Can You Use Divine Smite Twice in a Turn?
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The short, direct answer is a resounding yes! You can absolutely use Divine Smite more than once per turn in D&D 5th Edition, provided you meet the necessary conditions. The core mechanic of Divine Smite is tied to successfully hitting with a melee weapon attack, and since many classes and abilities can grant multiple attacks per turn, you can potentially smite multiple times. Let’s delve deeper into the rules, limitations, and nuances of this powerful Paladin feature.
Understanding Divine Smite
The Core Mechanic
The Divine Smite feature, available to Paladins from 2nd level, states that: “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.” This simple sentence is the key to unlocking the potential for multiple smites in a turn.
Key Conditions for Divine Smite
- Melee Weapon Attack: The attack must be a melee weapon attack, meaning it needs to be made with a melee weapon. Unarmed strikes generally do not qualify, since Divine Smite references the “weapon’s damage.” Natural weapons such as claws or horns qualify because they are both melee weapon attacks and they count as weapons.
- Successful Hit: You must successfully hit a creature with your attack. A miss means you cannot use Divine Smite on that attack.
- Spell Slot Expenditure: For each instance of Divine Smite, you must expend a spell slot. The damage you deal depends on the level of spell slot used, starting with 2d8 radiant damage for a 1st-level slot and increasing by 1d8 for each spell level up to a maximum of 5d8 (or 6d8 against undead and fiends).
Multiple Attacks Enable Multiple Smites
The ability to smite multiple times per turn is intrinsically linked to the number of attacks you can make. Features like the Extra Attack class feature, often gained by martial classes, allow you to attack more than once in a turn. Therefore, each successful hit in your turn provides an opportunity to use Divine Smite.
For example, a 5th-level Paladin with the Extra Attack feature can attack twice on their turn. If both attacks hit, the Paladin can choose to use Divine Smite on both attacks, expending two spell slots and potentially unleashing devastating radiant damage.
No Action or Bonus Action Requirement
Importantly, Divine Smite does not require an action, bonus action, or reaction to use. It is a passive ability triggered by a successful melee weapon attack. This means that you can combine your smites with other actions and bonus actions as your turn unfolds.
Limitations on Divine Smite
- Spell Slot Limitation: The number of times you can smite is limited by the number of spell slots you possess. Once you run out of slots, you cannot use Divine Smite until you recover some of these slots.
- Max Damage: Each instance of Divine Smite has a maximum damage output of 5d8 radiant damage, plus 1d8 if the target is an undead or fiend. This limit applies to each individual smite, not to the total smite damage per turn.
- Antimagic Field: The Antimagic Field spell nullifies the magical effects of Divine Smite. However, it does not nullify the bonus radiant damage provided by the Improved Divine Smite class feature.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Divine Smite
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Divine Smite to further clarify its rules and usage:
Q1: Does Divine Smite’s damage get doubled on a critical hit?
Yes. All the damage dice from your attack, including those from Divine Smite, are doubled on a critical hit. So, if you use a 2nd level spell slot for Divine Smite which normally deals 3d8 radiant damage, on a critical hit that will be doubled to 6d8 radiant damage plus the weapon’s doubled damage.
Q2: Can you use Divine Smite on every single attack you make in a turn?
Yes, as long as you hit with a melee weapon attack, and have enough spell slots. There is no turn limit on the number of times you can use Divine Smite per turn.
Q3: Can you use other smite spells in addition to Divine Smite?
Yes. Smite spells like Wrathful Smite or Thunderous Smite require a bonus action to cast and last for one minute (10 rounds). They are concentration spells. You can use the smite spell on the first hit during that minute and then you can use Divine Smite on that same hit or on a different melee attack.
Q4: Can Divine Smite be used with unarmed strikes?
No. Divine Smite specifically requires a melee weapon attack, and while an unarmed strike is a melee attack, it isn’t considered a weapon and is not considered to have weapon damage. Therefore, it will not work with Divine Smite. However, natural weapons like claws or horns count both as weapons and as unarmed strikes so they will work with Divine Smite.
Q5: What is the maximum damage a single Divine Smite can deal?
The maximum damage for a single Divine Smite is 5d8 radiant damage. However, if the target is an undead or a fiend, the maximum damage increases to 6d8 radiant damage.
Q6: Does Divine Smite require an action to use?
No. Divine Smite does not require any action, bonus action, or reaction. It is a passive ability triggered when you hit with a melee weapon attack, provided you expend a spell slot.
Q7: Can you use Divine Smite and Improved Divine Smite together?
Yes, absolutely. Improved Divine Smite grants a flat 1d8 bonus to all melee weapon attack damage. This additional radiant damage applies even if you also choose to expend a spell slot for regular Divine Smite.
Q8: Is Divine Smite considered a magical effect for the purpose of Counterspell?
No. Divine Smite is not considered a spell. It cannot be countered by the counterspell spell, as it is an internal ability of the Paladin.
Q9: Can Divine Smite be used against an opponent affected by Antimagic Field?
No. Because Divine Smite involves expending spell slots, it will not work in an Antimagic Field. However, Improved Divine Smite is not a magical effect and thus is not blocked by Antimagic Field.
Q10: Can you decide to use Divine Smite after rolling the weapon attack’s damage?
Yes. The rules allow you to decide whether or not to use Divine Smite after you hit with a melee weapon attack. So, you roll damage, and then if you hit you can choose to add Divine Smite’s extra damage.
Q11: Can you use a higher level spell slot than needed for Divine Smite?
Yes, you can. A Paladin can use spell slots up to 5th level, but using a 5th level slot for Divine Smite gives no benefit over using a 4th level slot. The maximum damage is 5d8 (or 6d8 against undead and fiends) no matter which level spell slot between 4th and 5th is used.
Q12: Can you use Divine Smite while raging as a Barbarian/Paladin multiclass?
You cannot use Divine Smite if you are raging because Divine Smite involves spell slot expenditure which is prohibited when raging. However, the Improved Divine Smite feature can be used while raging because it is not an expenditure of spell slots and is not considered a magical ability.
Q13: Can Divine Smite be used with a thrown melee weapon like a javelin?
Yes. Throwing a Javelin is a melee weapon attack and therefore does qualify for Divine Smite.
Q14: Does Poison damage get doubled on a crit?
Yes, poison damage is doubled on a crit. The critical hit allows the attack's damage dice to be doubled, so if the poison damage comes from the attack and uses dice, it is doubled.
Q15: Can Sharpshooter’s damage be doubled on a crit?
No, Sharpshooter's extra damage is a flat bonus. Only damage dice are doubled on a crit. Therefore, only the weapon damage dice are doubled.
Conclusion
In summary, the Divine Smite feature allows Paladins to unleash considerable radiant damage, and the ability to use it multiple times in a turn is a key component of the class’s combat prowess. By understanding the rules, conditions, and limitations of Divine Smite, players can effectively optimize their Paladin’s combat potential and unleash devastating attacks on their foes. Keep your spell slots handy, and smite with righteous fury!