Readers of my previous tactics will notice a few changes to how these reviews are presented. Now you will find is a break down each unit into five broad categories.

Utility

The real secret to Painboy utility is being moved from upgrade character to Independent Character. This big switch is mostly for the good, with limited HQ slots the only drawback. The Painboy is able to jump from unit to unit if need be, providing the one of the best USRs in the game: Feel No Pain. The Painboy makes any unit that much better from Nob Bikers to an entire Green Tide. The Painboy also have access to the right Wargear like the Warbike and the only poison weapon available to Orks.   

Cost

The Painboy cost hasn't changed between editions, but the Independent Character bonus makes for a hidden cost reduction. The Painboy pays the same cost for the very few tools available to it. The Grot Orderly at five points is a bit much, especially when you can only take one, the other surgical tools are priced fairly. Really though, the Painboy is only looking at getting a Warbike or maybe a Bosspole for certain situations.

Speed

The Painboy can get a Warbike and that is really all you need to know, the mobility and defenses it provides makes the Painboy joinable to any unit and is a creative way of giving Feel No Pain to say a like a unit of Stormboyz. When not riding a bike Painboys are not bulky so feel free jumping into any transport and get moving. 

Assaulty

The Painboy can only use the ’Urty syringe in combat, but going at I3 isn't too bad and Poison is still Poison especially against annoying Monstrous Creatures, and against Daemon Princes can mean re-rolling wounds if you get off Furious Charge. The Painboy is also a Nob giving it three attacks, not too shabby if you want to force saves to be made. Painboyz only have green skin and Feel No Pain standing in the way of being rolled over, so  never get in a challenge unless your secret master plan requires it. 

Shooty

Shooting what Shooting? Unless you take a Warbike you won't be shooting anything. Having twin-linked S5 guns in the hands of Orks is never bad, so a Painboy isn't worse than any other Ork riding a hotrod. 

-- Painboy Unit Groups--

Stormboy Group: 475 pts

HQ: Painboy (75 pts)
   1 Painboy, 75 pts Infantry (Character); 'Urty Syringe; Dok's Tools; Warbike; Twin-linked Dakkagun x1; 'Ere We Go!; Feel No Pain; Furious Charge; Independent Character; Mob Rule)

HQ: Warboss (140 pts)
   1 Warboss, 140 pts Infantry (Character); Stikkbombs; Slugga; Bosspole; Warbike; Power Klaw; Da Lucky Stikk; Twin-linked Dakkagun x1; 'Ere We Go!; Furious Charge; Mob Rule; Waaagh!)

Fast Attack: Stormboyz (260 pts)
   24 Stormboyz, 260 pts  Jump Units; Stikkbombs; Choppa; Slugga; Rokkit Pack; 'Ere We Go!; Bulky; Deep Strike; Furious Charge; Mob Rule)
      1 Boss Nob Infantry (Character); Stikkbombs; Slugga; Rokkit Pack; Power Klaw; 'Ere We Go!; Furious Charge; Mob Rule)

Nob Biker Group: 775  points

HQ: Painboy (75 pts)
   1 Painboy, 75 pts Infantry (Character); 'Urty Syringe; Dok's Tools; Warbike; Twin-linked Dakkagun x1; 'Ere We Go!; Feel No Pain; Furious Charge; Independent Character; Mob Rule)

HQ: Warboss (115 pts)
   1 Warboss, 115 pts Infantry (Character); Stikkbombs; Slugga; Bosspole; Warbike; Power Klaw; Twin-linked Dakkagun x1; 'Ere We Go!; Furious Charge; Mob Rule; Waaagh!)

Elite: Nobz (585 pts)
   1 Nobz, 585 pts  Warbike; Waaagh! Banner
      1 Boss Nob  Infantry (Character); Stikkbombs; Slugga; Warbike; Power Klaw; Twin-linked Dakkagun x1; Furious Charge; Mob Rule)
      3 Nobz Infantry; Assault Grenades; Slugga; Warbike; Power Klaw; Twin-linked Dakkagun x3; Furious Charge; Mob Rule)
      3 Nobz Infantry; Assault Grenades; Slugga; Warbike; Big Choppa; Twin-linked Dakkagun x3; Furious Charge; Mob Rule)
      3 Nobz Infantry; Assault Grenades; Choppa; Slugga; Warbike; Twin-linked Dakkagun x3; Furious Charge; Mob Rule)

Meganob Group: 400 points

HQ: Painboy (50 pts)
   1 Painboy, 50 pts  Infantry (Character); 'Urty Syringe; Dok's Tools; 'Ere We Go!; Feel No Pain; Furious Charge; Independent Character; Mob Rule)

HQ: Warboss (115 pts)
   1 Warboss, 115 pts  Infantry (Character); Stikkbombs; Slugga; Bosspole; Power Klaw; Da Lucky Stikk; 'Ere We Go!; Furious Charge; Mob Rule; Waaagh!)

Elite: Meganobz (235 pts)
   1 Meganobz, 235 pts
      1 Boss Meganob Infantry (Character); Assault Grenades; Power Klaw; Twin-linked Shoota; Mega Armour; Bulky; Furious Charge; Mob Rule; Slow and Purposeful)
      4 Meganobz Infantry; Stikkbombs; Power Klaw; Twin-linked Shoota; Mega Armour; Bulky; Furious Charge; Mob Rule; Slow and Purposeful)
      1 Trukk Vehicle (Fast, Open-Topped Transport); 12 model capacity; Big Shoota; Reinforced Ram; Ramshackle)

Shoota Boyz Group: 452 points

HQ: Painboy (55 pts)
   1 Painboy, 55 pts Infantry (Character); 'Urty Syringe; Dok's Tools; Bosspole; 'Ere We Go!; Feel No Pain; Furious Charge; Independent Character; Mob Rule)

Mek (20 pts)
   1 Mek, 20 pts Infantry (Character); Stikkbombs; Choppa; Mek's Tools; Rokkit Launcha; 'Ere We Go!; Furious Charge; Mekaniaks; Mob Rule)

Troops: Boyz (377 pts)
   29 Boyz, 377 pts Infantry; Stikkbombs; Choppa; 'Eavy Armour; Shoota; Rokkit Launcha x3; 'Ere We Go!; Furious Charge; Mob Rule)
      1 Boss Nob Infantry (Character); Stikkbombs; Shoota; 'Eavy Armour; Power Klaw; 'Ere We Go!; Furious Charge; Mob Rule)

Flash Gitz Group:  434 points

HQ: Painboy (50 pts)
   1 Painboy, 50 pts Infantry (Character); 'Urty Syringe; Dok's Tools; 'Ere We Go!; Feel No Pain; Furious Charge; Independent Character; Mob Rule)

HQ: Big Mek (119 pts)
   1 Big Mek, 119 pts Infantry (Character); Stikkbombs; 'Eavy Armour; Kustom Force Field; Mek's Tools; Bosspole; Power Klaw; 'Ere We Go!; Furious Charge; Mob Rule)

Mek (45 pts)
   1 Mek, 45 pts Infantry (Character); Stikkbombs; Slugga; Killsaw; Mek's Tools; 'Ere We Go!; Furious Charge; Mekaniaks; Mob Rule)

Heavy Support: Flash Gitz (220 pts)
   9 Flash Gitz, 220 pts Infantry; Stikkbombs; Snazzgun; Bosspole; Gitfinda; 'Ere We Go!; Furious Charge; Mob Rule)
      1 Kaptin Infantry (Character); Stikkbombs; Snazzgun; Bosspole; Gitfinda; 'Ere We Go!; Furious Charge; Mob Rule)

Formations

Dreadmob: In one of the strangest turns of events the Dreadmob is the only formation that includes a Painboy. It also happens to be one of the worst formations for the Orks. If you plan on going Big Mek or go home, then you can use this Painboy for whatever unit you put in the belly of a Gorkanauts because it will at some point need Feel No Pain. The formation though does free up your main detachment to take any HQs you want, but the Dreadmob is base 1235 points, so you have to think really hard what unit if any you can attach the Painboy to.

Detachments

Ork Horde Detachment: If you design on making the double-headed Nob Biker dragon this is the formation for you. Typically people run two Warbosses, but with the Ork Horde Detachment you might be better off with two Painboyz; cheaper and more defensive, as the biggest threat Nob Bikers face is mostly from being shot to death. This Detachment is also great if you go with a unit like a 30 Ork boyz and still have slots to take another Painboy for wherever your Warboss goes.
 
Great Waaagh! Detachment: A Painboy is a "good choice" for the formation especially if the unit its attached to is Deep Striking, having the extra Dangerous Terrain defense isn't bad. This detachment acts mostly like a normal detachment so standard Painboy procedures usually will apply.
 
Final Thoughts...

Overall, the Painboy is the second most important HQ you can take for your army. Having the Painboy able to join any unit is fantastic and a much-needed boost. Now, if only they didn't take up a HQ slot you would really have a game changer, but as it is the Painboy is vastly improved from before, it is just a matter of what unit you think needs them most.