Super Speed Whirlwind Power
Looking at Whirlwind's stats, it's not useless. It's not a power everyone would want, but it's basically identical to Repulsion Field with a slightly more expensive endurance cost. Basic advantages:
1) There is no combat speed suppresion for using it. You can turn it on and Super Speed through enemies without it slowing you.
2) It's autohit.
Really, the power's best use is as a jousting ability. Turn it on, prep an attack, run and jump at the boss. There is a 100% chance you will knock it back (unless it has kb protection), which is actually better than the attack you're using have a 100% chance to proc knockback, because it can't miss. Enemies generally are not smart enough to queue attacks ahead of time, so this gets this almost every time.
If you just stand around with it on all the time, yeah it sucks, but so does Repulsion Field.
Fire/Storm!!!
Whirlwind+Hurricane, Throwing out Bonfires+Lightning Storms+Tornados+Water Spouts. Great amusement.
Heh, funny how the BAF was made with the mindset that KB powers are king for keeping some of the escapes and the clockwork bosses down, and people are still saying how useless this power (and others like it) is =P
-STEELE =)
Allied to all sides so that no matter what, I'll come out on top!
Oh, and Crimson demands you play this arc-> Twisted Knives (MA Arc #397769)
It's great for slowing down the enemy momentarily if the team is getting beat down.
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It's like magic!
It sorta helps with crowd control in low lvls 1-20. However, it becomes useless later on since toons get their AOE powers and killing a bunched up mob is easier than running after them when whirlwind spreads them out.
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Or is the above subtle humor?
My point is that Repel is nearly useless (it can be an okay panic button, but it's not much beyond that), and Whirlwind is substantially worse - higher endurance cost, much later availability, silly-looking animation.
Unless, of course, you're after the silly-looking animation, which does make the power stand out from the competition - even Typhoon's Edge or Thunder Strike and friends. The Horse Stance Assassin's Strikes come close, but Whirlwind sets a new bar for looking ridiculous. |
On my bots/ff mastermind, before force bubble, I used it very often to push groups into corners and lock them Down. I have also had as many as tree bosses unable to act just flopping around in a corner with it.
I still have repel. While force bubble has a greater dont touch me range, it does not inhibit attacks like repel. It is good for emergencies. Or team situations where FB is too big.
Repel also takes the proc for 5 seconds of +100% recharge. Sadly FB does not.
It's fun on those high bridges on the ITF. Raining men indeed.
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The mobs can go surprisingly far.
I am surprised when they make it back, always at full hit points.
My Stormer used to have it to make my Hurricane look like a tornado. Looked pretty awesome with both running.
As for usefulness, I wouldn't take it on any character ever for performance reasons.
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It does in fact have a use!!!
You know when a foe gets stuck behind a wall and only PBAoE cant get them?
Lets say u lack *god only knows why* ANY sort of PBAoE on your toon ...
BHAM!
Whirlwind saves the day!
The one time I've ever seen whirlwind used for anything useful, it was for this.