this post was submitted on 18 Jun 2025
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A cantrip that's as effective as "power word kill" on mundane folk? Use 55 times to kill a dragon? How did I miss this?
As a DM, I'd have to implement a house rule that every such insult must be unique, as it is magically bound to the target at that distinct moment in time. And that goes for failures as well as successes: each use burns that phrase forever. At the very least this goes if used repeatedly against the same target. Besides, a good bard should be able to cook up fresh material.
This is an absolutely insane take. Vicious Mockery is the the least damaging cantrip (or like bottom three). Further, it's a cantrip, something players are supposed to be able to easily without resource consumption. Expecting a player to come up with unique insults every time they cast this is stupid and exhausting. Also, the reason it's "as effective as power word kill on common folk" is because common folk are weak and meant to weak. They're not heroes.
Spell casters using cantrips is akin to fighters making normal attacks, swinging a sword.
Fly swats are overpowered because they're as effective as a machine gun at killing flies.
It's important for others reading this that they realize a cat can kill a commoner in one attack. A magic user using magic shouldn't be shocking, even when that magic is flavored as an insult.
So are you going to nerf every class similarly?
Bard
Vicious Mockery: avg 10 / 55 casts
Cleric
Word of Radiance: avg 13.5 / 41 casts
Sacred flame: avg 18 / 31 casts
Druid
Produce Flame: avg 11 / 50 casts
Poison Spray: avg 22.5 / 25 casts
Sorcerer
Acid Splash: avg 10.5 / 52 casts
Warlock
Chill Touch: avg 11 / 50 casts
Wizard
Ray of Frost: avg 11 / 50 casts
Artificer
Thunderclap: avg 13.5 / 41 casts