Fenix Abilities and Strategy

Last updated on Apr 07, 2020 at 18:00 by Derenash 22 comments
General Information

Welcome to our Abilities page for Fenix. Here, we give you an overview of every ability in Fenix's kit. For each of them, we explain what it does, how to best use it, and how it works in combination with Fenix's other abilities. We also give you strategy tips to play Fenix efficiently.

1.

Fenix's Tips and Tricks

  • Cast Plasma Cutter Icon Plasma Cutter liberally, and always try to follow it up with Basic Attacks.
  • Stutter-step to keep enemies near your maximum range.
  • Use Shield Capacitor Icon Shield Capacitor to trade damage with enemy Heroes. Your shields will regenerate, but their health will not.
  • Use Weapon Mode: Repeater Cannon Icon Weapon Mode: Repeater Cannon on isolated targets like Boss Mercenaries, Forts, or enemies who are out of position.
  • Save Warp Icon Warp to escape or reposition as needed.
  • Cast Purification Salvo Icon Purification Salvo when enemies are slowed by Plasma Cutter for maximum damage.
2.

Shield Capacitor

Fenix Shield Capacitor
Shield Capacitor (D) Starcraft Fenix
  • Cooldown: 5 seconds

Fenix has a permanent 760 (+4% per level) Shield which regenerates at 10% per second after not taking damage for 5 seconds.

Shield Capacitor Icon Shield Capacitor accounts for much of Fenix's overall survivability, and all of his self-sustain. Fenix trades damage very effectively while at range, as the Shield regenerates when no damage is taken for several seconds. This allows Fenix to be dominant in most lane match-ups, as he can steadily increase his Health advantage over opponents. Be aware of Heroes who have access to Talents that are particularly effective against Shields, as these can severely reduce Fenix's survivability.

3.

Plasma Cutter

Fenix Plasma Cutter
Plasma Cutter (Q) Starcraft Fenix
  • Cooldown: 12 seconds

Create a laser beam at the target point that circles around Fenix twice, dealing 135 (+4% per level) damage to enemies hit and Slowing them by 25% for 4 seconds.

Plasma Cutter Icon Plasma Cutter deals damage and Slows enemies as it rotates around Fenix. Because Fenix is not limited by Mana or other casting resources, Plasma Cutter should be used liberally. It is effective against Heroes, Minions, Structures, and even Mercenaries. While using Plasma Cutter against Heroes, it is important to be mindful of the Slow that it provides. Not only does the Slow make it much easier to apply Basic Attacks, it also triggers effects for some of Fenix's Talents.

While using Plasma Cutter in a PvE setting, the radius of each cast should be considered. A maximum radius Plasma Cutter can hit a Gate, both Towers, and enemies close to the gate. A minimum radius Plasma Cutter can hit all units in a Mercenary Camp. With the self-sustain from Shield Capacitor Icon Shield Capacitor and the additional area of effect damage provided by Weapon Mode: Phase Bomb Icon Weapon Mode: Phase Bomb, Plasma Cutter helps Fenix to efficiently solo secure any non-boss Mercenary Camps.

4.

Weapon Modes

Fenix Weapon Mode: Repeater Cannon
Weapon Mode: Repeater Cannon (W) Starcraft Fenix

Basic Attack speed increased by 150%.

Activate to change to Weapon Mode: Phase Bomb, increasing Basic Attack range and damage, and causing Basic Attacks to splash.

Weapon Mode: Repeater Cannon Icon Weapon Mode: Repeater Cannon greatly increases Attack Speed, but has reduced range, damage, and area of effect when compared with Weapon Mode: Phase Bomb Icon Weapon Mode: Phase Bomb. While it provides less utility and is less safe to use than Phase Bomb, it is useful for single target damage when necessary. Notable examples of good Repeater Cannon targets include Bosses and big Monsters from Objectives, isolated Structures like Forts, or enemy Heroes who are out of position. Remember that you can switch to Phase Bomb for an extra Basic Attack if an enemy leaves Repeater Cannon range.

Fenix Weapon Mode: Phase Bomb
Weapon Mode: Phase Bomb (W) Starcraft Fenix

Basic Attacks have 1.25 increased range, deal 25% more damage, and splash to nearby enemies.

Activate to change to Weapon Mode: Repeater Cannon, increasing Basic Attack speed.

Weapon Mode: Phase Bomb Icon Weapon Mode: Phase Bomb increases your Basic Attack range and damage, and causes Basic Attacks to splash in a generous area of effect. While your single target damage per second will be lower in this mode, almost everything else about it is superior. Phase Bomb allows you to waveclear extremely well, deal significant siege damage to several Structures with each Basic Attack, and deal Hero damage from a much safer distance. For these reasons, you should generally default to using Phase Bomb; switch to Repeater Cannon when you want more single target damage at close range.

5.

Warp

Fenix Warp
Warp (E) Starcraft Fenix
  • Cooldown: 17 seconds

Warp to a targeted location, phasing out after 0.5 seconds, and arriving 0.75 seconds later.

Warp Icon Warp is an amazing mobility tool that allows you to travel to a selected location after a short channel. Warp should be used to escape danger, or to secure kills on fleeing low-Health enemies. Once Warp's channel is complete, Fenix is removed from the battlefield for a brief period before he arrives at his selected destination. This moment of non-existence can be incredibly useful for preventing damage and effects from Abilities that target Fenix directly.

6.

Purification Salvo

Here we explain how this Heroic Ability works. If you are looking for more information about it, check the dedicated section in the Talent Build page.

Fenix Purification Salvo
Purification Salvo (R) Starcraft Fenix
  • Heroic
  • Cooldown: 90 seconds

Channel for 1.5 seconds, sweeping a laser in front of Fenix that locks onto enemy Heroes. Once Channeling finishes, fire 5 missiles at each locked Hero, dealing 79 (+4% per level) damage each. Deals 50% increased damage to Slowed targets.

Purification Salvo Icon Purification Salvo is a fantastic Heroic for Fenix, because it gives him something to secure kills with. Fenix has a great kit for poking enemies at a distance, but his Basic Abilities lack reliable burst damage. Purification Salvo fills this void, making him an Assassin capable of securing kills on his own. Fenix can walk or Warp away once enemies have been locked, and Purification Salvo will still fire. Using Warp during Purification Salvo's firing sequence will not interrupt it; the salvo will finish firing during (and after) Warp. This Heroic will be excellent when your team has a reliable way to Slow enemy Heroes, such as Lightning Breath Icon Lightning Breath or Earthquake Icon Earthquake.

7.

Planet Cracker

Here we explain how this Heroic Ability works. If you are looking for more information about it, check the dedicated section in the Talent Build page.

Fenix Planet Cracker
Planet Cracker (R) Starcraft Fenix
  • Heroic
  • Cooldown: 100 seconds

After 0.5 seconds, Channel a powerful beam that spans across the battleground for 4 seconds, dealing 112 (+4% per level) damage every 0.25 seconds to non-Structure enemies hit.

Planet Cracker Icon Planet Cracker is a channeled beam that covers unlimited distance in the direction it is cast. It is quite amazing to see, and fun to use. However, Heroes must simply walk to one side of it to avoid most of its damage. It does not often deliver meaningful results without setup from allies. For this reason, you should default to Purification Salvo Icon Purification Salvo. Planet Cracker can be good in combination with crowd-control from your team, but it is best to make sure your allies want to play this way before selecting this Heroic. This Heroic can be an option in Braxis Holdout, since it can be used towards the Zerg Wave, clearing most of it on spawn.

8.

Changelog

  • 24 Aug. 2019: Guide reviewed and updated to reflect meta developments.
  • 27 Mar. 2018: Guide added.
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