Q is okay
W is meh
E is G0DLY
R is good

Save 2 charges of E when you decide to engage, then you're doing it right.

No, seriously. Pulling my hair out at how underwhelming playing Bruiser Vi is - sub-par dueling, lackluster chasing, lackluster damage, big target on your forehead when you dash in, die and all that attack speed I got was for not.

All middle of the road stuff that in theory supplements her skill set: tried Phage, Black Cleaver, Trihard-Force (Tri-Force sux on her), Treads, Zephyr, Swiftness, Warmog's, etc. BC was okay, but 10 armor pen, 10 CDR, 250 health, is a little of everything - which is nice, but then I'm sacrificing that sweet sweet damage that Vi's skills LOVE. Jack of all trades, master of none.

I was so irritated at how lackluster she seemed, then I said f*** it and rushed Bloodthirster for a few games because I could. Worked out pretty awesome, I ended up doing sooo much more damage and killing sh** so fast that my non-tankiness didn't matter most of the time. Her R closes distance so quickly and easily that you will nearly always be able to land two of those painful E cones. Her Q also helps you get close enough as well.

Saying f*** it and not building anything was a great choice, it's hard not to build Treads and build Swiftness, but man Swiftness really helps you position better and stick to targets without sacrificing moneyz$$$ for damage.

So I just build damage and/or life steal, assassinate the ADC/squishies w/an initiate (R or Q) and two E's and attempt to clean up the rest if I'm still alive. It does't seem to matter that I don't build anything defensive ever, because she is so so bursty and has two gap closers; that if I can get at least 2 champs in the range of my E, I done good. In team fights though, it's easy to get 3+ champs.

I'll get back to you, I haven't reached it too much times yet, but IE/damage has been wrecking so far. She's got a neo-Talon vibe going on. I really like damage over everything else. Health and Attack speed have been really meh in my trials.

Just rush Bloodthirster, that is the main idea. Screw double Doran's, maybe one... Nah; but she's not an all-around champ, she's just a high-octane, kill-everything-in-front-of-me, zoning assassin. I'm pretty convinced if she doesn't get nerfed, rushing BT will be seen as viable. Try it. Sounds crazy, but try it. And buy lots of pots.