Hero Discussion of the Day: Gyrocopter (June 12, 2012)

Gyrocopter was last discussed on December 15.

Aurel, the Gyrocopter

Aurel the Gyrocopter is a ranged agility Hero usually played as an early semi-carry and a midgame ganker. Thanks to his third ability, he is also an excellent pusher.

He is recommended for intermediate players.

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.

"This bucket of bolts still has a few surprises in her!"

Role: Disabler / Initiator / Nuker

Strength	Agility	Intelligence
18 + 1.8	24 + 2.8	23 + 2.1
Damage	Armor	Movespeed
41 - 51	2.36	305
Attack Range	Base Attack Time	Missile Speed
375	1.7	3000
Soundset	Icon

Rocket Barrage

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

Level	Mana Cost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	90	7.0	N/A	400	3 seconds	11 dmg/rocket
2	90	6.5	N/A	400	3 seconds	14 dmg/rocket
3	90	6.0	N/A	400	3 seconds	17 dmg/rocket
4	90	5.5	N/A	400	3 seconds	20 dmg/rocket

• The rockets can only hit units you have vision over.
• Damage type: magical

Homing Missile

Fires a homing missile to seek the targeted enemy unit. The missile gains speed over time, and deals greater damage and a longer stun the farther it has traveled. Enemy units can destroy the missile before it reaches its target.

Level	Mana Cost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	120	20	1050	N/A	2.5 seconds	Damage up to 110 and stun
2	130	17	1050	N/A	2.5 seconds	Damage up to 220 and stun
3	140	14	1050	N/A	2.5 seconds	Damage up to 330 and stun
4	150	11	1050	N/A	2.5 seconds	Damage up to 440 and stun

• Towers do half damage to the rocket.
• Enemy gains vision over the rocket 1 second after it starts moving.
• The crosshair over the target is visible to allies only.
• Damage type: magical
• Minimum damage is 50.
• Maximum of damage is reached when the rocket is 2000 units away from the point where it started

Flak Cannon

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 15 seconds or until the attacks are used.

Level	Mana Cost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	50	20	N/A	800	3 attacks or 15 seconds	Each enemy in AoE takes damage
2	50	20	N/A	800	4 attacks or 15 seconds	Each enemy in AoE takes damage
3	50	20	N/A	800	5 attacks or 15 seconds	Each enemy in AoE takes damage
4	50	20	N/A	800	6 attacks or 15 seconds	Each enemy in AoE takes damage

• Your attack range is still limited to 375 range.

Call Down

Call down an aerial missile strike on enemy units in a target area. Two missiles arrive in succession, the first dealing major damage and minor slow; the second dealing minor damage and major slow.

Scepter Upgradeable: Increases the damage of the second missile, and gives global cast range.

Level	Mana Cost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	125	55	1000 (Global*)	400	2/3 seconds	Deals 250/100 (250/175*) damage and slows for 20%/50%
2	125	50	1000 (Global*)	400	2/3 seconds	Deals 300/150 (300/225*) damage and slows for 20%/50%
3	125	45	1000 (Global*)	400	2/3 seconds	Deals 350/200 (350/275*) damage and slows for 20%/50%

• The visual warning indicator is visible for allies only, but enemies can see the rockets launch.
• Damage type: magical
• Can be improved by Aghanim's Scepter (* shows the improved values)

Be sure to take a look at DotaCinema's video overview of Gyro.

As always, check out Friday's Discussion of CK or the complete HDotD archives.