Phoenix vs Tidehunter

How this matchup plays

Trying to land a big ultimate in a teamfight is where this matchup gets decided. If Phoenix commits to Supernova, Tidehunter can simply wait for it and then use Ravage to stun everyone trying to defend the egg, leaving it completely exposed. But if Tidehunter leads with Ravage first, Phoenix can usually Icarus Dive away or survive the initial stun and then counter-initiate with a perfect Supernova once Tide's biggest spell is on cooldown. It's a classic standoff between two massive teamfight abilities.

This dynamic means both players are constantly trying to bait the other. The Phoenix will poke from the edges of the fight, using Fire Spirits to try and force Tidehunter to act. Meanwhile, the Tidehunter player is looking for a Blink initiation on a more important target, hoping to catch Phoenix in the Ravage without having to focus him directly. Tide's Kraken Shell also helps him shrug off a lot of the early burn damage, making him a frustrating target for Phoenix to wear down. The fight often goes to whichever player has more patience.