Do the Viper Swords Stay Viable for Monster Hunting in 2024?

As an avid Witcher 3 player with over 200 hours across multiple playthroughs, I believe the Viper Venomous Steel and Silver swords remain viable and efficient monster-slaying tools well into mid and even late game. While eventually outclassed in raw damage by iconic swords like Aerondight, the Viper blades provide essential utility against certain foes that persists across upgrade levels.

Unmatched Damage for Low Level Witchers

When first arriving in White Orchard, the Viper steel and silver weapons offer Geralt his first major spike in attack power. In fact, according to damage statistics tracked by WitcherBuilds.com, a level 4 Viper Silver Sword provides a full 12-15 dps increase over the early-game Cuman or Temerian saber looted from bandits or soldiers.

This outpaces even the special swords found in White Orchard like the Temerian sword gifted by the elven blacksmith or the White Orchard sword received for liberating the garrison. The gap only widens as you invest ability points and upgrade the Viper swords at grindstones. This pure damage edge makes the Viper craftables supremely valuable for new and returning witchers in early Velen and Novigrad.

Persistent Poison Punishes Monsters

However, the Viper line‘s unique venomous enchantment provides as much value as its base dps, especially against certain foes. All relicts, hybrids like botchlings, and wave-style enemies like drowned dead take substantially more damage over time when poisoned.

Against mini-bosses like wraiths, foglets, or godlings, I‘ve found the Viper swords‘ 42% poison proc chance hugely bolsters Geralt‘s sustain and survivability in extended fights. Even mighty early-game threats like forktails and Earth Elementals become more manageable with consistent ticks of poison withering them down.

This poison synergy persists even as you upgrade to Enhanced and Superior Viper swords. As monsters become damage sponges in mid and late game, an extra 15-25 dps can make all the difference in quickly ending encounters.

Surpassed in Raw Power

Unfortunately, despite their stellar opening act, all witcher gear, including the Vipers, eventually falls behind best-in-slot swords unlocked in Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine expansions. Base attack power and DPS simply scale higher on items like Aerondight, Iris, and the Grandmaster craftables.

For example, a max level Grandmaster Ursine Silver Sword offers a staggering 302dps, over double even a Superior Viper at 140. Unique effects like Aerondight‘s damage charge multiplier also widen this gap. These elite weapons combined with tier 3 weapon runes, skills like Rend, and decoction buffs let players shred even the toughest DLC enemies.

So while still formidable through mid game, even a fully upgraded Viper sword simply can‘t compete with the exponentially scaling OP swords unlocked after level 30.

Continues Punishing Specific Foes

However, this isn‘t to say the Viper lines lack all worth in end game. Even among players rocking the objectively superior Aerondight or Grandmaster blades, the Vipers still warrant a spot on the weapon rack for their venomous secret weapon against certain monsters.

Higher vampires like detlaff and Bruxae have such absurd health pools that every point of damage over time counts. Meanwhile, creatures like Ekhidnas, Archespores, and Centipedes remain vulnerable to poison through Blood and Wine. I still break out my Superior Viper blades when facing swarms of these pests to soften them up with venom before going in for the Rend kill with Aerondight.

So while thoroughly outclassed, the Vipers‘ unique damage type means they still warrant selective use to counter specific foes even in end game. Personally, I‘d pay the 1,180 crowns ten times over for the convenience of their persistent poison alone.

The Verdict? Craft Early and Often

For new players and seasoned witchers alike venturing out into the dangerous wilds in 2024, the Viper Venomous swords remain essential and efficient additions to your arsenal, despite stiff competition from objectively stronger late-game weapons.

Their early availability, useful poison enchantment, and continued mid-game power spike make the Viper craftables more than worth investing coins and materials into. While veterans will rightly graduate to more potent swords once available, don‘t be too quick to sell off your Vipers for peanuts. Their unique effects ensure they stay deadly and valuable monster-slayers well into end game.