Viper

• CSnake Bitedamage

  EQUIP a chemical launcher. FIRE to launch a canister that shatters upon hitting the floor, creating a lingering chemical zone that damages and applies Vulnerable.

• QPoison Cloudsmoke

  EQUIP a gas emitter. FIRE to throw the emitter that perpetually remains throughout the round. ALT FIRE to lob. RE-USE the ability to create a toxic gas cloud that Decays opponents inside it at the cost of fuel. This ability can be picked up to be REDEPLOYED before the round starts and can be RE-USED more than once throughout the round.

• EToxic Screenwall

  EQUIP a gas emitter launcher that penetrates terrain. FIRE to deploy a long line of gas emitters. RE-USE the ability to create a tall wall of toxic gas that Decays opponents that cross it at the cost of fuel. This ability can be RE-USED more than once.

• XViper's Pitsmoke

  EQUIP a chemical sprayer. FIRE to spray a chemical cloud in all directions around Viper, creating a large cloud that Nearsights players and Decays the health of enemies inside of it. HOLD the ability key to disperse the cloud early.

Riot's notes from patch 1.01 to 13.06 change Viper in 11 patches. The latest is patch 11.08, published 2025-10-14.

1. Patch 11.082025-10-14

   • Initial contact now inflicts less Decay, reduced from30→to10 health
   Why, in Riot's words

   Controllers were largely in a healthy state and required few changes, though some abilities have been adjusted to align with recent roster-wide updates.

2. Patch 8.082024-04-30

   • Toxic Screen (E) and Poison Cloud (Q)
   • Max uptime on each individual smoke source reduced15→to13.5 >>> 12s
   • Minimum fuel needed to activate smoke increased20%→to30%
   • Cooldown on re-activating smokes after putting them down reduced8→to5.5 >>> 5s

   QPoison Cloud

   • Can now only be picked up during the Buy Phase

   CSnake Bite

   • Charges reduced2→to1
   • Price increased200→to300
   • Duration increased5.5→to6.5s
   Why, in Riot's words

   We messaged this out on socials but want to call out again that in 7.09 we unintentionally shipped some number changes to Viper’s fuel. For full visibility, you’ll see three numbers in some of the changes listed below: First will be before 7.09, second after 7.09, and the final is the update for 8.08.

3. Patch 8.022024-02-06

   • Viper’s Poison Cloud (Q) grenade has received an art update.

4. Patch 7.042023-08-29

   XViper’s Pit

   • Ultimate points increased8→to9
   Why, in Riot's words

   We’ll be keeping a close eye on these updates to see if they push the choice competition between Skye and her peers into a healthy place, or if further updates are needed in either direction.

5. Patch 6.112023-06-06

   Fuel Regeneration

   • Reduced regeneration per second5%→to3.3%
   • Regenerate to max fuel once empty20s→to30s
   Why, in Riot's words

   As always, we’ll be watching how these changes play out in the coming months and evaluating if any further updates are needed.

6. Patch 4.042022-03-01

   Fuel

   • Fuel drain increased 50% when Toxic Screen and Poison Cloud are both active.
   • Viper’s fuel bar now turns red when she does not have enough fuel to activate her abilities.

   Toxic Screen

   • Cooldown after deactivating increased6→to8
   • Deactivation delay decreased1→to.8
   • Toxic Screen now has yellow lights that indicate when it is on cooldown
   • Removed delay on Toxic Screen disabling when Viper is suppressed.
   • Added a unique VO line that plays when her smoke is disabled by suppress.

   Poison Cloud

   • Cooldown after deactivating increased6→to8
   • Deactivation delay decreased1→to.8
   • Poison Orb now has a yellow light to indicate when it is on cooldown.
   • Removed delay on Poison Orb disabling when Viper is suppressed.
   • Added a unique VO line that plays when her smoke is disabled by suppress.

   Snake Bite

   • Duration decreased6.5→to5.5
   Why, in Riot's words

   We like Viper’s hybrid Controller/Sentinel role on the roster, really. But her buffs and our newest map additions have turned her into a must-have Controller and best-in-class Sentinel in more situations than we think a dual-role Agent should fill. With the below changes, we hope to create stark decision points on when Viper should manage her fuel as well as provide clearer counterplay opportunities and attack windows for her enemies.

   Cooldown timer now starts when her smoke starts dissipating instead of when the deactivation telegraph plays.

7. Patch 3.072021-10-05

   • Updated the visuals for the dissolving effect seen while inside Viper’s smoke to better match the visuals seen from the outside, in an attempt to remove any type of peeker’s advantage when playing from within the smoke.
   Why, in Riot's words

   Passing through the highest portion of Viper’s wall now correctly applies instant decay to high-flying Agents

8. Patch 2.092021-05-11

   Toxin (Passive)

   • The instant decay inflicted when entering Viper’s smoke or crossing her wall, reduced50→to30
   Why, in Riot's words

   We believe this tuning, along with the bullet damage breakpoints of our guns, we are maximizing her decay’s power when both sides are on full buys. But we remove some of the more outsized effects it had at 50, such as it’s one shot kill combination with the Marshal and its impact in pistol-versus-pistol.

9. Patch 2.062021-03-30

   • While in cloud, Decay over time decreased15→to10
   • Pickup distance increased200→to400 Toxic Screen (E)
   Why, in Riot's words

   Enemies that cross through Viper's Poison Cloud, Toxic Screen, or Viper's Pit are instantly inflicted with at least 50 decay. Their decay level increases the longer they remain in contact with toxin.

   If active when Viper dies, Poison Cloud now remains up for an additional 2 seconds, or until Viper runs out of fuel.

10. Patch 1.092020-09-29

    • Viper now starts the round at 100 fuel (previously 50)
    • Vulnerable debuff applied from Snake Bite now lingers for 2 seconds after leaving Viper’s acid
    • Move speed doubled while casting
    Why, in Riot's words

    While Viper is stronger than ever, her overall impact is lower than we’d like. This round of changes continues in the same vein as patch 1.07—increasing her flexibility, especially when trying to play with teammates. Fuel

    Now that Viper can place her wall pre-round, we want her to be able to act with her team right at barrier drop without the tension of also trying to maximize her fuel for an initial move. Snake Bite

    Immediately dropping the vulnerable debuff upon exit wasn’t creating the threat we’ve hoped for when we added it. This change should make the Viper (and team) advantage window more realistic, as well as project a unique threat on opponents playing around it. Viper’s Pit

11. Patch 1.042020-07-21

    Pit have their minimap obscured and do not provide minimap detection to their allies

    • Increased the brightness of the red enemy glow at the edge of Viper's near-sight

What role is Viper?

Controller. Riot describes the role: “Controllers are experts in slicing up dangerous territory to set their team up for success.”

What are Viper’s abilities?

C — Snake Bite, Q — Poison Cloud, E — Toxic Screen and X — Viper's Pit, the last being the ultimate.

What does Viper’s ultimate do?

Viper's Pit, in Riot’s words: “EQUIP a chemical sprayer. FIRE to spray a chemical cloud in all directions around Viper, creating a large cloud that Nearsights players and Decays the health of enemies inside of it. HOLD the ability key to disperse the cloud early.”

When did Riot last change Viper?

Patch 11.08, published 2025-10-14 — the latest of 11 patches that change Viper in Riot’s notes from 1.01 to 13.06.

Is Viper changed in patch 13.06?

No. Nothing in Riot’s patch 13.06 notes names Viper.

Which other Controllers are there?

6 more in Riot’s current roster: Astra, Brimstone, Clove, Harbor, Miks and Omen.