Casting Time: 1 bonus action, which you take immediately after hitting a target with a Melee weapon or an Unarmed Strike
Range: Self
Components: V
Duration: Instantaneous
Damage Type: Radiance
The target takes an extra 2d8 Radiant damage from the attack. The damage increases by 1d8 if the target is a Fiend or an Undead.
The damage increases by 1d8 for each spell slot level above 1.
Verbal Component:
Benedico Divina Favente
Verbal Component (Alternative):
(Insert name of Deity) aid me! Imbue my blows with thy divine radiance.
Class: Paladin
Domain: War
Tags: Damage
Source: Player's Handbook (2024) (page 265)
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Other Planes and Effects
Below is information about this spell as it relates to other planes and area of effects (i.e. underwater). Some of the information is pulled official D&D sources (such as books and the twitter feeds of D&D officials), but other information is derived from forums and online discussions. As always, it is up to the DM to decide how they wish to handle spell effects.
Underwater - Verbal Component
Official rules have been verified by Jeremy Crawford - "No rule prohibits verbal components from working underwater. Keep in mind that if you're talking, you're not holding your breath." Hence, while submerged underwater and holding its breath, a creature can cast a spell that requires a verbal component. After casting the spell, if the creature can't breathe underwater, it immediately runs out of breath. The creature can survive for a number of rounds equal to its Constitution modifier (minimum of 1 round).
