Paladin's Smite Evil: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/paladin#TOC-Smite-Evil-Su-
As a swift action, the paladin chooses one target within sight to smite. If this target is evil, the paladin adds her Cha 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.
Emphasis mine.
Does "regardless of the target" mean "bypasses DR of all evil creatures, not just outsiders/dragons/undead", or does it mean "bypasses DR of all creatures, not just evil ones"?
All evil creatures. If the smite is used on a non-evil creature, then it's wasted to no effect. Which means the DR isn't bypassed.
I see it as saying:
-While Smite Evil is in effect, it bypasses all DR of the target.
-Smite Evil has no effect on creatures that aren't evil.
Conclusion: DR is only ignored for targets that are evil (and while being smited), because if they're not evil, then the Smite isn't on them anyway.
So, the "regardless" part is indeed saying it bypasses the DR of any Evil creatures, not just outsiders/dragons/undead. Even if it was taken to mean non-evil ones, it'd be more or less irrelevant because the Smite wouldn't stick to them anyway.
Ninja!
I see it as saying:
-While Smite Evil is in effect, it bypasses all DR of the target.
-Smite Evil has no effect on creatures that aren't evil.Conclusion: DR is only ignored for targets that are evil (and while being smited), because if they're not evil, then the Smite isn't on them anyway.
So, the "regardless" part is indeed saying it bypasses the DR of any Evil creatures, not just outsiders/dragons/undead. Even if it was taken to mean non-evil ones, it'd be more or less irrelevant because the Smite wouldn't stick to them anyway.
Ninja!
Are you suggesting that Smite Evil is some sort of debuff on the target...? Obvious questions arise!
Can one resist this debuff somehow?
Can it be removed?
I'd consider it a debuff... it does weaken the enemy for the remainder of the battle, if only for the pally.
No you cannot resist it , No it cannot be removed by any means I"m aware of, well I suppose they could suddenly find Jesus and change alignment lol I don't see that being too likely however
You can resist it by not being evil. You can remove it by not being evil anymore.
@ Mahkno: I wouldn't really classify it as any kind of Buff/Debuff but it does come close to both. It's simply a class feature with its own rules. Either way though, it does clearly have a target, and that target does need to be evil, or else it won't work and none of its benefits will be doing anything.
It's kind of like a "what you see is what you get" deal. Smite Evil has its rules and that's what it follows. Unless there is something that says it can remove Smite Evil on a target as if it were a "Debuff," then it's not subject to any such thing.
Edit: And, as Jay said, those would basically be the only conditions for "resisting" it. Again, Smite Evil follows its rules in its own way.
You can resist it by not being evil. You can remove it by not being evil anymore.
Make them see the light!
| 4 people marked this as FAQ candidate. |
Does Smite Evil from a non-Mythic Paladin overcome Epic/Mythic Damage Reduction of Mythic Evil Creatures?
Does Smite Evil from a non-Mythic Paladin overcome Epic/Mythic Damage Reduction of Mythic Evil Creatures?
By the rules as written, yes. It bypasses any damage reduction the target has, no exceptions.
Does Smite Evil from a non-Mythic Paladin overcome Epic/Mythic Damage Reduction of Mythic Evil Creatures?
No need for FAQ, the answer is yes.
Yes, but Mythic Damage Reduction came about after Paladin Smite Evil. The rules specifically state that you need a +6 weapon equivalent to overcome Epic/Mythic DR. Thus it seems... counter-intuitive that a 1st level Paladin can overcome semi-divine protections.
In addition, the Wrath of the Righteous AP (3rd book) has an army of 100 Paladins who are unable to touch a Mythic Chimera. Only the Mythic PCs can actually hurt it. This thus suggests that Paladins cannot overcome Mythic DR, but does not specifically state one way or the other if it they can't.
Thus the FAQ.
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Yes, but Mythic Damage Reduction came about after Paladin Smite Evil. The rules specifically state that you need a +6 weapon equivalent to overcome Epic/Mythic DR. Thus it seems... counter-intuitive that a 1st level Paladin can overcome semi-divine protections.
In addition, the Wrath of the Righteous AP (3rd book) has an army of 100 Paladins who are unable to touch a Mythic Chimera. Only the Mythic PCs can actually hurt it. This thus suggests that Paladins cannot overcome Mythic DR, but does not specifically state one way or the other if it they can't.
Thus the FAQ.
The rules also state you need either a +1 weapon or something made of silver to overcome a lycanthrope's DR. Smite evil is meant to bypass DR.
I've seen many people say adventure paths tend to contain errors. This could easily be one of them. (minor note - it's in book 2, page 31)
One final note - the mythic subtype in the Monster Rules section of Mythic Adventures makes no mention of overriding Smite Evil in the Damage Reduction section. If they wanted to address Smite Evil overcoming all DR, that was the best place to do it.
That said...sure, FAQ.
Technically there is a counter to Smite Evil.
Have a Helm of Opposite Alignment in your Handy Haversack. - They Smite and you whip out Helmet and put it on. :-)
Or get Warding Armor.
an army of 100 Paladins who are unable to touch a Mythic Chimera.I guess it has a great AC then.
Smite is quite clear that it overcomes all DR, which would include DR/- and Mythic DRl
Or it's a case of gameplay mechanics being separated from story fluff.
Does Smite Evil from a non-Mythic Paladin overcome Epic/Mythic Damage Reduction of Mythic Evil Creatures?
Mythic DR has no language saying it is an exception to the smite. I dont like the idea of a 1st level paladin bypassing epic or mythic DR, but it is not a real concern because he will likely die before he ever hits the AC anyway.
Unless you give a Mythic subtype to something like a Moss Troll to beef it up and make it a more interesting encounter. It's still unlikely a couple 1st level Paladins would make it that far... but for a party of four 1st level non-mythic characters, a Mythic Moss Troll would be a tough encounter but not completely lethal. (And would only have DR of 5.)
