Blinding Smite

A
Damage

Blinding Smite is a Damage spell. Damage spells focus on dealing harm to enemies.

See all Damage spells →
 spell that burns a foe with radiant power and leaves it blinded until it shakes off the effect.

2024 Rules
Level & School
3rd-level evocation
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
1 minute
Classes
Paladin

The target hit by the strike takes an extra 3d8 Radiant damage from the attack, and the target has the Blinded condition until the spell ends. At the end of each of its turns, the Blinded target makes a Constitution saving throw, ending the spell on itself on a success.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. The extra damage increases by 1d8 for each spell slot level above 3.

2014 Rules
Level & School
3rd-level evocation
Casting Time
Bonus action
Range
Self
Components
V
Duration
Concentration, 1 minute
Classes
Paladin

The next time you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack during this spell’s duration, you weapon flares with a bright light, and the attack deals an extra 3d8 radiant damage to the target. Additionally, the target must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or be blinded until the spell ends.

A creature blinded by this spell makes another Constitution saving throw at the end of each of its turns. On a successful save, it is no longer blinded.

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

Blinding Smite no longer requires Concentration. It now automatically blinds the target on the hit, rather than first allowing a save to avoid being blinded; the target then saves at the end of each turn to end the spell on itself. It also now scales, adding 1d8 damage per slot level above 3.

Blinding Smite popularity

Blinding Smite is a seldom chosen level 3 spell. Choosing it adds a unique option to your spellbook.

Spells similar to Blinding Smite

  • Shining Smite 2nd-level transmutation

    A paladin bonus-action smite that augments a melee strike with radiant damage and a short-duration ongoing effect, making it mechanically very close.

  • Searing Smite 1st-level evocation

    This is another low-level paladin smite that deals extra damage on hit and adds a harmful secondary effect tied to a weapon attack.

  • Wrathful Smite 1st-level necromancy

    Like the target, it buffs a strike to deal extra damage and impose a condition that can disrupt an enemy after you hit.

  • Thunderous Smite 1st-level evocation

    It’s a paladin smite that adds burst damage to a hit and applies an additional tactical effect on the target, similar in use and timing.

  • Staggering Smite 4th-level enchantment

    A higher-level paladin smite that increases a melee attack’s damage and imposes a debilitating effect, mirroring the spell’s damage-plus-condition design.