I'd agree that currently, they aren't particularly useful for me. Sasha's buff is good for a new player who doesn't have event crusaders though and while I've never had much use from Phoenix, there are some who've had success using her in tank style formations.

TBH, there's a good number of crusaders who just never make it into my lineups and a few who always do unless disallowed by objective rules. I scratch my scalp when I read others saying how incredible they are in chat and when I go to give them a try myself, still don't get it.

Sasha and Phoenix are indeed bad (Phoenix was ultraniche even before Alan existed).

I'm just gonna quote my ideas from my recent huge thread, on how those 2 Crusaders could be changed

--- Sasha the Fierce Warrior
Sasha is right now an OK starter character, but is incredibly underwhelming when compared to Groklok the Orc, both at her main job, as a buffer, but also at her lesser use, as a DPSer. So I thought she could fit a new niche: A female tank! Here are the ideas:
* Bad Guy Butt Kicking: Changed completely - When Sasha loses 10% of her total health (this is cumulative), she will kick all enemies that are currently attacking her. This kick deals 150% of your DPS done instantly to all of them, and pushes them back (similar to Alan's resurrection ability). Has a 10 second cooldown.
* Power of the Warrior: Changed completely - Increases Sasha's health by 50%.
* Soul of the Warrior: Changed completely - Heals herself by 10% of her max health every second
* Joan's Jiu-Jitsu: Changed completely - Sasha's kick (from Bad Guy Butt Kicking) now also causes all kicked enemies to get hit with 5 clicks each!
* Sasha's shield items: Changed completely - Instead of granting her DPS, it now causes her to take 5/10/25/50% less damage (similar to Thalia)

With this, she would be a new tank: She is the first female tank, she can regenerate health a bit on her own, she uses the new pushback mechanic, and also causes clicks to be used tank-passively!
Compared to Groklok, who can be either a buffer, tank or DPS, but can only excel at one role at a time, Sasha is both a buffer AND a tank at once, but doesn't excel at each role as much as Groklok can. Strengths and weaknesses...


--- Fire Phoenix
Fire Phoenix always was incredibly niche. Now though, he is not only niche, he is not even RELIABLE in his niche. And with Alan in the picture, he is downright useless (unless you wanna rely on luck...). Add to the fact that he, as a supposed support Crusader, has FOUR selfDPS abilities (and still is not viable as a DPS!), well, I really think he needs a THOROUGH update.
* Vengeful Fury: Now has a 100% chance to trigger, but has a 60 second cooldown.
* Song of the Phoenix: Changed completely - Heals ALL Crusader by 5% of their maximum health every second
* Power of the Fiery Nest: Changed completely - Increases the DPS of all Crusaders by 20%
* Egg Laying: Changed completely - If Fire Phoenix herself is the one that triggers Vengeful Fury, she will also instantly be resurrected!
* Heart of the Phoenix: Changed completely - Increases the health of ALL Crusaders by 15%
* Evil Eye: Changed completely (Moved to be Fire Phoenix's 6th ability) - When Vengeful Fury is triggered, the effects of Power of the Fiery Nest and Heart of the Phoenix are boosted by 200% for 30 seconds(boosting PotFN to 60% all DPS and HotP to 45% all health). Could maybe also boost Song of the Phoenix? (Which would mean healing all Crusaders by 15% every second, which might be a bit much?)
Note: Evil Eye's total benefit would still remain in effect even if Phoenix herself dies!
* Fire Phoenix's feather items: Changed completely - I have two ideas for this item; Either it reduces the cooldown of Vengeful Fury (by 5/10/25/50%) or boosts the effect of Evil Eye by 10/25/50/100% (which means it would have a potency of 220/250/300/400%, which in turn means that PotFN would give you 64/70/80/100% all DPS and HotP would give 48/52,5/60/75% all health. If SotP is included, it would mean a heal of 16/17,5/20/25% health per second)

I think this would make Fire Phoenix MUCH more viable, both in its special niche (deathbooster) and as a general support (a bit of healer, healthbuffer, DPSbuffer).