Can You Smite and Cast a Bonus Action Spell?
As a Paladin, you have a powerful arsenal of abilities at your disposal, including the iconic Divine Smite feature. However, there’s been a lot of confusion about how Divine Smite interacts with other actions, particularly bonus action spells. In this article, we’ll delve into the rules and provide a comprehensive answer to the question: Can you smite and cast a bonus action spell?
Smite Costs a Bonus Action
To begin with, Divine Smite requires a bonus action to cast. This is stated clearly in the Paladin’s Divine Smite feature:
"Once per turn, you can use your bonus action to give one creature you can see a Holy Strike…"
This is a critical point to note, as it means that Divine Smite uses up your bonus action. But what happens if you want to cast a bonus action spell while also using Divine Smite?
Bonus Action Spells: The Basics
For those who may be unfamiliar, a bonus action is a type of action that can be taken by a character on their turn. Bonus action spells, in particular, are a special type of spell that can be cast using your bonus action. These spells are typically simpler and less powerful than standard spells, but they’re still useful for adding extra utility to your character.
Casting a Bonus Action Spell with Smite
So, can you cast a bonus action spell while using Divine Smite? The answer is no, at least not directly. Divine Smite requires your bonus action, which means you can’t cast another bonus action spell simultaneously. This is because your bonus action is already being used to cast Divine Smite.
However, there is a workaround. Divine Smite only requires a bonus action to cast, but it doesn’t prevent you from taking another action on your turn. So, if you want to cast a bonus action spell while also using Divine Smite, you can do so by using your action for the bonus action spell, and then using your bonus action for Divine Smite.
Example
Let’s say you’re a Paladin who wants to cast the Shield spell (a bonus action spell) and then use Divine Smite on the same turn. Here’s how you could do it:
- Use your action to cast Shield (a bonus action spell).
- Use your bonus action to cast Divine Smite.
In this scenario, you’ve successfully cast a bonus action spell and used Divine Smite, all within the same turn.
Key Takeaways
To summarize, Divine Smite requires a bonus action to cast, which means you can’t cast another bonus action spell simultaneously. However, you can cast a bonus action spell on your action and then use your bonus action for Divine Smite.
Here are the key points to keep in mind:
- Divine Smite requires a bonus action to cast.
- You can’t cast another bonus action spell while using Divine Smite.
- You can cast a bonus action spell on your action and then use your bonus action for Divine Smite.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while you can’t cast a bonus action spell while using Divine Smite, there is a way to work around this limitation. By using your action for a bonus action spell and then your bonus action for Divine Smite, you can add even more flexibility to your Paladin’s arsenal.