I'm very disappointed with these changes. I was bored with the Moonstone Library pieces - I have more than enough of them and I won't miss them, but I have no Phoenixes and I don't want any Phoenixes (or artifacts). Can't we have something new, exciting, desirable? I'm a one person fellowship in Level 11 and it takes a lot of hard work and resources to advance up the levels alone; I really don't think the rewards are in proportion to the effort required. Magic buildings are virtually impossible to win. Unfortunately, I think I'm going to give up on the Spire.
I promise just another chapter and it gets much much easier for 7/9 tpurnament weeks. (Having 2 star drone riders, dryads, and Blossom Mages really helps out a ton. There are fights where a single 2 star drone rider outperforms 2 dogs or sword dancers.)
There will still be some weeks that are very difficult until you get Temple of Toads since it's used to boost HR units. But if it's a week for heavy melee, Dryads, or mages to be used you'll wonder "why is chapter 12/13 easier than the ones before it?"
Also about the Fire Phoenix it boosts all your troop damage with a pet food. It's only for a day but you can use it a day or 2 before spire ends and the tournament is going on to save a lot of troops and push further for both spire and tournament
also I must say chapter 11-12 gets difficult for catering only players. Very much so. Especially because you need so much mana. Both of the Sorcerer's and Dragons buildings help give lots of mana so you can dedicate more space to goods production.
Anyways if you're a catering city then this update is still great! There are phoenixes that gives 3 hour 30 minute boost to production. That doesn't sound like much, especially compared to the Brown Bears 12 hour troop production bonus I know.
But if you set a 9 hour production before bed, wake up, and feed that pet before collecting, it's like you've done 2 or 3 of the 9 hour productions.
One of the phoenixes boosts the goods production bonus enchantment. The other one just straight up boosts foods production.