Banishing Smite

A
Control

Banishing Smite is a Control spell. Control spells restrict enemy options through debuffs or denial effects.

See all Control spells →
spell that empowers a strike with force and, if it weakens the foe enough, banishes it to a harmless demiplane.

2024 Rules

Level & School
5th-level conjuration
Casting Time
Bonus action, which you take immediately after hitting a creature with a Melee weapon or an Unarmed Strike
Range
Self
Components
V
Duration
Concentration, 1 minute
Classes
Paladin
Source
Player's Handbook (2024)

The target hit by the attack roll takes an extra 5d10 Force damage from the attack. If the attack reduces the target to 50 Hit Points or fewer, the target must succeed on a Charisma saving throw or be transported to a harmless demiplane for the duration. While there, the target has the Incapacitated condition. When the spell ends, the target reappears in the space it left or in the nearest unoccupied space if that space is occupied.

2014 Rules

Level & School
5th-level abjuration
Casting Time
Bonus action
Range
Self
Components
V
Duration
Concentration, 1 minute
Classes
Paladin
Source
Player's Handbook (2014)

The next time you hit a creature with a weapon attack before this spell ends, your weapon crackles with force, and the attack deals an extra 5d10 force damage to the target. Additionally, if this attack reduces the target to 50 hit points or fewer, you banish it. If the target is native to a different plane of existence than the one you're on, the target disappears, returning to its home plane. If the target is native to the plane you're on, the creature vanishes into a harmless demiplane. While there, the target is incapacitated. It remains there until the spell ends, at which point the target reappears in the space it left or in the nearest unoccupied space if that space is occupied.

Banishing Smite 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

It now works off any attack roll, not just a weapon attack, and the banish effect is different: on dropping the target to 50 HP or fewer, it now gets a Charisma save and always goes to a harmless demiplane on a failure. The school changed to conjuration.

Banishing Smite popularity

How popular is Banishing Smite? It is a seldom seen spell in the game, but is chosen above nearly all other options when available. This spell is a rare gem that spellcasters seek out.

Spells similar to Banishing Smite