The guide on Viper — the agent who skillfully controls a map and closes space

We continue our series of materials dedicated to VALORANT agents. Next in line is Viper — the signature controller whose abilities are aimed at the deterrence of the enemy and map control.

If we describe all abilities of Viper, her main objective is the restriction of movement of the opposing team and the space creation for teammates. With the help of her abilities, the agent can not only cut zones but deal damage.

Generally, we have another universal soldier who is extremely effective in late timing. So we propose to talk about Viper — tell you about the abilities of the agent in detail and give a few pieces of advice on playing accurately.

The list of the abilities of Viper

Toxic Screen

This ability is characterized by the fact that Viper releases special gas atomizers. Their functions can be divided into two parts: 1) dealing damage; 2) blocking important parts of a map.

First of all, Toxic Screen blocks separated parts of a map where atomizers were released. Activating the ability, Viper creates a wall of toxic gas that not only obscures vision but deals damage to all players who are passing through it.

In such a way, you need to be careful because teammates may also receive little but still damage. Another feature of Toxic Screen is the use of fuel that is used to produce gas. As soon as the fuel is over, a wall will disappear and open the vision to opponents.

However, fuel is restored during a round, due to which a player can use this ability numerous times. Also, it is worth considering map geometry because atomizers can’t be placed on walls and other objects.

How to control: Press LMB to release a long row of gas atomizers forward. Having activated the ability, atomizers will create a wall of toxic gas that is fueled by Viper’s gasoline.

The key characteristics:

• Price — free
• Quantity — multiple uses (until you have fuel)
• Fuel consumption — 5 units per second
• Cooldown — 8 seconds
• Activation delay — 0,8 seconds
• Recovery speed — 20 units per second

Poison Cloud

The next ability of Viper allows you to create barriers against opponents. In other words, the agent releases a projectile that creates a poison cloud. The effect of the use of Poison Cloud can be described as a smoke and fire grenade at the same time.

First of all, the deployed cloud obscures the vision of the opposing team. Secondly, the ability deals damage to all players who have entered the poisonous area.

However, it is not worth forgetting that Poison Cloud also uses the stock of fuel, and as soon as it is empty, the ability will be deactivated. However, Viper can use this ability numerous times by grabbing an atomizer and placing it at a different spot on a map.

With the help of Poison Cloud, a player can push away opponents from their cover and also prevent them from entering a spot. Besides, Viper can zone space and be not afraid of the appearance of the opposing team’s players.

How to control: Press LMB to deploy an atomizer. Having used the ability, Poison Cloud will appear, it will obscure the view and deal damage to players who have entered the range of the ability.

The key characteristics:

• Price — 200 credits
• Quantity — one (it can be used a few times during a round)
• Fuel consumption — 5 units per second
• Cooldown — 8 seconds
• Activation delay — 0,8 seconds
• Recovery speed — 20 units per second

Snake Bite

The next ability is an analog of a fire grenade. Having released a toxic projectile, Viper creates a poisonous puddle that deals damage to all players who stick to it.

There is no sense in describing the working principle of Snake Bite because the main function of the ability is damage dealing. However, the ability also perfectly restrains and smokes out rivals from shelters.

But the most remarkable thing is that Snake Bite does not require fuel, so the ability can be used with other events to restrain opponents.

How to control: Press LMB to release a toxic charge that will create a poisonous puddle when it hits a surface. Players caught in the puddle take damage and are slowed down.

The key characteristics:

• Price — 200 credits
• Quantity — two
• The dealt damage — 1 HP every 0,04 seconds
• Debuff — double damage
• Range — 450
• Activation time — 0,8 seconds
• Debuff delay duration — 2 seconds

Viper’s Pit

This is the ultimate ability that becomes available to a player after earning 8 points. Having activated Viper’s Pit, a player covers a major part of a map with a poison cloud that obscures vision to both teammates and opponents but not to Viper.

Perhaps, it is one of the most effective abilities in post-plant situations. Having spread the cloud, Viper can quickly defuse a spike or control bombsite after the bomb has been planted.

Besides, players who have been caught in Viper’s Pit will receive periodical damage that will allow Viper to win time. The ability is active all the time when a player is inside the cloud and also uses fuel if Viper leaves it.

Another interesting advantage is highlighting enemies inside the cloud, due to which VIper can effectively use a location and decide the outcome of a round.

How to control: Press LMB to deploy a chemical cloud, reducing vision and the maximum level of health points of the players caught in it.

The key characteristics:

• Price — 8 points
• Quantity — one
• Duration — endless (when Viper is inside)/ 8 seconds (when Viper leaves the cloud)
• Atomization speed — 1,5 seconds

How to play as Viper well?

Since Viper is a controller, her usefulness will be obvious in late situations. In other words, the agent is especially effective in supporting and defending positions because the abilities of Viper allow you to hold back opponents.

After all, the agent is pretty universal, so she can not just obscure vision to opponents but deal damage to them thanks to Snake Bite and Poison Cloud.

The main pieces of advice that can help to play as Viper well:

• Follow the fuel consumption attentively and do not activate the ability without clear information about opponents.
• Do not forget that the damage dealt to opponents by Viper’s poison can’t kill them. It means that as soon as an agent leaves gas, his health will restore with time to the level he has had previously.
• Study a location carefully and try to use a Toxic Screen all over the map to cover as many positions as possible.

Viper is one of the most complicated agents in VALORANT. Since her abilities are focused on control and deterrence, they can’t be used to eliminate opponents.

Summing up, Viper is a very important element of team play. However, the abilities of the agent are pretty difficult to master. So spend time before starting a ranked match and find optimal zones to use all abilities of the agent.