requires a melee weapon, and Flame Blade, despite being used as a melee attack, isn’t considered a ‘weapon’ by most.
15. Can Divine Smite stack with Improved Divine Smite?
Yes, Improved Divine Smite does not replace the normal Divine Smite. You can use them both together. Improved Divine Smite adds 1d8 radiant damage to all melee weapon attacks, while the normal Divine Smite adds additional damage based on spell slots. This combination makes for a huge amount of extra damage per attack.
Conclusion
While you can’t use Divine Smite with a bow, understanding the mechanics behind this potent ability allows Paladins to strategize their combat approaches effectively. Knowing how Divine Smite interacts with various weapon types and other abilities empowers players to make the most of their Paladin’s kit. The key takeaway is: Divine Smite is designed for melee, and melee only. Paladins must embrace close-quarters combat to fully unleash their smiting potential. Use throwing weapons if you must stay at range but for optimal efficiency a melee approach is best for Paladins.