Bristleback vs Gyrocopter

How this matchup plays

Teamfights become a nightmare for Gyrocopter. His main damage ability, Flak Cannon, is designed to hit everyone in a wide area. When those attacks hit Bristleback from the side or back, they trigger a free Quill Spray from his passive. This means Gyrocopter is actively helping Bristleback stack lethal damage on his own team. Even Rocket Barrage, with its many small damage instances, is heavily reduced by the Bristleback passive. Gyrocopter lacks the kind of high-impact burst needed to bring Bristleback down before he becomes a major problem.

Across the game, this forces Gyrocopter into a terrible position. He either has to risk killing his allies with reflected quills or hold his most important spell. Bristleback can play aggressively, knowing that Gyrocopter can't effectively fight back or threaten him. Gyro's only real answer is to buy expensive utility items to try and control Bristleback, which delays his own timing and leaves him vulnerable. Bristleback, on the other hand, can follow his normal item progression and take over the map.