If a Wizard had mirror image up and a Paladin hits an Image. Do they know it's an Image after they hit but before they add Divine Smite?
'Each time a creature targets you with an attack during the spell's duration, roll a d20 to determine whether the attack instead targets one of your duplicates.'
Nothing in the rules says the attacker knows until the image disappears
This makes a big difference.
Situation 1 - Paladin announces attacking wizard. Wizard or DM rolls and it's an image but Paladin doesn't know. gets a 21 which easily hits. Then they add Divine Smite burning spells slots that is wasted.
Situation 2 - Paladin announces attacking wizard. Wizard or DM rolls and it's an Image and tells the Paladin, they are attacking an Image. They hit and saves the smite spell slots for later.
the duplicates move with you and mimic your actions, shifting position so it's impossible to track which image is real.
I would say absolutely the Paladin would have no idea if it's real or not until after the damage is applied.
Your premise is correct, but I disagree with the conclusion because there's other relevant info to factor in. Mirror Image states that the duplicate is destroyed if an attack roll hits--there is no damage roll at all. The decision to apply Divine Smite is specifically sequenced after an attack hits, but at the same time that damage is being rolled.
This means that if the attack hits a duplicate, then it's instantly gone. There is no damage roll to make, and the duplicate would disappear right before the decision to apply Divine Smite occurs in sequence. It's a feature that doesn't force you to burn a resource for something that would have zero possible effect.
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You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
Starting at 2nd level, when you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you can expend one spell slot to deal radiant damage to the target, in addition to the weapon's damage.
Smite only activates on hitting a creature. A mirror image is not a creature, so it can not activate.
Starting at 2nd level, when you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you can expend one spell slot to deal radiant damage to the target, in addition to the weapon's damage.
Smite only activates on hitting a creature. A mirror image is not a creature, so it can not activate.
That's a little iffy for my taste. I mean - does an illusion of a creature count as a creature if the person doing the attacking doesn't know it's an illusion? If they don't know it's an illusion then as far as they're concerned it is a creature - even though it isn't. That certainly wouldn't be the case for Mirror Image because it's fairly obvious that's an illusion - but others like a Trickery Domain's Duplicates or Major Image - etc.. Where is the line drawn?
Is a DM really going to tell a Paladin player who just unknowingly attacked an illusion - and used their highest level spell slot on a Divine Strike - that they can't do that because it's not a creature and completely give the game away that it's an illusion? I think not.
Is a DM really going to tell a Paladin player who just unknowingly attacked an illusion - and used their highest level spell slot on a Divine Strike - that they can't do that because it's not a creature and completely give the game away that it's an illusion? I think not.
If I were the DM in that situation, I would say, "You think you hit the target but it shatters, revealing itself as an illusion. I'm guessing you don't want to waste a smite on that, right?" and then they keep the spell slot.
Starting at 2nd level, when you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you can expend one spell slot to deal radiant damage to the target, in addition to the weapon's damage.
Smite only activates on hitting a creature. A mirror image is not a creature, so it can not activate.
That's a little iffy for my taste. I mean - does an illusion of a creature count as a creature if the person doing the attacking doesn't know it's an illusion? If they don't know it's an illusion then as far as they're concerned it is a creature - even though it isn't. That certainly wouldn't be the case for Mirror Image because it's fairly obvious that's an illusion - but others like a Trickery Domain's Duplicates or Major Image - etc.. Where is the line drawn?
Is a DM really going to tell a Paladin player who just unknowingly attacked an illusion - and used their highest level spell slot on a Divine Strike - that they can't do that because it's not a creature and completely give the game away that it's an illusion? I think not.
I would say “strangely, the divine power that guides your smite holds back; you are unable to smite this target”. And let them try to figure out why. Of course with Mirror Image that is going to be apparent immediately but with other illusions it might not
Explanations on why Smite doesn't work are nice, but unnecessary. You don't make a decision to Smite until after you've hit something, at the same time you would make a damage roll. On a hit, the MI disappears before you would make the decision to Smite... nothing to resolve at all.
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You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
I mean, if someone ABSOLUTELY insists they get to smite the mirror image, then I guess I can make a house rule on the spot to allow them to waste their smite.
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"Not all those who wander are lost"
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Another Thread has got me thinking.
If a Wizard had mirror image up and a Paladin hits an Image. Do they know it's an Image after they hit but before they add Divine Smite?
'Each time a creature targets you with an attack during the spell's duration, roll a d20 to determine whether the attack instead targets one of your duplicates.'
Nothing in the rules says the attacker knows until the image disappears
This makes a big difference.
Situation 1 - Paladin announces attacking wizard. Wizard or DM rolls and it's an image but Paladin doesn't know. gets a 21 which easily hits. Then they add Divine Smite burning spells slots that is wasted.
Situation 2 - Paladin announces attacking wizard. Wizard or DM rolls and it's an Image and tells the Paladin, they are attacking an Image. They hit and saves the smite spell slots for later.
If you were a DM, which way would you do it?
Because of the previous sentence in mirror image:
I would say absolutely the Paladin would have no idea if it's real or not until after the damage is applied.
Edit: I'm wrong.
Mega Yahtzee Thread:
Highest 41: brocker2001 (#11,285).
Yahtzee of 2's: Emmber (#36,161).
Lowest 9: JoeltheWalrus (#312), Emmber (#12,505) and Dertinus (#20,953).
Your premise is correct, but I disagree with the conclusion because there's other relevant info to factor in. Mirror Image states that the duplicate is destroyed if an attack roll hits--there is no damage roll at all. The decision to apply Divine Smite is specifically sequenced after an attack hits, but at the same time that damage is being rolled.
This means that if the attack hits a duplicate, then it's instantly gone. There is no damage roll to make, and the duplicate would disappear right before the decision to apply Divine Smite occurs in sequence. It's a feature that doesn't force you to burn a resource for something that would have zero possible effect.
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
Wrong place to look. Look at "Smite":
Smite only activates on hitting a creature. A mirror image is not a creature, so it can not activate.
Great catch!
"Not all those who wander are lost"
That's a little iffy for my taste. I mean - does an illusion of a creature count as a creature if the person doing the attacking doesn't know it's an illusion? If they don't know it's an illusion then as far as they're concerned it is a creature - even though it isn't. That certainly wouldn't be the case for Mirror Image because it's fairly obvious that's an illusion - but others like a Trickery Domain's Duplicates or Major Image - etc.. Where is the line drawn?
Is a DM really going to tell a Paladin player who just unknowingly attacked an illusion - and used their highest level spell slot on a Divine Strike - that they can't do that because it's not a creature and completely give the game away that it's an illusion? I think not.
Mega Yahtzee Thread:
Highest 41: brocker2001 (#11,285).
Yahtzee of 2's: Emmber (#36,161).
Lowest 9: JoeltheWalrus (#312), Emmber (#12,505) and Dertinus (#20,953).
If I were the DM in that situation, I would say, "You think you hit the target but it shatters, revealing itself as an illusion. I'm guessing you don't want to waste a smite on that, right?" and then they keep the spell slot.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
Divine smites are gifts from god helping them.
”are you trying to say Jesus Christ can’t hit a curveball?”
that quote from Major League kinda applies here.
your source of your divine smite, knows whether or not the divine smite will kick in. Thus not wasting itself.
Blank
Pedro Cerrano the conquest paladin of Jobu will smite anything in front of him... except for a curveball.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
I would say “strangely, the divine power that guides your smite holds back; you are unable to smite this target”. And let them try to figure out why. Of course with Mirror Image that is going to be apparent immediately but with other illusions it might not
Better get him some more rum then! Is very bad to drink Jobu's rum.
Explanations on why Smite doesn't work are nice, but unnecessary. You don't make a decision to Smite until after you've hit something, at the same time you would make a damage roll. On a hit, the MI disappears before you would make the decision to Smite... nothing to resolve at all.
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
I mean, if someone ABSOLUTELY insists they get to smite the mirror image, then I guess I can make a house rule on the spot to allow them to waste their smite.
"Not all those who wander are lost"