Vicious Mockery
Cantrip · Enchantment
- Damage
- Save
- Buff
- Debuff
A cantrip in the enchantment school, Vicious Mockery appears on the bard list. Cast time: Action. Range 60 feet, components V, duration instantaneous. Effect: You unleash a string of insults laced with subtle enchantments at one creature you can see or hear within range.
Stat Block
- Level
- Cantrip
- School
- Enchantment
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range / Area
- 60 feet
- Components
- V
- Duration
- Instantaneous
- Ritual
- No
- Concentration
- No
- Classes
- Bard
- Material
- —
Description
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.
5e (2014) vs 2024 changes
This spell has both a 5e (2014) and 2024 Player's Handbook version. Doungim shows the current 2024 stat block above. Differences between editions typically affect components, range, or scaling — check both source books for the table.
Doungim Lore
School Fit
Vicious Mockery is Enchantment — the cantrip plants an insult so cutting that the target takes 1d4 psychic damage and has disadvantage on its next attack roll. The school is about reshaping mental state; Vicious Mockery does it via verbal aggression that bypasses the target's defenses (Wisdom save negates damage but not the original concept).
Class Fit
- Bard: Vicious Mockery is the Bard's default damage cantrip across the whole campaign. The disadvantage imposed on the target's next attack is the actually-important mechanic — even when the damage is minor, the disadvantage protects the Bard or an ally from a hit that would otherwise land.
Tactical play (Doungim editorial)
Bard cantrip. Wis save; 1d4 psychic plus disadvantage on next attack roll. The bard's signature debuff cantrip.
Related Spells
Frequently Asked Questions about Vicious Mockery
- What level spell is Vicious Mockery?
- Vicious Mockery is a cantrip from the Enchantment school. The classes that can prepare it: Bard.
- How much damage does Vicious Mockery deal?
- At base level, Vicious Mockery's damage is 1d6 (psychic).
- What save does Vicious Mockery require?
- Targets of Vicious Mockery make a Wisdom saving throw against the caster's spell save DC. On a success, the spell's effect is reduced or negated; see the description for exact terms.
- What is the range of Vicious Mockery?
- From the caster's position, Vicious Mockery reaches 60 feet.
- What components and casting time does Vicious Mockery need?
- For Vicious Mockery: Vicious Mockery is cast with V, casting is a normal Action.