The College of Comedy is home to performers who believe that laughter itself can topple tyrants, soothe fear, and turn battlefields into stages. These bards wield absurdity as deftly as a blade: one moment cracking a slapstick gag, the next twisting an enemy’s pride into a punchline that cuts deeper than steel.

Where others might reach for solemn speeches or rousing ballads, the comic bard wields heckles, pratfalls, and irreverence. In their hands, humor becomes a weapon of disruption and a shield of resilience. Allies draw courage from their antics, enemies falter under ridicule, and even the darkest moment can be lit by an untimely quip.

Those who join this college learn that comedy is more than diversion—it is a tool of survival. A mocking word can break an opponent’s focus, a clever jab can lift a weary comrade, and contagious laughter can sweep through a crowd like fire. To a bard of comedy, there is no such thing as a bad time for a joke—because sometimes, the joke is the only thing keeping despair at bay.

Timing is Everything

At 3rd level, your instinct for perfect comedic timing helps you act before others can react. You can add your Intelligence modifier to your Initiative rolls (in addition to whatever other modifiers you would normally use.)

Verbal Sparring

Starting at 3rd level, you learn the Vicious Mockery cantrip if you don’t already know it.

• You can cast Vicious Mockery as a Reaction when you or an ally within range are targeted by a melee attack.

• For you, the casting time of Vicious Mockery is a Bonus Action (though you may still cast it as an Action if you wish).

• When you cast Vicious Mockery, the damage die improves: it becomes a d6 at 3rd level, and a d8 at 6th level. The spell continues to scale normally from there.

If you already know Vicious Mockery, you do not learn a different cantrip.

When They Least Expect It

At 6th level, your knack for striking when guards are down manifests in battle. You gain the Sneak Attack feature, dealing extra damage once per turn when you hit a creature with a finesse or ranged weapon and meet the usual conditions for Sneak Attack.

Your Bard (Comedy) levels count as half levels (rounded down) for determining your Sneak Attack dice, to a maximum of 5d6.

If you have Sneak Attack from another class, add your Bard levels (halved) to determine your total Sneak Attack dice. For example:

• A Rogue 5 / Bard (Comedy) 7 would have Sneak Attack 5d6.

• A Rogue 10 / Bard (Comedy) 8 would have Sneak Attack 7d6.

The Best Medicine

At 14th level, your mastery of comedic timing can turn the tide of battle in unexpected ways. When you use this feature, choose one of the options below. You can use this feature once, and you regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest.

• Aura of Laughter. As an action, you inspire mirth in your allies. Each ally of your choice within 30 feet regains hit points equal to your Charisma modifier + your proficiency bonus, and has advantage on saving throws against being frightened or charmed until the start of your next turn.

• Gallows Humor. When an ally within 30 feet of you drops to 0 hit points but isn’t killed outright, you can use your reaction to heal them for 2d8 + your Charisma modifier hit points. The ally immediately regains consciousness.

• Split Sides, Not the Party. As an Action, you unleash infectious laughter. Each ally of your choice within 30 feet regains 2d10 + your bard level hit points. Each enemy of your choice within the same range must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC or fall prone, incapacitated with laughter until the start of your next turn.