Phoenix · Soft Support (pos. 4)
Phoenix Guide
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This guide is assembled by the site from match data and the game's own information — nobody wrote it by hand. Official and community guides appear alongside it when they exist.
Overview
Phoenix is a ranged Strength hero that Valve tags as Nuker, Support and Escape. It is played mainly as Soft Support (pos. 4): 62% of the public matches we measured, by starting lane and starting items. In this guide you play it as Soft Support (pos. 4): your job is to help your offlaner win the hard lane, rotate for kills and make space with your spells. The kit brings crowd control (stun) with Supernova and sustain with Sun Ray. Its ultimate is Supernova. This patch, Phoenix wins 51.8% of the 180,764 public matches we measured (A tier on our ladder).
Strengths
- Reliable stun: Supernova sets up kills and interrupts enemy channels.
- Supernova can swing team fights: it hits several enemies at once.
- Keeps allies alive with Sun Ray.
- Heavy magical burst: Valve lists it as a Nuker.
Weaknesses
- Low base armor (-1): vulnerable to physical harass early on.
- Plays on little gold: expensive items arrive late.
Build cheat sheet
Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.
- Most-played buildBalancedRecommendedThe items most bought with this hero, phase by phase. Pick it when you don't have a clear reason to deviate. Built from what Phoenix players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Damage buildOffensiveAdvancedMoves the popular items that add damage — Hand of Midas and Veil of Discord — to the front. Choose it when your lane went well and you can afford to be greedy. Built from what Phoenix players buy in the public matches we measured.
Builds
Most-played build
When to use it
The items most bought with this hero, phase by phase. Pick it when you don't have a clear reason to deviate. Built from what Phoenix players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
316%223%153%- OfflaneMain53% of matchesOff lane next to your offlaner, as Soft Support (pos. 4).
- Safe lanePriority 223% of matchesSafe lane next to your carry, as Hard Support (pos. 5).
- MidPriority 316% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
Starting items
Early game
Core items
- 1Aghanim's Shard
- 2Spirit Vessel
- 3Pavise
- 4Solar Crest
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Fire Spirits›Sun Ray›Icarus Dive
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Talents by level
- +2 Supernova Hit Count+1000 Icarus Dive Cast Range25
- +1.25% Max Health Sun Ray Damage+0.6s Supernova Stun Duration20
- +25 Health Regen+20 Fire Spirits Damage Per Second15
- +25% Icarus Dive Slow+1% Dying Light Missing Health as Damage10
Damage build
When to use it
Moves the popular items that add damage — Hand of Midas and Veil of Discord — to the front. Choose it when your lane went well and you can afford to be greedy. Built from what Phoenix players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
316%223%153%- OfflaneMain53% of matchesOff lane next to your offlaner, as Soft Support (pos. 4).
- Safe lanePriority 223% of matchesSafe lane next to your carry, as Hard Support (pos. 5).
- MidPriority 316% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Hand of Midas+40 Attack Speed. Active: Transmute.
- 2Veil of Discord+175 Health, +10 Intelligence, +18% Spell Lifesteal. Active: Spell Weakness.
- 3Vladmir's Offering+1 Armor, +0.75 Mana Regeneration.
- 4Radiance+55 Damage, +25% Evasion.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Fire Spirits›Sun Ray›Icarus Dive
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | · | · |
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Talents by level
- +2 Supernova Hit Count+1000 Icarus Dive Cast Range25
- +1.25% Max Health Sun Ray Damage+0.6s Supernova Stun Duration20
- +25 Health Regen+20 Fire Spirits Damage Per Second15
- +25% Icarus Dive Slow+1% Dying Light Missing Health as Damage10
Abilities
- Icarus Dive40 / 35 / 30 / 25sPhoenix dives forward in an arc with a fixed distance in the targeted direction, dealing damage over time and slowing the movement speed of any units it comes into contact with, and then orbiting back to its original position. If Phoenix casts Supernova, the dive ends.
- Hp cost
- 15%
- Dive length
- 1100·1200·1300·1400
- Burn duration
- 4
- Damage per second
- 20·40·60·80
- Move slow
- 10%·15%·20%·25%
- Fire Spirits50 / 40 / 30 / 20s100 mpSummons 4 fire spirits that circle around Phoenix. Each spirit can be launched independently at a targeted area of effect. Affected enemy units take damage over time and have their attack speed greatly reduced.
- Hp cost
- 20%
- Spirit duration
- 20
- Radius
- 200
- Burn duration
- 4
- Attack speed slow
- -35·-70·-105·-140
- Damage per second
- 20·40·60·80
- Sun Ray30s100 / 110 / 120 / 130 mpPhoenix expels a beam of light at the cost of its own health. The beam damages enemies and heals allies for a base amount plus a percentage of their max health. The percentage increases as the beam continues to fire.
- Health cost per second
- 5%
- Base damage per second
- 15·20·25·30
- Max health as damage
- 1.5%·3%·4.5%·6%
- Base heal per second
- 7·10·13·16
- Max health as heal
- 0.4%·0.8%·1.2%·1.6%
- Max focal point multiplier
- 0%
Toggle MovementToggles slow forward movement during Sun Ray firing.
Dying LightPassivePhoenix deals 3.5% of its missing health as magic damage to all enemies in a 400 radius every second.- Supernova120s150 / 200 / 250 mpThe Phoenix willingly ends its current life for the chance to be reborn. Transforms into a burning sun that scorches enemies in a huge area. The sun can be destroyed by attacks from enemy Heroes. After 6 seconds the sun explodes, stunning all nearby enemies while restoring Phoenix to full health and mana with refreshed abilities.
DISPEL TYPE: Strong Dispel
- Radius
- 1200
- Damage per second
- 50·80·110
- Stun duration
- 1.6·2·2.4
- Attacks to destroy
- 6·8·10
- Duration
- 6
Launch Fire SpiritEach fire spirit can be launched independently at a targeted area of effect. Affected enemy units take damage over time and have their attack speed greatly reduced.- Hp cost
- 20%
- Spirit duration
- 20
- Radius
- 200
- Burn duration
- 4
- Attack speed slow
- -35·-70·-105·-140
- Damage per second
- 20·40·60·80
Stop Icarus DiveImmediately cancels the dive.
Most played skill order
The most played order in the last 100 professional matches with this hero. Highlighted levels are the points spent on talents.
Max order:Fire Spirits›Sun Ray›Icarus Dive
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
| · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · |
Strategy
1Early game
Position 4 starts in the off lane with your offlaner: harass the enemy carry, block or pull their camp when it helps and look for the first rotation to mid once the runes spawn. Harass when the enemy core walks up to last hit: every hit you land is gold your carry keeps.
- Early items: Urn of Shadows and Bracer.
2Mid game
Rotate to the lanes where you can get kills, smoke with your cores to catch heroes out of position and keep vision around the next objective. Your spikes are level 6, when Supernova comes online, and your core items: Aghanim's Shard and then Spirit Vessel.
- Core items: Aghanim's Shard, Spirit Vessel and Pavise.
3Late game
Late, your death costs little gold but your spells are worth a lot: stay behind the team, keep your save items ready and ward before the fight, not during it.
- Late items: Shiva's Guard and Refresher Orb.
4Team fights
Stay behind your cores, use Supernova on whoever jumps on your carry and keep Sun Ray for the moment the enemy commits.
Tips
- Land Supernova on the enemy core first: a disabled carry doesn't hit back.
- Keep Sun Ray for the moment the enemy commits, not to top up health.
- Buy and place wards every time they are available: vision is your first job.
- Your key purchases are Aghanim's Shard and Spirit Vessel: they give your team the saves it needs.
- Plan fights around Supernova: without it, Phoenix is far less threatening.
Matchups
Strong against
- Marci66.7%win rate in the matchup
Phoenix wins 66.7% of the 114 games measured against Marci this patch.
114 matches
- Razor63.8%win rate in the matchup
Phoenix wins 63.8% of the 116 games measured against Razor this patch.
116 matches
- Void Spirit63.6%win rate in the matchup
Phoenix wins 63.6% of the 165 games measured against Void Spirit this patch.
165 matches
- Ogre Magi63.1%win rate in the matchup
Phoenix wins 63.1% of the 149 games measured against Ogre Magi this patch.
149 matches
- Bristleback62.6%win rate in the matchup
Phoenix wins 62.6% of the 139 games measured against Bristleback this patch.
139 matches
Weak against
- Juggernaut38.0%win rate in the matchup
Phoenix only wins 38.0% of the 142 games measured against Juggernaut this patch.
142 matches
- Doom40.7%win rate in the matchup
Phoenix only wins 40.7% of the 135 games measured against Doom this patch.
135 matches
- Timbersaw43.9%win rate in the matchup
Phoenix only wins 43.9% of the 114 games measured against Timbersaw this patch.
114 matches
- Treant Protector44.0%win rate in the matchup
Phoenix only wins 44.0% of the 125 games measured against Treant Protector this patch.
125 matches
- Hoodwink44.8%win rate in the matchup
Phoenix only wins 44.8% of the 277 games measured against Hoodwink this patch.
277 matches
Works well with
Berserker's Call from Axe holds enemies in place for Supernova from Phoenix.
Hoof Stomp from Centaur Warrunner holds enemies in place for Supernova from Phoenix.
Sun Ray from Phoenix keeps Vengeful Spirit alive, and Vengeful Spirit is the damage the team needs to protect.
Changelog
- Guide created for patch 7.41.
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