D&D (2024) Paladins can Smite on Ranged attacks (with thrown melee weapons) now!

[Stormonu]

Does allowing a paladin to Smite with a javelin break anything outright? I've not been too fond that you can't have the like of an Archer Paladin who smites to the point I created a custom Oath that could do such a thing.

 

[Umbran]

Which means smite works.
But Archery style and Sharpshooter do not.

Yep.

So I don't really see a way to build around it, especially as you probably want to be the tank. But it does add some versatility to thunderous smite a flying creature prone.

While they aren't really big on playing with exact wording in the current edition, I think that the point there is intentional. They don't want you smiting from 120' away, but smiting with a thrown hand axe as you stride in to engage in melee the next round is appropriate.

 

[mellored]

Does allowing a paladin to Smite with a javelin break anything outright? I've not been too fond that you can't have the like of an Archer Paladin who smites to the point I created a custom Oath that could do such a thing.

You can make an archer paladin.

Archery style and Divine Favor, magic weapon, crusaders mantle all work just fine with bows.

You only lose out on a single level 1 smite per day. But you might end up in melee once a day anyways.

 

[ECMO3]

Does allowing a paladin to Smite with a javelin break anything outright? I've not been too fond that you can't have the like of an Archer Paladin who smites to the point I created a custom Oath that could do such a thing.

It ups the power quite a bit, especially if you play with max Charisma and use the controlling aspects of Wrathful Smite.

Even in melee only, WS was already arguably the most powerful offensive 1st level spell, the main downside to it was you needed to use a reach weapon or push weapon or take an AOO to really get the most benefit out of it.

 

[Worrgrendel]

Honestly, looking back on all the comments and different interpretations of the wording of melee weapon vs ranged weapon I have to say my initial interpretation is incorrect. I was hasty in my assessment and glad to be wrong. I like the idea of smiting with throwing weapons. It seems thematically cool for the class. Do I think it optimal or exploitable? Probably not.

 

[Selas]

Doesn't the PHB catagorize weapons as "Simple Melee Weapons"/"Simple Ranged Weapons"/"Martial Melee Weapons" and "Martial Ranged Weapons"? I would rule anything showing up under "Melee Weapons" is fair game.

This is the way

 

[Mistwell]

I'd love to see a well constructed Rogue/Paladin dagger thrower. Smiting and sneak attacking with throwing daggers would be awesome in my opinion.

 

[ECMO3]

I'd love to see a well constructed Rogue/Paladin dagger thrower. Smiting and sneak attacking with throwing daggers would be awesome in my opinion.

Two of my 2020 campaigns have a Rogue-Paladin

My I just finished a campaign with a PC that had Rogue and Paladin: Halfling Rogue 10/Paladin 1/Fey Warlock 8/Bard 1. She took the Paladin dip very early at level 2.

She primarily used a Sortsword, Vicous Dagger and Rapier with Agonizing Truestrike in melee most of the time, occasionally smiting and a Heavy Crossbow or later in game a pistol with Truestrike out of melee. Late in game though she was also throwing a lot of control spells. TBH I did not know about this ability to smite with a thrown dagger while I was playing her. That may have changed the way I played her once she found the V. Dagger.

We are playing in another 2024 campaign with a Paladin-Rogue, I think it is like 7 Devotion Paladin/4 Assassin Rogue right now. He hasn't used a Thrown weaon smite yet either and is primarily Longbow for Ranged attacks.


The thing that makes this multiclass tough is you are split between Rogue for sneak attack or Paladin for spell slots and it is tough to really cash in on both. You either get Rogue levels and then can't smite very often, or get Paladin levels and you have a low sneak attack. I think if you are going to play this it might go best with 4 Paladin levels and the rest in an Arcane Trickster and run a 13 Charisma and 8 Intelligence and use a Blade Cantrip. You will still be pretty low on slots for smites but the Arcane Trickster levels at least let you advance some slots while staying close to the sneak attack ladder. Using a Blade Cantrip will make up a little for the loss of a few sneak attack levels.