Valorant is Riot Games' first FPS shooter game. Its rise to popularity has been pretty intense with a huge database of players in 2023. It's one of the most popular games in the world, with thousands of new players trying out the game daily.
With 23 agents for players to choose from, it makes sense that some people get lost with who to pick. Additionally, each agent has their own personality, abilities, skills and best weapons for them. Also, Valorant is constantly being updated, so knowing who is strong in the latest patch is key.
With such a large amount of information out there, let's finetune the basics of Viper. Valorant's poster girl.
Viper abilities
Viper has one of the most well-rounded kits in Valorant. She is a controller, but she's also practically a sentinel on the defensive side. Because of that, she brings a lot of value to most team compositions. She is also very useful in all Valorant maps.
So, let's check out Viper's abilities below.
Snakebite - Viper equips a chemical launcher. Fire to launch a canister that shatters upon hitting the floor, creating a chemical zone that damages enemies. Vulnerable lasts for 2 seconds upon leaving the area of effect.
Poison Cloud - Viper equips a gas emitter. Fire to throw the emitter that perpetually remains throughout the round. Re-use the ability to create a toxic gas cloud at the cost of fuel. This ability can be re-used multiple times and can be picked up to be redeployed. Poison Orb goes on an 8-second cooldown after being deactivated.
Toxic Screen - Viper equips a gas emitter launcher. Fire to deploy a long line of gas emitters. Re-use the ability to create a tall wall of toxic gas at the cost of fuel. This ability can be re-used multiple times. Toxic Screen burns through walls, placing emitters at all valid locations over its length. It has an 8-second cooldown after being deactivated
Viper’s Pit - Viper equips a chemical sprayer. Then, fire to spray a chemical cloud in all directions around Viper, creating a large cloud that reduces the vision range of players and decays the health of enemies that are inside it. Hold the ability key to disperse the cloud early. It lasts forever if Viper returns to refuel it every 8 seconds, or remains inside.
Viper's strengths and weaknesses
Viper's ability to block the enemy's vision is one of her biggest strengths. It makes it much harder for opponents to progress into the bombsite. At the same time, it makes it easier for teammates to retake certain map areas.
Another one of Viper's strengths is the ability to slow down or even stop enemy rushes. Since her poison cloud and toxic screen leave enemies vulnerable, opponents need to be careful. Sometimes, a Viper wall it's all it's needed to stop a team from executing into a bombsite.
When her walls are down, Viper can use her Snakebites to stop enemy rushes. They cause significant damage, so going over them will spell disaster for opponents.
However, as strong as she may seem, Viper does have her weaknesses. Her toxin fuel is one of the downsides to her kit which means her abilities can't be spammed. Consequently, all of her abilities apart from her ultimate drains her fuel, and not preserving this can let an enemy get ahead.
Her ultimate ability is a brilliant one. However, she can be forced out of her pit by the ultimates of other agents. Breach and Killjoy can both use their ultimate to ensure she doesn't get to escape in her cloud.
Best weapons
Of course, the best weapons for the agent being played depend on the player. From your playstyle, your role, and even how you're feeling that day. These all add up and may change which weapon is best at that time.
However, there are certain weapons which just synergise with the controller. These include
- Ghost
- Stinger
- Spectre
- Phantom
- Frenzy
- Sheriff
which are all brilliant for that aggressive push into sites. Additionally, a passive playstyle can also be used with Viper. For that instance...
- Bulldog
- Marshall
- Guardian
- Vandal
- Odin
- Operator
are definitely the better weapons to purchase.