Blinding Smite

Level 3 Evocation spell available to Paladins. Your next melee hit deals an extra 3d8 Radiant damage and Blinds the target on a failed Constitution save. It is a smite with a condition attached, and the condition is worth more than the dice.

Spell description: Evoke a heavenly flare and possibly Blind your target.

Spell properties

• Range: Weapon range
• Duration: 10 turns
• Save: CON save
• Attack type: Melee weapon Attack Roll
• Damage: 3d8 Radiant + normal weapon damage
• Conditions applied: Blinded
• Cost: Action + Bonus Action + Spell Slot
• Recharge: Per action

Spell upcasting

Casting Blinding Smite at higher levels provides no additional benefits.

How to obtain Blinding Smite

• Paladin at Class level 9

Source item: None. No item in the game grants Blinding Smite.

When to cast Blinding Smite

3d8 Radiant is respectable, but Blinded for ten turns is the actual prize. A blind enemy attacks at Disadvantage and everyone attacks it back with Advantage, which for the rest of the fight is worth far more than any burst of damage.

So it goes on the boss, not the mook. Something that dies to a normal smite does not need this. Something that is going to be swinging at your party for the next eight turns very much does.

The Constitution save is the weakness, and bosses tend to have monstrous Constitution. Land it with Advantage if you can, and remember that a failed save still leaves you with a full 3d8 smite, so it is never a wasted cast.

Paladins do not see a Level 3 slot until Class level 9, so you will have one or two of these a day at most. It is a boss button. Treat it like one.