It’s Like Tactics: Lootas Review

Warning

It’s Like Tactics is rated theory hammer because these are general observations and assumptions based on only few tested games.

Lootaicrous???

The transformation of the Loota is a long story, going from clunky rules in the early 2000s to the streamlined ones we use today. Sure, the whimsy and convertibility is long lost, but in its place is a good looking model with a great weapon. The mainstay of vehicle hunting, Lootas haven’t changed much, and with delicious Hull Points to cull the hunting has gotten even better.

Before we start dissecting though, let’s take a quick look at the past and present Loota rules.

(Click below to Enlarge)

Lootas Rules 2007

Elite: Lootas – 75 Points

WS	BS	S	T	I	W	A	LD	Save
4	2	3	4	2	1	2	7	6+

Lootas Rules 2014

Heavy Support: Lootas – 70 Points

WS	BS	S	T	I	W	A	LD	Save
4	2	3	4	2	1	2	7	6+

UNIT TYPE: Infantry. Mek is Infantry (Character). UNIT COMPOSITION: 5 Lootas WARGEAR: • Deffgun • Stikkbombs SPECIAL RULES: • ’Ere We Go! • Furious Charge • Mob Rule OPTIONS: • May include up to ten additional Lootas…14 pts/model • Up to three models may be upgraded to Meks, replacing their deffgun with Mek’s tools, slugga and choppa…free • Any Mek may be accompanied by a grot oiler…5 pts/model • Any Mek may replace his choppa with a killsaw…20 pts/model • Any Mek may take items from the Mek Weapons list. • The unit may select a Trukk as a Dedicated Transport.

[show-rjqc id=”27″] 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

Lootas got an unexpected bonus of being one point cheaper from the old Codex, but like he old codex Lootas are still all about long range shooting support. As for utility, it is the potential lethality, almost any unit from Infantry to Gargantuan Creatures are in danger from Lootas. They are only limited by a few random rolls, but depending on unit size you can mitigate this problem.

Speed

Lootas have average speed like most Orks, but having Heavy Weapons means they will usually stay put to get the most out of the Deff Gun. Though with changes to Shooting you can at least Snap Shoot your Deff Gunz if you move.

Assaulty

Lootas will want to avoid Assault at all costs. They don’t get access to Nobs making it very hard to stay in combat let alone win one. Lootas can get Meks to help with Melee, but that is a big investment for a unit that shouldn’t be near the front lines.

Shooty

Lootas bread and butter, the Deff Gun is one of the best weapons in the game. The Deff Gun gets better with more Lootas using it, you have a one in third chance of getting 45 shots off, even with a low BS the Deff Gun can do some real work. Like mentioned before it is a weapon good against almost any target no matter the type.

The mainstay of vehicle hunting, Lootas haven’t changed much, and with delicious Hull Points to cull the hunting has gotten even better.

Bitz about the Looted Wagon

Brief Looted Wagon Review – 37 Points

Found in White Dwarf #21 the Looted Wagon made an unexpected return, with no new model and GW encouraging players to convert and make their own model. Taking up a Heavy Support slot, does the Looted Wagon have any role to be played in Ork armies? These mini-Battlewagons are cheap, being only 7 points more than a regular Trukk with better armor and survivability. Looted Wagons also get both Battlewagon and Trukk upgrades to choose from..

So, instead of taking Looted Wagons as a Transport try using them as a mobile weapons platform. At about 82pts you can get Killcannon and three Rokkit Launchas. If you want to keep it real cheap and deadly at 52 pts you can have a Looted Wagon with three Scorchas! The Looted Wagon works best with a vehicle rush army in mind; they are cheap alternative to Battlewagons, leaving more points to spend on Trukks for ramming and pot shots. The Looted Wagon is a rarity with only the most die hard Ork players using them, mostly because they just want to use that old kit-bashed Leman Russ one more time.

Putting it all Together…

Lootas are one of the best units in the Ork codex, and being moved to Heavy Support isn’t the deal breaker most thought it was when it happened. The Heavy Support slots for Orks ain’t as good as they once were, with Mek Gunz, Flash Gitz, and Lootas being the only standouts. The move also freeded up the Elite slots for some variety. Lootas are the catch all shooting for your Ork army, almost every list should have a unit. The great range means it can touch most of the board and the ability to still move and snap-fire is a tactical nuance underused. You are no longer forced to have Lootas be such a static unit, unable to reposition depending on the battle. The biggest problem though with Lootas though is Mob Rule!; before you could have large Loota units and not worry about being run off the board, now you have to contend with annoying LD tests. One way around this is by giving your Lootas a Mek, and hope you don’t roll a one or kill the unit in the ensuing Ork squabble. It is the Mek need that takes a bite out of the point reduction this edition gave Lootas.

The Mek concept does though present an interesting use for your Lootas, Loota Meks are the cheapest Mek you can get making them the perfect unit to be on repair duty for vehicles, especially the Stompa. You can have 70 point unit giving you three repair rolls for your Stompa. By in large, Lootas are going to do what they do best: Blow stuff up! The weight of shots and now with Hull Points a factor means any reasonable Loota unit will destroy something. The one caveat to this, is what the prevalence cover in the game currently means, you will usually have to deal with opposing units in 2+ cover making target priority all the more important part of playing Lootas.

— Lootas Army Templates–

Lootas Allied Detachment List

Lootas Combined Arms Detachment List

Lootas Great Waaagh! Detachment List

Lootas Ork Horde Detachment List

Formations

Lootas don’t have any unit specific formations to use.

Detachments

Ork Horde Detachment: Lootas are a great unit to use with this Detachment. With the typical Deathstar type lists this Detachment engenders it is important to have anti-transport to get squishy parts exposed to your heavy hitters. You can also use Lootas to hit units targeting your Deathstars leaving them in a better position to survive most shooting onslaughts.

Great Waaagh! Detachment: Depending on what style of silly you are after, you can use cheap Lootas squads to fill up your Heavy Support and maybe Deep Strike for nice rear armor action. Having the ability to move and shoot really gives a leg up for Lootas if you run them mobile in Detachment like this.

Final Thoughts….

Overall, Lootas are improved if you can believe, just the current game meta might makes weaker. If your play environment isn’t based on what can and cannot get cover then Lootas are still an amazing unit and one every Ork player should take. At the very least you got a cheap Mek option for all your repairing needs.

For tactical articles feel free to email me to continue the discussion or if you discover an inaccurate interpretations of the rules– edits will be made accordingly. Also check out other articles in this series…