Level 1 - Nethertoxin 1
Level 2 - Poison Attack 1
Level 3 - Poison Attack 2
Level 4 - Nethertoxin 2
Level 5 - Poison Attack 3
Level 6 - Viper Strike 1
Level 7 - Nethertoxin 3
Level 8 - Poison Attack 4
Level 9 - Nethertoxin 4
Level 10 - Corrosive Skin 1
Level 11 - Viper Strike 2
Level 12 - Corrosive Skin 2
Level 13 - Corrosive Skin 3
Level 14 - Corrosive Skin 4
Level 15 - Stats
Level 16 - Viper Strike 3
Level +17 - Stats

Justification

Level 1 - Nethertoxin 1
Level 2 - Poison Attack 1
Level 3 - Nethertoxin 2
Level 4 - Corrosive Skin 1
Level 5 - Corrosive Skin 2
Level 6 - Viper Strike 1
Level 7 - Poison Attack 2
Level 8 - Poison Attack 3
Level 9 - Poison Attack 4
Level 10 - Nethertoxin 3
Level 11 - Viper Strike 2
Level 12 - Nethertoxin 4
Level 13 - Corrosive Skin 3
Level 14 - Corrosive Skin 4
Level 15 - Stats
Level 16 - Viper Strike 3
Level +17 - Stats

Early Game Items

(Cost: 596)
Provides good stats for early last hits and ample healing consumables. Immediately upgrade the two slippers to a Poor Mans Shield and the Branches to a Magic Wand.

If you are playing as a Babysitter to a carry in lane you might as well go for this build.



(Cost: 569)
A quick courier helps you carry farm in lane for long periods of time while you protect him from harm with some boost to your HP and with healing items. A clarity is bought in case you decide to harass too much for keeping enemy heroes at bay and need mana to continue doing so.

Core Items

Wraith Bands help you get more last hits and increase your damage while giving a slight boost to other stats as well. If the opponent team has lots of spammers/nukers swap your wraith bands for bracers.


Rush this for obvious reasons. You need to move quicker.


If you will be playing Viper as a Ganker and Chaser then this item is a must. It will allow you to turn enemy spells in ganks into much-required burst HP and mana heal. Sell this once you hit level 10~11 for better items.


This item helps you upgrade your slippers into something useful. PMS gives you damage block which is quite noticeable early game. Sell this also at level 10~11 for better items.


Playing as a ganker? As you gank and kill, this item will give you free heals. Along with the heals it allows you to use it on enemies to damage them, some HP through strength and quite a bit of mana regeneration. The mana regeneration is useful since while ganking you will keep running out of mana.


Ring of Basilius is a good item for Viper if you are facing mana-problems early game. The bonus armor and armor aura will help you and your carry if you are babysitting.


If you want to Rune-whore and use them to kill, go for it after you farm either a wand or a PMS.


Goes without saying. Carry a TP on you always. A TP can save you from ganks, help you change lanes and farm better and defend lanes that are being pushed.[/spoiler]

Boot Choices

An awesome choice for viper most of the time or played as a carry. Viper has below average movement speed but you have slows to cover it up. The attack speed and the stats help very much in increasing your Dps as nethertoxin will be activated more number of times.


A Viable choice on Viper when playing as a Ganker and Chaser. The Phase ability helps you cut through creeps like a ghost and increases movement speed allowing you to escape some situations and also to chase since your movement speed is below average.


Don't get this early on as it is very costly. The money will be well spent on other things, mainly to cover up his weaknesses. Sell your Power Treads/Phase Boots Late-game when pushing and winning is more important than farming and chasing.


NO. Viper does not need so much mana. If you have mana problems just get a Sobi mask and upgrade it to a Urn or get a bottle and rune-whore. The energy booster is a waste of money anyways.

Mid Game Items

Yasha gives a nice boost to your Movement speed, Attack speed and gives your agility. Can be upgraded to a Manta or a Sange and Yasha later on.


Gives you a much-needed escape mechanism and chasing power. Also increases your Dps a little bit and gives you damage as well. Easily countered by wards/dust/gem though. Well-suited for Pubs.


This covers up Viper's weakness to spells. Gives little HP and damage along with spell immunity that can change the tide of battle. Get this if you are dying too often due to nukes and spells.

Luxuries

Since this is no longer an orb, get this if you are not farming too well. You can build this item from scraps. This gives a little of everything you need. Strength for tanking, Movement speed for chasing and running, Attack speed and damage, and Miam. Not suited for most games though as there are many better items for Viper.


A Better upgrade to yasha than a S&Y. Even if it was nerfed for ranged heroes, Manta style is still a tempting choice. Gives much needed stats and illusions to create confusion and also to increase your damage output.


The best item for agility heroes. Gives your neat evasion increasing your EHP, Attack speed and Damage. A must on viper in all games.


Gives you massive amounts of damage. Get this if the opponent carry is a Mortred or a carry with a butterfly.


Great Armor and Attack speed bonus. Coupled with a Damage item turns viper into a fearsome foe.


If you are getting nuked to death or need to tank a little, get this item. Gives good passive regen even if it is nerfed and huge amounts of HP.


A Definite choice on a ganking and chasing Viper. Drops the cooldown of your ulti to 12 seconds making it very spammable. It also increases the cast range and decreases the mana cost of your ulti. This item also provides good stats, HP and mana.


Synergy with a chasing Viper. The Silence is useful. This item is also great to use on enemy tanks because if amplifies your huge Dps by 20% as well. The attack speed is also a good addition.


An interesting item on Viper that you should consider. If gives you one of the best disables in the game along with massive mana regeneration allowing you to auto-cast your orb and keep it that way. Get this if you have a good farm and there is a better carry in your team.

Situational Items

Lots of casters and heroes with targeted disables in the opponent team? Get this without thinking further. You need to survive past that one hex to unload your Dps.


A quick Vanguard can help you tank a little in ganks and to tower dive if you like to chase. Get this item before 15~17 Minutes or it will lose its effectiveness.


Reduces magic damage to a considerable extent. Get this if you need to stay alive and take those intelligence nukers down.


Having troubles with enemy carries? This item will turn their Dps against them. Works great against spells also.

Rejected Items

It may be a tempting choice to go for lifesteal but Viper's Orb is too good to throw away even in the late game. Avoid them and get other items for survivability.


No to all orb effects. Viper can be very effective without all of them and as said earlier, your orb is too precious to throw away.


There are better items to tank and you do not need so much mana. The charges might seem a good deal but there are better items worth the same price.


Not a jungler. Will delay your core.


Gives you only pure damage and immolation. Even though it looks like a good item, take a look at its cost. Gives you nothing to overcome your negatives. No HP, No stats and very costly.