Can Paladins Have Multiple Smites in Effect Simultaneously?

[princeimrahil]

There doesn't seem to be any wording that prohibits it, but I might be missing some errata somewhere. Can paladins have multiple smites in effect at the same time?

[Deanoth]

Yes you can have multiple smites up at a time... if you are high enough level and they are all evil. Sure. Only if you want to use them up all in one fight, that is up to you then.

[Howie23]

princeimrahil wrote:

There doesn't seem to be any wording that prohibits it, but I might be missing some errata somewhere. Can paladins have multiple smites in effect at the same time?

This isn't a researched response, rather throwing it out there as first glance. Smite is a supernatural effect. Supernatural effects are magical. Magical effects from the same source don't stack. So, it seems that a Paladin could have smites against different opponents active at the same time, but could not stack them against the same opponent.

In general, limiting effects within a single combat is a 4e concept and doesn't apply in 3.x, including PF.

[wraithstrike]

No, multiple smites can not be activated at once. I see this one needs to be errata'd to included "until a new target is chosen", or something similar.

prd wrote:

Smite Evil (Su): Once per day, a paladin can call out to the powers of good to aid her in her struggle against evil. As a swift action, the paladin chooses one target within sight to smite. If this target is evil, the paladin adds her Charisma bonus (if any) to her attack rolls and adds her paladin level to all damage rolls made against the target of her smite. If the target of smite evil is an outsider with the evil subtype, an evil-aligned dragon, or an undead creature, the bonus to damage on the first successful attack increases to 2 points of damage per level the paladin possesses. Regardless of the target, smite evil attacks automatically bypass any DR the creature might possess.

In addition, while smite evil is in effect, the paladin gains a deflection bonus equal to her Charisma modifier (if any) to her AC against attacks made by the target of the smite. If the paladin targets a creature that is not evil, the smite is wasted with no effect.

The smite evil effect remains until the target of the smite is dead or the next time the paladin rests and regains her uses of this ability. At 4th level, and at every three levels thereafter, the paladin may smite evil one additional time per day, as indicated on Table: Paladin, to a maximum of seven times per day at 19th level.

PS:By RAW there is nothing to prevent it, but I don't think that was the intent.

Edit:clarification

Edit2: The powergamer in me hopes I cam wrong.