Viper

Viper overview

Viper is VAMPIR's sorcerer, a magic class that casts from 9 m with an orb and carries the client's Curse tag. Most of its kit poisons or weakens: Poison Blast and Chain of Decay leave poison on the target, Whispers of Suffering and Echo of Despair cut its magic resistance, and Body Decay adds 12% damage against poisoned targets and 12% more against envenomed ones. Venom Shield gives it a shield of 350% of its attack and poisons whoever hits it, which makes it the sturdier of the two ranged classes.

It is S in PvE, sharing the band with Bloodstained and Carnage, and the fastest class on packs: four of its skills hit up to 5 targets. In PvP it is A overall and the first pick for big clan fights, because its poison bonus counts poison from any Viper. Duels and 5v5 Arena are its weak side, since it has no dash or cleanse. Pick Viper as a free-to-play first character if you want one class that farms well now and still has a job in clan wars later.

How to play Viper in PvE

Viper is the best pack farmer of the five because it stacks damage on a group. Echo of Despair hits up to 5 targets for 360% and lowers their magic resistance by 5% and defence by 45, Chain of Decay leaves 200% poison over 7 seconds on everything in its blast, and Swamp of Suffering lands ten hits of 80% across a 5.5 m area. Every poisoned target takes Body Decay's extra 12%, so on a pack each skill sets up the next, and the poison pays off most when every target is hit.

It is also safe on its own. Venom Shield absorbs 350% of its attack for 15 seconds on a 40-second cooldown, and casting from 9 m keeps it out of reach of most melee monsters, so Viper holds up unattended better than Carnage, the other ranged class. In the Elite Dungeon it out-farms Bloodstained, and it stays a good class at low power.

On bosses Viper is S too. Focus costs no MP, restores 1,850 and adds 7% boss damage amplification, and Swirling Dark Magic cuts cooldowns by 10% and raises skill damage amplification by 18% for 30 seconds, which keeps the rotation going through a long fight. Most boss-damage comparisons put Viper in the top two of the five, ahead of Bloodstained, though Bloodstained survives longer.

How to play Viper in PvP

Viper's PvP is strong in numbers. In War of Occupation, Skirmish and the other clan wars, a clan's Vipers add up: the poison bonus counts poison from any Viper, and Echo of Despair's 10% PvP resistance cut helps every attacker on that target. Venom Shield also slows anyone who hits it, cutting attack speed and cast speed by 30% for 3 seconds, which punishes a melee dive into the back line.

One on one is where it struggles. Viper has no dash, no cleanse and nothing it can cast through a stun, so a class that closes the gap and chains crowd control wins most duels against it, and 5v5 Arena turns on exactly that. The Curse passive's slow and Whispers of Suffering's 15% move-speed cut buy some room. Duelling is what Akasha and Grim Reaper are for.

Viper skills

Viper has 15 class skills, five General, five Uncommon, three Rare and two Heroic, plus two passives it always has. Skill names are the official English names from the global client.

1. Echo of Despair: The skill a clan's Vipers share: its PvP resistance cut helps everyone hitting that target.
2. Venom Shield: Keep it up while hunting alone. In PvP its slow punishes the melee classes that dive you.
3. Focus: Costs nothing and gives 1,850 MP back, which is how Viper keeps casting through a long boss fight.

Power spike

It hits up to 5 targets in a 3.5 m area six times for 145%, slows them by 30% for 8 seconds and can stun for 1.5 seconds. It adds control to a kit that is weak on it, which makes it as useful in clan fights as on packs.

Bloodshapes for Viper

A Bloodshape's stats work on any class, but its passive skills switch on only when its own class wears it. These 22 carry Viper's passives. The Ruler line is Viper's own Legendary set. Names are the official English names from the global client.

Viper weapons

Viper has six orbs. Four climb the PvE line, each adding magic attack and critical damage. The Prophet pair trades critical damage for PvP attack and PvP damage amplification. A combat preset swaps weapons in one tap, so if you play both modes, keep one of each line.

Changing to Viper

Moving to Viper is cheapest if you already own a Legendary Ruler Bloodshape: that slot needs no conversion, where any other Legendary costs 100 Class Change Proofs.

1. Opens only in announced windows. Needs character level 60 and 2,000 Diamonds (Farming Diamonds count).
2. Level, EXP, quests and items carry over. Weapons of any class become Viper orbs at the same grade, enhancement, refinement and Blessing.
3. Only the old class's own Bloodshapes convert, grade for grade, and never into one you already own. Skill cards keep the highest grade of each. Quick slots and skill settings reset.

Viper compared with the other classes

BloodstainedAlso S in PvE. Safer left alone and steadier on Naricanje Valley's season floor 30; Viper kills packs faster and does more in clan wars.CarnageThe other ranged class. Hits a single boss harder and duels better, but has no shield, so Viper is the safer one to leave hunting.AkashaThree dashes and a cleanse make Akasha the duel Viper least wants. Viper does more in the big fights Akasha only joins.Grim ReaperOut-damages Viper on Valley 30 and in short boss windows, and farms far slower. Viper is the better first character.