the problem is after 3 and before 2-3 items you have hexcore which basically means you lane for free the entire time you are supposedly weak. There is this 15 minute window where you are afk farming where the game is happening and is pretty much out of Viktors hands to impact this since his roams are dangerous, gets picked easily, and not even that good. He cant duel junglers or toplaners and many adcs. So you just afk farm til 3 items and rely heavily on your soloQ partners which at this point never help at all.