What Does Divine Smite Scale Off Of?
Divine Smite is a powerful feature available to paladins and other spellcasters in the 5th edition of Dungeons & Dragons. It allows them to deal additional radiant damage to their enemies, making it a valuable tool in combat. But have you ever wondered what exactly Divine Smite scales off of? In this article, we’ll dive into the details and explore the answers to this question.
The Basics of Divine Smite
Before we get into the scaling mechanics of Divine Smite, let’s quickly review how the feature works. When you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you can expend a spell slot to deal radiant damage to the target. The amount of damage depends on the level of the spell slot you expend.
What Does Divine Smite Scale Off Of?
So, what exactly does Divine Smite scale off of? The answer is quite simple: spell slots. The amount of damage dealt by Divine Smite increases based on the level of the spell slot you expend. Here’s a breakdown of the scaling:
- 1st-level spell slot: +2d8 radiant damage
- 2nd-level spell slot: +3d8 radiant damage
- 3rd-level spell slot: +4d8 radiant damage
- 4th-level spell slot: +5d8 radiant damage
- 5th-level spell slot: +6d8 radiant damage
- 6th-level spell slot: +7d8 radiant damage
- 7th-level spell slot: +8d8 radiant damage
- 8th-level spell slot: +9d8 radiant damage
- 9th-level spell slot: +10d8 radiant damage
As you can see, the amount of damage dealt by Divine Smite increases by 1d8 for each level of spell slot above 1st level. This means that using a higher-level spell slot will result in more damage being dealt to the target.
Special Cases: Undead and Fiends
There are two special cases where Divine Smite deals even more damage: undead and fiends. When you hit an undead or fiend with Divine Smite, the damage increases by an additional 1d8. This means that the maximum damage dealt by Divine Smite to an undead or fiend is 12d8, compared to 10d8 for other creatures.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Divine Smite scales off of spell slots, with the amount of damage dealt increasing by 1d8 for each level of spell slot above 1st level. Additionally, undead and fiends receive an extra 1d8 damage when hit by Divine Smite. This feature is a powerful tool for paladins and other spellcasters, and understanding how it scales can help you make the most of it in combat.
Additional Tips and Tricks
Here are some additional tips and tricks to keep in mind when using Divine Smite:
- Use higher-level spell slots: Using higher-level spell slots will result in more damage being dealt to your enemies.
- Target undead and fiends: Since undead and fiends receive an extra 1d8 damage when hit by Divine Smite, targeting them with this feature can be particularly effective.
- Consider your spellcasting ability: If you have a high spellcasting ability, you may want to consider using Divine Smite more frequently to take advantage of your increased damage output.
- Work with your party: Divine Smite can be a powerful tool when used in conjunction with other abilities and spells. Work with your party to coordinate your attacks and take down tough enemies.
By following these tips and understanding how Divine Smite scales, you can become a more effective paladin and take your combat skills to the next level.