IF / MLBB#106

SEASON 41 PROFILE

Chains of Sin

Phoveus

Phoveus turns enemy movement skills into opportunities to trigger Infernal Pursuit and land on the target. Dark Wave knocks up and drags, while Demonic Impact slows; against a dash-heavy team he can chain entries without chasing on foot.

DATA REVIEWED 24.08.2026 · PATCH 2.1.95

HOW TO PLAY

Phoveus guide for Season 41

DAMAGE: Mixed
ATTACK: Melee
SPECIALTY: Regen / Damage
MAIN POSITIONS: EXP Lane
IN THE GAME SINCE: 11 May 2021

01EARLY GAME
Poke with Demonic Impact and do not force Infernal Pursuit onto a target that can drag Phoveus under a turret. Dark Wave should cut off the escape rather than push enemies out of reach.
02MID GAME
Around Turtle, stand where Wanwan, Harith or Benedetta must dash to enter. Each ultimate trigger should move Phoveus toward his team unless the kill is guaranteed.
03LATE GAME
Late in the game, wait for the first dash and check the landing point before committing. X.Borg or Yve can prepare damage on that location.

IF / LOADOUT LAB

Three builds. One draft.

Choose the lane or job first. Hover or use the keyboard on any item, talent or emblem to see exactly what it does. Spells and blessings are explained alongside their icons.Choose the lane or job first. Tap any item, talent or emblem to open its explanation. Spells and blessings are explained alongside their icons.

EXP Sustain Default

Default ranked EXP setup that keeps Phoveus alive long enough to recycle marks, shields, and lost-HP recovery in extended fights.

10,900 GOLD

WHAT IT DOES
+18 Magic Defense. +40 Movement Speed. Fortitude: CC and Slow Duration Reduced by 30%
Magic Defense
+18
Movement Speed
+40
WHAT IT DOES
+400 HP. +8% Spell Vamp. +35 Physical Attack. +10% Cooldown Reduction. Fighting Spirit: Attacks grants 12 extra Physical Attack per second for 4 seconds, up to 6 stacks. Deals 10% extra True Damage based on the damage dealt (no damage reduction counted) at full stacks. (Marksmen, Mages, and Supports only receive 50% of these stacked effects.)
HP
+400
Spell Vamp
+8%
Physical Attack
+35
Cooldown Reduction
+10%
WHAT IT DOES
+600 HP. +10% Spell Vamp. +40 Adaptive Attack. +10% Cooldown Reduction. Demonize: When HP drops below 40%, gains 30% Damage Reduction for 3 seconds and reduces the skill cooldown by 2 seconds. This effect has a 60 seconds cooldown. Defiance: For every 1% HP lost, damage is increased by 0.25%, up to 15%
HP
+600
Spell Vamp
+10%
Adaptive Attack
+40
Cooldown Reduction
+10%
WHAT IT DOES
+600 HP. +20 Physical Defense. +10% Cooldown Reduction. Brute Force: Each second after dealing damage, gain 6 Adaptive Attack and 2% extra Movement Speed for 4 seconds, up to 6 stacks. Gain 15% extra Control Duration Reduction at full stacks.
HP
+600
Physical Defense
+20
Cooldown Reduction
+10%
WHAT IT DOES
+850 HP. +20 Physical Defense. +20 Magic Defense. +10% Cooldown Reduction. Bless: Received Shield and HP Regen effects are increased by 25%.
HP
+850
Physical Defense
+20
Magic Defense
+20
Cooldown Reduction
+10%
WHAT IT DOES
+800 HP. +15 Physical Defense. Immortal: Revives 2.5s after death and gaining 16% Max HP and 220-1200 shield (scales with level) that lasts for 3s. (210 cooldown).
HP
+800
Physical Defense
+15

EMBLEM + 2 STANDARD TALENTS + 1 CORE TALENT

BASE EMBLEM

Recommended emblem setup for this build.

Hybrid Lifesteal: +10%
Adaptive Attack: +16
Hybrid Defense: +8

STANDARD TALENT

Gain 8 extra Physical & Magic Defense.

STANDARD TALENT

Gain 6% Spell Vamp. Each hero kill or assist grants an additional 0.5% Spell Vamp, up to 12 stacks.

CORE TALENT

Brave Smite: Dealing skill damage to an enemy hero recovers 5% Max HP. CD: 6 seconds.

BATTLE SPELL

75s

Vengeance

For three seconds, reduces damage taken by 35% and returns 40% of the damage received to the attacker as Magic Damage.

ADAPT ITEMS AND BLESSINGS TO THE MATCH

WHAT IT DOES

+40 Physical Defense. +5% Movement Speed. +40 Magic Defense. Fortress Shield: For each enemy hero within 5 units, Hybrid Defense is increased by 8, up to 40. Lifebane: Reduces Shield and HP Regen effects of nearby enemies within 5 units to 60% of normal for 1 second.

Physical Defense: +40
Movement Speed: +5%
Magic Defense: +40

WHAT IT DOES

+600 HP. +20 Physical Defense. +10% Cooldown Reduction. Brute Force: Each second after dealing damage, gain 6 Adaptive Attack and 2% extra Movement Speed for 4 seconds, up to 6 stacks. Gain 15% extra Control Duration Reduction at full stacks.

HP: +600
Physical Defense: +20
Cooldown Reduction: +10%

Dominance Ice FOR Brute Force BreastplateUse against sustain EXP laners, attack-speed cores, or shield-heavy drafts that keep hitting you during mark loops.

WHAT IT DOES

+950 HP. +12 HP Regen. +40 Magic Defense. Holy Blessing: Taking Magic Damage grants 6-20 Magic Defense (scales with level) for 5s, up to 6 stacks (1 stack only every 0.6s).

HP: +950
HP Regen: +12
Magic Defense: +40

WHAT IT DOES

HP: +600
Physical Defense: +20
Cooldown Reduction: +10%

Radiant Armor FOR Brute Force BreastplateUse when repeated magic poke is stopping you from walking into the second cast and ultimate reset.

WHAT IT DOES

+920 HP. +4 HP Regen. +40 Physical Defense. Deter: When hit by a skill, reduces the attacker's Physical Damage by 6% for 2s (this effect stacks up to 3 times).

HP: +920
HP Regen: +4
Physical Defense: +40

WHAT IT DOES

HP: +600
Physical Defense: +20
Cooldown Reduction: +10%

Antique Cuirass FOR Brute Force BreastplateUse against physical skill burst that must spend cooldowns into you before your team can follow.

IF / KIT

Abilities at a glance

Hover or use the keyboard on any ability to read exactly what it does in game.Tap any ability to open its in-game explanation. Tap elsewhere to close it.

IF / LIVE META

Phoveus in ranked and pro play

AUTOMATIC SNAPSHOT24 Aug 2026

CURRENT TIERC

WIN RATE: 48.47%
PICK RATE: 0.29%
BAN RATE: 0.7%
WIN-RATE CHANGE: -0.12 pp

OUR READING

Phoveus is a niche choice here. The result is worth watching, but a low pick rate means it should not be read in isolation.

Seven-day ranked data, updated 24 Aug 2026 · MLBBHub · cross-checked with MLBB.io

PRO / MLBB Mid Season Cup 2026USED IN COMPETITION

PICKS: 10
RECORD: 3-7
BANS: 48
DRAFT PRESENCE: 51.33%

Phoveus has appeared in the tournament draft 58 times. This is tournament context, not a global verdict on the hero.

Tournament statistics · Liquipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0

PATCH ARCHIVE

Every buff, nerf and adjustment

IF / PATCH TRACKER

Phoveus's full patch history

Every documented buff, nerf and adjustment, ordered from the latest patch backwards.

7documented patches

7 patches shown

v2.1.88NERF
17 June 2026
- NERFBase HP: 2650 → 2550
- NERFBase Physical Attack: 132 → 120
- NERFBase Physical Defense: 25 → 22
Check original notes · MLBBHub
v2.1.61BUFF
11 March 2026
- BUFFPassive: Magic Damage Based on Target's Max HP: 4% → 4-6%
- BUFFPassive: Shield Based on Phoveus' Max HP: 8% → 8-12%
Check original notes · MLBBHub
v1.8.20ADJUSTMENT
- ADJUSTMENTMalefic Terror: Skill Recharge Time: 8.5-6s → 8.5-4.5s
- ADJUSTMENTMalefic Terror: Mana Cost: 40-60 → 40
- ADJUSTMENTMalefic Terror: Damage: 250-500 + 100% Magic Power → 300-600 + 120% Magic Power
- ADJUSTMENTAstaros Eye: Cooldown: 13.5s → 13.5-11s
- ADJUSTMENTDemonic Force: Cooldown: 50s-40s → 44s-36s
Check original notes · MLBB Wiki
v1.6.50NERF
- NERFMalefic Terror: Shield's HP Bonus: 8% → 6%
- NERFDemonic Force: Cooldown: 45-35s → 50-40s
Check original notes · MLBB Wiki

Open the earlier archive · 3 patches

v1.6.26ADJUSTMENT
- NERFSkill 1: Base Damage: 275-525 → 250-500
- BUFFSkill 1: Mana Cost: 50-65 → 40-60
- BUFFSkill 1: Damage to Minions: 150% → 160%
Check original notes · MLBB Wiki
v1.6.18ADJUSTMENT
- NERFUltimate: Base Damage: 660-980 → 600-920
- BUFFUltimate: Cooldown: 50-40s → 45-35s
- BUFFUltimate: Mana Cost: 90-120 → 70-100
Check original notes · MLBB Wiki
v1.5.96BUFF
- BUFFSkill 1: Cooldown: 3.5s → 2.5s
- BUFFUltimate: Base Damage: 440-680 → 660-980
- BUFFUltimate: Magic Power Bonus: 150% → 180%
- BUFFUltimate: Movement Speed increased by 30 → 50 during Ultimate
Check original notes · MLBB Wiki

THE DRAFT

Phoveus in the draft: strengths, counters and teammates

GOOD INTO

Wanwan and Harith use movement constantly, providing Phoveus with repeated opportunities to land on them.

JoyAssassin

FreyaFighter

LingAssassin

WATCH OUT FOR

X.Borg damages him without stepping close, while Minsitthar controls the area where Phoveus intends to land.

X.BorgFighter

MinsittharFighter

SunFighter

WORKS WELL WITH

Lukas forces opponents to move, and Diggie prevents control from ending Phoveus's chain of entries.

LukasFighter

ValentinaMage

ZhuxinMage

See all 5 counters, favorable matchups and best teammates for Phoveus

COLLECTION

Phoveus skins: what you can get right now

Available now1

AVAILABLE

Monolith Watcher

ORIGIN / EVENTin-game shop: 269 Diamonds

Permanently available through the in-game shop: 269 Diamonds.

Locked right now1

NOT AVAILABLE NOW

Matrix Maverick

ORIGIN / EVENTJuly 2025 StarLight Pass

It was obtainable through the July 2025 StarLight Pass. It is not currently available.

QUICK ANSWERS

The questions players ask about Phoveus

01What is the best lane for Phoveus?

Phoveus is currently played mainly in EXP Lane. The guide separates the recommended builds by lane or job, so choose that tab before copying the six items.

02Which Phoveus build should I use?

Start with «EXP Sustain Default». The other options, «EXP Anti-Sustain Frontline» and «EXP Catch and Peel», are there for a different lane or match-up; they are not cosmetic variations.

03Which heroes counter Phoveus?

X.Borg, Minsitthar and Sun are the first counters to consider. X.Borg damages him without stepping close, while Minsitthar controls the area where Phoveus intends to land.

04Which Phoveus skins can be obtained now?

1 skin is marked as obtainable right now. 1 more is kept in the vault with the event or shop where each one originally appeared.

Phoveus

DATA REVIEWED 24.08.2026 · PATCH 2.1.95