D&D 5e Paladin Smite Guide: Ranking the Best Spells

The Power Of The Paladin: Ranking The 2024 Player's Handbook Smites

A mainstay in any good Dungeons & Dragons campaign is a Paladin. Though, Paladins are often perceived as martial classes due to their primary focus on weapon combat, the class also enjoys a reputation for strong magical prowess with powerful smites. The ability to smite with radiant damage is available from level one - that means it is possible for these characters to apply holy retribution to their strikes from the beginning of their careers. Though, the ability to smite, which adds radiant damage to their attacks is a skillset that’s very much relied upon. The basic smite, divine smite - this spell is an ability that most players would agree is a powerful skill, though, there are other smites with different types of damage, and many of them offer unique effects to the fight.

The Smites Of The New Player's Handbook

The latest edition of the Player's Handbook - this release includes a collection of smites – each has interesting new abilities. With its revised set of spells. A paladin – this player character now, has an opportunity to utilize the newest version of the smite spells – though, with powerful effects. It’s a different approach – in the game. Each spell requires a bonus action to cast, with each spell, offering a different kind of attack.

Which Smites Are The Best Options?

Cropped image of the cover art for the upcoming Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual, showing a beholder attacking two characters in a thunderstorm. Image

Divine Smite: - the most basic of those smites and for good reason. This ability - a skill that's often used in those campaigns that give players the most impact - with its high damage output (it's a spell that is very strong), even if it's limited to just one use per turn. A skill that’s still pretty powerful (but this ability can be very versatile - a great tool to have in any Paladin's arsenal). It’s something that will give those Paladins an advantage in the game, this skill - is considered - to have the best damage output (especially for those characters). There are still many reasons why this spell is a great choice – those who have played with Paladins know those smites, offer so many different abilities to this class.
Thunderous Smite: - the best of the non-divine smites - this ability has always been considered a powerful tool. There are a number of powerful smites. Those players will be able to understand how it functions. Those who have played the game. It’s also, something that those who follow D&D, often find to be a favorite. This is a spell - it has that high damage output (especially with the extra effect). But the spell – it also has that powerful ability to knock an enemy prone. It's something that those who follow those smites - that's considered a key aspect of this class (making it so much more fun to play). That effect is also a very strategic option. The fact that this spell no longer has a concentration requirement - makes this a much better choice (meaning, there's more versatility with that skill). Those who have been following D&D - the game - those fans are looking for more options to use those spells.
Shining Smite: – a spell that has a great secondary effect. Those who play with Paladins. It's a skillset that allows those players to have that ability (but its damage output can sometimes make it a bit less desirable). The main purpose is to be used against certain types of monsters, though it can also be used against, other enemies.
Blinding Smite: – a spell that is considered - a good choice for those who like debuffs, which give those characters a lot of power in the game. That’s one of the main benefits of this spell. This is an ability - its effectiveness depends on just how those creatures - their constitution saves, are.

How Are The Smites Rated In The New Player's Handbook?

Artwork of a Paladin in Dungeons and Dragons DnD in the midst of battle. Image

Shining Smite: – the least effective of the smites in this new handbook – one that has been given lower ratings (as compared to some of the other spells in that spell list). But this spell offers something else - it has those effects that can be used.
Wrathful Smite: – a spell with a great secondary effect. Its usefulness is a bit questionable - it’s not a spell that’s used too often – in those games.
Staggering Smite: - a spell with a very powerful effect - an ability to make those enemies less dangerous in that round.
Searing Smite: a spell that's also very useful for those who want to have that longer term impact (its effects continue throughout a period of time). This particular spell requires a bit of planning, though - it has those moments.
Banishing Smite: an interesting, and complex, spell that's one that might be able to offer something more. Though, the requirements for using this spell are very specific.
Divine Smite: - the most common, and widely accepted, spell in that game world – those players are going to discover how powerful this spell is, though its effectiveness can be very much dependent on how the game itself unfolds - in terms of the types of enemies a Paladin faces (this skill - one that is more effective when it is used against certain types of monsters – and that makes a big difference to that Paladin's playstyle ).
Blinding Smite: – the best of all those smites and for a good reason, it can make a lot of impact.

With eight powerful smites spells, available, players have many different options.

When it comes to playing the game, there’s a lot of flexibility with those options and that choice is entirely dependent on what those players choose. That’s the key – how it changes up those games.

Those fans can see a shift - the latest version of D&D, the game, it’s an important factor for how those players enjoy that game (the most common and most effective smites - it’s a choice that those fans are likely to make, those who are new to the game – they are also going to want to learn those smites - a big part of that experience, in terms of choosing your character. When paladins - this class, has always had so many different possibilities, they might consider how it's going to change - its approach to the D&D world, and that will make for a lot of more fun and exciting games to come – the new world of D&D is going to continue to inspire fans).

D&D 5e Paladin Smite Guide: Ranking the Best Spells

The Power Of The Paladin: Ranking The 2024 Player's Handbook Smites

The Smites Of The New Player's Handbook

Which Smites Are The Best Options?

How Are The Smites Rated In The New Player's Handbook?

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