Icarus, the Phoenix, is a magnificent and high-impact Strength-based ranged initiator, utility core, and teamfight controller in DotA 1. Characterized by a high-risk, volatile playstyle that utilizes his own vitality as fuel, Phoenix manipulates teamfight spacing through overwhelming area-of-effect elemental disruptions. By arcing across lines to cripple movement, raining down debilitating fire manipulation to cripple opposing basic attacks, and channeling an intense life-leeching solar laser, he forces chaotic engagements. When pushed to the brink of death, he can collapse into a volatile burning star, threatening to stun entire team lines while instantly restoring his state to full power.
Base Stats & Attributes
Hero Attributes
| Attribute |
Base Value |
Growth (per level) |
| Strength |
23 |
+3.5 |
| Agility |
12 |
+1.3 |
| Intelligence |
16 |
+1.8 |
Statistics & Mechanics
| Statistic |
Value |
Mechanic |
Value |
| Damage |
51-61 |
Base HP Regen |
0.25/s |
| HP |
660 |
HP Regen |
+2.55/s |
| MP |
242 |
MP Regen |
+0.81/s |
| Armor |
1.3 |
Turn Rate |
1 |
| Move Speed |
280 |
Base Attack Time (BAT) |
1.7 |
| Attack Range |
525 (missile speed 1100) |
Attack Animations |
0.35 / 0.633 |
Hero Skills Breakdown
1. Icarus Dive
Dives forward in an arc with a fixed distance in the targeted direction, dealing magical damage each second and slowing any units he comes into contact with, and then orbiting back to his original position. If during the duration of this spell Phoenix casts Supernova, the Dive ends.
- Damage Type: Magical
- Spell Duration: 2 seconds
- Slow Debuff Duration: 4 seconds
- Unique Behavior: Instantly cancels the movement arc if Supernova is activated mid-flight, placing the burning sun exactly at the location where the cancellation was initiated.
| Level |
Damage Per Second |
Movement Speed Slow |
Cooldown |
Manacost |
Health Cost |
| 1 |
10 |
19% |
36 sec |
0 |
15% of current HP |
| 2 |
30 |
22% |
34 sec |
0 |
15% of current HP |
| 3 |
50 |
25% |
32 sec |
0 |
15% of current HP |
| 4 |
70 |
28% |
30 sec |
0 |
15% of current HP |
2. Fire Spirits
Summons fire spirits that circle around you. Each spirit can be launched independently at a targeted area of effect. Affected enemy units take magical damage every second and have their attack speed reduced. Hitting the same units multiple times just refreshes the debuff duration.
- Damage Type: Magical
- Total Spirits Summoned: 4 fire spirits
- Spirits Buffer Duration: 20 seconds (window available to launch spirits)
- Debuff & Damage Duration: 4 seconds upon impact
- Unique Behavior: Consecutive strikes on the same target do not compound the damage values or attack speed penalties linearly; they reset the tracking timer of the debuff back to its full duration window.
| Level |
Damage Per Second |
Attack Speed Reduction |
Cooldown |
Manacost |
Health Cost |
| 1 |
20 |
80 |
45 sec |
80 |
20% of current HP |
| 2 |
40 |
100 |
40 sec |
90 |
20% of current HP |
| 3 |
60 |
120 |
35 sec |
100 |
20% of current HP |
| 4 |
80 |
140 |
30 sec |
110 |
20% of current HP |
3. Sun Ray
Expels a huge beam of light at the cost of the hero's own life energy. The beam damages enemies for a percentage of their life and heals allies for half of the amount. The damage scales linearly up to twice the initial damage value over the course of the duration. Deals magical damage.
- Damage Type: Magical
- Maximum Channel Duration: Up to 6 seconds
- Ally Health Restoration Rate: Restores targeted friendly units for exactly 50% of the calculated damage parameters.
- Scaling Progression: The baseline damage scales linearly up to twice the initial baseline over the course of the beam execution window.
| Level |
Base Initial Damage |
Target Max HP Percentage Damage |
Cooldown |
Manacost |
Health Cost Per Second |
| 1 |
14 |
1.50% |
26 sec |
100 |
6% of current HP |
| 2 |
20 |
3.25% |
26 sec |
100 |
6% of current HP |
| 3 |
26 |
5.00% |
26 sec |
100 |
6% of current HP |
| 4 |
32 |
6.75% |
26 sec |
100 |
6% of current HP |
4. Supernova
The Phoenix willingly ends his current life for the chance to be reborn. Transforms into a burning sun that scorches enemies within a massive range. The sun can be attacked by enemy heroes; if it is destroyed, the Phoenix dies as well. However, if the sun survives for a fixed duration, all enemies in range will be stunned and the Phoenix will return to life fully regenerated with his other spells refreshed. Deals magical damage.
- Damage Type: Magical
- Scorch Effect Area of Effect (AoE): 1300 range
- Sun Incubation Lifespan: 6 seconds
- Unique Mechanics: Resets the cooldowns of all basic skills upon successful execution. Completely refreshes health and mana capacities to full parameters upon rebirth.
- Scepter Upgrade: Allows Phoenix to pull an allied hero inside the sun to undergo rebirth together, while increasing the total hit threshold needed for the enemy team to destroy the Sun.
| Level |
Damage Per Second |
Attack Hits Required |
Rebirth Stun Duration |
Cooldown |
Manacost |
| 1 |
60 |
6 hits |
2.0 seconds |
110 sec |
200 |
| 2 |
90 |
8 hits |
2.5 seconds |
110 sec |
200 |
| 3 |
120 |
10 hits |
3.0 seconds |
110 sec |
200 |
Item Build Guide
| Phase |
Recommended Items |
Strategic Purpose |
| Early Game |
Tranquil Boots, Urn of Shadows, Magic Wand |
Tranquil Boots mitigate the heavy health costs of casting basic abilities outside of combat. Urn of Shadows converts early gank involvement into active health regeneration charges, and Magic Wand provides instant emergency resources. |
| Core Items |
Shiva's Guard, Veil of Discord, Heaven's Halberd |
Shiva's Guard adds armor and slows enemy attack speeds, making it much harder for them to break Supernova. Veil of Discord amplifies his massive spell damage output, while Heaven's Halberd completely neutralizes high-priority enemy right-clickers. |
| Late Game |
Aghanim's Scepter, Refresher Orb, Heart of Tarrasque |
Aghanim's Scepter allows you to save your dying hard carry by pulling them into the egg. Refresher Orb grants a second lease on life with dual Supernovas, and Heart of Tarrasque provides a massive strength-based pool to sustain his skill execution costs. |
Quick Gameplay Tips
- The Mid-Dive Egg Placement: The mechanical interaction between Icarus Dive and Supernova is one of Phoenix's strongest tools. You can cast Icarus Dive over a cliffside or through trees, launch Fire Spirits mid-flight to slow enemy attacks, and then press Supernova. This cancels the dive instantly, placing your incubating sun atop high-ground spots or deep inside tree lines where melee heroes cannot path to attack it.
- Spreading Attack Speed Suppression: Fire Spirits feature a long 20-second availability buff. Instead of spamming all 4 spirits onto the exact same location instantly, space your launches out every 3 seconds across the opposing team. Since hitting a target just refreshes the 4-second debuff duration, staggering your throws lets you cripple the entire enemy team's attack speeds for an extended window, making it impossible for them to destroy your Supernova.
- Proportional Laser Shredding: Because Sun Ray inflicts a high baseline of max-health percentage damage rather than a fixed flat scalar, it acts as a premier tank-melting ability. Target the light beam directly down the throat of high-health enemy Strength heroes. Since the ability drains your current health rather than maximum health, using it early in fights maximizes its efficiency while leaving you safe to initiate.
