So, the various smite of the paladins write this, as casting time: "Bonus Action, which you take immediately after hitting a target with a ->|Melee weapon|<- or an Unarmed Strike"
Now, throwable weapons, such a spear or a trident ARE melee weapons, even when you do a ranged attack with them; what I'm saying is, that as written it seems possible to smite a target even if you throw your weapon
So, the various smite of the paladins write this, as casting time: "Bonus Action, which you take immediately after hitting a target with a ->|Melee weapon|<- or an Unarmed Strike"
Now, throwable weapons, such a spear or a trident ARE melee weapons, even when you do a ranged attack with them; what I'm saying is, that as written it seems possible to smite a target even if you throw your weapon
Is it correct? I need a sage advise over this
I'd say yes. A melee weapon is still a melee weapon even if you are making a ranged attack with it.
Keep in mind that the flip side of this, though, is that a ranged weapon is still a ranged weapon even if you make a melee attack with it. You can't, for instance, use Divine Smite if for some reason you're swinging a crossbow at someone's face.
So, the various smite of the paladins write this, as casting time: "Bonus Action, which you take immediately after hitting a target with a ->|Melee weapon|<- or an Unarmed Strike"
Now, throwable weapons, such a spear or a trident ARE melee weapons, even when you do a ranged attack with them; what I'm saying is, that as written it seems possible to smite a target even if you throw your weapon
Is it correct? I need a sage advise over this
Throwing a weapon is still a melee weapon attack, like a dagger has range base. Even if you took tavern brawler feat an improvised weapon (a table leg) would also count.
So, the various smite of the paladins write this, as casting time: "Bonus Action, which you take immediately after hitting a target with a ->|Melee weapon|<- or an Unarmed Strike"
Now, throwable weapons, such a spear or a trident ARE melee weapons, even when you do a ranged attack with them; what I'm saying is, that as written it seems possible to smite a target even if you throw your weapon
Is it correct? I need a sage advise over this
This is correct. With the 2024 version of these spells, any attack made with a melee weapon, whether it's simple or martial, would qualify. However, this was not always the case.
The 2014 rules drew a distinction by requiring Divine Smite and most of the Smite spells to be made with "melee weapon attack" specifically. The idea was to reinforce the archetypal knight in shining armor with a sword and shield, and as a result most such spells and features required a paladin to strike the enemy in melee. And I have to emphasize "melee weapon attack" because it didn't apply to just any attack with a melee weapon; as some melee weapons could also be used for ranged attacks. We see this with NPC stat blocks that list javelin and spear actions as being a "Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack." A consistent reading of the rules must take this language into account. Otherwise, a spell like Warding Wind would have zero impact on certain thrown weapons. And that cannot be the intent.
That said, not everyone played it this way. A common house rule was to let melee weapons still proc Divine Smite and such with a thrown melee weapon: dagger, handaxe, javelin, light hammer, or spear. And if a player insists on using the 2014 paladin or its spells, they should be aware of the differences.
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So, the various smite of the paladins write this, as casting time: "Bonus Action, which you take immediately after hitting a target with a ->|Melee weapon|<- or an Unarmed Strike"
Now, throwable weapons, such a spear or a trident ARE melee weapons, even when you do a ranged attack with them; what I'm saying is, that as written it seems possible to smite a target even if you throw your weapon
Is it correct? I need a sage advise over this
We don't talk about Kobo...
I'd say yes. A melee weapon is still a melee weapon even if you are making a ranged attack with it.
Keep in mind that the flip side of this, though, is that a ranged weapon is still a ranged weapon even if you make a melee attack with it. You can't, for instance, use Divine Smite if for some reason you're swinging a crossbow at someone's face.
This has always been the case; most famously being Vax'ildan Rogue / Paladin (+pinch Druid) smiting with thrown weapon attacks.
Throwing a weapon is still a melee weapon attack, like a dagger has range base. Even if you took tavern brawler feat an improvised weapon (a table leg) would also count.
This is correct. With the 2024 version of these spells, any attack made with a melee weapon, whether it's simple or martial, would qualify. However, this was not always the case.
The 2014 rules drew a distinction by requiring Divine Smite and most of the Smite spells to be made with "melee weapon attack" specifically. The idea was to reinforce the archetypal knight in shining armor with a sword and shield, and as a result most such spells and features required a paladin to strike the enemy in melee. And I have to emphasize "melee weapon attack" because it didn't apply to just any attack with a melee weapon; as some melee weapons could also be used for ranged attacks. We see this with NPC stat blocks that list javelin and spear actions as being a "Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack." A consistent reading of the rules must take this language into account. Otherwise, a spell like Warding Wind would have zero impact on certain thrown weapons. And that cannot be the intent.
That said, not everyone played it this way. A common house rule was to let melee weapons still proc Divine Smite and such with a thrown melee weapon: dagger, handaxe, javelin, light hammer, or spear. And if a player insists on using the 2014 paladin or its spells, they should be aware of the differences.