[Scott Hebert]

While you can do the same with a Virtue, there are a couple of concerns I have.

First is the fact that you have to research quite a bit more to get an area-effect Air spell. Therefore, it's not as much of an early lead.

Second, the bless effect is important. With the Virtue, your bless effect is purely defensive (thogh perhaps the best defensive). The Phoenix grants a powerful offensive bless effect.

Lastly, the Phoenix is immortal. Unless you get the Evo-4 Air area spell, I doubt the Virtue could stop a rush before she died. The Phoenix has the benefit of not being as worried about that, and it gets rid of afflictions naturally.

For these reasons, I feel that the Phoenix is superior to the Virtue, at least in the early game.

Bayushi Tasogare