Welcome... This is my 1st guide on a new hero i just picked up... I started playing him during the 6.72 era where sunray no longer is as strong(imba) as before... So let's start!






I will show you Icarus' strengths and weaknesses here.

Pros
Ranged
Has above average survivalbility
Has a long lasting disable
Has a escaping mechanism
Has a AoE heal and nuke
Has a long range (and fun to use) chasing skill
Has a long duration and large area stun and damage
Has the ability to revive with full hp and mana
Can easily screw illusion hero up
High base damage

Cons
Have some mana problems early to mid game
Have problems chasing sometimes
Long cd skills
His sunray burns mana very,very VERY fast
His skill costs health
Will get screwed by heroes with high attackspeed or multiple heroes
Most his skills are delayed
Requires fast reaction(easily nulled with experience)
Requires timing (easily nulled with experience)
Ultimate and Sunray can screw himself up if you cast it at the wrong time (easily nulled with experience)




This is where Icarus truly shines, though it was nerfed pretty hard.

Icarus Dive



One of the hard skills to use. Put it simply, you cast it in the desired direction and Icarus will fly in a oval shaped path. Any enemy in the path will be silenced and unable to attack for a rather long duration. You can stop Icarus at any position in the middle of the skill by casting this spell again.

Uses: An escape mechanism, a chasing mekanism, a disable and a nuke!

Fire Spirits



Another hard skill to use. When casted, 4 small cute birds will cricle around Icarus. They will slowly grow to the maximum size and will explode after they have reached it for a few second. The bird will flash 3 seconds before they explode. Explosion will deal damage based on the size of the birds in a area around Icarus(if untargeted) or the target(if targeted). You can also target the birds to a target so they fly to the target and explode (but somehow the bird flies slowly)


It is a nuke that doubles as a heal. This skill is good for mind games. Cast your bird beforehand and fight the opponent with a lower hp. If they chose to fight you seeing the hp difference, a few second later the bird explode and heal + dmg him to destroy the hp gap. But note this before using the tactic. Birds takes around 1 second after they stop flashing to explode. This skill is more than perfect for laning.

Uses: Nuke/Heal/harrassing

Sun Ray



After 6.72, This skill have been tossed from the high throne of Imbalance to the storeroom of useless skills. It has lost its slow which is a very important aspect of the skill. It still has its uses as anti tank weapon,chasing tool and harrassing tool...

However...
Anti tank is not very possible as most tanks will have some magic resistance item.
Corrected(by Shines): Sun Ray dealing pure damage so the magic resistance wont reduce its damage. But still... tanks have high health regeneration.
Harrassing is not possible due to its mana and hp cost
So the only thing it can now do is to chase after you have used your dive and the hero is beyond your range.

Supernova



Yet another... hard skill to use...
This skill has a rather high damage over a LARGE area. its also a long duration delayed stun. Also can be used as a heal while laning or for clearing illusions. Its problem is its high mana cost. 200 mana is a lot for a hero with around 350 mana at level 6.

Uses: Initiating/healing/clearing illusions


Skill Builds


Phoenix is rather flexible hero, so there can be multiple skill build for him.

Items

Now for the item build

Starting Game

For starting items, pick any combination of the following items below

Gaunlet of Strength

Provides basic health and damage.

Mantle of Intelligence

Not really bought a lot by me. Only buy this if you are facing a weaker lane so you can use some extra mana for harassment.
Sobi Mask

Same as Mantle of Intelligence

Ironwood Branch

Gives a all rounded stats at dirt cheap price

Circlet of Nobility

A upgraded version of Ironwood Branch. Don't get too much of this at the start as Ironwood Branchs is more worth the money.

Ring of Protection

Buy this if you wan to support your lane partner more buy turning this into a Ring of Basilius.

Magic Wand

Get this if there is a spell spammer in your lane.

Healing Items

A duh for all heroes. To help you and your lane partner stay in lane longer

Standard Build I use




Early Game
Now for the Item you want to have during early game

Urn of Shadows

Provides strength and mana regen. Any hero will gladly appreciate a urn + fire spirit heal.

Ring of Basilius

Provides slight armor and mana regen not only for you, but also your teammates.

Bracer

Get one or two of this for the strength.

Null Talisman

I don't really get this often, if at all. Get this if you are having a huge mana problem.

Headress of Rejuvenation

Upgrade your Ironwood Branches into this. Good item to help allies.

Magic Stick

Another alternative for upgrade of Ironwood Branch.

Boots of Speed

Du'h... Movement increase..

Standard Build I use




Note: The Robe of Magi is for making into a Jango of Endurance for mid game.

Boots of Speed

Du'h... Movement increase..

Mid Game
You should be getting these items from ganking

Ancient Jango of Endurance

A standard support item. Helps a lot after you dive'd and cannot catch up with the enemy. Good item to upgrade from your bracer

Mekasm

With this, you are like a healing machine. Upgrades from your Headress of Rejuvenation

Dagon

Never like'd this item. But helps with ganking and upgrades from your Null Talisman

Vanguard

Never had this item on Phoenix for me. But provides an good hp and damage block. Only problem is the bonus is diminished on range heroes

Hood of Defiance

Same as Vanguard. I never bought this before but it works wonders against spell casters.

Sange

Most pub players prefer a DPS phoenix which I don't. But it provide some damage and the maim ability for chasing

Helmet of the Dominator

Most pub players prefer a DPS phoenix which I don't. But it provide some armor and lifesteal

Late Game
In a normal game, most of the time you will only be able to have one of these items

Heart of Tarrasque

Standard item for Phoenix. Helps a lot from all his health costing spells

Shiva Guard

One of my favourite late game item. Does extremely well when mixed with your aoe spells.

Sange and Yasha

Never had this on Phoenix but most pub people do so might as well place it here.

Khadgar's Pipe of Insight

Another nice item to have. Upgrades well from Hood of Defiance.

Guinsoo Scythe of Vyse

One of the must have items for Phoenix. Helps with his mana and his support role.

Assault Cuirass

Never had this on my Phoenix. But if you somehow has the money, go for it.

Foot Wear
You all must be wondering why I didn't put any boots in the item build. That is because ALL of the boots can help Phoenix

Phase Boots

Get this if you have problem chasing a target after a dive

Power Treads

A boots without any good active but has a rather good passive

Arcane Boots

Get this during your laning phase to harrass the crap out of your enemy with fire spirits

Boots of Travel

This is what you will be aiming for. Globally helping your allies


Situational Items
List of items you can get based on the situaltion

Medallion of Courage

Get this if your team is based on normal attacks

Veil of Discord

Helps a lot by amplifying the damage but not worth the cost if it is just for you. Get this when your team is based on spells

Force Staff

Svae your allies and yourself after a dive

Radiance

More Aoe damage. (Need someone to check if Radiance works when you are egg'd)

Blademail

Coutner to your opponent's carry hero

Linken Sphere

Get this if your enemy has a very good single target spell like Anti Mage

Necronomicon

Get this if you have an extremely good micro and to counter invis heroes.

Black King Bar

FOR FUN ONLY. Create a gigantic bird to block your opponent's view. The magic immunity is not that great on you.

Blink Dagger

GET THIS FOR FUN ONLY. Blink in and dive out just to piss off your opponent