Can you use divine smite if you attack by throwing a melee weapon with the thrown property? (e.g. Javelin).
Divine Smite
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. The extra damage is 2d8 for a 1st-level spell slot, plus 1d8 for each spell level higher than 1st, to a maximum of 5d8. The damage increases by 1d8 if the target is an undead or a fiend, to a maximum of 6d8.
Thrown. If a weapon has the thrown property, you can throw the weapon to make a ranged attack. If the weapon is a melee weapon, you use the same ability modifier for that attack roll and damage roll that you would use for a melee attack with the weapon. For example, if you throw a handaxe, you use your Strength, but if you throw a dagger, you can use either your Strength or your Dexterity, since the dagger has the finesse property.
To clarify there are four kinds of attacks: melee weapon attack, ranged weapon attack, melee spell attack, ranged spell attack. Every attack roll falls into one of those types. A "melee weapon attack" is an attack with an object, natural weapon or an unarmed strike, delivered at close range which defaults to using STR for hit and damage. It does not include any throwing or shooting attacks because those are "ranged weapon attacks" which default to DEX.
This is a different term to an "attack with a melee weapon". A dagger is a melee weapon, so any attack made with it is an "attack with a melee weapon", but you can use that dagger to make a "melee weapon attack" at 5ft, or a "ranged weapon attack" by throwing it.
Smites like this can only be used with a "melee weapon attack", not an "attack with a melee weapon".
A little confusing, but this is one area where the rules are written consistently and concisely.
To clarify there are four kinds of attacks: melee weapon attack, ranged weapon attack, melee spell attack, ranged spell attack. Every attack roll falls into one of those types. A "melee weapon attack" is an attack with an object, natural weapon or an unarmed strike, delivered at close range which defaults to using STR for hit and damage. It does not include any throwing or shooting attacks because those are "ranged weapon attacks" which default to DEX.
Thrown weapons use strength not dex unless it is finesse.
Thrown weapons use strength not dex unless it is finesse.
Thrown melee weapons use the same ability modifier you'd use for a melee attack with them. That's an exception to the ranged weapon attack rules. Thrown ranged weapons and all other thrown objects still default to dexterity.
To clarify there are four kinds of attacks: melee weapon attack, ranged weapon attack, melee spell attack, ranged spell attack. Every attack roll falls into one of those types.
If this were true, then why don't thrown weapons work with Sharp Shooter?
To clarify there are four kinds of attacks: melee weapon attack, ranged weapon attack, melee spell attack, ranged spell attack. Every attack roll falls into one of those types.
If this were true, then why don't thrown weapons work with Sharp Shooter?
Because the last line of Sharpshooter calls out Range Weapons, not attacks. Thrown weapons are not range weapons. they are melee weapons being thrown.
To clarify there are four kinds of attacks: melee weapon attack, ranged weapon attack, melee spell attack, ranged spell attack. Every attack roll falls into one of those types.
If this were true, then why don't thrown weapons work with Sharp Shooter?
I do find the simplification in the PHB section on equipment a bit misleading here "A melee weapon is used to attack a target within 5 feet of you, whereas a ranged weapon is used to attack a target at a distance." However a glaive is listed as a melee weapon and can be used against a target 10 fett away, this does not turn it into a ranged weapon when used in this way. Similarly firing a bow at someone 5 feet away does not make it a melee attack
However most things are clarified where it says
"When you make a ranged attack, you fire a bow or a crossbow, hurl a handaxe, or otherwise send projectiles to strike a foe at a distance. A monster might shoot spines from its tail. Many spells also involve making a ranged attack."
and
"Used in hand-to-hand combat, a melee attack allows you to attack a foe within your reach. A melee attack typically uses a handheld weapon such as a sword, a warhammer, or an axe. A typical monster makes a melee attack when it strikes with its claws, horns, teeth, tentacles, or other body part. A few spells also involve making a melee attack."
There is a difference between a ranged weapon attack and an attack wirth a ranged weapon. A hand axe is a melee weapon but when thrown it is a ranged weapon attack. Sharp shooter only works when you make an attack with a ranged weapon which thown weapons are not.
RAW it does make me wonder whether firing a bow at a creature within your reach is a melee attack, using hand held weapons or body parts are "typical" melee attacks but a bow is hand held weapon (though the arrow isn't), but therer again 5ft is "a distance" so firing a projecting using a bow 5 ft is a range attack as well. It is generally understood that firing a bow at someone 5ft away is classed as a ranged attack but I can not find any clarification in the rules.
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Can you use divine smite if you attack by throwing a melee weapon with the thrown property? (e.g. Javelin).
Divine Smite
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. The extra damage is 2d8 for a 1st-level spell slot, plus 1d8 for each spell level higher than 1st, to a maximum of 5d8. The damage increases by 1d8 if the target is an undead or a fiend, to a maximum of 6d8.
Thrown. If a weapon has the thrown property, you can throw the weapon to make a ranged attack. If the weapon is a melee weapon, you use the same ability modifier for that attack roll and damage roll that you would use for a melee attack with the weapon. For example, if you throw a handaxe, you use your Strength, but if you throw a dagger, you can use either your Strength or your Dexterity, since the dagger has the finesse property.
It has to be a melee weapon attack. Not an attack with a melee weapon. So no.
Lyxen is correct. Two alternatives to Divine Smite that do work with ranged weapon attacks are Branding Smite and Banishing Smite.
The Forum Infestation (TM)
To clarify there are four kinds of attacks: melee weapon attack, ranged weapon attack, melee spell attack, ranged spell attack. Every attack roll falls into one of those types. A "melee weapon attack" is an attack with an object, natural weapon or an unarmed strike, delivered at close range which defaults to using STR for hit and damage. It does not include any throwing or shooting attacks because those are "ranged weapon attacks" which default to DEX.
This is a different term to an "attack with a melee weapon". A dagger is a melee weapon, so any attack made with it is an "attack with a melee weapon", but you can use that dagger to make a "melee weapon attack" at 5ft, or a "ranged weapon attack" by throwing it.
Smites like this can only be used with a "melee weapon attack", not an "attack with a melee weapon".
A little confusing, but this is one area where the rules are written consistently and concisely.
Thrown weapons use strength not dex unless it is finesse.
Thrown melee weapons use the same ability modifier you'd use for a melee attack with them. That's an exception to the ranged weapon attack rules. Thrown ranged weapons and all other thrown objects still default to dexterity.
The Forum Infestation (TM)
If this were true, then why don't thrown weapons work with Sharp Shooter?
Because the last line of Sharpshooter calls out Range Weapons, not attacks. Thrown weapons are not range weapons. they are melee weapons being thrown.
There is a
I do find the simplification in the PHB section on equipment a bit misleading here "A melee weapon is used to attack a target within 5 feet of you, whereas a ranged weapon is used to attack a target at a distance." However a glaive is listed as a melee weapon and can be used against a target 10 fett away, this does not turn it into a ranged weapon when used in this way. Similarly firing a bow at someone 5 feet away does not make it a melee attack
However most things are clarified where it says
"When you make a ranged attack, you fire a bow or a crossbow, hurl a handaxe, or otherwise send projectiles to strike a foe at a distance. A monster might shoot spines from its tail. Many spells also involve making a ranged attack."
and
"Used in hand-to-hand combat, a melee attack allows you to attack a foe within your reach. A melee attack typically uses a handheld weapon such as a sword, a warhammer, or an axe. A typical monster makes a melee attack when it strikes with its claws, horns, teeth, tentacles, or other body part. A few spells also involve making a melee attack."
There is a difference between a ranged weapon attack and an attack wirth a ranged weapon. A hand axe is a melee weapon but when thrown it is a ranged weapon attack. Sharp shooter only works when you make an attack with a ranged weapon which thown weapons are not.
RAW it does make me wonder whether firing a bow at a creature within your reach is a melee attack, using hand held weapons or body parts are "typical" melee attacks but a bow is hand held weapon (though the arrow isn't), but therer again 5ft is "a distance" so firing a projecting using a bow 5 ft is a range attack as well. It is generally understood that firing a bow at someone 5ft away is classed as a ranged attack but I can not find any clarification in the rules.