Unveiling Divine Smite: A Deep Dive into Radiant Damage
Divine Smite, a core feature of the Paladin class in D&D 5th Edition, is a powerful ability that allows for a significant boost to melee weapon attacks. The core question often asked is: What type of damage is Divine Smite? The answer is straightforward: Divine Smite deals radiant damage. This type of damage is significant because it’s often effective against undead and fiends, creatures that frequently plague adventurers. Radiant damage is characterized by its bright, holy energy, often associated with divine power and light.
Understanding Radiant Damage
Radiant damage, in D&D 5e, is not merely light; it’s a potent force capable of harming creatures that thrive in darkness or are inherently evil. It often represents the power of the divine, and is associated with holy energy. Unlike other types of elemental damage, such as fire or cold, radiant damage doesn’t typically have a corresponding vulnerability that common enemies will have, making it a versatile type of damage.
The importance of radiant damage becomes evident when facing creatures like vampires, demons, and devils. These types of foes are often vulnerable to radiant damage or simply take full damage. By understanding the properties of radiant damage, players can make strategic decisions to maximize their effectiveness in combat.
The Mechanics of Divine Smite Damage
When a Paladin utilizes Divine Smite, they expend a spell slot to augment their melee weapon attack with radiant energy. The base damage added by Divine Smite is 2d8 radiant damage when using a 1st-level spell slot. This damage increases by 1d8 for each spell level higher than 1st, to a maximum of 5d8. However, against undead and fiends, this damage is further amplified to a maximum of 6d8.
The ability to add significant radiant damage to a melee weapon attack makes Divine Smite a crucial tool for a Paladin. It allows them to quickly dispatch powerful enemies and also offers a reliable damage source, especially in campaigns where undead and fiends are common threats. Critically, the damage die are doubled on a critical hit, adding even more potential devastation.
The Nuances of Divine Smite
It’s crucial to note that Divine Smite is not a spell itself; it’s a class feature. This means it doesn’t require an action, bonus action, or reaction to use. It’s also important to realize that Divine Smite only applies on a successful hit with a melee weapon attack, and not when an attack misses. The damage added from Divine Smite is factored into the overall weapon damage which matters for concentration checks. This is why the damage of the attack is increased by the radiant damage, and this total damage is used as the basis for any Concentration saving throws.
Furthermore, the damage added by Divine Smite is not considered spell damage. This clarification is essential for understanding how various other rules and interactions are applied in D&D 5e.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Divine Smite
To clarify any further points and provide a comprehensive view, here are 15 frequently asked questions about Divine Smite:
Does Divine Smite count as weapon damage?
Yes. The radiant damage of Divine Smite is added to the weapon’s damage. This total damage becomes the basis for Constitution saving throws made to maintain concentration, if applicable.
Is Divine Smite a spell attack?
No. Divine Smite is not a spell; it’s a class feature. It doesn’t require spell attack rolls and is triggered after you successfully hit an attack.
Does Divine Smite damage double on a crit?
Yes. All damage dice associated with an attack, including the damage dice from Divine Smite, are doubled on a critical hit.
What is the maximum damage in divine smite?
The maximum damage Divine Smite can deal is 5d8 radiant damage normally, or 6d8 radiant damage against undead or fiends.
Does Divine Smite make all damage radiant?
No. Divine Smite only adds radiant damage to the weapon’s normal damage. The weapon’s base damage remains unchanged.
When should I use Divine Smite?
Divine Smite can be used whenever you successfully hit a creature with a melee weapon attack. There is no limit on the number of times it can be used per turn, as long as you have the spell slots and are making successful melee attacks.
Does Divine Smite break concentration?
No, Divine Smite does not break concentration. However, smite spells do require concentration to use.
Can I use Divine Smite on extra attack?
Yes, you can use Divine Smite for every successful hit, including those from the Extra Attack feature, provided you have the spell slots.
Is Divine Smite unlimited?
Divine Smite is limited only by the number of spell slots you have available. You can use it with each successful melee weapon attack, but you expend one spell slot per usage, and the damage is capped at 5d8 or 6d8.
Does Divine Smite do extra damage to undead?
Yes. When you hit an undead or fiend with Divine Smite, you add an extra 1d8 radiant damage.
Can I use Divine Smite with inflict wounds?
The damage of Inflict Wounds can be significant, but the weapon damage + Divine Smite is often higher, unless the enemy has a vulnerability to necrotic damage.
Does Divine Smite work with Great Weapon Fighting?
The Great Weapon Fighting style only allows you to reroll damage dice from the weapon, not from any extra dice like those from Divine Smite.
Can you use Divine Smite on fists?
No. Divine Smite requires a melee weapon attack, and an unarmed strike does not count as a weapon.
Does Antimagic stop Divine Smite?
Yes. Because Divine Smite relies on magic and expending a spell slot, it does not function within an Antimagic Field. Improved Divine Strike, however, is not considered magical, so would still function.
Does Divine Smite work with natural weapons?
Yes. Natural weapons can be used for melee weapon attacks and are compatible with Divine Smite, provided they are being used as weapons.
Does Charisma affect Divine Smite?
No, Charisma does not affect Divine Smite damage. Charisma primarily affects your spell preparation, saving throw DCs, and certain spells and class features like Aura of Protection.
Can you stack Divine Smites?
You can stack Divine Smite with a smite spell, as they both are activated on a successful hit, but you can only have one active concentration spell going.
Do you have to call Divine Smite before attacking?
No, you do not have to declare the use of Divine Smite before attacking. You choose whether or not to use it after a successful hit.
Can you Divine Smite on a booming blade?
Yes, both Booming Blade and Green Flame Blade require a melee weapon attack, so both can use Divine Smite when the hit connects.
Does Divine Smite work with bows?
No. Divine Smite requires a melee weapon attack and can not be used with ranged weapons, or with thrown weapons unless they are also used in melee.
How long does Divine Smite last?
Divine Smite is an immediate effect, not lasting in the sense of duration. There are other concentration spells such as searing smite which last up to 1 minute.
Can you Divine Smite after rolling damage?
Yes, Divine Smite is triggered after a successful hit, and is added to the damage roll, so you declare its use after the hit.
What is the max spell level in divine Smite?
Divine Smite increases 1d8 damage per level above 1st level spell slot, to a maximum of 5d8 at a 4th level spell slot. Using a higher level spell slot does not increase the damage of Divine Smite past 5d8.
Conclusion
Divine Smite is an extremely powerful feature, dealing radiant damage and offering the Paladin an excellent way to enhance their damage. Its versatility and unique properties make it an integral part of the Paladin’s arsenal. Understanding how Divine Smite works and interacts with other game mechanics allows players to utilize its full potential, particularly in scenarios where radiant damage is crucial. By using this guide, players will be better equipped to wield this feature and use it to full effect.