Vicious Mockery
Vicious mockery was a cantrip used by bards to hurl insults at a creature.
This Bard spell has been used quite a few times by Calliope Galanodel, including:
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.
This spell's damage increases by 1d4 when you reach 5th level (2d4), 11th level (3d4), and 17th level (4d4).
This Bard spell has been used quite a few times by Calliope Galanodel, including:
There was one to Vedergrime the Troll King. Then another to the trolls they ran into on the way back to Eldertwig. These were lost to time...
"Stop being such a punk." to a Wraith
"Hey you, you ever been confused for a slug?" and "I was going to cast detect thoughts, But I didn't think I'd find any there." to a Chaos Quadrapod and No wonder you are hiding back there, I'd hide with a face like that too!" to the Satyr, Warlock of Tharizdun
"Get away from here you overgrown mouse" to a Displacer Beast In the Spider Forest of the Feywild she did another one, but the player didn't actually come up with one, to one of the creatures.
"I've seen chihuahuas more fercious than you" to a Bugbear
"Upph, what a mug!" to an Grick Alpha "Your mother was a triangle!" to a Gelatinous Cube
"Are you sure you want to continue fighting? It's kind of getting embarrasing now." to a Goblin
" I've scraped worse stuff off my shoes" to a Purple Worm
"you look like a Youngling's painting project" to a Roc
"You sure you want to join this fight? That would be very embarrassing." to a Hobgoblin
"Hey manure mouth, watch this!" to a Hobgoblin "Keep running Coward" to a Hobgoblin captain "Stupid head" to an Ogre Bolt Launcher, that killed him.
"You know we're just gonna call you number two, right?" to an Orc and "You should probably take lessons from a monkey, you suck at this." to a Goblin
Effect
A bard used this spell to hurl enchantment-powered insults at a target creature. The creature had to be within 60 feet (18 meters) of the bard. For the spell to be effective, the creature had to be able to hear the bard, but did not need to speak the same language. As a result of this spell, the target creature suffered minor psychic damage.
Classes, Backgrounds, and Feats
Classes: Bard
Races: Merfolk (Zendikar; Cosi Creed), Tiefling (Variant; Devil's Tongue)
Backgrounds: Rakdos Cultist
Feats: Initiate of High Sorcery, Magic Initiate, Strixhaven Initiate
Other Options/Features: Pact of the Tome
Material Components
This spell required a verbal component.
There are notes that in some places the spell may require verbal and somatic components, and a material component: an eye of a newt, which had to be petrified.
Gestures & Ritual
Verbal Component: Irrisio Vitiosus
Verbal Component (Alternative): Examined flaws, I now take stock; viciously, I insult and mock.
Related Discipline
Bardic Spell
Related School
Enchantment
Related Element
Psychic
Effect Duration
Instantaneous
Effect Casting Time
1 action
Range
60 feet
Level
Cantrip
Applied Restriction
Bardic spell.