Hero Mastery

Phoenix

A sun brawler: Fire Spirits slow attacks + burn, Sun Ray heals + deals %HP damage, Icarus Dive engages, and Supernova resets fights through its egg.

Mastery parameters

Your GPM, last hits and damage per game against other Phoenix players — average vs Top 20%.

Members only

Learning journey

1 Know the kit
2 Win the lane
3 Timing & rotations
4 Win the fights
5 Master

5 stages, each with one target from your own games and one short quiz. Make Phoenix your mastery hero to start — progress shows on Home and Arcana.

Phase by phase

Laning: pressure their carry, don't feed

You 50%Team 50%

Skills in lane — Max Fire Spirits (W) for the attack-slow + burn that dominates the lane; value Sun Ray (E) for sustain + damage. Icarus Dive (Q) for engage/escape.
Level 6 — Supernova — Supernova is an egg that stuns + deals big damage if it hatches — a teamfight reset. Use it when your team can protect it.

Skills 1–7

Starting items

Iron Branch23%
Tango15%
Faerie Fire15%
Blood Grenade12%
Sentry Ward9%
Smoke of Deceit9%

Pros buy this phase

Tranquil Boots98%
Spirit Vessel2%

The Offlaner's job this phase

Your goal isn't perfect farm — it's making sure THEIR carry doesn't farm. Contest every last hit.
Secure range creeps with a spell if needed; XP matters more than gold for you.
If the 1v2 is rough, hug your tower and ask the soft support to help zone.

Counters & weaknesses

Tank (big HP & armor)

The items that shut Phoenix down, 3 heroes that trouble it, and your answer when you play it.

Members only

Why this way? How OpenAI Five learned

One hero, one role first
OpenAI's first bot played only Shadow Fiend, only mid, until it mastered it. Stay on Phoenix in one role before moving on.
Small, measurable rewards
OpenAI Five was rewarded for last hits and staying alive long before it understood winning. That's why each journey stage has one number to hit.
From yourself to the team
Its 'team spirit' rose over the game: early on, look after yourself; late, play for the team. Each phase's meter shows the split.
Use proven builds
OpenAI Five's builds were hand-written, not trial and error. Start from the pro build, then experiment.

Phase items: what pros buy on this hero (OpenDota). Parameters: percentiles of players on this hero (OpenDota). Item effects checked against Valve's own item data.