Viper · Mid (pos. 2)
Viper Guide
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This guide is assembled by the site from match data and the game's own information — nobody wrote it by hand. Official and community guides appear alongside it when they exist.
Overview
Viper is a ranged Agility hero that Valve tags as Durable, Carry and Disabler. It is played mainly as Mid (pos. 2): 68% of the public matches we measured, by starting lane and starting items. In this guide you play it as Mid (pos. 2): your job is to win the solo lane, control the runes and create pressure on the other lanes. Its ultimate is Viper Strike. This patch, Viper wins 48.5% of the 278,740 public matches we measured (C tier on our ladder).
Strengths
- Valve tags Viper as Durable: it stays in fights longer than most heroes.
- Clear job in the team: win the solo lane, control the runes and create pressure on the other lanes.
- Viper Strike gives it a decisive moment in fights.
Weaknesses
- No escape in the kit: without good positioning and vision, Viper is easy to catch.
- Low base armor (-2): vulnerable to physical harass early on.
Build cheat sheet
Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.
- Most-played buildBalancedRecommendedThe items most bought with this hero, phase by phase. Pick it when you don't have a clear reason to deviate. Built from what Viper players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Damage buildOffensiveAdvancedMoves the popular items that add damage — Orchid Malevolence and Hand of Midas — to the front. Choose it when your lane went well and you can afford to be greedy. Built from what Viper players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Team utility buildUtilitySituationalBuilt around the popular items that help your allies — Hurricane Pike and Mage Slayer. Choose it when your team needs saves and auras more than your damage. Built from what Viper players buy in the public matches we measured.
Builds
Most-played build
When to use it
The items most bought with this hero, phase by phase. Pick it when you don't have a clear reason to deviate. Built from what Viper players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
310%222%168%- MidMain68% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
- OfflanePriority 222% of matchesOff lane as the space-making core (pos. 3).
- Safe lanePriority 310% of matchesSafe lane as the farming core (pos. 1).
Starting items
Early game
Core items
- 1Force Staff
- 2Hurricane Pike
- 3Mage Slayer
- 4Manta Style
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Nethertoxin›Corrosive Skin›Poison Attack
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Talents by level
- -50% Viper Strike Mana Cost / CooldownNethertoxin Radius increases by 25 every 0.5s25
- +70 Viper Strike DPS+0.35 Predator Damage Per Missing Health20
- +20/40 Nethertoxin Min/Max Damage+15% Poison Attack Slow / Damage15
- +1s Viper Strike Duration+15 Corrosive Skin Damage Per Second10
Damage build
When to use it
Moves the popular items that add damage — Orchid Malevolence and Hand of Midas — to the front. Choose it when your lane went well and you can afford to be greedy. Built from what Viper players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
310%222%168%- MidMain68% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
- OfflanePriority 222% of matchesOff lane as the space-making core (pos. 3).
- Safe lanePriority 310% of matchesSafe lane as the farming core (pos. 1).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Orchid Malevolence+35 Attack Speed, +20 Damage, +2.5 Mana Regeneration. Active: Soul Burn.
- 2Hand of Midas+40 Attack Speed. Active: Transmute.
- 3Shadow Blade+25 Damage, +35 Attack Speed. Active: Shadow Walk.
- 4Specialist's Array+15 Agility, +20 Damage.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Nethertoxin›Corrosive Skin›Poison Attack
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Talents by level
- -50% Viper Strike Mana Cost / CooldownNethertoxin Radius increases by 25 every 0.5s25
- +70 Viper Strike DPS+0.35 Predator Damage Per Missing Health20
- +20/40 Nethertoxin Min/Max Damage+15% Poison Attack Slow / Damage15
- +1s Viper Strike Duration+15 Corrosive Skin Damage Per Second10
Team utility build
When to use it
Built around the popular items that help your allies — Hurricane Pike and Mage Slayer. Choose it when your team needs saves and auras more than your damage. Built from what Viper players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
310%222%168%- MidMain68% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
- OfflanePriority 222% of matchesOff lane as the space-making core (pos. 3).
- Safe lanePriority 310% of matchesSafe lane as the farming core (pos. 1).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Hurricane Pike+15 Intelligence, +200 Health, +20 Agility. Active: Hurricane Thrust.
- 2Mage Slayer+18% Magic Resistance, +5.5 Health Regeneration, +2.5 Mana Regeneration.
- 3Orchid Malevolence+35 Attack Speed, +20 Damage, +2.5 Mana Regeneration. Active: Soul Burn.
- 4Crimson Guard+250 Health, +12 Health Regeneration, +6 Armor. Active: Guard.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Nethertoxin›Corrosive Skin›Poison Attack
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · |
| · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | ● | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
Talents by level
- -50% Viper Strike Mana Cost / CooldownNethertoxin Radius increases by 25 every 0.5s25
- +70 Viper Strike DPS+0.35 Predator Damage Per Missing Health20
- +20/40 Nethertoxin Min/Max Damage+15% Poison Attack Slow / Damage15
- +1s Viper Strike Duration+15 Corrosive Skin Damage Per Second10
Abilities
- Poison Attack20 mpIntensifies Viper's venom, adding an effect to his normal attack that applies a stacking movement speed slow and magic resistance deduction while dealing damage over time. Stacks up to 6 times.
- Duration
- 4
- Damage per second
- 4·8·12·16
- Move slow
- 3·6·9·12
- Magic resistance
- 4·6·8·10
- Max stacks
- 6
- Radius
- 0
- Nethertoxin14s70 mpViper releases a Nethertoxin at the targeted area. Units in that area take an increasing damage over time based on how long they remain in it. Units in it have their attack speed slowed.
- Min dps
- 15·25·35·45
- Max dps
- 35·65·95·125
- Max dps duration
- 4
- Radius
- 400
- Attack speed slow
- 30·40·50·60
- Duration
- 6.5·7·7.5·8
- Corrosive SkinPassiveViper exudes an infectious toxin that damages and slows the attack speed of any enemy that damages it in a 1200 radius. The acid exudate also increases Viper's resistance to magic.
- Duration
- 4
- Attack slow
- 9·18·27·36
- Magic resistance
- 10·15·20·25
- Damage per second
- 10·15·20·25
- Max range radius
- 1200
Nosedive25s75 mpViper slams into the ground, releasing a Nethertoxin and splattering each enemy in a 500 AoE for 4 seconds with the effect of Corrosive Skin.- Radius
- 500
- Effect duration
- 4
PredatorPassive- Viper Strike50 / 40 / 30s100 / 150 / 200 mpViper slows the targeted enemy unit's movement and attack speed while also disabling their passives and dealing poison damage over time. The slowing effect reduces over the duration of the poison.
- Duration
- 6
- Damage per second
- 70·110·150
- Move slow
- 60·70·80
- Attack slow
- 100·140·180
Most played skill order
The most played order in the last 100 professional matches with this hero. Highlighted levels are the points spent on talents.
Max order:Nethertoxin›Corrosive Skin›Poison Attack
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · |
| · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | ● | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
Strategy
1Early game
Mid is a one-on-one: whoever has more last hits and levels usually wins it. Contest the power runes every two minutes and use a good one to gank a side lane. Trade when the enemy mid goes for a last hit and when you are a level ahead: in the solo lane each level is a real edge.
- Early items: Wraith Band and Bracer.
2Mid game
With Force Staff, you should be the one starting the action: gank, push out lanes and take towers with your team. Your spikes are level 6, when Viper Strike comes online, and your core items: Force Staff and then Hurricane Pike.
- Core items: Force Staff, Hurricane Pike and Mage Slayer.
3Late game
Late, choose your fights: you still hit hard, but the enemy carry catches up. Stay with the team and look for picks with vision.
- Late items: Black King Bar and Eye of Skadi.
4Team fights
Your damage decides the opening seconds: look for the enemy support or carry out of position, and use Viper Strike where it hits the most heroes.
Tips
- Check the power runes at every even minute and gank with the good ones.
- Force Staff is your first big spike: once you have it, leave the lane and look for kills.
- Push the wave into the enemy tower before you rotate, or the lane punishes you twice.
- Plan fights around Viper Strike: without it, Viper is far less threatening.
Matchups
Strong against
- Dragon Knight59.5%win rate in the matchup
Viper wins 59.5% of the 121 games measured against Dragon Knight this patch.
121 matches
- Skywrath Mage59.0%win rate in the matchup
Viper wins 59.0% of the 100 games measured against Skywrath Mage this patch.
100 matches
- Tidehunter58.4%win rate in the matchup
Viper wins 58.4% of the 161 games measured against Tidehunter this patch.
161 matches
- Ogre Magi58.3%win rate in the matchup
Viper wins 58.3% of the 120 games measured against Ogre Magi this patch.
120 matches
- Pudge54.8%win rate in the matchup
Viper wins 54.8% of the 115 games measured against Pudge this patch.
115 matches
Weak against
- Slardar40.7%win rate in the matchup
Viper only wins 40.7% of the 113 games measured against Slardar this patch.
113 matches
- Windranger41.5%win rate in the matchup
Viper only wins 41.5% of the 205 games measured against Windranger this patch.
205 matches
- Jakiro44.3%win rate in the matchup
Viper only wins 44.3% of the 203 games measured against Jakiro this patch.
203 matches
- Shadow Demon44.8%win rate in the matchup
Viper only wins 44.8% of the 116 games measured against Shadow Demon this patch.
116 matches
- Axe45.0%win rate in the matchup
Viper only wins 45.0% of the 109 games measured against Axe this patch.
109 matches
Works well with
Viper holds the front line while Vengeful Spirit deals damage from behind.
Viper holds the front line while Muerta deals damage from behind.
Viper holds the front line while Lone Druid deals damage from behind.
Changelog
- Guide created for patch 7.41.
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