Underlord vs Phoenix

How this matchup plays

Dealing with Phoenix's Supernova often means ignoring the egg itself. Underlord is too slow and lacks the burst damage to reliably destroy it. Instead, his plan is to punish the rest of Phoenix's team. As they move in to protect the egg or follow up on the stun, he can drop Pit of Malice and Firestorm to control the space and turn the fight. His Atrophy Aura also weakens any physical damage cores on Phoenix's team, making it much harder for them to fight effectively while their key spell is on the line. Underlord creates a dangerous moat around the Supernova that the enemy has to cross.

This dynamic leaves the matchup feeling very neutral. In the early game, Phoenix can have an easier time, using Icarus Dive to escape Pit of Malice and harassing with spells that aren't much bothered by Underlord's passive. As teamfights begin, however, it becomes a battle of competing game plans. Phoenix wants to lock down a key area and force a reaction, while Underlord excels at making that reaction impossible for her teammates to execute cleanly. The better-coordinated team will usually come out ahead, as neither hero possesses a definitive tool to shut the other one down.