Vicious Mockery

A
Damage

Vicious Mockery is a Damage spell. Damage spells focus on dealing harm to enemies.

See all Damage spells →
 spell of biting insults that can
force a failed save

Vicious Mockery is a Save or Suck spell. Save or Suck spells fall entirely flat if the target succeeds on a saving throw.

See all Save or Suck spells →
 and leave one foe’s next attack faltering.

2024 Rules
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).

2014 Rules
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

It now deals 1d6 psychic damage instead of 1d4, scaling to 2d6/3d6/4d6. The target can be a creature you can see or hear within range, and it no longer has to hear you to be affected.

Vicious Mockery popularity

Vicious Mockery is a commonly chosen cantrip. Choosing it adds an established option to your spellbook.

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.