Staggering Smite
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- 4th-level enchantment
- 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
- Instantaneous
- Classes
- Paladin
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2024)
The target takes an extra 4d6 Psychic damage from the attack, and the target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or have the Stunned condition until the end of your next turn.
Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. The extra damage increases by 1d6 for each spell slot level above 4.
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 4th-level evocation
- 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 melee weapon attack during this spell's duration, your weapon pierces both body and mind, and the attack deals an extra 4d6 psychic damage to the target. The target must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, it has disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks, and can't take reactions, until the end of its next turn.
Staggering Smite 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
How popular is Staggering Smite in 5e?
Staggering Smite is the #43 most popular level 4 spell (of 59) and the #1 most picked level 4 Paladin spell (of 7).
Among level 4 spells, Staggering Smite ranks just below Elemental Bane and just above Mordenkainen's Private Sanctum in popularity.
- #422 (of 567) most popular 5e spell
- #43 (of 59) most popular level 4 spell
- #1 (of 7) most picked level 4 Paladin spell
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Staggering Smite
Banishing Smite 5th-level conjuration
This higher-level paladin smite similarly turns a successful weapon hit into a burst of extra damage with a powerful disabling effect.
Players prefer Banishing Smite over Staggering Smite
Divine Smite 1st-level evocation
Both are paladin spells designed to add immediate bonus damage to a successful melee attack.
Players prefer Divine Smite over Staggering Smite
Shining Smite 2nd-level transmutation
It shares the paladin-only, self-range smite format and enhances a weapon attack with additional damage.
Players prefer Staggering Smite over Shining Smite
Wrathful Smite 1st-level necromancy
Like Staggering Smite, it combines an attack-triggered damage increase with a Wisdom-based effect that can hinder the struck enemy.
Players prefer Staggering Smite over Wrathful Smite
Blinding Smite 3rd-level evocation
It is a paladin smite cast on the self that adds damage to a weapon attack while imposing a debilitating condition.
Players prefer Staggering Smite over Blinding Smite
Raulothim's Psychic Lance 4th-level enchantment
The spell matches the target's fourth-level Enchantment school and psychic damage, while also threatening a foe with a disabling failed save.
Players prefer Staggering Smite over Raulothim's Psychic Lance