How to Play Orks in Warhammer 40K 9th Edition
Today, take a look at some of the basics of how to play Orcs with Warhammer 40k and get started.
The Orcs are a classic and hilarious Warhammer 40K faction with iconic style. Built for battle, Orcs are brutal xenos who love nothing more than battle. Filled with characterful sculpts, including some with genuine humor set in Warhammer 40K’s Grimdark, Orcs are great fun and pack a mighty punch.
Below we offer some tips on playing Orcs and getting into the army.
Who are the Orcs?
Orcs are warlike, raw, and extremely aggressive green-skinned xenos. Though their society is utterly primitive and brutal, the Orkoid race is also the most successful species in the entire galaxy, potentially outnumbering any other group. Due to their aggressive and warlike nature, however, this vast group is divided into hundreds of tiny empires that are at war both with each other and with others.
In the 41st Millennium, another extremely powerful Orc war boss, Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka, began wreaking havoc in the galaxy by twice invading the planet Armageddon. He leads the Great Waaagh! and has been sighted in several war zones across the galaxy. The Orcs of Warhammer 40K celebrate Ghazghkull as the prophet of the Orc gods Gork and Mork.
Why orcs play
Orcs are an aggressive army with a variety of playstyles. Waves of Boyz, fleets of speed freak vehicles, or herds of Beast Snagga Squigs are all reasonable ways to go with Orcs. Whether shooting or fighting, Orcs roll buckets of dice and show quality over quantity. Sounds fun?
Warhammer 40K Orks might be the path for you!
Strengths of the Orc Army
- Numerical superiority for the army type.
- Low points per model and high tenacity/wounds make it difficult to remove units.
- A huge selection of dynamic and current units, models and themes.
Weakness of the orc army
- Such a wide range can make it difficult to choose the right units for a job.
- Low point cost results in high model count and high army cost in real money.
Ork Signature Rules
The army has a number of special rules, the main ones to remember are:
- before we go – This rule allows Orc units to reroll attack distances.
- Beast Snaggas – This rule applies to some units in the army, giving them a small invulnerable saving throw and a bonus against large models.
- dilapidated – This rule significantly increases the survivability of Ork vehicles against low-strength fire.
Orc Sub-Factions
The Orcs have a number of sub-factions called Clans to choose from. Each Ork unit must belong to a Clan.
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You will generally want to select entire armies, or at least detachments from the same clan. Which clan you choose determines which culture you have access to.
In addition, each of the clans has its own rules, stratagems, relics, and warlord traits. To play this to the fullest, you need Codex: Orcs.
Important Ork units to know about
Warhammer 40K Orcs have a sizeable unit roster and it can be difficult to know which units to pick. Here are some suggestions to get you on the right track.
1. Beast boss on Squigasaur
A powerful army leader. The beast boss on Squigasaur has a brutal combat profile. He’s the perfect leader for a Beast Snagga-style army. Not only does his claws and jaws destroy units, he is fast and buffs nearby Beast Snagga Boyz.
2. Warboss in Mega Armor
The Warboss in Mega Armor is a badass leader for an army of Boyz. It hits hard, increasing the accuracy of nearby units. The classic variation is to throw him and his best Nobs into a transporter and crash it into the enemy.
3. Beast Snagga Boyz
One of the many troop choices available to an Ork player, the Beast Snagga Boyz are the new Orcs on the block. Her high strength and toughness combined with the Beast Snagga rule. That makes it difficult to deal with a horde of these boyz.
4. Ork Boyz
The classic Boyz, back in town. They are cheaper and can be more plentiful than Beastsnagga Boyz. In bulk, they are a great source of so-called “Dakka”.
5. Squighog Boyz
The perfect complement to the beast boss above is a nice unit from Squighog Boyz. You’re fast enough to keep up with the boss and grab a whole pack yourself. The Squighog Boyz have a place in many orc armies.
6. Rukkatrukk Squig Buggy
Orcs don’t just ride squigs, they do just about anything with them. For example, the aptly named Squigbuggy shoots them down as artillery with his effective heavy Squig Launcher. This makes it a nice mobile fire support unit.
7. Deffkilla Wartrike
Orcs come in a variety of themes and unit types. Here’s another type of commander that could take the army in a different direction. The Wartrike is a Speed Freek Warboss mounted on a giant bike. It is excellent for guiding large swarms of buggies.
8. Killa Kans
Little Walkers powered by Grots. They’ve got some solid weapons, some sharp claws, and aren’t they just so cute?
Example starter Warhammer 40k Ork Army
Army: Orc
Clan: Snake Bites
patrol department
headquarters: Beast boss on Squigasaur. 1 model. It is equipped with: Slugga; beast choppa; Jaws of the Squigosaur.- 145 pts
squad: Beast Snagga Boys. Fifteen models. They are armed with: Slugga; hackpa. 165 pts
Fast Attack: Rukkatrukk Squigbuggies. Two models. You are armed with: heavy Squig Launcha; sawed-off shotgun; Squig Launcha; squig mine; saw blades; stick bombs. 180 pts
Total: 490 pts.
Let’s turn this into 1000 Ork Points!
Army: Orc
Clan: Snake Bites
patrol department
headquarters: Beast boss on Squigasaur. 1 model. It is equipped with: Slugga; beast choppa; the jaws of the squigosaur; Bang Pistol.- 150 pts
squad: Beast Snagga Boys. Fifteen models. They are armed with: Slugga; hackpa. One with Thump Gun. 170 pts
squad: Beast Snagga Boys. Fifteen models. They are armed with: Slugga; hackpa. One with Thump Gun. 170 pts
squad: Beast Snagga Boys. Fifteen models. They are armed with: Slugga; hackpa. One with Thump Gun. 170 pts
Fast Attack: Rukkatrukk Squigbuggies. Two models. You are armed with: heavy Squig Launcha; sawed-off shotgun; Squig Launcha; squig mine; saw blades; stick bombs. 180 pts
Fast Attack: Squighog Boyz. Six models. Each model is equipped with: Saddlegit Weapons; stikka; Squighog Jaw. 150 pts
Total: 990 pts.
How to play Orcs
Orcs are the epitome of quantity over quality. That means if they’re not rolling buckets full of dice, they’re probably not doing much. Whether for actual close combat or simply to use firepower, the Orcs will always want to be in close proximity to their enemy. As an Ork player, your enthusiasm can be a key tool in your arsenal. Victory or defeat, good junk and a hearty “WAAAAAAGHH” can hardly be topped.
WAAAGH!
Twenty year hobbyist, gamer and author of Games Workshop. I love Necromunda, Horus Heresy (40K) and Age of Sigmar (and Mordheim – let’s do a reboot of that!).