Instrument of Zeal [Divine Smite]

[K1]

Hi there,

Instrument of Zeal

Divine energy fills your weapon. Whenever you critically hit a foe with Smite Evil or a Retributive Strike, your attack adds an extra damage die, and the target is slowed 1 on its next turn.

Smite Evil

Your blade ally becomes an even more powerful tool against evildoers. Select one foe you can see. Until the start of your next turn, your Strikes with the weapon your blade ally inhabits against that foe deal an extra 4 good damage, increasing to 6 if you have master proficiency with this weapon.

If the foe attacks one of your allies, the duration extends to the end of that foe’s next turn. If the foe continues to attack your allies each turn, the duration continues to extend.

got 2 questions:

1) Reading the Instrument of Zeal talent, seems that Smite Evil is an attack. But if we read Smite Evil, it seems definitely a debuff/mark on an enemy.

How should I consider Smite Evil?

2) How should I treat the extra damage die? Since it occurs on a critical, and does not say anything ( like fatal or deadly ) is it supposed to be add to the damage before multiplying it? Or it is an extra die i must add after all the calculation?

[Blave]

1) Smite Evil is a debuff. Instrument of Zeal triggers if you critically hit the foe who is debuffed.

2) That's a good question. Since it lacks any language which would exclude the extra die from the crit, I'd say add the extra die to your normal damage, then double the total.

[Fuzzy-Wuzzy]

No special language needed---the CRB already excludes all you-only-get-this-on-a-crit damage from doubling.

CRB page 451, Doubling and Halving Damage wrote:

Benefits you gain specifically from a critical hit, like the flaming weapon rune's persistent fire damage or the extra damage die from the fatal weapon trait, aren't doubled.

(Think this is mentioned elsewhere too, but I forget where.)

[K1]

Thanks both of you!

@Fuzzy: It was on another thread of mine ( critical hit + Deadly vs Fatal ). I am ashamed.