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We were having a healthy debate at my local shop the other day about which is better for troop transport, a Rhino or Razorback? Both have their ups and downs, just want to see what you all think....

Rhino is better for troop transport, since you lose nothing from moving 12" per turn. If a razorback is moving that fast, it's not shooting its guns. If it's shooting its guns, it's probably not transporting troops very far. Even still, it can't hold as many. They both have their places in a list, but for just transporting infantry I'd go for a rhino every time.

For me it really just boils down to what I need to transport. If it is 10 troops I take the rhino, otherwise they go in a razorback.

I field Honour Guard of 5/Command Squad and the Chapter Master/Captain in a Razorback,and units of 10 in a rhino.Razorbacks make good transports for Devs and Long Fangs,allowing them to advance to a better firing range quickly,while still providing the extra gun.

With a Razorback you pay additional points for extra guns. If you move at cruising speed you won't be firing these additional guns and thus will have wasted your points. However, if you move at combat speed in order to fire your guns the squad inside isn't getting where it needs to go, so you are losing the tactical battle rather than a direct one (your opponent will have his troops in the optimal position before you do). Obviously this depends what you want the squad inside to do but that's the gist.

With the Rhino you don't get as many guns, gain slightly more reliability through the re-mobilisation rule, and don't have to decide whether damage output > board presence or the other way around every time it comes to a movement phase.

I prefer the Rhino simply because it is a simple, effective piece of kit and does what it is meant to do very well. The Razorback I...have mixed feelings about purely because, IMO, it suffers from Godhammer-syndrome; it doesn't know whether to hang back and shoot, or move forward with its contents, and either decision means something is wasted.

L. Wrex

Rhino is more for transporting large squads across distances... that's it.

Razorback is for transporting small Elite units to engage the enemy at key locations, with the Razorback's turret weapon providing support.

Razorbacks are clearly superior, they transport a squad and then provide overwatch fire support and mobile screening. Rhinos only transport troops and form a mobile screen.

moarmoarmoar wrote:Rhino is more for transporting large squads across distances... that's it.

Razorback is for transporting small Elite units to engage the enemy at key locations, with the Razorback's turret weapon providing support.

QFT. Work out what the squad's function is, and assign as appropriate.

rhino for transporting. plasma/lascannonbacks as cheap gunboats.

in my current marines groupign that means 3 plasmabacks with a sergent and 4 marines inside and the missle launcher and 4 marinesx3 split off in cover/near home objectives. lascannons/plasma hurts and usually the 5 marines/sergent only get out against some armies.. agains orks and nids ... stay in the boat

I also think it depends on situation, I like using razorbacks but moving full distance for ~2 turns (yes so I can't use guns) then using the turret for cover after unload. I also like the rhino but imo its main weakness is after it unloads... can't really do much

It also depends somewhat on the codex. Psybolter razorbacks are 50 point tanks with three twinlinked Str6 36" shots, that can't be reliably suppressed without destroying it. They're capable of providing considerable annoyance to light armor, small squads, and MCs. And the purifiers don't want to be in there anyways, so they can use their storm bolters.
Las/plas razorbacks provide excellent screens and handle the target types their ML longfangs don't.

Ultramarine Tac squads pretty much have to be 10 strong, and only carry 2 useful guns, so the mobile bunker is a much better call for them.

Soaponrope37 wrote:I also like the rhino but imo its main weakness is after it unloads... can't really do much

This is a very common misconception. It can tank shock, it can block fire lanes, it can act as mobile cover to infantry and tanks alike, it can contest obectives, it can block approaches and bottleneck enemy troops. Even when it dies it can become a piece of LOS blocking and dangerous terrain, or a nice bit of area cover dependant upon what the damage result is. And all that for 35pts.

Once a Rhino fulfils its primary goal, a whole host of tactical opportunities are opened up, its up to the player to recognise and utilise them to his/her advantage.

L. Wrex

Lycaeus Wrex wrote:

Soaponrope37 wrote:I also like the rhino but imo its main weakness is after it unloads... can't really do much

This is a very common misconception. It can tank shock, it can block fire lanes, it can act as mobile cover to infantry and tanks alike, it can contest obectives, it can block approaches and bottleneck enemy troops. Even when it dies it can become a piece of LOS blocking and dangerous terrain, or a nice bit of area cover dependant upon what the damage result is. And all that for 35pts.

Once a Rhino fulfils its primary goal, a whole host of tactical opportunities are opened up, its up to the player to recognise and utilise them to his/her advantage.

L. Wrex

QFT. However, if you need all those functions from the beginning of the game (+ fire support) get a Razorback.

All of these points are relevant UNLESS you're playing Blood Angels, where, unless you need the extra space in the Rhino or don't have the points to spare, the Razorback is usually a better option, due to it being Fast.

It depends what I'm transporting, and what army I'm using. For example, for Space pups my mate has 2 5 man squads of grey hunters in razorbacks, and 3 squads, maxed out in rhinos. Whereas in a blood angel list, I prefer razorbacks because their fast, and rhinos don't gain much being fast, where razorbacks do.

I use 3 razorbacks in my list (with Assault Cannons and Psybolt ammo). I don't put anything in them, just use them as a mobile anti-infantry/light armor line (can pen 14 armor if i get lucky lol).

Can't beat somthing to spread out the enemies shots and do a fair amount of killing for only 85pts a piece

That's also a strategy, but I for one would much rather take a Predator in that case.... I think that pred/whirlwind/vindi will serve that function much better, and not for an overboard amount of points. If you want to take a Razorback, take it, as said before, for an elite/tactical insertion unit, or objective holders.

Sam__theRelentless wrote:That's also a strategy, but I for one would much rather take a Predator in that case.... I think that pred/whirlwind/vindi will serve that function much better, and not for an overboard amount of points. If you want to take a Razorback, take it, as said before, for an elite/tactical insertion unit, or objective holders.

Objective holders do better. They also serve a place to hide, eg. a librarian.