The Valorant closed beta released with, and currently still has, ten different characters (or Agents) to choose from. Each of these characters fits into one of the four classes present in Valorant at the moment: Duelist, Initiator, Sentinel, and Controller. Each of these classes has a certain role that they need to fill if the team is going to operate like a well-oiled machine, and each of these characters goes about achieving their class's goals in a different way.
Phoenix is a Duelist, and is one of the strongest 1v1 characters in the game, at the moment. Let's take at look at some tips on getting the most out of Phoenix:
10 CURVEBALL
The first of Phoenix's four abilities is Curveball; this creates a flash effect that's prevalent in quite a few different FPS, but the way that this ability functions is drastically different than in any other game. Instead of throwing this like you would a normal grenade, it either darts to the left or the right, whichever direction you choose. This makes it incredibly difficult to avoid as an enemy, and very easy to use in a variety of different situations as Phoenix.
9 HOT HANDS
Hot Hands function much more traditionally; it basically acts like a Molotov, blanketing the area in which it lands in fire for a short period. The difference is, Phoenix is healed by this fire instead of damaged by it, giving it sort of two-fold function; it can either be used aggressively as you would a Molotov, or it can be used as a way to keep Phoenix healed during/after a fight.
8 BLAZE
Blaze is the last of Phoenix's normal, or purchasable, abilities. This creates a fiery wall, and much like Hot Hands, damaging enemies while healing Phoenix. This can be used to great effect in a variety of scenarios, making it Phoenix's most versatile ability.
7 RUN IT BACK
Run It Back is Phoenix Ultimate ability, basically giving you one life he can waste without worry. When activated, it basically starts a timer, at the end of which Phoenix is going to die.
Phoenix can still use his weapon while in this form, but if he's shot, he'll simply reappear where he activated the ability in the first place.
6 BLAZE FOR VISUAL COVER
One of the plethora of uses for Blaze is as visual cover. This blocks line of sight for everybody in the match, so be sure it's being used to your team's advantage and not the other way around. When used well, this can create a situation for the enemy team where they'll need to leave a room blind (and damaged) unless they want to wait it out.
5 BLAZE TO CUT OFF LANES
Blaze can also be used as a way to block off a lane entirely for a short period of time, giving either yourself or teammates time to prepare. If enemies are going to pass through they're going to take some damage; not mentioning they can't see what's waiting for them on the other side. Again, they'll be forced to choose if they want to wait it out, or charge through, hoping to get lucky.
4 HOT HANDS TO CUT OFF AREAS
As mentioned before, Hot Hands can be used like a Molotov would be in any other game, making it an ideal way to cut off access to an area for a short period of time, or else force enemies out of an area entirely.
Because Phoenix isn't negatively affected by the fire, he can throw the ability into an area and, while the enemy(s) back up, he can be aggressive and move in, taking the position for himself.
3 TAKE RISKS WITH RUN IT BACK
Run It Back is meant to be used as a very aggressive ability. There is, literally, no risk involved with coming around the corner with this ability active, and it gives you not only the chance of getting what is, in essence, a free kill, but also gives you the opportunity to get some intel on how the enemy team has set themselves up. When you do come around the corner for real, you'll have information you wouldn't have had otherwise, giving you a much better chance of success.
2 BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU ACTIVATE RUN IT BACK
That said, do be careful where you activate Run It Back. As soon as an enemy shoots you with the ability active and you simply disappear, they're going to be wise to your game. If you're in a spot that they can get to inside of a couple second, they're going to be able to get an easy kill on you before you can get your gun up and fight back.
1 SELF-SUFFICIENT FRAGGER
Phoenix's role is a self-sufficient fragger. He can take care of himself in just about any gunfight and has a wide enough variety of abilities at his disposal that he can pretty easily manage fights without help, provided he isn't too drastically outnumbered. He can confidently take more gunfights than other characters due to his ability to easily heal himself back the damage lost in the last gunfight, making him the ideal character for a player who has an aggressive playstyle.