Divine Smite Evolution: The Future of Paladins in D&D 5e

The iconic smite paladin 5e ability is getting a major overhaul in the upcoming 2024 edition of Dungeons & Dragons, and players have a lot to say about it. Let's dive into what's changing, why it matters, and how it might shake up your Paladin's smiting game.

Right now, Divine Smite is the Paladin's bread and butter. It's a class feature that lets you pump spell slots into your melee attacks for a burst of radiant damage. The best part? You can decide to use it after you've already hit, making those critical hits extra juicy.

Players love Divine Smite because it's flexible, powerful, and just feels right for a holy warrior. It's what sets Paladins apart from your average sword-swinger, giving them that extra oomph when they need to bring the divine hammer down on some baddies.

Here's where things get spicy. The 2024 edition is turning Divine Smite into a spell instead of a class feature. This isn't just a label change – it's a whole new ballgame for how Paladins will fight.

Now, you'll need to cast Divine Smite as a bonus action before you swing your weapon. No more waiting to see if you hit before deciding to smite.

This spell classification opens up a can of worms for Paladins. Counterspell can now shut down your smite before it starts. Antimagic fields? They'll completely negate your Divine Smite. And those high-level baddies with spell immunity or resistance? They might just laugh off your holy damage now.

Imagine gearing up for an epic smite against Tiamat, only to have it fizzle out because of her innate spell resistance. Not exactly the heroic moment Paladins dream of, right?

It's not all doom and gloom, though. This change could open up some interesting possibilities. Maybe we'll see new magical items that supercharge spell-based attacks, giving Paladins some cool new toys to play with.

Some folks argue that this might actually balance things out a bit. Paladins have been smiting machines for a while now, and this change could encourage players to explore other aspects of the class beyond just hitting things really hard with divine energy.

Players are worried about losing the flexibility that made Divine Smite so great. Using a bonus action to smite means you can't do other cool bonus action stuff on the same turn. Dual-wielding Paladins or those with feats like Polearm Master might feel the pinch here.

It's also putting a damper on some popular multiclass combos. Paladin/Rogues and Paladin/Barbarians might need to rethink their strategies with this new system.

There's a real concern that these changes are messing with what makes Paladins, well, Paladins. That on-demand burst of holy smackdown is a big part of the class's identity. By making Divine Smite more like other spells, some players feel like their divine champions are losing their special sauce.

These changes are going to ripple through the whole game. Dungeon Masters will need to rethink how they challenge Paladins, especially at higher levels where spell-immune creatures start showing up.

On the flip side, it might open up new possibilities for encounters. DMs won't have to worry as much about Paladins one-shotting their big bads with a lucky crit and a high-level smite.

So, where does this leave our holy warriors? The smite paladin 5e players know and love is evolving, and it's stirring up quite the debate. These changes to Divine Smite represent a big shift in how one of D&D's most iconic classes operates.

One thing's for sure – Paladins aren't going anywhere. They've been a core part of D&D for ages, and that's not changing. The challenge now is finding a way to keep the essence of what makes Paladins cool while exploring new possibilities for gameplay.

As we look ahead to the future of Paladins in D&D, it's clear that the passion and creativity of the community will play a big role in shaping these divine champions. Whether they're slinging spells or unleashing class features, Paladins will keep standing tall as beacons of hope and justice in the wild worlds of Dungeons & Dragons.