Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Has anyone actually tried out a whirlwind recently? I bought a box of models off someone and there was a whirlwind in it. I've never actually used one since they seem underwhelming, but they are so damn cheap. I'm curious if anyone has had success with one.

I've used them quite a bit after the price drop, and come to the conclusion they are great. With the amount of Tau, necrons and eldar around, they're amazing. While probably outclassed by the TFC, if you're tight for points then the 65 point whirlwind is a great buy, and can really mess up unsuspecting hordes. In lower point games I've found them to be more useful, as there tends to be more of their preferred targets around (light/medium infantry). If you're not using TFC, which fill the same gap, then a WW is great.

If you arent using the slot they are a pretty efficient buy. However, TFCs are simply better in almost all ways.

 Paradigm wrote:
I've used them quite a bit after the price drop, and come to the conclusion they are great. With the amount of Tau, necrons and eldar around, they're amazing. While probably outclassed by the TFC, if you're tight for points then the 65 point whirlwind is a great buy, and can really mess up unsuspecting hordes. In lower point games I've found them to be more useful, as there tends to be more of their preferred targets around (light/medium infantry). If you're not using TFC, which fill the same gap, then a WW is great.

I don't know about outclassed. The whirlwind does take away armor saves, which is a huge bonus against Necron warriors and Firewarriors with their 4+ saves. The TFC might get a bunch of hits, but the WW denies their saves.

Oh yeah, I forgot the TFC didn't have an AP4 mode (I've never used one), I thought it was 4/5/6, it's 5//6/-. So in that case it's even better.

I'm gonna have to try it. Worst case it draws fire, but it's only the cost of a sniper scout squad, so it's still kind of a win.

It can certainly be useful in this xenos-oriented meta. 4+ saves abound.

If only Windriders were AP4... if only...

For my local Meta, Whirlwinds are really effective, but i always seem to scatter the full 2D6 so most times my shots hit no where useful.

If you can't roll scatter, the TFC is no good either.

They're handy for DA, since they can't get a TFC without allies.

That too. Poor bastards. I suspect that Space Cheese and BA will be in the same boat.

Thunderfire doesn't really fit with the Blood Angels. I doubt they will get centurions either. By the fluff the mechanicum won't give it to them because they've kept the lucifer pattern engines, Baal predator, and the Stormraven secret. Of course that was before Brother Snowden posted the Stormraven on Adaptus Wikileakus.....

Whirlwind for BA is pants. You pay 25pts for it to be fast. Who the hell needs to move 12" and shoot with a whirlwind???

It's not a particularly dangerous unit (especially considering how prone to scatter it is - it's not unusual for a whirlwind to just miss every single shot in a game), BUT it gives you the ability to threaten blobs of 4+ armor save troops almost anywhere on the table.

It's not a very durable, BUT the and ability to move and shoot while ignoring LOS means you can keep it out of sight. And besides, anything that can threaten it probably costs more than 65 points.

I haven't used thunderfire cannons, and it could be that they're better (especially against MEQ, who are getting their armor save anyhow). But I don't feel that whirlwinds are particularly underpowered in 6th Ed. Thunderfire cannons are expensive and have a stupid looking model, so I'm going to keep using my awesome rocket artillery tanks.

Whirlwinds are amazing. 65 points to spam Ignores Cover or AP4 Large Blasts? Yes please.

I ally DA with my GK a lot. I love using a Libby or TM with a PFG next to a Whirlwind. It's a terror on those tightly packed Tau gunlines hiding behind ADLs lol. Plus it is the cheapest fire magnet you can get usually. So it can provide a nice distraction. If left alone it will load up wounds on hoard/gun lines. If attacked it frees up another unit to cause damage.

Sometimes it's worth placing in RESERVES and deploying with good LOS to something like say the RELIC or an objective you want to obliterate.

Having your opponent make armor saves by the handful of dice is always good to make casualties. Plus the terror of PINNING works very well in synergy with other PINNNING / MORALE checks.

I love them. The bane of blob squads and tau. (Plus all the other horde stuff).
I mean really who doesn't love a 65pt ignores cover pie plate that doesn't need Los?
On top of that it's a cheap scoring unit if you roll Big Guns Never Tire

And they're just great looking models. I still prefer the TFC, but if you're tight on points, go for the WW.
I even use the models for my excorcists.

I'm sold. I shall paint one tonight. Thanks for the input.

Just don't paint it red...

Too late.

Just use the red marines as "counts as". Like Blood Hands as stand ins for Iron Hands.

I've just continues to paint everything as blood angels and I refer to them as blood ravens.

Or that. I like Blood Hands because getting FNP for free is a novel thing. And no crappy priests necessary!

They work well for harrasment in my experience. Once people realise the threat they will spread their modles out so you'll only hit about 4 max, but even then it's useful for grinding down a problematic squad.

Sonyca wrote:
They work well for harrasment in my experience. Once people realise the threat they will spread their modles out so you'll only hit about 4 max, but even then it's useful for grinding down a problematic squad.

Witch leads to less models in cover form your Bolters. To me that is a Win-Win

Are blood hands a forge world chapter or are you using Iron Hands tactics?

It's not always possible or convenient to spread out like that, either. Models are also not spread out after getting demeched, shooting from DS, or being tank shocked. In practice, this is why the Riptide is so deadly, because sometimes clumping just happens and that's when they murder you.

Whirlwinds as an anticoagulant. I like it.