Phoenix is one of the most underutilized Duelists in the game. It is difficult to make him viable in the meta. However, this Phoenix Guide will teach you everything you know about the Agent in Valorant.
Phoenix was among the first Agents who were in the beta release of the game. Back then he was considered overpowered because highly picked Agents like the pre-nerf Chamber and Killjoy were not prevalent in the meta.
However, now that the meta is in a stable place, we rarely see Phoenix being played. From pro players to unrated lobbies, his pick rate has taken a hit. But if used correctly, players can get information, kills, and sites pretty easily with this Agent. This guide will help you be an ideal Phoenix for your team in the game.
Contents
- How to Play Phoenix in Valorant: A Simple Guide
- Abilities
- Strategies for Attacker Side
- Strategies for Defender Side
- Tips and Tricks
How to Play Phoenix in Valorant: A Simple Guide
Phoenix is not overpowered in the current meta in any sense of the Valorant spectrum. However, he can be a nuisance and an annoying Duelist to deal with if one knows how to use him properly. The goal is to be unpredictable, take first fights, and distract your foes no matter where you are on the map so your teammates can get by.
You can learn a lot by watching professional player VODs for players like Wang “Jinggg” Jing Jie, Jordan “Zellsis” Montemurro, and Yassine “Subroza” Taoufik because they are prominent users of this Agent. That being said, let us check out his abilities.
Abilities
(Q): Curveball
EQUIP a flare orb that takes a curving path and detonates shortly after throwing. FIRE to curve the flare orb to the left, detonating and blinding any player who sees the orb. ALTERNATE FIRE to curve the flare orb to the right.
(E): Hot Hands
EQUIP a fireball. FIRE to throw a fireball that explodes after a set amount of time or upon hitting the ground, creating a lingering fire zone that damages enemies.
(C): Blaze
EQUIP a flame wall. FIRE to create a line of flame that moves forward, creating a wall of fire that blocks vision and damages players passing through it. HOLD FIRE to bend the wall in the direction of your crosshair.
(X): Run It Back
INSTANTLY place a marker at Phoenix’s location. While this ability is active, dying or allowing the timer to expire will end this ability and bring Phoenix back to this location with full health.
(The Agent’s Abilities are as per the Developer Riot Games and have been unedited)
Strategies for Attacker Side
The goal with Phoenix is clear as is with any other Duelist for that matter. Space creation is the name of the game. His kit is perfect for that since the Blaze ability will help mask your entry onto sites while you can use the Hot Hands ability to stop enemies from pushing back.
The Hot Hands will hold enemies back and will delay them from retaking the site. Use the Curveball to be aggressive and get enemies off angles even when starting the round. You have two of those flashes, make sure to save at least one for the post plant.
The objective for you as a Phoenix player is to ensure that everyone gets an entry to the site and you are the first one to push as the Duelist. Use your utilities together to create cover and opportunities to get set up for post plants.
Strategies for Defender Side
Your job as Phoenix for the defender side is to hold early angles and push if necessary for more information. For example, if you are holding B Long and you do not see any enemies walking towards you, either regroup with your teammates or keep holding until you get more information.
In rare cases, you can flank and push the enemies but that depends on many factors such as the enemy economy, the ultimates on your side, and the score. Now, use the Hot Hands to stop pushes and the Blaze ability to cut off any enemies looking to enter the site.
Save your flashes if you are uncertain about enemies being around corners and try to save your Ultimate for the retake and play with your team.
Tips and Tricks
Here is a list of a couple of tips and tricks you can utilize while playing Phoenix to ensure that you can utilize him to the best of his capabilities. Let us look at them.
- Learn line-ups. Whether it is attacking or defending a site, it is important to learn a line-up for this Agent because it will not only help in delaying but also take enemies off of established angles.
- Run It Back can be used in multiple ways. The primary objective of the Ultimate is to gather information and get a few picks. But, together with a teammate, you can also use it to fake a site hite so your teammates can quietly plant the bomb on the other side.
- Try to flash in unconventional ways. Refer to the video above. You can see that player in it uses Phoenix flashes in unique ways to catch the enemies off guard for free kills.
- You can also use the flash to peek out of the smoke. Most of the time when you see an enemy smoke in the entry of a site, chances are enemies are holding behind it. Therefore, you can use the flash to blend them and possibly kill them to get site control.
- Use the flash away from an angle you want to peek at. In simple words, flash on the right when you are peeking to the left and vice versa so that the flash does not hit you and you can take the pick.
Those are all the tips you need to be aware of when playing the agent. We hope this guide helps you dominate as Phoenix in your games. For more Valorant content, click here.
