Looking for tips on how to dominate the mid-lane? Explore this in-depth Viper Midlane Guide in 7.32d in Dota 2.
The mid lane in Dota 2 is often regarded as the most important lane on the map, as it provides a direct path to both sides of the enemy base and requires a hero who can handle a solo lane.
This is because the mid-lane usually needs much more experience and gold to be efficient for the team. In this aspect, Viper is a top-tier mid-hero who can win the mid-lane matchup against almost any hero in the game.
However, the power spike of Viper could decay over time, as there are many counters to this hero. In this article, we will discuss Viper’s strengths and weaknesses in the mid-lane, tackle proper item and skill builds, and the hero’s power spikes and timing.
Let’s begin!
Talent Tree
Choosing the right talents is crucial to maximizing damage output and survivability as a Viper player. At Level 10, you should opt for the +18 Corrosive Skin Damage Per Second talent, which complements your primary source of damage.
At Level 15, the +15% Corrosive Skin Magic Resistance talent is a must-have to increase your tankiness.
Level 20 offers the +80 Viper Strike DPS talent, further boosting your damage potential. Finally, at Level 25, taking the -11s Nethertoxin Cooldown talent can help spam this ability.
By investing in these talents, and with the added boost from Aghanim’s Scepter and Bloodstone, you heavily rely on your Corrosive Skin damage to dish out massive amounts of damage while also being able to sustain enemy attacks.
Item Build Progression
Starting with the right items is crucial for any midlaner, especially Viper. You’ll want to pick up Tangoes, Branches, Circlet, Slippers of Agility, and Faerie Fire to get your early game going.
Unlike other midlaners, there’s no need to get a bottle, as Viper can sustain himself well with his abilities. Afterward, you’ll want to pick up a couple of Wraith Bands to increase your attack damage and attributes.
Arcane Boots are a must-have for the early game, but you’ll eventually want to disassemble them to get the Energy Booster to build Bloodstone. Rushing for Aghanim’s Scepter should be your top priority as it gives you an overpowered Corrosive Skin.
For the late game, you can scale by buying Eternal Shroud to increase your magic resistance and Boots of Travel for mobility. Shiva’s Guard and Lotus Orb are excellent pickups for additional armor and dispel, respectively.
Skill Build
As Viper, your skill build should prioritize Poison Attack and Corrosive Skin. Maxing out Poison Attack first will provide constant harassment against the enemy mid-hero, making it difficult for them to farm and stay in lane.
Additionally, the slow effect will make it easier for you to secure the last hits and denies. Corrosive Skin is also a crucial skill to max out early on. Its passive effect damages enemies who attack you, making it a significant deterrent to enemy harassment.
Moreover, the additional Magic Resistance provided by Corrosive Skin is beneficial against enemy spam skills, common in the midlane. You should aim to get Viper Strike on levels 6, 12, and 18.
This ultimate skill allows you to deal significant damage and slow the enemy, making it easier for you and your teammates to secure kills. With each level of Viper Strike, the cooldown decreases, allowing you to use it more frequently in team fights.
Once you’ve maxed out Poison Attack and Corrosive Skin and gotten all three levels of Viper Strike, you can start putting points into Nethertoxin.
This skill is great for quickly clearing jungle camps and creep waves, allowing you to farm more efficiently and scale faster into the mid and late-game.
Laning Phase
During the laning phase, your main goal as Viper is establishing dominance in the midlane and preventing the opposing midlaner from farming. This is achieved through the use of your Poison Attack, which is your primary harassment tool.
With the help of your Corrosive Skin, you can also punish enemies who try to harass you back. You have decent base damage and attack animation regarding the last hitting, so securing last hits and denies should be easy.
Once you hit Level 6, you gain access to your ultimate, Viper Strike, which you can use to secure kills or force the enemy to retreat. Remember, don’t over-commit to getting kills. Keep in mind that you need to rush your Aghanim’s Scepter.
Always contest the runes, and don’t hesitate to buy additional consumables such as Healing Salve and Mangoes to sustain the lane.
Also, since you can win the mid lane against almost any hero, especially melee, try to take advantage of that and dominate the lane.
Mid Game
As you enter the mid game, you have likely established dominance in the mid lane. Remember, as Viper, you are not an efficient jungler, so instead of wasting time in the jungle, it is better to pressure the mid lane and take down the tower.
One drawback of playing Viper in the mid lane is that he could be a better ganking hero due to the lack of stuns or silences, only having slows. Additionally, Viper has a slower movement speed compared to other heroes.
However, feel free to TP into fights when your team needs help. Once you have taken down the mid tower, your first rotation should be to pressure the enemy safe lane and destroy its tower.
This will create space for your carry to farm while preventing enemy carry from farming. Remember to always communicate with your team and to have good map awareness to know when to rotate and participate in team fights.
Late Game
In this Viper Midlane Guide in 7.32d in Dota 2, we’ll review some key points to remember to help you win late games.
As you transition into the late game, your role as Viper changes to that of a damage-dealing carry. Thanks to your item build, you’ll be able to deal massive damage while being incredibly difficult to take down.
You’ll still want to focus on dealing sustained damage with Poison Attack and Corrosive Skin while using Viper Strike to take down key targets in team fights.
Once you’ve got your core items, Aghanim’s Scepter and Bloodstone, your focus should shift to tanking for your team. Take advantage of your high magic resistance and spell lifesteal from the Bloodstone to catch spells and keep yourself alive.
Additionally, remember that with Aghanim’s Scepter, you gain a new ability called “Nosedive,” an AoE disarm that splatters double the effect of your Corrosive Skin onto enemies.
While you should always be offensive in team fights, there are some situations where you need to be defensive, particularly when the enemy has a high physical damage burst or break.Â
Lastly, don’t forget to communicate with your team and remind them to go for Roshan whenever you hit your power spike and timing.
That would be the end of this article. Playing Viper in the mid lane is different from the usual hero and requires practice and matchup knowledge to succeed. Hopefully, this Viper Midlane Guide in 7.32d in Dota 2 has provided the necessary information to play the hero effectively.
