Gyrocopter Hero Analysis

Gyrocopter is a beloved and versatile hero in Dota 2. On Dotabuff, he consistently maintains a solid position in various hero rankings, demonstrating a well-rounded mix of strengths and weaknesses that make him a reliable option in many scenarios. His win rate hovers around 46.7%, accompanied by a pick rate of approximately 5.6%, affirming his enduring popularity among players.

Description

Gyrocopter is a versatile ranged agility hero in Dota 2. His abilities allow him to dish out significant damage, particularly in area-of-effect (AoE) situations, making him a formidable opponent in team fights. His primary role is carry, but he can also function as a midlaner or, less commonly, as a support.

Rocket Barrage

The Rocket Barrage is Gyrocopter's primary damage-dealing ability in the early game. It fires a barrage of rockets at nearby enemies for a short duration, dealing significant damage to enemy units within its radius. This ability is especially effective in isolated skirmishes where Gyrocopter can focus the whole barrage on a single target. However, it can also quickly clear waves and jungle camps. The ability has a low cooldown and mana cost, allowing frequent use in farming and combat.

Homing Missile

A Homing Missile is a skill shot that targets an enemy unit, launching a missile that gains speed over time and stuns the target upon impact. Enemy attacks can destroy the missile, but increasing speed makes this problematic. This ability is useful for initiating fights, chasing fleeing enemies, or disrupting enemy initiations. The stun duration increases with the missile's travel distance, rewarding accurate long-range targeting​.

Flak Cannon

Flak Cannon temporarily allows Gyrocopter's attacks to hit all enemy units within a large radius around him, making it a powerful tool for team fights and wave clear. This ability is particularly effective when Gyrocopter has acquired significant attack damage items, as it spreads his damage output across multiple targets. Only the primary target of Gyrocopter's attacks during its duration benefits from attack modifiers like critical strike or zΩlifesteal, but the AoE damage alone can be devastating in clustered fights​.

Call Down

Call Down is Gyrocopter's ultimate ability, which calls down two missiles in a targeted area. The first missile impacts quickly, slowing and damaging enemies, followed by a second, more powerful missile. This ability is excellent for initiating fights, controlling space during engagements, and punishing enemies who cluster together. The slow effect helps Gyrocopter and his team to chase down enemies or disengage from unfavorable fights​.

Item Dependency

Gyrocopter relies heavily on items to maximize his effectiveness. Core items typically include Black King Bar (BKB) for magic immunity and survivability, and Satanic for lifesteal and durability. Damage items like Daedalus, Butterfly, and Monkey King Bar (MKB) are crucial to enhance his physical damage output. Gyrocopter often builds utility items like Drum of Endurance and Aghanim's Scepter, improving combat capabilities and fight sustainability​.

Farming and Scaling

Effective farming is crucial for Gyrocopter to reach its peak potential. His ability to quickly clear waves and jungle camps with Rocket Barrage and Flak Cannon allows him to farm efficiently. Prioritizing the farm in the early to mid-game enables Gyrocopter to acquire key items faster, which is essential for his role as a late-game carry. In the late game, Gyrocopter's AoE damage and itemized survivability make him a significant threat in team fights​.

Role Versatility

While primarily played as a carry, Gyrocopter's versatility allows him to adapt to various team compositions and strategies. As a midlaner, he can leverage his strong laning presence and ganking potential to control the game's tempo. When played as a support, Gyrocopter can provide additional crowd control and damage in team fights, though this role is less common due to his dependency on farms and items​.

Lore

Gyrocopter, whose real name is Aurel Vlaicu, comes from humble beginnings. Born in a small village, Aurel showed an early interest in machines and flight. His childhood fascination grew into a lifelong passion, leading him to become a skilled engineer and pilot. Despite facing numerous challenges and failures, Aurel's determination never wavered. He dreamed of creating a flying machine to protect his homeland from invaders​.

His efforts culminated in creating the Gyrocopter, a mechanical marvel equipped with rocket launchers, a flak cannon, and advanced targeting systems. Powered by Aurel's ingenuity, this aircraft allowed him to dominate the skies and become a legendary figure among his people. His contributions went beyond his mechanical prowess; he inspired others to push the boundaries of engineering and aviation, showcasing the power of innovation and perseverance.

Latest Updates

In the recent patch 7.36b, Gyrocopter received several noteworthy changes that enhanced his performance in different aspects of the game.

Rocket Barrage

• Damage Increase: The damage per rocket has been increased, making Rocket Barrage more potent in both early and late-game engagements.
• Slow Resistance: Rocket Barrage now grants Gyrocopter a 20/30/40/50% slow resistance for its duration, helping him maintain mobility while dealing damage.

Flak Cannon

• Radius and Vision Buff: The radius of Flak Cannon has been increased from 1000 to 1250, allowing Gyrocopter to hit more targets. Additionally, it now grants 200 bonus night vision, improving his situational awareness during nighttime.
• Cooldown Reduction: The cooldown of Flak Cannon has been reduced, allowing more frequent usage in fights.

Call Down

• Damage and Cooldown: The damage of the second missile from Call Down has been significantly increased. However, the cooldown has been standardized to 90 seconds at all levels, requiring more strategic use.

Hints and Tips to Master

Positioning and Awareness

Positioning is crucial for Gyrocopter. Stay at the edge of fights to maximize your damage output with Flak Cannon and Call Down while minimizing your exposure to enemy spells and attacks. Constantly reposition using Rocket Barrage to maintain mobility and avoid being an easy target. Keep an eye on the minimap and anticipate enemy movements to prevent ambushes.

Efficient Farming

Use Rocket Barrage and Flak Cannon to clear waves and jungle camps quickly. Prioritize farming lanes and the jungle to maintain a steady gold income. This will help you acquire critical items faster. Efficient farming is essential to reach your peak potential in the mid to late game.

Itemization

Choosing the right items is vital for Gyrocopter's success. Core items like Black King Bar (BKB) and Satanic enhance survivability and damage output. Consider items like Butterfly and Monkey King Bar (MKB) for additional damage and to counter evasion. The drum of Endurance and Aghanim's Scepter can provide utility and improve your overall combat effectiveness.

Utilizing Abilities

• Rocket Barrage: Use this ability in close-range engagements to maximize its damage. It is especially effective when enemies are isolated.
• Homing Missile: Target high-priority enemies or initiators to disrupt their actions. Use the long-range missile to initiate fights or chase down fleeing foes.
• Flak Cannon: Activate Flak Cannon during team fights to spread your damage across multiple enemies. Ensure you have good positioning to hit as many targets as possible.
• Call Down: Use Call Down to initiate fights or to control the battlefield. The slow effect can help your team engage or disengage from fights.

Facets

1. Map Control: Control critical areas of the map with Call Down and Homing Missile. Use these abilities to secure objectives and vision.
2. Team Coordination: Work closely with your team to time your abilities for maximum impact. Communicate with your allies to coordinate ganks and team fights.
3. Adaptive Playstyle: Adjust your playstyle based on the game's progress. Focus on farming and avoiding fights early on, then transition to aggressive engagements as you acquire vital items.
4. Survivability: Prioritize your survivability in fights. Use BKB to prevent crowd control and magic damage, and rely on Satanic for sustain. Always be aware of enemy spells and items that can disable or burst you down.

Abilities

Rocket Barrage (Q)

Launches a barrage of rockets at nearby enemies, dealing significant damage over 3 seconds. Effective in close-range fights and for clearing waves quickly.

• Radius: 400
• Damage: 8 / 14 / 20 / 26 per rocket
• Cooldown: 7 / 6.5 / 6 / 5.5 seconds
• Mana Cost: 75 / 80 / 85 / 90

Homing Missile (W)

Fires a missile that tracks and stuns an enemy unit, dealing damage upon impact. The missile speeds up over time but can be destroyed by enemies.

• Stun Duration: 1.3 / 1.7 / 2.1 / 2.5 seconds
• Damage: 90 / 180 / 270 / 360
• Cooldown: 30 / 24 / 18 / 12 seconds
• Mana Cost: 120 / 130 / 140 / 150

Flak Cannon (E)

Allows Gyrocopter's attacks to hit all enemy units within a large radius for a limited number of attacks. It is effective in team fights and for dealing AoE damage.

• Radius: 1250
• Max Attacks: 4 / 5 / 6 / 7
• Cooldown: 26 / 24 / 22 / 20 seconds
• Mana Cost: 40 / 50 / 60 / 70

Call Down  

Calls down two powerful missiles in a targeted area, slowing and damaging enemies. Excellent for initiating fights and controlling the battlefield.

• Damage: 250 / 400 / 550
• Slow Duration: 4 seconds
• Cooldown: 90 seconds
• Mana Cost: 125

Recommended Allies

Clockwerk

Clockwerk's Hookshot and Battery Assault can lock down enemies, creating perfect opportunities for Gyrocopter to use Rocket Barrage and Flak Cannon. His ability to initiate and disrupt makes it easier for Gyrocopter to position and deal damage.

Shadow Fiend

Shadow Fiend provides intense laning pressure and burst damage, which complements Gyrocopter's sustained damage. His Shadowraze can soften up enemies for Gyrocopter to finish off, and Requiem of Souls pairs well with Call Down in team fights.

Legion Commander

Legion Commander's Duel isolates a target, allowing Gyrocopter to unload his full damage combo without interference. Her press the attack also removes disables from Gyrocopter, ensuring he can continuously deal damage during fights.

Disruptor

Disruptor's Glimpse and Static Storm can trap enemies in place, making them easy targets for Gyrocopter's abilities. Kinetic Field also prevents enemies from escaping the area of Call Down, maximizing its effectiveness.

Crystal Maiden

Crystal Maiden's Frostbite and Crystal Nova provide crowd control, setting up Gyrocopter's damage. Her Arcane Aura ensures Gyrocopter has the mana to continuously use his abilities, increasing his overall presence in fights.

Counters

Anti-Mage

Anti-Mage can quickly close the gap and drain Gyrocopter's mana, rendering him unable to cast his abilities. His high mobility and magic resistance make him hard to pin down and kill.

Silencer

Silencer's Global Silence can prevent Gyrocopter from using his abilities during crucial moments. His Last Word and Arcane Curse also make it difficult for Gyrocopter to stay effective in fights.

Phantom Assassin

Phantom Assassin's high burst damage and Blur's evasion can quickly eliminate Gyrocopter if he is not careful. Her ability to jump on him and burst him down before he can react is a significant threat.

Storm Spirit

Storm Spirit's high mobility allows him to dodge Gyrocopter's abilities and target him in the backlines. His ability to zip in and out of fights makes it difficult for Gyrocopter to deal sustained damage.

Tinker

Tinker's burst damage and ability to rearm and spam his abilities can keep Gyrocopter constantly on the defensive. His Laser and Rockets can chip away at Gyrocopter's health from a distance, making it hard for him to engage effectively.