Phoenix can turn a fight around with Supernova: while enemies try to destroy the sun, his allies gain time to attack. But a poorly placed ultimate can cost Phoenix his life. Let’s look at which heroes destroy the egg quickly, how to disrupt his spells, and when it’s better to back off rather than keep fighting.

Hero Overview

Icarus Dive lets Phoenix fly in an arc and return to his starting point. Fire Spirits reduce enemies’ attack speed, while Sun Ray damages enemies and helps heal allies. During Supernova, Phoenix turns into a sun that must be destroyed with a certain number of attacks. If enemies don’t manage it in time, he revives and stuns nearby foes.

Phoenix is strong in long team fights, especially with allies who keep enemies away from Supernova. His weaknesses are his reliance on spells and vulnerability to high attack speed. Even a strong carry may not manage to destroy the egg under Fire Spirits, so dispels and attack speed boosts saved in advance are useful. The damage dealt by each individual hit on the sun matters less than the number of hits.

Best Heroes Against Phoenix

Phoenix is usually picked in position 4 or 5 as a support, though he also appears in the offlane. Heroes with fast attacks, the ability to dispel negative effects, and disables that prevent him from casting Supernova in time are useful against him.

Carry

  • Ursa quickly lands a series of attacks with Overpower. Enrage helps dispel negative effects and withstand damage while she makes her way to the egg.
  • Troll Warlord builds up high attack speed and can quickly destroy Supernova if Fire Spirits and enemy disables don’t stop him.

Mid

  • Lina combines high attack speed with a convenient attack range. She can hit the sun from a safer position than a melee hero.
  • Huskar gains attack speed from Berserker's Blood and is dangerous against a poorly placed Supernova. However, deliberately lowering his health to withstand all incoming enemy damage just to attack the egg is risky.

Offlaner

  • Legion Commander dispels Fire Spirits from an ally with Press the Attack. Duel helps catch Phoenix before he turns into a sun.
  • Beastmaster increases allies’ attack speed with Inner Beast. Primal Roar can stop Phoenix for a long time and set up a kill before Supernova.

Support

  • Snapfire quickly attacks the egg with Lil' Shredder. Save the ability for when Supernova appears if Snapfire is the one who needs to destroy it.
  • Skywrath Mage applies Ancient Seal and prevents Phoenix from using Icarus Dive or Supernova. Combined with an ally’s disable, this creates an opportunity to kill him in advance.

Hard Support

  • Oracle dispels Fire Spirits from allies with Fortune's End. Fate's Edict helps them withstand Phoenix’s magic damage while the team repositions.
  • Abaddon dispels effects from an ally with Aphotic Shield and helps them survive damage over time. He is useful for supporting a hero who needs to reach the egg and start attacking it.

What to Buy Against Phoenix

  • Black King Bar protects against ordinary negative effects and helps you attack without being slowed by Fire Spirits. The stun at the end of Supernova pierces this protection.
  • Manta Style dispels Fire Spirits from its owner. Illusions alone are no substitute for real heroes’ attacks on Supernova.
  • Lotus Orb lets you dispel removable negative effects from an ally who needs to attack quickly.
  • Orchid Malevolence helps catch Phoenix before Supernova. If he already has an item that removes silence, additional disables will be needed.
  • Scythe of Vyse prevents Phoenix from using abilities and defensive items while the team focuses him.
  • Pipe of Insight helps allies survive magic damage. The item doesn’t remove the need to destroy the sun or leave the radius of its detonation.
  • Force Staff helps you reach Supernova or, conversely, move away from it if destroying the egg is no longer possible.

How to Play Against Phoenix at Different Stages

Laning

Don’t try to trade regular attacks for a long time under Fire Spirits. Wait out the effect or dispel it if possible. Watch for Icarus Dive: after returning, Phoenix ends up in a predictable spot. If he has already used the flight, he is easier to attack.

Midgame

Before the fight, decide who should attack Supernova and who will dispel Fire Spirits from them. Don’t split damage between the egg and several heroes without a plan. If the sun is behind an obstacle and enemies are ready to stun anyone who approaches, it’s better to retreat. Starting to attack the egg in the final moments is usually too late.

Late Game

Look for Phoenix before he uses his ultimate and save a disable for him if he is a realistic target. Check for Refresher Orb: a second egg can completely change the fight plan. A support with a Fire Spirits dispel needs to survive the start of the fight. Even a carry with high attack speed won’t help if they are stopped before landing their first hit on the sun.