Skip to main content

Divine Smite

← Back to Spell List

Divine Smite
  • Level: 1
  • School: Evocation
  • Class: Paladin
  • Casting Time: Bonus Action, which you take immediately after hitting a target with a Melee weapon or an Unarmed Strike
  • Range: Self
  • Components: V
  • Duration: Instantaneous

The target takes an extra 2d8 Radiant damage from the attack. If the target is a Fiend or an Undead, it takes an extra 1d8 Radiant damage.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. The extra damage increases by 1d8 for each spell slot level above 1.

Tactical Usage​

Divine Burst Damage: Divine Smite provides powerful radiant damage enhancement for weapon attacks. This paladin-exclusive spell excels at eliminating key enemies and maximizing critical hit damage.

Optimal Timing: Deploy on critical hits for maximum damage, against undead or fiends for extra effectiveness, or when eliminating priority targets.

Resource Management: Uses 1st-5th level spell slots - scales dramatically with slot level. Instant casting without action economy cost.

Target Selection: Weapon attack target receives burst radiant damage in addition to normal weapon damage.

Spell Combinations​

Synergistic Spells:

  • Attack Enhancement: Combine with divine favor or magic weapon for comprehensive damage improvement
  • Accuracy Magic: Layer with bless or guidance for improved critical hit chances
  • Divine Magic: Pair with other smite spells for devastating multi-smite combinations

Class Feature Interactions:

  • Improved Divine Smite: High-level paladin feature adds automatic radiant damage to all attacks
  • Critical Hits: Smite dice double on critical hits, creating massive damage spikes
  • Fighting Styles: Great Weapon Fighting rerolls smite dice of 1 or 2

Multi-Caster Coordination: While exclusive to paladins, multiple paladins can coordinate smites for overwhelming damage.

Material Component Details​

Component Acquisition: No material components required - immediate divine channeling without preparation.

Component Handling: Instant activation without action cost. Triggered after confirming hit but before damage.

Roleplay Opportunities: Different divine energies reflect paladin oath, deity alignment, or personal divine connection.

Economic Considerations: No costs beyond spell slot expenditure, making this pure divine power manifestation.

Creator Notes​

Encounter Balancing: Massive damage potential (up to 6d8+weapon damage) can eliminate major enemies instantly.

NPC Usage: Paladin NPCs can deliver devastating smite attacks, requiring careful encounter balance considerations.

Environmental Considerations: Works with any weapon attack regardless of environment or conditions.

Campaign Integration: Signature paladin ability that defines divine warrior combat effectiveness and burst damage potential.

Environmental Interactions​

Terrain Effects: Works with any successful weapon attack regardless of terrain or environmental conditions.

Weather Influence: Divine energy unaffected by weather conditions or external factors.

Structural Interactions: Functions in any environment where weapon attacks are possible.

Elemental Interactions: Radiant damage bypasses most resistances and particularly effective against undead and fiends.

Common Rulings & Clarifications​

Timing Questions: No action required - triggered after hitting with weapon attack. Can be used on opportunity attacks.

Target Limitations: Requires successful weapon attack (melee or ranged). Cannot be used with spell attacks.

Duration Interactions: Instantaneous damage burst. Can be used once per turn maximum.

Mechanical Interactions: 2d8 base +1d8 per slot level above 1st. Extra 1d8 vs undead/fiends. Crits double all smite dice.

Alternative Applications​

Non-Combat Uses: Demonstrating divine power, destroying unholy objects, religious ceremonies, or blessing weapons ceremonially.

Social Encounters: Intimidation through divine power display, religious validation, or demonstrating divine favor.

Exploration Applications: Destroying corrupt objects, cleansing unholy areas, or eliminating undead guardians.

Utility Functions: Object destruction, divine cleansing, undead elimination, or holy power demonstration.

Same School: Exclusive paladin spell with no direct school classification - represents channeled divine power.

Similar Effects: inflict wounds (1st level touch damage), guiding bolt (1st level ranged radiant), flame strike (5th level area divine damage).

Progression Options: divine smite (1st-5th level scaling), other smite spells (searing smite, thunderous smite, etc.), improved divine smite (class feature).

Complementary Magic: divine favor (consistent damage), bless (improved accuracy), shield of faith (survivability).

Scaling Analysis​

Level Progression: Scales exceptionally well throughout all levels with increasing spell slot availability and power.

Upcast Benefits: Each higher slot level adds 1d8 damage, making high-level smites devastatingly powerful.

Campaign Phases: Remains the paladin's signature burst damage throughout all campaign phases.

Comparative Value: Exceptional burst damage that justifies any spell slot level for eliminating priority targets.

Narrative Flavor​

Casting Description: Divine energy channels through your weapon as sacred power erupts in devastating radiant explosion.

Effect Manifestation: Your weapon blazes with holy light as divine wrath manifests in brilliant, destructive radiance.

Personal Style: Different oaths manifest unique divine energies - Devotion shines with golden light, Vengeance burns with silver fire, Ancients glows with natural radiance.

World Integration: Represents signature paladin divine power, the manifestation of sworn oaths and divine favor in devastating combat effectiveness.