Phlox Phoenix

Phlox Phoenix is the upgrade plant of Thrash Thrush unlocked in Magma Marshlands’ level path E (more about level paths here) in Plants vs. Zombies: Lost World, after beating Level 5E. Phlox Phoenix, like her downgrade, is able to fly, attacks zombies at close range and also has an area-of-effect. However, unlike her downgrade, although the damage output is the same, her damage also targets zombies in an area rather than a single zombie, and, instead of blinding, zombies get superheated after 5 hits. Superheated zombies are 1.5× more vulnerable to fire-based attacks (including damage from scorched tiles in Magma Marshlands). Superheated zombies also take 5 DPS every second, and as well as damage other nearby superheated zombies with the same damage rate (this effect is not affected by the 1.5× damage multiplier). Superheated zombies will lose their superheated effect either if they have not been damaged by any fire-based attacks for 10 seconds or they have been affected by an ice or water-based attack (or the area's environment with the similar elements). The superheated effect cannot be stacked to increase the damage multiplier.
Phlox Phoenix, like their downgrade, also can only attack zombies with their tail 25 times (losing their flowers on their tail rather than leaves) before they must turn to ashes to undergo rebirth. Phlox Phoenix, however, takes 5 seconds longer than their downgrade to be reborn (15 seconds instead of 10). Additionally, unlike Thrash Thrush, Phlox Phoenix will turn to ashes rather than get defeated when a zombie eats her. Gargantuars, however, when smashing Phlox Phoenix, will instantly defeat her and also spread ashes in a 3×3 area like Thrash Thrush would in her ash form. Phlox Phoenix's ashes, unlike Thrash Thrush's, are hot and will deal fire damage to any zombie that walks into it, dealing 5 DPS every second to any zombie who makes contact. Phlox Phoenix's ashes, when spread by Gargantuars or Blover or Fanilla, will do the same thing as Thrash Thrush's ashes and blind zombies that get it in their eyes, but, additionally, they will also be dealt 50 DPS of fire damage. Phlox Phoenix's ashes can also float on lava, unlike her downgrade.
==Origins==
Phlox Phoenix is a combination of two words which both alliterate and also somewhat rhyme: ‘phlox’ and ‘phoenix’. Phlox is a genus of flowering plants found mostly in North America, whose name is derived from the greek word of the same spelling which means flame in reference to the intense colours of the flowers of some of the species in the genus. This name derivation is also a reference to how Phlox Phoenix is a fire plant. The phoenix is a bird in Greek mythology associated with the Sun. The phoenix is best known to turn into ashes upon death before it is reborn from these same ashes as a newborn.
==Almanac entry==
Phlox Phoenix
Sun cost: 175
Recharge: Slow
Uses its fiery phlox tail to superheat zombies at close range. Turns to ash for a while when its tail has worn out or is defeated, reviving afterwards with a regrown tail.
Must be planted on Thrash Thrush.
Special: Zombies can get superheated after a certain number of attacks, becoming more susceptible to fire.
Special: Has a limited number of attacks, turning into ash for a while to regrow its tail.
As the upgrade of Thrash Thrush, Phlox Phoenix is just as fascinated about cheese as her non-fiery counterpart is. Don’t judge, plants have their own interests.
==Upgrades==
===Plant Food power===
When fed with Plant Food, Phlox Phoenix will renew their tail and breathe a large amount of fire in front of them down their lane and the lanes above and below, damaging any zombies caught in the fire for 600 DPS, and as well as superheat them if they are not already.
===Stat tiers===
Stat 	Tier 1	Tier 2 	Tier 3 	Tier 4	Tier 5
Strength 	20 DPS	30 DPS 	40 DPS 	50 DPS
(Unlock cost: 1 Strength Token)	60 DPS
(Unlock cost: 2 Strength Tokens)
Toughness	50 DPS	200 DPS	300 DPS 	400 DPS
(Unlock cost: 1 Toughness Token)	550 DPS
(Unlock cost: 2 Toughness Tokens)
Sun cost 	225 	200 	175 	150
(Unlock cost: 1 Sun cost Token)	125
(Unlock cost: 2 Sun cost Tokens)
Recharge*	N/A 	N/A 	30 seconds	N/A 	N/A
* - Upgrade plants cannot have upgraded nor degraded recharges
More about the upgrading system here.
==Strategies==
Phlox Phoenix, although she may have lost her blinding ability and gained a longer revival time after upgrading from Thrash Thrush, is better in terms of offense. Although Phlox Phoenix costs exactly double the amount of sun compared to Thrash Thrush, Phlox Phoenix’s AOE damage and superheating effect makes Phlox Phoenix a powerful melee plant if synergised with other fire plants. Phlox Phoenix’s superheating effect causing zombies to be more susceptible to fire damage is already enough to explain how effective Phlox Phoenix’s synergy with other fire plants is. Additionally, as explained in Thrash Thrush’s ‘Strategies’, Thrash Thrush being a melee plant means that their blinding effect is more effective due to how Thrash Thrush would normally attack zombies packed behind a defensive plant. The same goes to Phlox Phoenix, both because of her AOE damage and as well as her superheating effect. Because her superheating effect causes zombies to damage other nearby zombies who are under the same effect, regardless of what the zombie is targeting, this makes Phlox Phoenix’s unique ability more effective than Thrash Thrush’s, increasing in effectiveness the more zombies are present. Referring back to how Phlox Phoenix, unlike Thrash Thrush, is a fire plant, it’s not advised to use Phlox Phoenix with ice or water plants or in areas where similar elements are present. In case there’s a breakthrough in the first line of defense, Phlox Phoenix’s ash can continue attacking zombies that they have superheated before getting defeated, which helps in reinforcing defenses. Like Thrash Thrush, it is not a good idea to bring Phlox Phoenix along with Blover or Fanilla into the same level unless you work around the feature of Phlox Phoenix’s ashes getting blown away. Although the ashes could blind and damage zombies with fire damage, it’s not a good idea to utilise this feature in the long-run due to Phlox Phoenix being a costly upgrade plant. Since Phlox Phoenix’s ashes can float on lava, Phlox Phoenix is more well-rounded in terms of the variety of areas where they can be planted compared to her downgrade, so upgrading Thrash Thrush before they disintegrate can help in the long-run.
==Gallery==
Phlox Phoenix.png|Phlox Phoenix (HD)
File:Phlox Phoenix costume.png|Costume
File:Phlox Phoenix seed packet.png|Seed packet
File:Phlox Phoenix's ashes.png|Phlox Phoenix when they turn to ashes
==Trivia==
*Phlox Phoenix was originally made by Aster, and is remade for Lost World by the game’s creator.
**Don’t worry, the creator is legally allowed to use this idea.
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