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Viktor optimal playstyle

Nahui··3 votes·2,391 views

So I kind of mained Viktor before the rework, in a sense that he was my go to mid in ranked. Before I'd just rush death augment for 1000g, cash in my +45AP, and chunk each time my laser hit. Now, however, this is not the case. The 1000g only gets me the 25 ap and some mana. Now I'm not here to QQ about Viktor rework being bad, I love it. But from the community, how do you build Viktor now? I gave up after the rework because of how poorly I was doing and have been on an endless search for an ap mid, although it's been unsuccessful. Here is how I build Viktor.

Start ring, 2 pot. Then rush all 3 augments (Boots somewhere in between). After this, I'm lost. I'm actually not even so sure rushing all 3 augments is a good idea. But after the augments, my options are lich bane for the Q (Which really only becomes amazing late game so I'm shaky on this build so early on), rabadons for massive AP spike, or zhonyas for the active. What do you guys do?

10 Comments

Flay and Pray7 votes

As an avid viktor player pre and post rework I'll tell you what I know

Never rush all 3 item 3198. Buying all 3 augments first is extremely gold inefficient due to the AP per level. You want to rush item 3196 and augment laser first. Augmenting laser will allow you to trade in lane and push the wave. Most people think you can rush item 3100 first but it isn't good to rush. Viktor rushing lich bane will make him extremely vulnerable in the mid game. He won't have the burst he requires from his laser for dragon skirmishes and roaming. Lich bane is only effective with a good ammount of AP on viktor as well, it helps with early trading but that's it. You won't be able to wave clear against the enemy well, nor be able to poke them down with laser. After I get augment laser I usually rush item 3157 or item 3089 depending on the matchup or how fed I am. Keep in mind you can get item 3157 even against AP mids. Especially mids like Veigar so you can dodge his ult. Death cap is good if you are ahead and can burst people down with your E. Soon after that if you find yourself needing to stick,to people or getting ganked a lot get your second item 3200 and augment Q. After that I either get item 3157 item 3089 or item 3135 depending on how the game is going and how tanky the enemy team is. Around lvl 16 is when the 3rd augment item 3198 becomes EXTREMELY gold efficient. If you want the extra burst around that time, or want the utility from the W this is a good time to get the item. item 3128 is not that great on viktor due to him never wanting to be close enough to get it off, and him being a utility/AOE Mage. He's not very good at single target burst unless he is VERY fed. Remember to get item 3020 either after or before your second item. Remember if you are against someone like Syndra and think you will die a lot to her you can always rush item 3027 although it is not optimal. item 3151 was way better on pre-rework viktor due to the laser DOT damage, but it still works. However I would only get it against very tanky teams. I would never get item 3001 unless your going very tanky viktor, because otherwise you should never be close enough to get the passive off. I never get mana Regen items item 3174 item 3165 due to him getting mana from the hex cores and having manageable mana. He's a burst Mage and you should build him like one. If you are new to viktor and have trouble with his mana then feel free to get some mana regen, it is definitely not bad. This is just how I play him, and what I find to be the best. Good luck on the rift, and happy lasering!

Nahui2 votes

Thanks for the input, I'll definitely be reconsidering augmenting all 3 at once.

PatMcGroyn1 votes

As an avid viktor player pre and post rework I'll tell you what I know

I never get mana Regen items item 3174 item 3165 due to him getting mana from the hex cores and having manageable mana. He's a burst Mage and you should build him like one. If you are new to viktor and have trouble with his mana then feel free to get some mana regen, it is definitely not bad. This is just how I play him, and what I find to be the best. Good luck on the rift, and happy lasering!

His first upgrade doesn't give that much mana though, for farming & extended fights I prefer having one of these mana component items- item 3070 item 3114 item 3028

Late game, you can either finish the mana item, or sell it for something else. If you go for Tear, Seraph's will actually give you a ton of AP, as well as the nice shield. The other items are decent as well, because CDR is really nice on Viktor, and the mana reg + utility of those items are worthwhile.

Demolisher Nunu2 votes

I've also mained Viktor pre-rework and I thought he was a great champion but he had his flaws.

I've noticed A rushed item 3100 (after tier one boots) is a GREAT start to Viktor comparing his Q evolved basic is a great part of his burst now. After item 3100 I go for Tier 2 item 3197 Upgrading E and Q. Upgraded Boots (item 3158 or item 3020) and item 3089 . Then upgrade to Tier 3 item 3198 . Only if I am Ahead.

If I fall behind I still rush item 3100 I get tier 2 item 3197 or Tier 1 item 3196 and instead of Rabadons I get item 3157 . The Rest of the Build is mostly up to you But I feel like Upgrading to Tier 3 can wait till after item 3157 or item 3089.

After core Items can consist of item 3151 item 3128 item 3116 item 3001 item 3135 item 3041 item 3023 item 3157 (Hourglass or Rabadons after eachother depending how ahead you are) Also Max your E first your Q's basic attack upgrade scales with level. Hope this helps!

Nahui1 votes

However Q's enhanced auto attack scales with level so wouldn't rushing lichbane be sort of a weaker first item? Q's power comes from late game.

Nahui1 votes

Also at Spooky does he have a youtube channel or stream by any chance?

12tales1 votes

Not personally a Viktor player, but Quas has a 75% win rate on the champ with 4+ average KDA, so it might be worth trying out his build.

Near as I remember, he builds tier 2 augment, and then rushes Lucidity Boots/Rylai's. After that, he tends to build any three of Deathcap, Void Staff, Lich Bane, Athene's or Zhonya's, depending on the game. He doesn't augment his W until full build.

hOrnn1 votes

now its all about the augment and lichbane core items bro, after that ofc death cap is still very strong, im not big on the dfg, not needed, E hits so hard if u get both hits it half shots teams mid game.

Kiharon1 votes

My preferred build path is

item 3070 then item 3196 (laser) with boots wherever they fit.

Following that I aim for item 3003 item 3089 item 3198 item 3135 in approximately that order unless I need the defense.

To me, the fact that the Hex Core has mana, makes the Tear even better for him. I usually run cooldown blues since I don't normally get any in the items.

PatMcGroyn1 votes

I go for an early mana item, so either Tear/ Chalice/ Forbidden Idol, sometimes a 2'nd Doran's Ring. Then I get the Laser upgrade, so that I can quickly shove out the lane and roam. After your mana item, I think the core damage build is: item 3089 item 3100 item 3135 item 3158

Then a defensive item, normally one of these choices: item 3157 item 3026 item 3116 item 3102

I personally prefer CDR boots over MPen, because by the time I will have bought tier 2 boots, the CDR outscales the flat MPen (IMO), and there aren't many good ways to itemize CDR on Viktor, because he has 1 less item slot. At that point, you can upgrade your other spells as you see fit. Sometimes it can be good to upgrade them earlier, for example if you have a Yasuo on your team, upgraded W gives you another way of setting up Last Breath. Upgraded Q is good for kiting, so if you find it helps you, then go ahead and upgrade.

I think it's worth noting that if you feel like you can't safely auto attack the enemy, maybe because they have an intimidating dive squad, then it might be more worth it to buy Rylai's over Lich Bane. LB has amazing synergy with Viktor's Q, and just his overall kit being that of a mid range combo mage, but it's only ever worth if you CAN auto attack. That said, if you're facing a hard dive comp, Viktor's probably not the best choice in the first place, unless you build him tankier.

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