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As part of a large-scale trade a couple months ago I found myself in possession of several tanks, including a Whirlwind. I don't know that I ever would have purchased one individually, but I have it now so I'm considering its uses.

I'm figuring that in a list under 1500 points its probably not worth the points, but I'm definitely open to correction there. I'm also thinking that it would make the most sense to use against low armor, high number armies, but I've only really played against Eldar thus far so lack the game experience to be sure.

I'd appreciate any input/experience anybody has or feels like sharing.

Even at 90 points, I don't think they are a "competitive" option, but they could be fun. I've heard, anecdotally, that they work quite well against Orks and Imperial Guard gunlines, specifically.

What color are your marines?

If you have the models, you might as well give them a few test runs to see how they play for you.

Mostly black... I have an example of my tacticals here:

The low points cost and the missile that ignores cover makes them good against hordes, bugs, orks, IG. However against anything with a 3+ or better they are kinds useless. The biggest problem is it is not very versatile; it is only good against low toughness infantry. It desperately needs an anti tank missile option.

Marines typically pull a reasonable portion of their reliable anti-tank weapons from Heavy Support. Whirlwinds sort of get in the way there.

In a vacuum, Whirlwinds are certainly good, but not so much with the FOC.

I agree with that, so I'll get to work now.


Large, clumped together hordes of Orks and Bugs. Guard too, but there are a lot of Vehciles that can easily destroy it.

They're not bad units, but they do the same job as many other units throughout the army, in an FOC slot primarily needed for Anti-Tank/MC.

They're decent against any non-MEQ army, though be warned that if you try and get in an artillery fight with the IG you will lose (their equivalent unit is cheaper, higher S, and gets to reroll scatter, and has better frontal armor along with a useful secondary weapon, and they have much bigger/powerful versions).

If you want a piece of artillery, take a thunderfire cannon. The techmarine crewing it lets you reinforce a ruin, so you can get a 3+ cover save on the thing. It's only 10 points more expensive, and exponentially more deadly.

Whirlwinds are kinda fun in theory, but too weak to actually do much damage. If you're using the shells that are strength 5, you might get some wounds, but let's face it: gunline IG are going to be in cover, and Orks are going to try and be in cover too. If you're using the shells that ignore cover, they're only strength 4 so you're not doing much damage.

Finally, Marines don't need all that much help at anti-infantry. Bolters are a great standard weapon for that purpose. If you want anti-infantry heavy support, take a predator with autocannon and heavy bolters, or a Thunderfire cannon. You'll probably want to take some anti-armor in heavy support though.

lol the whirlwind does have an anti tank missile option. hunter killers. best anti tank in the space marine army imho lol

Never had much luck with them, prefer to use the points towards predator annihilators or vindicators, far more useful tanks.

I would say since they are so cheap, they would be good in a low points list, say 1000 or so. At higher levels, you are going to want to be able to fit more points into heavy support. I think the problem with them is the combination of low strength and only one template. Granted, its a big template, but you get a bad scatter and "oh well, there's a wasted turn".

Like others have said, try them out, but I would suggest the Thunderfire. It beats the pants off the whirlwind, not to mention being the only weapon in the SM army >48".

Spyrash wrote:lol the whirlwind does have an anti tank missile option. hunter killers. best anti tank in the space marine army imho lol

In that sense the Rhino is still better due to the added transport capacity and being half the cost.

Not really.
SM: Get a Predator, better armor and better weapons.
BA: Fast predator and vindicator outclass it badly, so does cheaper Dev squads.
SW: Get Long Fangs.
Now if the Whirwinds can be squadroned, they'd be worth considering. At the moment they are taking up valuable Heavy Support slots that should be filled by more powerful units.