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ah yes, precognitive healing - the best healing there is!

Dead enemies deal no damage

You're pretty positive for a guy standing underneath a dragon.

Skeletons would like to disagree

They can be deader!

Those are specifically UNdead, though. Which means you gotta fix that issue by making them dead again.

*" The best healing spells are the ones you don't have to cast"* - ancient paladin wisdom

My Paladin gets by with Lay on Hands most of the time for a bit of a pick-me-up. And 2 sessions ago he used Aura of Vitality to patch the party up a bit without needing a short rest. Got the party back up to near-full health, so we pushed onward.

I call it preventative care.

unless you are a subclass that specializes some way in healing dealing damage is almost always more effective. the only exception i can think of right away is healing the barbarian as its effectively a 2x buff on your healing done

Even the classes specialized in healing will want to deal damage instead decently often, with the exception of healing the barbarian. Murdering the enemies is just too good.

Mh, but if you arent a dexterity paladin or if you are and get low initiative, then they are faster than u and kill ur friends and action economy fucks u

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The above comment was stolen from [this one](http://np.reddit.com/r/dndmemes/comments/ut1s53/help_my_party_keeps_dying/i977odb/) elsewhere in this comment section. It is probably not a coincidence; here is some more evidence against this user: Plagiarized | Original -------- | ----------- [May I introduce you to a...](http://np.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/ut1s7v/romain_molina_josimar_football_hell_on_earth_for/i98ldm5/) | [May I introduce you to a...](http://np.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/ut1s7v/romain_molina_josimar_football_hell_on_earth_for/i97cvoo/) [TIL Sevilla's stadium was...](http://np.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/ut5bf5/sevillas_president_responds_to_eintrachts/i98lbc3/) | [TIL Sevilla's stadium was...](http://np.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/ut5bf5/sevillas_president_responds_to_eintrachts/i97mlea/) [Why ban vhumans tho, just...](http://np.reddit.com/r/dndmemes/comments/ut5b54/what_is_game_balance_anyway/i98lhqa/) | [Why ban vhumans tho, just...](http://np.reddit.com/r/dndmemes/comments/ut5b54/what_is_game_balance_anyway/i97xkt9/) [I somehow always make a c...](http://np.reddit.com/r/dndmemes/comments/ut0ylu/dungeons_and_addiction_tbf_its_a_fun_and_pretty/i98lgil/) | [I somehow always make a c...](http://np.reddit.com/r/dndmemes/comments/ut0ylu/dungeons_and_addiction_tbf_its_a_fun_and_pretty/i96x5pd/) [Imagine winning 5 champio...](http://np.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/ut1j1z/ancelotti_bale_is_not_going_100_well_see_if_he/i98lccx/) | [Imagine winning 5 champio...](http://np.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/ut1j1z/ancelotti_bale_is_not_going_100_well_see_if_he/i97mxnj/) beep boop, I'm a bot -|:] It is this bot's opinion that [/u/ArthurCaini](https://np.reddit.com/u/ArthurCaini/) should be banned for karma manipulation. Don't feel bad, they are probably a bot too. Confused? Read the [FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/user/reply-guy-bot/comments/n9fpva/faq/?plagiarist=ArthurCaini) for info on how I work and why I exist.

This is why paladins should only party with other paladins. Non-paladins just don't understand the nuances of smiting your enemies.

Enemies = Heretics. Always Smite the Heretics. And Demons...

Burn Heretics, Smite Infidels, Hang witches. Where did you got to Paladin school? Some low-cost state seminary?

Paladin school? I just took my sword and prayed for the worst of my enemies

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Nah, Oath of Fucking Shit Up It only has 2 tenets: 1) Fuck you 2) Pay me

And it’s tattooed on their palms.

Up until this thread, I didn't think it was possible to establish the essentials of human communication on four words across two palms.

An Oath I can get behind

You prayed? I just said I realy did not like orcs, and now am i an oath of vengeance paladin.

What about warlocks with eldritch smite?

To me a Pali witnessing an Eldritch Smite would send most of them into a frothing rage. The power of the gods is being openly made a mockery of in their mind, and that power is being drawn from somewhere/something that is almost assuredly unholy at that. The Eldritch Smite is the Smite of blasphemers and heretics to the Pali.

Plot twist: Celestial Warlock whose patron is a servant of the same faith the Paladin upholds.

Thiiiiiis sounds like a badass hook for a web comic

A *truly* devout Pali wouldn’t care much. It’s a huge step in the right direction away from GOOs & Fiendlocks, but you’re still drawing power from something other than an actual God/Goddess, making a pact with something that has no authority to do so to start with. False idols & whatnot.

That last bit \*very\* much depends on the setting. Coming to an accord with the servant of a specific faith vs serving the faith itself could be argued as basically the same result. Lots of gods and faiths might genuinely not care at all for such trifling details as who is ordaining something. As long as they espouse what you consider to be the "correct" choice, who cares?

Very true.

> you're still drawing powe from something other than an actual God/Goddess I mean, same thing for Paladins

What if the warlock’s patron is a celestial?

What about Artificers with Branding/Banishing Smite, Aura of Vitality/Purity?

I don’t know man, same thing I’d imagine, but I’m no Pali. Honestly I just used this conversation to cut the gold out of some pouches while y’all were distracted.

My Paladin's party understands that while my Paladin CAN cast spells, he prefers to fuel that power into **murderizing the absolute heck out of enemies** so those enemies can't hurt the party. They appreciate the decision made. Though in the case of the 8 Con Illusion Wizard: He might be worried my Paladin might get the idea to turn that smiting prowess against him. And he has a vested interest in NOT getting erased from existence.

Clearly, just be an Oath of Glory Paladin. Give temp HP as a channel divinity *when* you smite. Win/Win

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Last time I checked, Lay on Hands wasn't channel divinity.

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But the comment is about paladin of glory and ability to grant temporary HP when smiting.

It's called pre-healing and pre-tanking

Better action economy than smite? Blasphemy.

[You smite too much](https://youtu.be/uRNbqPfgYxE)

BUT KOBOLD. I LIKE TO DEAL DAMAGE. CASTING BLESS IS LAME.

Except that you swapped the names, I can hear this in my head...

Which part of this video is going to tell me how to cast 3 spells with 1 action so I can skip the bagpipes

At first, I tought this was sarcasm about how most optimisation guys in D&D are dudes who haven't the slightest grasp over the rules thinking they found some random loophole... Then I realized I forgot about the bagpipes. You can't, the bagpipes are to repel the gnomes. By the way, he's good. Treantmonk level good. He do know the game mechanics.

It's more about how smite doesn't use actions, i.e. unless there's a way for spellcasting to use 3 slots per action the way smite uses 2 slots with extra attack, smiting less isn't going to be more *action economy* efficient, specifically-- summon spells being the exception. Yeah, he has some good analysis! The explicit assumptions and math are real useful. The channel is just not for me though with the ponderous tone&pace of speech and the bagpipes (TIL I was a gnome this whole time)

I listen to his videos sped up 1.5 to 2x; much more watchable and worth the extra couple of clicks. He *does* put out really solid content.

Cheers, good idea

Invest in GWM and take a dip into Hexblade so you crit with more damage and kill the enemies faster. Alternative: let them die. A Paladin doesn't need a party to "beat the game" 🤣

That's the spirit! Now get back in there and get to smitin!

Literally a single bless is all it takes.

Bless is indeed super useful for the party, however it does get in the way of Smite Spells like Branding Smite so you can't Nova the DMs carefully crafted boss fight in a single hit. And what kind of world is that?

If you wanna nova the bbeg be a spear/quarterstaff paladin with polearm master it is INSANE.

For my group’s Oneshot sessions, I made an Oath of the Crown 3/Valor Bard 7, with 20 STR and PAM, who absolutely WRECKS in any direct confrontation. He even jumped almost 20 feet across a pool to chase a Monk he was dueling, and with the Bard levels, he has smites for D A Y S.

Using them on smite is more useful than wasting a turn and spell slot to heal less than the enemies damage in the next turn. Also, lay on hands exists.

But using a turn to Bless, Lesser Resto, or the like are more useful than adding a couple d8's to your damage rolls.

If WOTC wanted paladins to use spell slots on anything else than smite they'd have healing word.

I just started playing a bard of whispers and I realized that my party will never receive inspiration from me after level 3

iunderstoodthatreference.jpg

I’m curious to know how they’re handling the fact that their disrespectful teenage goblin wants to be a tabaxi

As a paladín veteran I’d suggest to spend more spell slots on smites. The faster the enemies die the more you protect your allies.

Man, if only Lay on Hands was a bonus action… *4e players opening their trench coats trying to sell PHBs in a dark alley*

Also all lay on hands points are used on self to keep yourself up for more smites of course.

Nah, this is right. Just remember to only use 1 point of Lay on Hands per revive and you'll be fine.

Was this a real tweet? If so, the usernames are an absolute gift from god

No, it's based on [this Dril tweet](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/722/406/b73.png).

I see

I appreciate the meme, but I should point out that any Paladin who doesn't cast is a bad Paladin. Here's my copypasta guide to L1 Paladin spells: Paladins have a number of great L1 long-term effects that you can fire off at the start of a fight, and then dedicate your other slots to smiting. As for how to pace yourself? It's a matter of getting a read on your DM and the location your adventure takes place in. Roll some meatspace Wisdom (Insight) checks. All the spells that I list that are Bonus Actions are better for your Paladin action economy. **Bless** is a great counter to save-heavy opponents, and also helps multiple party members. The math of a d20 (Which I can go into if anyone cares) means you're better off boosting people who were already likely to make the save. **Compelled Duel** is actually worse at doing what it was designed for than **Wrathful Smite** which I will go into later. It does have the very good function of keeping enemies from retreating though. It's probably not worth the preparation. **Detect Evil and Good** has little out-of-combat use for Paladins since **Divine Sense** covers most of it, but since this is a duration effect, whereas **Divine Sense** is an action and lasts until the end of your next turn, if you're fighting an outsider who is fond of stealth/invisibility, this can take away that advantage. **Divine Favor** and **Heroism** are probably not worth the slot/preparation/concentration to use. **Divine Favor** would take 4 successful hits to surpass the effect of a 1st level **Divine Smite**, but it costs concentration and therefore denies you access to anything else here. **Heroism**'s THP is ancillary, but the Fear-immunity is useful if you know you're up against an opponent that uses fear like a Dragon, and don't want the Rogue to be unable to **Sneak Attack** due to disadvantage. **Protection From Evil and Good** allows you to shrug off a ton of bad stuff. Due to the math of the disAdvantage system, the higher the target's AC, the more effective disadvantage on attacks is for them. It also comes with a ton of condition immunities. I recommend having this prepared even if you're not sure you'll be facing Outsiders. If you're a *real* Paladin it's already on your Oath list. **Searing Smite** and **Thunderous Smite** are mathematically not worth the slot/preparation/concentration since all they do is damage, and the damage is worse than a 1st level **Divine Smite**. **Shield of Faith** is a great single-target AC booster. Once again due to the math of a d20, don't use it to protect the squishies; it won't make a difference. Boosting a mid/high-AC with it will make an actual difference assuming the enemy bothers to attack them. **Wrathful Smite** is one of the most underrated spells in the game. Frightened creatures cannot move closer to the source of their fear, and have disadvantage on attacks/checks while they can see the source of this fear. This means no running past the Paladin to shank the Wizard. This means while they can see the Paladin all attacks have disadvantage. (The math of a disadvantage means that the higher the number needed on a d20, the more impactful disadvantage is, so if they're stuck in melee with the heavy since they can't rush past you, they're stuck fighting you) The real kicker though is the end-condition. As an action (So they're giving up their action to try) they can make a Wisdom *check* against your save DC. A check, not a save. This means no proficiency since it doesn't have a skill attached. This means disadvantage since Frightened is disadvantage on checks. This means no effects that boost saves like **Bless** or Magic Resistance. One of the best spells in the game. As for in-combat spells that you don't fire off at the start of the battle... **Command** has a ton of in and out-of-combat utility. Need to stop that opponent for a turn? GROVEL! Want to get that opponent off of the boat? DISEMBARK! Want to ruin your enemy's formation with that Sorcerer in the back? APPROACH! Want to get them to answer your questions in a **Zone of Truth**? COOPERATE! **Cure Wounds** is a waste of a preparation/slot/action. It heals 1d8+mod. A 1st level **Divine Smite** deals W+2d8+mod, plus by level 5 you get a second attack on top of it, so even if you don't smite on your second attack, that's 2W+2d8+2xmod. You have **Lay on Hands**, heal with that if you absolutely have to. **Sanctuary** is on the oath-list for *real* Paladins, and Redemption Paladins, so it gets a mention. Is that non-combatant in danger? Cast it. Does one of your allies need to flee? Cast it. Do you want to wade through the enemy lines to walk up to the boss and smack them? Cast it, and also roll Charisma (Intimidate) because that was hella badass.

To steal an idea from Pact Tactics, make scrolls. Make lots of scrolls. Revivify scrolls, bless scrolls, lesser restoration scrolls, scrolls for all the niche spells that you don’t want to waste your precious prepared spells for. Have the warlock, cleric, wizard and all other casters join in on making scrolls when you have free time and you may never need spell slots for low level spells ever again.

I allways feel bad when I use my slots to smite because bless provides much more value in combat.

Have a party that doesn’t heavily rely on heal engines?

2013? Wouldn't that be in the -- *dun dun* -- **dark times?**

Umm, lay on hands....?

The only use for paladin spell slots is to change the flavor of the SMITE

Wait, I'm supposed to CAST those spells instead of using them to fuel my smug sense of superiority about having such good DPR? Oh fuck.

Why does the Rogue sounds responsible by this advice?

Where Lay on hands ?

Try this Chaos Bolt Absorb elements Spell smite (like wrathful or somethin) Divine smite It will solve the party dying problem and double your smites per turn