It's Like Tactics: A look back and Final Ork Codex Breakdown

Warning

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

Wow, that took way longer than expected, for the last year and half Blood of Kittens has been taking a tactical look at the 2014 Ork codex. Little did we know how much Warhammer 40k would change in a short period. We went from a rapid release of codexes with a bland take on the rules making what looked like a balanced game. Then all of sudden we were hit in 2015 with the Necron codex and the power creep went into overdrive with each successive release.

What did this mean for the Orks though?

Well sadly Orks have been hurt a ton, and are one of the weaker codexes overall today. Now, this doesn’t mean Orks don’t have bright spots, the Stompa and a few formations have made them competitive, just not top tier. Thankfully, Orks also just got a bonus n the last few weeks with their own Necron Decurion style Detachment. It is too early to say how powerful it is, but there is some tricks to be had for sure!

So with an eye to present and future take a look at what Blood of Kittens thought was powerful and not powerful in 2014. Then compare to the new tiers for 2016. Keep in mind the units listed don’t include anything from Forge World.

Ork Flyers are a combination of World War 2 and early Jet Age esthetic, initially performing as you would expect when arrayed against the vast technology for the 41st millennium

Mad Dok Grotsnik
Painboy
Stormboyz
Mek Gunz
Gretchin
Boyz

Warboss
Deffcopter
Dakkajet
Buggies
Trukks
Lootas
Mek
Big Meks
Mega Nobz
Stompa
Ghazghkull Thraka
Snikrot

Weirdboyz
Kaptin Badrukk
Nobz
Burnaz
Tankbusters
Gork & Morkananut
Burna-Bommer
Warbiker
Flash Gitz
Kommandos

Blitz-Bommer
Battlewagon
Killer Kanz
Deff Dred
Boss Zagstruk

Mad Dok Grotsnik
Mek Gunz
Gretchin
Warboss
Painboy
Tankbusters
Mega Nobz

Painboy
Nobz
Stormboyz
Stompa
Ghazghkull Thraka
Lootas
Big Meks
Dakkajet
Burna-Bommer
Buggies
Burnaz
Flash Gitz

Deffkopter
Snikrot
Meks
Kommandos
Morkananut
Boyz
Warbiker
Boss Zagstruk
Battlewagon

Blitz-Bommer
Killer Kanz
Deff Dred
Weirdboyz
Kaptin Badrukk
Gorkananut
Trukks

Let us start with what I felt I got wrong about the Ork codex. The biggest change was Boyz from top tier to 3rd tier, people just don’t play them outside of Green Tide. Ork lists today are built around elite assault units and don’t have much for the squabbling prone Boyz. I also moved Tankbustas from 3rd to top tier because they just do so much in the current meta, any unit with tons of Melta Bombs are so important these days. The middle tiers are mostly a reshuffling of units. As for the Total Crap section we got almost all the Ork walkers as GW took a complete dump on them. I put the Trukk in the bottom as well because it just doesn’t hold up, if Orks got them for free somehow they would be better otherwise they are just a deathtrap for anything other than Meganobz. The Weirdboy also gets special mention because Ork psychic powers are horrible, and the only use for this guy is if you want to summon Daemons.

So, there you have it! The long Ork tactica is over and with the release of the new Ghaz Supplement update don’t suspect Orks will be getting a new codex anytime soon. Like I mentioned before Orks competitive lists seem to be based around some sort of beat stick or Stompa, especially using certain a Forge World Warboss and Mek-Stompa.

I hope you enjoyed this series and looking forward to the next one!

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…

It’s Like Tactics: A look back and Final Ork Codex Breakdown

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