Viper
A feral beast from the netherrealm, Viper unleashes caustic venom that withers even the mightiest of warriors.
At a Glance
Core Principles
“The venom flows steady. The stronger the opponent, the sweeter their defeat. Victory comes not in moments, but in the relentless pressure that breaks all resistance.”
Apply Constant Pressure
Your strength lies in persistence. Never let your opponents catch their breath. Stack poison, maintain aggression, watch them wither.
Master the Manual Cast
The difference between good Vipers and great ones lies in manual Poison Attack usage. No creep aggro, maximum pressure, complete lane control.
Embrace Your Tank Role
Corrosive Skin makes you surprisingly durable. Tank spells, absorb damage, let your poison and team do the work. You're harder to kill than they think.
Strike Wisely
Viper Strike pierces BKB but has a long cooldown. Save it for crucial targets - the enemies who can actually win fights for their team.
Control the Space
Your presence alone distorts the map. Force enemies to play defensively, deny them farm, and create opportunities for your team through sheer pressure.
The Slow Death
Victory rarely comes in explosive bursts. It comes in the gradual erosion of enemy health, coordination, and will to fight. Be the poison they cannot escape.
Hero Overview
Viper is a monstrous lane dominator who excels at wearing down opponents through relentless poison damage. His combination of ranged harassment, magical resistance, and movement slow makes him exceptionally difficult to trade against in the early game, often forcing enemies out of lane or securing kills through sustained pressure.
Viper's gameplay revolves around applying constant pressure with Poison Attack while using his natural tankiness from Corrosive Skin to dominate trades. His ultimate Viper Strike serves as both a powerful assassination tool and teamfight debuff that can cripple even the hardiest of heroes. With Aghanim's Scepter, Nosedive provides incredible mobility for initiation or escape, making Viper a versatile threat throughout all stages of the game.
Pros
- Exceptional lane dominator with Poison Attack
- High magic resistance from Corrosive Skin
- Viper Strike pierces spell immunity (BKB)
- Great against physical damage dealers
- Strong 1v1 potential throughout the game
Cons
- Vulnerable to burst damage without items
- Limited mobility without Aghanim's Scepter
- Can be kited by fast heroes
- Requires careful positioning in teamfights
- Relatively low damage output compared to other carries
Ability Analysis
Poison Attack
ActiveViper adds poison to his attack, dealing damage over time and slowing both movement and attack speed of the target enemy.
Notes: Your primary harassment and zoning tool. Manually cast on heroes to avoid drawing creep aggro. The slow makes it nearly impossible for enemies to escape trades. Stacks with multiple applications.
Nethertoxin
ActiveViper sprays a ring ofNether toxins around him, disabling passives and reducing magic resistance of enemies within.
Notes: Use to set up kills or zone enemies in teamfights. Disables key enemy passives and makes them more vulnerable to magic damage. Excellent against heroes with strong passive abilities.
Corrosive Skin
PassiveViper's skin is covered in corrosive poison, providing magic resistance and damage over time to nearby enemies when Viper takes damage.
Notes: Your survivability tool. Provides excellent magic resistance and punishes enemies who attack you. The damage accumulates quickly in teamfights, making you dangerous to focus.
Viper Strike
Target UnitViper strikes with overwhelming poison, dealing damage over time, slowing and reducing the target's attack damage.
Notes: Game-changing ultimate that works through BKB. Use on key enemy threats to cripple their damage output and secure kills. The Break effect makes it devastating against right-click carries.
Poison Attack (Shard Upgrade)
ActivePoison Attack reduces armor, allowing it to damage buildings.
Notes: The Shard upgrade significantly improves your pushing potential. Use to wear down towers and barracks quickly, making you much more effective in siege situations.
Nosedive
ActiveViper flies to a target location, damaging and applying Poison Attack effects to enemies in an area.
Notes: Aghanim's Scepter upgrade provides excellent initiation and escape. Can travel over cliffs and obstacles. Highlights invisible units with particle effects, making it great for detection.
Developer's Notes
Developer Insights
Viper is one of the most relentless lane dominators in Dota 2. His Poison Attack combined with Corrosive Skin makes him nearly impossible to trade against early on.
Key Insights:
- Manual PoisonAttack casting avoids creep aggro
- Viper Strike pierces spell immunity
- Nosedive (Aghanim's) provides unmatched mobility
Viper thrives on constant pressure. Don't give your opponents a moment to breathe - your poison will do the rest!
Game Strategy
Early Game
Timeframe: 0-15 minutes Objective: Dominate lane and establish pressure Key: Use manual Poison Attack to harass without creep aggro; Trade aggressively with Corrosive Skin protection; Force enemies out of lane for experience advantage; Build towards core items efficiently Items: Power Treads (Priority #1); Slippers for early damage output; Tangos and healing sustain Tips: Position to maximize Poison Attack uptime; Use creeps as cover while harassing; Be aggressive but watch for ganks; Stack camps if you have free time
Mid Game
Timeframe: 15-30 minutes Objective: Maintain pressure and secure objectives Key: Apply constant pressure with poison stacks; Use Nethertoxin to disable enemy passives; Target squishy supports and carries; Control vision and map space Items: Dragon Lance for range and damage; Yasha for mobility and attack speed; Black King Bar against magic burst Tips: Group with team for teamfight advantage; Use terrain to your advantage; Keep Viper Strike for key targets; Push towers with Shard Poison Attack
Late Game
Timeframe: 30+ minutes Objective: Execute precise teamfight plays and carry to victory Key: Use Viper Strike on enemy carries or threats; Position to maximize AoE damage; Initiate with Nosedive if you have Aghs; Focus on sustained damage and survivability Items: Blink Dagger for positioning; Satanic for survivability; Butterfly for damage and evasion Tips: Don't overextend without backup; Use consumables for healing in fights; Target the highest damage dealer; Buy back when crucial
Tips & Strategies
Poison Attack Mastery
- Manually cast Poison Attack on enemy heroes to avoid drawing creep aggro - this is crucial for winning trades.
- Poison Attack stacks with multiple applications, so maintain constant pressure on key targets.
- With Aghs Shard, Poison Attack reduces armor and can damage buildings, making you a much better tower pusher.
Combat Positioning
- Corrosive Skin makes you durable against magic damage, so don't be afraid to tank spells for your team.
- Nethertoxin is perfect for disabling enemy passives like Broodmother's Insatiable Hunger or Phantom Assassin's Blur.
- Stay in the front line but near your team - you tank damage while they provide follow-up.
Ultimate Usage
- Viper Strike pierces spell immunity, making it perfect for disabling BKB'd enemies.
- The Break effect from Viper Strike is devastating against heroes reliant on passives for damage.
- Save Viper Strike for key targets in teamfights - it's often better used defensively on enemy carries than offensively.
Item Guide
Starting Items
Early stats for trading and sustain to dominate the laning phase.
Slippers of Agi, Tangos, Faerie Fire
Core Items
Essential for damage, attack speed, and mobility. These items maximize your laning dominance and transition into mid-game fighting.
Power Treads, Dragon Lance, Yasha
Situational Items
BKB against heavy magic, Pike for positioning, Aghs for mobility, Silver Edge against passives.
Black King Bar, Hurricane Pike, Aghanim's Scepter, Silver Edge
Counter Guide
Good With
Viper excels when paired with heroes who can capitalize on his damage amplification and control. Zeus and Lina benefit immensely from Nethertoxin's magic resistance reduction, allowing them to burst down targets faster. Shadow Shaman and Crystal Maiden provide thedisable and follow-up damage needed to secure kills on Viper's poison-stack victims. Tidehunter and Earthshaker create devastating combos - Viper applies pressure, they provide the lockdown. Witch Doctor's Maledict synergizes perfectly with Viper's DoT playstyle. The key is heroes who need enemies to be weakened or immobilized - Viper's poison amplifies all magical damage.
Bad Against
Viper struggles against heroes who can bypass his strengths or exploit his weaknesses. Axe completely neutralizes Viper with Berserker's Call, preventing Poison Attack and forcing unfavorable trades. Phantom Lancer overwhelms Viper with illusions - Corrosive Skin can't keep up with the pressure. Ember Spirit and Anti-Mage use high mobility to kite Viper and burn his mana. Silver Edge carriers apply Break, disabling Corrosive Skin and making Viper vulnerable. Heroes with immunity abilities like New-Storm or Morphling can simply ignore Viper's pressure. Diverse damage dealers like Lifestealer or Ursa can power through his poison. The pattern is heroes with strong mobility, immunity mechanics, or who can disable his primary defensive tool.
Good Against
Viper dominates heroes who rely on auto-attacks, have low mobility, or depend on passives. Right-click carries like Drow Ranger, Sniper, and Medusa struggle against Corrosive Skin's magic resistance and Viper Strike's Break effect. Channeling heroes such as Crystal Maiden (Freezing Field), Witch Doctor (Death Ward), and Enigma (Black Hole) become prime targets for Viper's relentless pressure. Squishy supports without escape mechanisms like Lion and Shadow Shaman are easy prey for sustained poison damage. Heroes dependent on passives like Broodmother, Phantom Assassin, and Faceless Void are crippled by Nethertoxin. Slow, tanky heroes like Pudge and Wraith King can't escape the constant damage and fall victim to Viper's superior trading. Viper's combination of damage reduction, status vulnerability, and sustained pressure makes him a nightmare for these hero types.