Whirlwind? Worth it?

[Jearden]

Im a Space Wolf player.

Ive been considering taking out my Lemun Russ Exterminator (since Im going to lose it soon anyway according to rumor) and replacing it with 2 Whirlwinds. I was just curious, is it worth it?

Seems like it might be nice, I can hide it in cover and just fire all day long, and using the Castellan missles means that no cover save is gained. I spent 208 points on the Lemun Russ, and would spend 170 on 2 Whirlwinds.

So I ask again... worth it?

[Timbo]

The trend in Marine armies these days is towards the predator destructor over the ww. The predator has good frontal armour, and against all mech armies it can at least try to pop a transport with its autocannon. Against horde armies it's good at thinning the herd with 8 bs4 shots out to 36". For the same points cost as a ww you get a lot more versatility IMHO.

[crazyredpraetorian]

For that cost, I would add another squad in a rhino. You can't have too many Wolves running around.

[Lord Inquisitor]

Against hordes the ww are awesome.

[Chumbalaya]

Whirlwinds provide a big blast that negates cover, good for entrenched enemies or baddies that just lost their transports.

They don't so much as tickle armor though, so you'll need something to knock transports out so you can shell the occupants.

If you're dropping an Exterminator, you may just want to field a pair of Predators instead. Same role, same weapons, just twice as many.

[Vulkan He'stan]

very, mine killed my bros fire warrior squads tons of times. a squad a turn

[ggg]

The fashion these days is for the now cheaper Predator but I don't see the appeal myself.

Whirlwinds in pairs are great in an all Mech marine army. You build a wall with rhinos to keep those hordes of orks at bay and lob s5 ordnance over the top. Instant pate`. Alternatively, they are the best way to deal with guard platoons- in cover or otherwise. Despite the obvious attractions, most people can't afford chimeras to mech their guard up so you often find 25 man platoons of troops presenting obvious targets.

Repeated shelling of that one tactical squad sitting on an objective in cover and your opponent will get annoyed - and pinning / leadership tests are still worrisome for any marine player, particularly when that tactical squad is 7" from their board edge. Don't expect miracles as you might from a vindicator, but the annoyance factor is far greater. No one likes to see big templates held over their units regardless of the outcome. Ww's tend to attract infiltrators - snikrot and scouts etc, but not deep strikers- opponents don't seem to think 85 points is worth stranding their 200pts of drop pod Ironclad etc.

I don't like whirlwinds with gun line armies. They work with agressive armies that push forward and keep the enemy at a distance from your whirlwinds at your back line. So if your wolves are mounted up (perhaps on their four legged friends under the new codex!) this could work for you.

Swat up on pinning and barrage rules and there are real benefits to be enjoyed. I've never played an infantry eldar army but would love to with a pair of wws.

[whoopxi]

I love whirlwinds.

Even though they are not good at dealing with armor against some of the more popular transports out there they are not completely worthless. Many a times I have popped/crippled a rhino, predator or chimera thanks to the barrage hitting side armor.

[Deej]

Would you recommend Whirlwinds against 'Nid armies? I haven't got the SM codex handy, but I'm guessing they'll be rather good at taking out Genestealers and gaunts.