12 Best Heroes To Counter Phoveus In Mobile Legends

Phoveus can be a nightmare to deal with, especially if you’re playing a hero that relies on dashes or quick repositioning. His entire kit is designed to punish mobility, making him a strong counter to many popular picks in Mobile Legends. But like every hero, Phoveus has his weaknesses—and there are plenty of heroes who can shut him down if played correctly. In this article, we’ll cover the 12 best heroes to counter Phoveus, whether through range, burst damage, or raw crowd control. If you’re tired of getting jumped by Infernal Pursuit, these are the heroes you’ll want on your side.

#12: Odette

Odette is a strong counter to Phoveus thanks to her long-range burst and teamfight zoning. Unlike mobile mages, she doesn’t rely on blinks or dashes—meaning Phoveus has a harder time triggering his ult. When positioned well, Odette can punish him with her ultimate from a safe distance, especially if he’s stuck in a fight and can’t escape. Just be sure to cast your ult from bush or behind your tank so Phoveus doesn’t get a chance to interrupt you.

#11: Franco

Franco is a great pick against Phoveus because he can completely shut down Phoveus’s momentum. With his Iron Hook and Brutal Massacre, Franco can lock Phoveus down before he even gets a chance to start his combos. Plus, Franco doesn’t rely on dashes to engage—his playstyle is straightforward, making it harder for Phoveus to trigger his ultimate. In team fights, Franco can isolate Phoveus early and prevent him from diving into the backline, turning him into an easy target.

#10: Hanabi

Hanabi is a strong counter to Phoveus mainly because she doesn’t rely on any dash or blink abilities. Her playstyle is all about standing her ground and dealing sustained damage, which makes it tough for Phoveus to trigger his ultimate. On top of that, her passive shield helps her resist crowd control, making it harder for him to lock her down. If positioned properly and protected by a good frontline, Hanabi can easily kite Phoveus and burn him down without giving him a chance to close the gap.

#9: Cyclops

Cyclops is a solid counter to Phoveus thanks to his long-range poke and crowd control. He doesn’t rely on dashes, so Phoveus struggles to trigger his ultimate against him. Cyclops can kite from a safe distance and punish Phoveus every time he tries to engage. His ultimate, Star Power Lockdown, can completely interrupt Phoveus’s momentum, giving Cyclops or his team time to burst him down before he gets close. As long as you maintain distance and land your skills, Phoveus won’t stand a chance.

#8: Minsitthar

Minsitthar is a great counter to Phoveus because his ultimate, King’s Calling, completely shuts down mobility-based heroes—including Phoveus himself. While Phoveus wants enemies to dash so he can punish them, Minsitthar’s ult prevents all dashes within its area, denying Phoveus the opportunity to trigger his Infernal Pursuit. On top of that, Minsitthar’s spear and crowd control make it easy to keep Phoveus locked down and away from your backline. He can control the pace of fights and turn Phoveus into a sitting duck.

#7: Baxia

Baxia is a strong frontline counter to Phoveus due to his tankiness and anti-healing capabilities. Since Phoveus relies on spell vamp and shield regeneration to survive in extended fights, Baxia’s passive and Shield Unity skill reduce the effectiveness of his sustain. Baxia also doesn’t rely on blinks or dashes, so Phoveus struggles to trigger his ultimate consistently. With high durability and mobility, Baxia can soak Phoveus’s damage, disrupt his combos, and make him far less impactful during team fights.

#6: Nana

Nana is a frustrating matchup for Phoveus because she punishes his aggressive dives without relying on mobility. Her Molina Smooch automatically transforms him if he overcommits, cutting off his combo potential and making him an easy target. Since she fights from a safe distance and doesn’t use dashes, Phoveus has a hard time triggering his ultimate. Nana’s poke and zoning also make it risky for him to get close, and her passive gives her a second chance if he tries to burst her down. All around, she’s a safe and annoying counter to his playstyle.

#5: Lunox

Lunox is an excellent counter to Phoveus thanks to her unique kit that doesn’t rely on dash-type mobility. Her skills are all cast-based, so she rarely gives Phoveus a chance to trigger his ultimate. With her Chaos mode, she can burst him down quickly, and when things get dangerous, her Order mode provides invulnerability with Brilliance, allowing her to dodge Phoveus’s combo entirely. She can kite, poke, and survive his full engage—all while dealing consistent magic damage that Phoveus struggles to withstand.

#4: Cici

Cici is a strong counter to Phoveus because her mobility doesn’t rely on dashes—it’s all about enhanced movement speed and directional control. This means she can constantly reposition without ever triggering Phoveus’s ultimate. Her basic attacks are fast and consistent, allowing her to kite him easily while staying out of his range. On top of that, her high mobility makes it hard for Phoveus to land his key skills like Dark Wave and Demonic Impact. If played smart, Cici can dance around Phoveus and wear him down before he gets a chance to engage.

#3: X.Borg

X.Borg is one of the safest matchups against Phoveus. His entire kit revolves around poke and sustained damage rather than mobility, which means Phoveus rarely gets the chance to trigger his ultimate. X.Borg can zone Phoveus out with Fire Missiles and clear waves without putting himself at risk. Plus, his true damage and armor shred allow him to trade effectively even in the early game. With Firaga Armor acting as a built-in safety net, X.Borg can outlast Phoveus in extended fights and force him to play defensively.

#2: Yin

Yin is a strong duelist and a great counter to Phoveus because he can isolate him with his ultimate, My Turn. By dragging Phoveus into his domain, Yin removes the chance for Phoveus to abuse dashes from other enemies to reset his ultimate. Inside the domain, Yin’s burst and sustained damage give him the upper hand, especially since Phoveus struggles without multiple targets around to refresh his skills. With smart timing, Yin can eliminate Phoveus before he has a chance to chain his abilities, making him a powerful pick in 1v1 scenarios.

#1: Esmeralda

Esmeralda is arguably the best counter to Phoveus. While Phoveus thrives on extended fights and shield-based sustain, Esmeralda directly turns that against him by absorbing his shields and converting them into her own. This completely shuts down one of his core mechanics. On top of that, Esmeralda doesn’t rely on dashes, so Phoveus rarely gets a chance to trigger his ultimate. Her strong laning phase, high mobility through skill-based movement, and scaling power make her a nightmare for Phoveus in both 1v1 and team fights. With the right build, she can outlast, outdamage, and outplay him every time.

Conclusion

Phoveus can be a real threat if left unchecked, especially against dash-heavy lineups—but like every hero in Mobile Legends, he has his counters. The key to shutting him down is picking heroes that either don’t rely on mobility or can punish him from a safe distance. From sustain-heavy fighters like Esmeralda to disruptive mages like Nana, the heroes on this list are all great at limiting Phoveus’s impact in fights. Whether you’re in ranked or classic, knowing how to draft around him can make the difference between getting jumped or coming out on top.