The Viper is a machine pistol of Grineer design issued to their Shield Lancers. It is the most portable weapon manufactured by the Grineer and boasts a high rate of fire and an extremely efficient magazine reload, but poor accuracy.
This weapon can be sold for 
2,500; it is also a requisite ingredient for 
Twin Vipers (x2) and 
Hystrix.
Characteristics[]
This weapon deals primarily 
Impact damage.
Advantages
- High
Impact damage – effective against shields. - Good critical chance.
- Very fast reload speed.
- Tied with Viper Wraith for fastest fire rate of all single-handed pistols.
- Can use the Viper-exclusive
Skull Shots and Stinging Truth mods. - Innate polarity.
Disadvantages
- Mediocre accuracy
- Low Puncture damage – less effective against armor.
- Low critical multiplier and status chance.
- Small magazine size.
- Combined with its very fast fire rate results in frequent reloading.
- Inefficient ammo economy.
Comparisons:
- Viper (attack: Normal), compared to Twin Vipers (attack: Normal):
- Lower burst DPS (262.79 vs. 456.87)
- Lower sustained DPS (152.88 vs. 164.01)
- Lower fire rate (14.38 round(s)/sec vs. 25 round(s)/sec)
- Smaller magazine (14 round(s) vs. 28 round(s))
- Faster reload time (0.7 s vs. 2 s)
- Different polarities ( vs. )
- Lower Mastery Rank required (4 vs. 5)
- Viper (attack: Normal), compared to Viper Wraith (attack: Normal):
- Lower base damage (17 vs. 18)
- Lower total damage (17 vs. 18)
- Lower base critical chance (15% vs. 19%)
- Lower base critical multiplier (1.5x vs. 2x)
- Higher base status chance (11% vs. 9%)
- Lower average damage per shot (18.27 vs. 21.42)
- Lower burst DPS (262.79 vs. 308.02)
- Lower sustained DPS (152.88 vs. 195.54)
- Smaller magazine (14 round(s) vs. 20 round(s))
- Faster reload time (0.7 s vs. 0.8 s)
- Less accurate (15.4 vs. 28.6)
- Different polarities ( vs. )
- Higher disposition (1.45 vs. 1.4)
Acquisition[]
The Viper's blueprint can be purchased from the Market.
| Manufacturing Requirements | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 20,000 |
 300 |
 600 |
 900 |
 1 |
Time: 12 hrs |
Rush:  25
| |||||
 Market Price: 75
|
 Blueprints Price: 20,000
| ||||
Tips[]
- Although it is not recommended for long range fighting, correctly aiming and tapping the trigger will expend 1-2 bullets at once, and you may get a decent critical or headshot rate by doing this.
- This may be done more comfortably by making a secondary keybind for firing on mouse wheel. It shall also allow to fire in a way Shield Lancers do.
- Using the Pistol Ammo Mutation mod can help regain lost ammo when needed. Alternatively, use Pistol Scavenger aura or bring along Squad Ammo Restore.
Trivia[]
- The Viper was released on the 18th of March, 2013 with Update 7.0 (2013-03-18).
- On the Viper's barrel, the word , which translates to "Viper" is inscribed in the Grineer Language. In earlier versions of the game this line of text was which translates to "Serberus", probably indicating an earlier name for the gun. The Viper's UI icon still shows a Viper with "Serberus" inscribed on it.
- The Viper(s) uniquely has a distinct sound when its trigger is released. This could be a mechanism used to stop the bullet feed or to halt the cyclic action.
- Until Update 17.0 (2015-07-31), Shield Lancers fired their Vipers in three-round bursts, a holdover from when Shield Lancers used to be equipped with the Sicarus.
Bugs[]
- When equipped by Banshee, the Viper will clip entirely inside her fingers when in idle animation.
Media[]
An old screenshot of the Viper. Note the longer line of text on the barrel.
The current Viper texture with the word "Viper" inscribed on the barrel. Letter "i" appears slightly incorrect.
How To Build The Viper
Warframe - All Grineer Secondaries - Weapon Animations & Sounds (2013 - 2019)
Warframe - All Grineer Weapon Reloads in 2 minutes (2012 - 2019)
Viper Skins
Patch History[]
Update 22.12 (2018-02-09)
- Mastery Rank increased from 0 to 4.
- Damage increased from 16 to 17.
- Status chance increased from 1% to 11%.
- Reload speed increased from 1.1 to .7 secs.
- Ammo capacity increased to 420.
Update 18.5 (2016-03-04)
- Added Viper conclave skin.
Update 17.0 (2015-07-31)
- Series damage increased in PvP.
Update 16.4 (2015-04-23)
- Available for use in PvP.
Update 16.0 (2015-03-19)
- Visual and audio overhaul.
Update 15.12 (2015-01-30)
- Fixed incorrect tint in Forest Camouflage skin.
Update 9.5 (2013-08-09)
- Added Desert-Camo Viper skin.
Update 9.0 (2013-07-13)
- Refined tint options.
Update 8.3 (2013-07-04)
- Sound changes.
Update 7.7 (2013-04-03)
- Reduced fire rate from 19.2 to 13.7.
Update 7.x Weapon Balance (2013-03-22)
- Damage increased from 14 to 16.
- Critical chance increased from 5% to 15%.
- Fire rate increased from 1100 to 1150.
- Reload time decreased from 1.15 to 1.1.
Update 7.0 (2013-03-18)
- Introduced.
See also[]
- Viper Wraith, the Wraith counterpart.
- Twin Vipers, the akimbo counterpart.
- Twin Vipers Wraith, the Wraith akimbo counterpart.
