Vicious Mockery

Damage Save or Suck

Level & School
Enchantment cantrip
Casting Time
Action
Range
60 feet
Components
V
Duration
Instantaneous
Classes
Bard

You unleash a string of insults laced with subtle enchantments at one creature you can see or hear within range. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or take 1d6 Psychic damage and have Disadvantage on the next attack roll it makes before the end of its next turn.

Cantrip Upgrade. The damage increases by 1d6 when you reach level 5 (2d6), level 11 (3d6), and level 17 (4d6).

Level & School
Enchantment cantrip
Casting Time
Action
Range
60 feet
Components
V
Duration
Instantaneous
Classes
Bard

You unleash a string of insults laced with subtle enchantments at a creature you can see within range. If the target can hear you (though it need not understand you), it must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or take 1d4 psychic damage and have disadvantage on the next attack roll it makes before the end of its next turn.

Cantrip Upgrade. This spell's damage increases by 1d4 when you reach 5th level (2d4), 11th level (3d4), and 17th level (4d4).

Vicious Mockery 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

The 2024 version increases damage from 1d4 to 1d6, with upgrades at levels 5, 11, and 17 (adding 1d6 each time). It allows targeting a creature that can hear or see, whereas the 2014 version only specifies see. Damage scaling and target conditions are the main mechanical differences.

Spells similar to Vicious Mockery

  • Mind Sliver, Enchantment cantrip

    It's an enchantment cantrip that deals mental damage and forces a saving throw, making it the closest mechanical twin for a bard's insult cantrip.

  • Dissonant Whispers, 1st-level enchantment

    A bard-only psychic attack that harms a single target and produces an immediate detrimental effect, so it matches the mental-damage-plus-debuff playstyle.

  • Bane, 1st-level enchantment

    It doesn't deal damage but imposes a persistent penalty to attackers' rolls via a save, which echoes the way Vicious Mockery both harms and weakens an enemy's next attack.

  • Friends, Enchantment cantrip

    Though not damaging, this enchantment cantrip manipulates a creature socially and forces a hostile reaction later, sharing the single-target, interaction-focused feel of an insult spell.

  • Phantasmal Force, 2nd-level illusion

    This spell creates a mental illusion that harms a target through a save-or-suffer effect, reflecting the same mental-manipulation niche despite being higher level and longer duration.