Tier 1 upgrade

Gyrfalcon

Gyrfalcon (0-0-1) gives the Beast Handler a bird that grabs Bloons and carries them back along the track. How the reticle and stalling work.

Command a noble little bird of prey that can grab and move Bloons to the drop-off target. Bloons up-track of the target get scratched.

In-game description

Stats

Main attack

Damage: 1 (normal bloon) +1 (regrow bloon)
Pierce: 3
Attack speed: 1s
Range: 50 (control beast range)

Sharp
Camo: No

How to use Gyrfalcon

Gyrfalcon replaces the staff with a bird of prey that flies along the track. You place a reticle on the track: Bloons that have not reached the reticle get scratched, and Bloons past it get grabbed and carried back to it, taking damage every second while held. It deals 1 damage, +1 to Regrow Bloons, and has 60 range around the Handler. It can only target the track, so it cannot be bought if no track is in range, and range buffs do not change that.

When to buy it

Gyrfalcon is mainly an early stall:

It is excellent against Regrow Bloons, because carrying them back without popping them all keeps Regrows under control. With good reticle placement, Regrows can be stalled almost indefinitely.
It can start a game with Piranha or Microraptor, but 1-1-0 Piranha and Microraptor is usually stronger.
On maps without water, Gyrfalcon with Microraptor works, though not immediately at the start of CHIMPS.

It is the first step to the strong bird path.