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For 65 points in the Dark Angels codex you can get a long range big blast template. Is it worth the points? What are some better anti horde options in the DA book?

Yes, I use them all the time in TAC lists to get the coveted "no cover save" mechanic. Do DA have LRs are dedicated transports? That makes it easier for BA a bit. That and I have predators in my FA slot.

I rarely if ever run land raiders, I usually have dev squads and a mortis contemptor competing for my heavy support. But I am thinking about adding a Whirlwind at 1500 points and a pair of them at 2000. The way I see it there will always be infantry that need liquidating.

I've gained more respect for them in this gunline, hide behind the aegis, era we live in now. I can't use them in my armies but I wouldn't tell someone to not use them.

I like them because they can fire out of LOS. The only other options are a vindicator or devs with missiles. At least long range options.

Tagony wrote:
I like them because they can fire out of LOS. The only other options are a vindicator or devs with missiles. At least long range options.

This is one of the reasons I am interested in them. I fight a lot of IG and now tau, and I really wanna park a whirlwind on the edge of the field and nuke their troops hiding behind their aegis lines.

Whirlwinds are amazing units. The fact that they can ignore cover alone makes them worth their price. As you have said you fight a lot of IG and Tau, the unit is exceptionally good against those two armies in general.

The cheap cost in the DA codex makes them incredibly viable. Against xenos and IG they can easily make their points back. Even against power armor and terminators, an S5 blast is nothing to sneeze at. It is cheap and effective enough to bring to a TAC battle, so long as you have a heavy slot available.

The wound allocation rules for barrage allows them to function reasonably well as snipers in addition to their anti-horde role. Also, you can move 6 and shoot them too! So if you are low on, or lacking in, suitable targets for your whirlwinds then they can serve well enough as mobile walls for LOS blocking.

I concede that there are generally better options for the specific tasks that they perform. However, the versatility that the provide for their point cost makes them well worth using.

For the DA codex, they are definitely a viable option in a TAC list. They are relatively low cost and can perform a multitude of different tasks. A smartly played whirlwind can make it's points back in damage and take the pressure off your infantry.

Hell I use them at 90 in the BA.

In this edition denying cover saves is so important. Everything has moved more towards massive hordes or fast movers utilizing jink saves to avoid getting shot down.

Tau Markerlights (now with approprate fire power to back up their markerlight network)
DA Bikes with Jinks
Chaos Cultists + Dragon (Breath weapon)
IG and "Fire on my Target" or the billion other ways they do it
GK ... cheese
Daemons ... and their plague bearers? Nurglings? The one that gets shrouded + stealth.

Its funny they nerf cover and some how still manage to make it one of the most important mechanics in their game.

 Dr. Serling wrote:
The cheap cost in the DA codex makes them incredibly viable. Against xenos and IG they can easily make their points back. Even against power armor and terminators, an S5 blast is nothing to sneeze at. It is cheap and effective enough to bring to a TAC battle, so long as you have a heavy slot available.

I have more faith in a s5ap4 large blast shot against tacs than a single s10ap1 shot.

Extremely viable, 65 points is a steal for Ignores Cover and Barrage.

My only concern would be if they're taking up a HS slot perhaps better used for something else. But presuming you have a spare slot and 65 points, they seem a great choice for an all-comers list.

Would three in a DW list fit in well? My issue is hat against an army like tyranids, despite being cheap they still cannot make their points back.

Not everything is about points. If you use your indirect fire to blow a 75 point scout squad off an objective hidden out of LOS and in cover, and win the game due to the swing in VPs, they might just be your MVP that game.

Or if thinning out the ravening hordes enough to get one more round of shooting before your gun line gets locked in CC. The handful of gaunts might only be a few dozen points, but an extra round of plasma fire is priceless.

Would three of them be worth it though, or is that overkill? In order to support my DW I might include some typhoons too, but their really expensive for 2 missiles.

I think two is generally enough but it depends on what you are facing right?

 bobtheoverlord wrote:
Would three in a DW list fit in well? My issue is hat against an army like tyranids, despite being cheap they still cannot make their points back.

How are they not making the points back? Even using the s4ap5 ignore cover blast you are picking nid troops up off the table everytime they hit. 13 Guants and you have earned the points back.

barnowl wrote:

 bobtheoverlord wrote:
Would three in a DW list fit in well? My issue is hat against an army like tyranids, despite being cheap they still cannot make their points back.

How are they not making the points back? Even using the s4ap5 ignore cover blast you are picking nid troops up off the table everytime they hit. 13 Guants and you have earned the points back.

If he is facing a monster mash, especially with lots of FMCs, then whirlwinds would be pretty ineffective against most of the enemy force.

That's the dilemma of TAC. But, averaged across all possible matchups, the Whirlwind is solid. It even gets its points back pretty easily vs non-nurgle non-BA meqs.

In the worst case vs Nids, target the gaunts the Tervigons spawn.

I bring 2 DA WW in every game. Granted, my meta contains a lot of Tau, IG and DE but they're rock stars, even against marines.

I think it's a combination of them being cheap, and despite a respectable damage output, a fairly low target priority.

That depends on how MeQ heavy your meta is.

Whirlwinds can cause pinning tests for loyalist marines. Pretty funny when it happens. Plus, scouts hate these things.

Barrage sniping is pretty damn amazing especially at taking out Sgts and banners. They will always make their points back.

People have this idea in their head about the durability of meqs. Yeah, they can take some hits ,but STR 5 is pretty efficient at forcing saves. And the thing is cheap to boot, so presumably it frees up points to make your elites more potent. And the "no cover save" mechanic is worth a little less efficacy against meqs compared to some other heavy choices as well I think.

yes but no predators just whirlys and vindicates

Given their relative cheapness they are very good bang for your buck. I've started including them in my TAC lists because the meta in my area currently has everyone and their dog packing ADL's. Whirlwinds absolutely murder faily squishy troops hunkering down behind cover (barrage rocks) and can do a fairly decent job against MEQ's with the number of wounds they can cause over the course of a game.

My most recent match against Tau had my opponent with 2 objectives to my 1, with 60 firewarriors hiding behind his ADL like sardines, 3 turns, and 30 dead firewarriors later the tau finally got the message that bunching up so much was a terrible idea.

For its cost, its brilliant, but it does compete with other very strong units in HS that you may prefer to take

Absolutely.

Barrage Sniping = Win

Anti-Cover = Win

You'll laugh all the way to the Bank of Khorne with the blood you can deposit from those pesky Harlequins and Stealth/Shrouded dependant deathstars