Does divine smite count as weapon damage?

Does Divine Smite Count as Weapon Damage?

In the world of Dungeons & Dragons, Divine Smite is a powerful feature that allows paladins to deal additional radiant damage to their enemies. But one question that often arises is whether Divine Smite counts as weapon damage. In this article, we’ll delve into the answer and explore the implications of this feature.

Direct Answer

According to the official D&D 5e rules, Divine Smite does count as weapon damage. This means that when a paladin uses Divine Smite, the damage is added to the weapon’s damage, and the creature’s damage resistance and vulnerability are applied accordingly.

Understanding Divine Smite

Before we dive into the details, let’s take a closer look at what Divine Smite is and how it works. Divine Smite is a paladin feature that allows them to deal additional radiant damage to their enemies. The feature is triggered when the paladin hits a creature with a melee attack, and it deals an additional amount of damage based on the paladin’s spell slot level.

Counting as Weapon Damage

So, why does Divine Smite count as weapon damage? The answer lies in the way the feature is written in the official rules. According to the Player’s Handbook, page 78, Divine Smite is a "feature that adds radiant damage to a melee attack". This language is significant, as it indicates that Divine Smite is intended to be added to the weapon’s damage, rather than being a separate form of damage.

Implications

So, what does it mean for Divine Smite to count as weapon damage? Here are a few implications:

• Damage Resistance and Vulnerability: When a creature is hit with a melee attack that includes Divine Smite, its damage resistance and vulnerability are applied to the total damage dealt. This means that if a creature has resistance to non-magical damage, but is vulnerable to radiant damage, the paladin’s Divine Smite will deal full damage to the creature.
• Critical Hits: When a paladin hits a creature with a melee attack that includes Divine Smite, the creature’s critical hit rules are applied to the total damage dealt. This means that if a creature has a critical hit multiplier, the paladin’s Divine Smite will be affected by that multiplier.
• Weapon Special Abilities: When a paladin uses Divine Smite, the weapon’s special abilities are applied to the total damage dealt. This means that if a weapon has a special ability that increases its damage, the paladin’s Divine Smite will be affected by that ability.

Examples

Here are a few examples to illustrate how Divine Smite counts as weapon damage:

• Example 1: A paladin hits a goblin with a longsword that deals 4d6 + 2 force damage. The paladin also uses Divine Smite, dealing an additional 2d8 + 1d8 radiant damage. The total damage dealt to the goblin is 6d6 + 3 force damage, and the goblin’s resistance to non-magical damage is applied to the total damage.
• Example 2: A paladin hits a dragon with a warhammer that deals 2d8 + 4 bludgeoning damage. The paladin also uses Divine Smite, dealing an additional 2d8 + 1d8 radiant damage. The total damage dealt to the dragon is 4d8 + 5 bludgeoning damage, and the dragon’s vulnerability to radiant damage is applied to the total damage.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Divine Smite does count as weapon damage in D&D 5e. This means that when a paladin uses Divine Smite, the damage is added to the weapon’s damage, and the creature’s damage resistance and vulnerability are applied accordingly. Understanding how Divine Smite works is important for paladins and their enemies alike, as it can have significant implications for combat encounters.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: Does Divine Smite count as a spell?
  • A: No, Divine Smite is a feature that adds radiant damage to a melee attack, rather than a spell.
• Q: Can I use Divine Smite with a spell that deals force damage?
  • A: Yes, you can use Divine Smite with a spell that deals force damage. The force damage will be added to the radiant damage dealt by Divine Smite.
• Q: Can I use Divine Smite with a spell that deals cold damage?
  • A: No, you cannot use Divine Smite with a spell that deals cold damage. Divine Smite only works with melee attacks, and cold damage is not a type of melee attack.

Table: Divine Smite Damage

Note: The additional radiant damage dealt by Divine Smite is based on the paladin’s spell slot level. The table above shows the additional radiant damage dealt by Divine Smite at each spell slot level.