Gyrocopter

Homing Missile
Ward
Level	2
Duration	Permanent
Health	100
Health regeneration	0
Armor	0
Magic resistance	0%
Status resistance	0%
Collision size	24
Vision range	400 (G)
Bounty	50
Experience	20
Model scale	1
Notes	Uncontrollable; Phased

Gyrocopter 22 + 2.5 19 + 3.6 21 + 2.1
Magic resistance	25%
Link▶️ Movement speed	315
Link▶️ Attack speed	125
Turn rate	0.6
Vision range	1800/800
Attack range	365
Projectile speed	3000
Attack animation	0.2+0.65
Base attack time	1.7
Damage block	0
Collision size	24
Legs	2
Gib type	Motor

Hero

Strategy

Aurel, the Gyrocopter, is a ranged agility hero, capable of outputting a lot of single target and area of effect damage at a multitude of ranges. Early game Gyrocopter is a strong ganker, with Rocket Barrage able to output a lot of damage in a short amount of time if he and his target are alone. His second ability, Homing Missile, is a long range projectile that forces opponents to either stop and engage to take out the missile, or run to a safe location before being stunned. Thanks to his third ability, Flak Cannon, he is also an excellent pusher, and with it can farm up big items in the midgame as his spells start to fall off in damage. Flak Cannon also allows him to hit everyone in a teamfight with his attacks, and with enough damage items he can inflict a lot of damage to the entire enemy team. Call Down is a useful ultimate with a low cooldown, providing a large area slow and nuke making it great for team fights. With the right items, he can also transition into a carry role.

Bio[edit]

Aurel, the Gyrocopter

▶️ "So much for being retired…"

Lore:

After serving through a lifetime of wars, upheaval, riots, and revolutions, the brass figured Aurel had seen enough. But in addition to a few trinkets and his considerable pension, the erstwhile engineer left with something far more interesting: a long-forgotten, incomplete schematic for a Gyrocopter, the world’s first manned, non-magical flying device. Retiring to the tropical obscurity of the Ash Archipelago with little else but time and money, he set to work building the device. As the years wore on and the remains of failed prototypes began to pile up, he began to wonder if mechanical flight was even possible. A decade and a day after his retirement, on a sunny afternoon with a southerly breeze, Aurel sat in his latest attempt bristling with indignation and expectant failure. With a grunt of effort he pulled the ignition cord and covered his head, waiting for the inevitable explosion. However to his great surprise he began to lift and, following a few panicked adjustments, stabilize. Within an hour, he was ducking and weaving with the breeze, level with the gulls, and Aurel found himself filled with the breathless wonder of flight. As dusk settled in he set a course back to his workshop, but no sooner had he turned his craft when a cannonball tore through his tailfin. Disentangling himself from the wreckage, he swam toward the nearest piece of land in sight, and cursed to see the ship responsible for the cannonball collecting the debris. Days later, when Aurel returned to his workshop, he set to work on yet another gyrocopter, this one capable of carrying a much heavier, more dangerous payload.

Voice:

Nolan North (Responses)

Abilities[edit]

Rocket Barrage

▶️

Ability
No Target

Affects
Enemies

Damage
Magical

Launches a salvo of rockets at nearby enemy units in a radius around the Gyrocopter. Lasts 3 seconds.

Cast Animation: +

Search Radius: 400

Rockets per Second: 10

Damage per Rocket: 7/12/17/22 (

23/28/33/38)

Barrage Duration: 3

7/6.5/6/5.5

90

Modifiers

modifier_gyrocopter_rocket_barrage: Dispellable with any dispel.

Aurel's new craft has an increased payload for rockets, enhancing their rapid-fire capabilities.

Notes:

Rocket Barrage interrupts Gyrocopter's channeling spells upon cast.

Despite the visual effects, the damage is dealt instantly, rather than on each rocket's impact.

Rocket Barrage cannot hit invisible units or units in the Fog of War.

Gyrocopter can act freely during Rocket Barrage.

Does not fire rockets while Gyrocopter is hidden.

Deals damage in 0.1 second intervals, resulting in 30 damage instances.

Can deal a total of 210/360/510/660 ( 690/840/990/1140) damage (before reductions), assuming all rockets hit.

Visual indicator above the target.

Homing Missile

▶️

Ability
Target Unit

Affects
Enemies

Damage
Magical

Fires a homing missile to seek the targeted enemy unit. The missile gains speed over time, dealing damage and stunning when it impacts the target. Enemy units can destroy the missile before it reaches its target.

Cast Animation: +

Cast Range: 1050

Hero Attacks to Destroy: 3

Tower Attacks to Destroy: 6

Damage: 100/175/250/325

Stun Duration: 2.25/2.5/2.75/3 (

2.65/2.9/3.15/3.4)

Number of Charges: 0 (

3)

Charge Replenish Time: 0 (

26/21/16/11)

26/21/16/11 (

0)

120/130/140/150

Blocked upon impact.

Modifiers

modifier_gyrocopter_homing_missile: Undispellable. Persists death.

modifier_stunned: Dispellable with strong dispels.

The biggest missile Aurel could possibly attach to his craft, The Bomb™ has carefully calculated aerodynamics and explosives for maximum impact.

Notes:

When Cast, a stationary missile is placed 150 range in front of Gyrocopter, which begins to move 2.5 seconds later.

Homing Missile's initial speed is 500 and increases by 20 per second, growing by 1 every 0.05 seconds.
- The speed acceleration is not capped, and continues to increase until it hits the target or is destroyed.

If the missile's target dies, it automatically switches to the nearest valid target within 700 range of the previous target.

Only attacks from heroes, illusions (counting as heroes), towers, and the fountains (counting as towers) can damage the missile.

The rocket first applies the debuff, then the damage.

The crosshair over the target is visible to allies only.

Although the spell grants no vision or True Sight over the target, the missile follows and hits invisible units.

If the missile hits its target, its 400 range flying vision stays at the location for 3.5 seconds.

The missile can be targeted by Force Staff and Hurricane Pike, pushing the rocket forwards (or backwards).
- The missile cannot impact the target during the forced movement, and passes through, reorients, and continues to chase the target.

When the missile gets affected by Chronosphere it gets instantly destroyed.

Overhead icon.

Flak Cannon

▶️

Ability
No Target

Affects
Enemies

Damage
Instant Attack

Gyrocopter's attacks hit all enemy units in an area around it for a limited number of attacks. Only the main target of attacks will receive attack bonuses such as Critical Strike. Lasts 10 seconds or until the attacks are used.

Cast Animation: +

Search Radius: 1250

Number of Attacks: 2/3/4/5

Duration: 10

18

50

Adds a Side Gunner that at random attacks enemy units near Gyrocopter. Prioritizes furthest unit away within its range.

Modifiers

modifier_gyrocopter_flak_cannon: Dispellable with death only.

This newly revamped Gyrocopter has attached enough armaments to assault in a 360 degree radius.

Notes:

Flak Cannon interrupts Gyrocopter's channeling spells upon cast.

Causes Gyrocopter to perform instant attacks on all nearby enemies whenever he launches an attack projectile.
- This means all projectiles are released at the same time together with the main attack.
- Therefore, it does not matter whether the primary attack misses or not, the flaks are still released.
- The flaks have no count limit. All valid nearby targets get attacked.
- Flaks are not launched when the Side Gunner attacks.

The primary attack target is not affected by Flak Cannon. It is only hit by the primary attack.

The projectiles from the instant attacks travel at a speed of 800.

Unlike most other instant attacks, the ones from Flak Cannon may not proc any attack modifiers or on-hit effects.
- However, they still count as regular attacks. Damage done by Flak Cannon does not count as spell damage.
- They are also affected by armor type, and blocked by Damage Block like regular attacks.
- The flaks can miss to evasion or if Gyrocopter is blinded, unless he has True Strike.

Does not target couriers, wards, buildings, invisible units, or units inside the Fog of War.
- However, attacking couriers, wards, buildings, or allied units still causes flaks to hit all valid targets within the radius.

The number of attacks left is visible (to everyone) on the buff icon.

The visual effect above Gyrocopter while active is visible to everyone.

Call Down

▶️

Ability
Target Area

Affects
Enemies

Damage
Magical

Call down an aerial missile strike on enemy units in a target area. After 2 seconds, two missiles arrive in succession, with 2 seconds between them.

Cast Animation: +

Cast Range: 1000 (

Global)

Effect Radius: 600

Delay per Rocket: 2

Missile One Damage: 150/250/350

Missile Two Damage: 200/275/350

Missile One Move Speed Slow: 30%

Missile Two Move Speed Slow: 60%

Missile One Slow Duration: 2

Missile Two Slow Duration: 4

90 (

50)

125

Slow persists if debuff was placed before spell immunity and when not dispelled.

Modifiers

modifier_gyrocopter_call_down_thinker: Undispellable. Persists death.

modifier_gyrocopter_call_down_slow: Dispellable with any dispel.

'Bombs away!'

Notes:

The first missile impacts 2 seconds and the second missile 4 seconds after cast.

Provides 300 radius flying vision at the targeted area for 4 seconds upon cast.

Can deal a total of 350/525/700 damage (before reductions), assuming both missiles hit.

The rockets first applies their debuffs, then their damage.

The big red area indicator is visible to allies only, but the sound effects are audible and the missiles visible to everyone.

Side Gunner

Ability
Passive

Affects
Enemies

Damage
Instant Attack

A Side Gunner that at random attacks enemy units near Gyrocopter. Prioritizes furthest unit away within its range.

Attack Range: 700

Attack Interval: 1.2

Modifiers

modifier_gyrocopter_flak_cannon_scepter: Undispellable. Persists death.

Notes:

Requires Aghanim's Scepter to be unlocked.

The Side Gunner is not bound to any of Gyrocopter's spells and is not visible in the HUD. However, its values are in Flak Cannon's description.
- In Ability Draft, Side Gunner is bound to Flak Cannon, so that it can be gained by the player that drafted it.

The Side Gunner performs an instant attack in the set interval. It chooses the furthest unit away within the radius.
- Since it uses instant attacks, it neither interferes with the regular attacks, nor does it use animations. It also ignores disarms.
- It does not interfere with any other actions of Gyrocopter either. It still attacks while e.g. stunned or while channeling.
- The gunner can proc any attack modifier or any on-hit effect like a regular attack, except for Flak Cannon.
- The gunner can miss to evasion or if Gyrocopter is blinded, unless he has True Strike.

The Side Gunner uses the same 3000 projectile speed as Gyrocopter's attack.

The Side Gunner does not attack when Gyrocopter is hidden, invisible, or affected by Break.
- However, the gunner ignores fade times and fade delays of spells. It only does not attack when fully invisible.

The Side Gunner does not attack wards and couriers, but does attack buildings. Only attacks units Gyrocopter has vision over.

The Side Gunner completely ignores attack immune units within its range.

Side Gunner attack speed and range are not affected by anything.

Talents[edit]

Hero Talents
Global Call Down	25	3 Homing Missile Charges
+16 Rocket Barrage Damage	20	+30 Movement Speed
-40s Call Down Cooldown	15	+0.4s Homing Missile Stun Duration
+200 Health	10	+16 Damage

Notes:

The health talent increases maximum health capacity, and keeps the current health percentage.

This attack damage talent is added as raw attack damage, so it does not benefit illusions, and is not affected by most percentage-based damage increasing or reducing effects.

Recent Changes[edit]

Main Article: Gyrocopter/Changelogs

Version

Description

7.27b

Increased base intelligence from 19 to 21.
Reduced Homing Missile launch delay from 3 to 2.5.
Reduced Flak Cannon cooldown from 20 to 18.
Talents:

Level 10 left talent: +175 health increased to +200.

Level 10 right talent: +12 attack damage increased to +16.

Level 20 left talent: +12

Rocket Barrage damage per rocket increased to +16.

7.26c

Talents:

Level 10 left talent: +200 health reduced to +175.

Level 10 right talent: +15 attack damage reduced to +12.

Level 15 left talent changed: +9

Rocket Barrage damage per rocket -> -40s

Call Down cooldown.

Level 20 left talent changed: -40s

Call Down cooldown -> +12

Rocket Barrage damage per rocket.

7.26b

Talents:

Level 10 left talent: +250 health reduced to +200.

Level 10 right talent: +20 attack damage reduced to +15.

Level 15 left talent: +11

Rocket Barrage damage per rocket reduced to +9.

Level 15 right talent: +0.5s

Homing Missile stun duration reduced to +0.4s

Level 20 left talent: -50s

Call Down cooldown reduced to -40s.

Level 20 right talent: +40 movement speed reduced to +30.

Recommended items[edit]

Starting items:

Tango gives Gyrocopter regen to counter early harassment.
Healing Salve gives a helpful burst heal to help stay in lane.
Iron Branch gives cheap early stats, and can be consumed with a tango for extra regen.
Faerie Fire helps with last hits.
Slippers of Agility gives a decent agility boost.

Early game:

Boots of Speed quickly can allow Gyrocopter to get early kills with his Rocket Barrage.
Magic Wand can save Gyrocopter in a pinch.

Mid game:

Phase Boots give extra attack damage for Flak Cannon.
Drum of Endurance allows Gyrocopter to come online earlier than most carries by adding attributes, movement speed, and attack speed, which aid him and allies in ganks.
Mask of Madness keeps his health up when clearing jungle camps with lifesteal, and increases attack damage and attack speed. He can disassemble it later on to build Satanic and Butterfly.
Dragon Lance greatly improves Gyrocopter's short attack range and offers cost efficient stats.
Sange and Yasha provides a good mix of tankiness and chasing ability.
Black King Bar is usually needed to make full use of Flak Cannon without being interrupted.

Late game:

Butterfly's evasion makes Gyrocopter significantly harder to take down, and allows him to go head to head against harder carries.
Satanic is the natural supplemental item to make Gyrocopter with multiple damage items able to survive longer in late-game teamfights, while also providing a decent damage boost itself.

Situational items:.

Hurricane Pike is a natural extension to Dragon Lance, giving Gyrocopter more mobility, and it can push the Homing Missile to hit the target faster.
Aghanim's Scepter allows Gyrocopter to continue attacking even when disabled, and gives more attacks which can proc attack modifiers.
Boots of Travel helps Gyrocopter be present at every fight.
Manta Style is good for pushing, and disjointing projectiles.
Daedalus multiplies well with Flak Cannon, increasing Gyrocopter's damage significantly. It also gives him a chance on inflicting critical hits on his primary target.
Monkey King Bar gives Gyrocopter decent attack damage, as well as proccing extra magical damage.
Divine Rapier is the be-all end-all in terms of damage for Gyrocopter. In combination with Flak Cannon it can decimate the entire enemy team within seconds. But it is also a risky purchase and should only be bought when Gyrocopter is sufficiently tanky or as a last resort in dealing with an overwhelming enemy advantage.

Gameplay[edit]


Roles:	Carry Nuker Disabler
Complexity:	★☆☆
Playstyle:	The world's first non-magical flying device took over a decade to create, and less than a few seconds to shoot down. But its pilot was not deterred. Aurel returned to the skies in a newer, better Gyrocopter. One with Flak Cannons, to strafe entire fields of foes. And Homing Missiles, to shoot down bogeys no matter how they twist or turn. Somebody infringing on your airspace? Let them have it with a Rocket Barrage. But sometimes, it's easier to just use the big bomb. Aurel Calls Down an air strike, and then delivers the payload himself before soaring away from the rising explosion. Not bad for an old timer.

Strategy & Tips

Counters &
Matchups

Audio[edit]

Responses

Sounds

History[edit]

Lore

Old Abilities

Changelogs

Equipment[edit]

Trivia[edit]

Aurel Vlaicu was a Romanian pioneer of early flight.
Gyrocopter's response upon meeting Viper ▶️ "Holy shit, it's Viper!" is a reference to a scene of the movie Top Gun.^[1]
Gyrocopter's helmet is similar to Gaetan "The Mole" Moliere's headgear from Atlantis: The Lost Empire.
Gyrocopter's response upon using homing missile "Fox Two" is a reference to the NATO brevity code for an air-to-air infrared-guided missile launch.