I had a bunch of fun practice matches against another giant bomber, and I found while so micro intensive, lifting up armies with your phoenix is so much fun, and can be really easy to harass with. Its expensive as hell, but is satisfying. Unfortunatly its countered pretty hard by spine crawlers, as you unfortunately can't lift buildings. But overloads melt.

2 gate is always nice against zerg, but you really need to have a viable strategy after harassment otherwise you'll be open to attack. Since phoenixes usually illicit the mass hydra reaction its often times a good thing to go collosus and stalkers to mop things up if they get out of hand. A few templar also make a nice stain on the battlefield. :)

" 2 gate is always nice against zerg, but you really need to have a viable strategy after harassment otherwise you'll be open to attack. Since phoenixes usually illicit the mass hydra reaction its often times a good thing to go collosus and stalkers to mop things up if they get out of hand. A few templar also make a nice stain on the battlefield. :) "

Oh its extremly dangerous, I normally 2 gate at natural to fast expand, but I was trying somthing else. And the mass hydras, while good, a cannon wall plus lift works well. 
My real issue was dealing with zerglings without cannons, cannot lift. 
BTW I never build a gateway unit.

" Oh its extremly dangerous, I normally 2 gate at natural to fast expand, but I was trying somthing else. And the mass hydras, while good, a cannon wall plus lift works well.  My real issue was dealing with zerglings without cannons, cannot lift.  BTW I never build a gateway unit. "

" I had a bunch of fun practice matches against another giant bomber, and I found while so micro intensive, lifting up armies with your phoenix is so much fun, and can be really easy to harass with. Its expensive as hell, but is satisfying. Unfortunatly its countered pretty hard by spine crawlers, as you unfortunately can't lift buildings. But overloads melt.