Yesterday, we had a look at some new datasheets from the upcoming Codex: Orks, and now it’s time to see how their new army rule works in the new book.
The first part of the Waaagh! army rule means Orks get to re-roll advance moves, helping your horde close in with the enemy. The second part of the rule introduces a new status – riled up – which can be gained by the once-per-battle War Cry (Orks do love to shout) or another source, for example Ghazghkull’s ability to bestow it on several nearby units.
Riled up lets your Orks charge after advancing and gives them a 5+ invulnerable save, just like before, with the new addition of the Assault ability on their guns.
ARMY RULES
WAAAGH!
The infamous war cry of the Orks is known and feared throughout the galaxy. When it echoes across the battlefield, bellowed from countless toothy maws, it galvanises the Orks and riles them into a raucous state of excited aggression.
Friendly ORKS units with this ability can:
Re-roll advance rolls.
Become riled up, as stated in other rules.
While a unit is riled up:
That unit has 5+ InSv.
That unit’s ranged attacks have [ASSAULT].
When that unit is selected to make an advance move, that advance move does not prevent that unit from being eligible to declare a charge.
War Cry (Once per battle, per army): At the start of the Command phase, you can use this ability. If you do, friendly ORKS units with the Waaagh! ability are riled up until the end of the next turn.
Meganobz even get extra bonuses when they’re riled up, demonstrating with natural brutality why they get all the best gear.
MEGANOBZ
KRUMPIN’ TIME
In the Fight phase, if this unit is riled up, this unit has +1 to hit rolls.
As befitting a titanic avatar of Ork belligerence, the mighty Stompa is riled up all the time, making it far more mobile and durable than before, while anyone who bundles out of its cavernous hold does so in a frothing-mad rage for a turn.
Multiple Ork characters have a way to rile up their comrades, and this is a big swing for the usefulness of the Waaagh! over the course of several turns. An explosive turn early on doesn’t mean your opponent is safe for the rest of the game, and the threat of a sudden advance-and-charge from a Warboss’s bodyguard will put the fear of Gork (or perhaps Mork) into them.
In practice, Ork armies will still get their characteristically scary charges and handy invulnerable save from the Waaagh!, but now have more ways to spread its effects out over several turns. The Shoota Boyz detachment even adds some extra range to your guns when units are riled up!
We’ll have more from Codex: Orks to sink your teef into next week, including a look at some of the new detachments. Get into an Orky frame of mind before the Codex is released by reading the Legends of the Waaagh! omnibus.
