Unraveling the Mystery: What Type of Action is Divine Smite?
Divine Smite, a core feature of the Paladin class in D&D 5e, is a powerful ability that adds a surge of radiant damage to a successful melee weapon attack. But unlike many abilities and spells in the game, it doesn’t neatly fit into the standard action economy of actions, bonus actions, or reactions. The straightforward answer is this: Divine Smite does not require any specific action. It’s not an action, bonus action, or a reaction. It is simply an additional effect that occurs after you successfully hit with a melee weapon attack. This unique feature makes it a potent and versatile tool in a Paladin’s arsenal.
Divine Smite: An Action-less Power
The beauty of Divine Smite lies in its action-less nature. When you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you can choose to expend a spell slot and add radiant damage to the attack’s damage total. The key point is that this decision happens after the hit is confirmed. You don’t need to declare you are using Divine Smite before you roll your attack; it’s a reactive choice. This allows for strategic flexibility, allowing you to conserve spell slots for when your attacks actually land, and for when the extra damage would have the most impact.
The absence of an associated action means it won’t interfere with other actions you take during your turn. You can attack twice with your action (if you have the Extra Attack feature), move, and still use Divine Smite multiple times if your attacks land. This makes Paladins incredibly formidable melee combatants.
Mechanics of Divine Smite
To break it down further:
- Trigger: A successful melee weapon attack hit on a creature.
- Cost: Expenditure of one spell slot (of any level).
- Effect: Adds radiant damage to the weapon attack’s damage roll.
- Timing: Applied after the attack roll and after a hit is confirmed.
- Action Requirement: None – it doesn’t require an action, bonus action, or reaction.
Why This Matters
The non-action aspect of Divine Smite significantly impacts Paladin gameplay. It allows the Paladin to combine its potent melee attacks with extra damage from Smite without being slowed down by action economy limitations. This contrasts with other classes that might need to use an action or bonus action to enhance their attacks. This is a significant aspect of what makes the Paladin an effective class. The Paladin can swing as hard as they can, when they know they’ve landed a powerful blow.
The Importance of Understanding Action Economy
Understanding that Divine Smite doesn’t consume any type of action is crucial to playing a Paladin effectively. It allows you to plan turns more efficiently, maximizing damage output while avoiding unnecessary actions. It also opens tactical opportunities that might not be obvious at first glance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Divine Smite
To further clarify the intricacies of Divine Smite, here are 15 frequently asked questions:
1. What type of damage does Divine Smite inflict?
Divine Smite deals radiant damage. Additionally, against Undead or Fiends, it inflicts an additional 1d8 radiant damage.
2. Is Divine Smite an attack?
No, Divine Smite itself is not an attack. It is an ability that adds extra damage to an existing melee weapon attack.
3. Is Divine Smite considered a spell?
No, Divine Smite is not a spell. While it uses spell slots, it’s considered a Paladin class ability. Spells are defined in the Player’s Handbook as the ones listed on pages 207-211.
4. When should I use Divine Smite?
You can use Divine Smite whenever you successfully hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, and you can do it multiple times per turn if you hit multiple times.
5. Does Divine Smite scale with level?
The base damage of Divine Smite is 2d8 for a 1st-level spell slot, plus 1d8 for each spell level higher than 1st, to a maximum of 5d8.
6. Is there a limit to how many times I can use Divine Smite?
The only limitations are 1 spell slot per hit and a maximum of 5d8 damage (6d8 vs. undead/fiends). There is no limit on how many times you can use it per turn as long as you hit and have spell slots.
7. Can I use Divine Smite twice in one turn?
Yes, if you have multiple attacks (like from the Extra Attack feature) and hit with each one. You can expend a spell slot on each successful hit to add Divine Smite damage.
8. Can I use Divine Smite while raging (if I multiclass with Barbarian)?
Yes, you can use Divine Smite while raging. Rage prevents spellcasting but doesn’t affect class abilities like Divine Smite.
9. Does Divine Smite work with Great Weapon Fighting?
No. The Great Weapon Fighting feature lets you reroll weapon damage dice that result in a 1 or 2. But that reroll does not apply to any damage from Divine Smite.
10. Does Divine Smite interrupt concentration?
No, Divine Smite does not interrupt concentration, unlike other Smite spells that are concentration-based.
11. Can I use Divine Smite with natural weapons?
Yes, because natural weapons make melee weapon attacks, which is all that is required.
12. Is Divine Smite affected by antimagic?
Yes, Divine Smite does not work within an Antimagic Field due to the wording in the rules which make Divine Smite a magical effect.
13. Can I use any spell slot for Divine Smite?
Yes, you can use any spell slot that you have, even if it comes from other class levels or special abilities.
14. What’s the maximum damage Divine Smite can deal?
The maximum damage for Divine Smite is 5d8 radiant damage, or 6d8 if the target is an undead or a fiend. On a critical hit the dice are doubled, making the maximum on a crit 10d8, or 12d8 against undead or fiends.
15. Does Charisma affect Divine Smite damage?
No, Charisma does not affect Divine Smite damage. Charisma influences other Paladin abilities, such as spell preparation, spell DCs and the power of their Aura of Protection.
Conclusion: Mastering Divine Smite
Divine Smite is a key part of what makes a Paladin effective. Understanding that it does not require an action is crucial to maximizing its effectiveness. Its flexibility and damage potential make it a formidable tool in any Paladin’s arsenal. This knowledge will help players wield their Paladins with confidence and precision in any D&D campaign, ensuring that they’re always ready to unleash a holy blow upon their foes.