Alien Empires · The Galaxy Bites Back
Orks
The green tide — the galaxy's most cheerful apocalypse, powered by pure belief.
About Orks — Lore & How They Play
The Lore
The Orks are the galaxy's most successful species and its worst neighbours: a fungal race engineered for war so long ago that nobody remembers by whom, spread across creation and perfectly happy about it. They fight because fighting is fun, follow the biggest boss because that's obviously how it should work, and their technology runs largely on collective belief.
When enough Orks gather, the Waaagh! begins — part crusade, part stampede, part galactic-scale pub crawl with artillery.
On the Tabletop
Waves and tempo: Orks flood the table with cheap, surprisingly hard-hitting boyz, back them with ramshackle vehicles and monstrous characters, and ride the Waaagh! — a once-per-game surge that turns the whole army into a battering ram for a turn.
Time it right and very little in the game survives the impact. Your shooting is a rumour and your saves are optimistic, so keep moving, keep charging, and remember the Ork philosophy: if you're losing, you just haven't charged enough yet.
Orks are the greenskin warlords of Warhammer 40,000: loud, violent, ramshackle and having the time of their lives. They build their guns from scrap, their vehicles from louder scrap, and they believe red ones go faster (which, annoyingly, they do). WAAAGH!
Start here
- Warhammer 40k Getting Started with Orks: the easiest way to get a mob on the table
- Codex: Orks (11th Edition): the Ork rules for 11th Edition
- Orks: Boyz: the green tide itself
- Orks: Beast Snagga Boyz: tougher, monster-hunting boyz
- Orks: Warboss: the biggest, meanest Ork in charge
Every kit here is genuine Games Workshop stock from an official stockist, supplied unassembled and unpainted, with fast UK delivery from our shop in Barry, South Wales. In-stock orders placed by 3pm on weekdays go out the same day.
Read more: Orks lore in Faction Files, Orks Army Analysis, Codex: Orks for 11th Edition, Nazdreg returns, the 40K factions hub.
Paint and browse: grab the Orks Paint Set – 10 Essential Colours or the five-tone Warhammer Tone Pro paints, then explore the rest of the Warhammer 40,000 Xenos range.
Do red Orks really go faster?
In the lore, yes, because Orks believe it. On the tabletop it's a great excuse for a bright red paint job.
Are Orks good for a first army?
They're one of the most forgiving armies to paint, since scruffy is in character, and Boyz are cheap and cheerful to build.
What's the best Ork kit to start with?
Boyz are the heart of any Ork army, cheap, cheerful and great fun to paint. Add a Warboss and you've got a proper mob.
First Contact
Starting a xenos army?
Start with a boxed set — miniatures, rules and dice in one go. Free UK delivery over £65, same-day dispatch by 3pm on weekdays.
Shop 40K Starter SetsFrequently Asked Questions
Orks are a fungal alien species that exists solely to fight. They are the most numerous race in the galaxy and thrive on warfare, with their technology working through a combination of crude engineering and collective psychic belief.
Yes — Orks are one of 40k's classic horde factions, fielding large mobs of Boyz backed by vehicles and powerful HQ characters. They suit players who enjoy overwhelming opponents with numbers and aggression.
Yes. Codex: Orks for 11th Edition is out now. Orks are a loud, aggressive army of big mobs, ramshackle vehicles and the Waaagh!, so they suit players who like charging in.
The Combat Patrol: Orks is the ideal starting point. Adding a mob of Boyz and a Warboss quickly builds the classic green tide.
Orks use green skin, brown leathers, and rusty metal armour. Key paints include Warboss Green, Agrax Earthshade, Leadbelcher, and Ryza Rust. We stock the full Citadel range.
Yes — we stock the full Orks range in our Barry, South Wales shop and online at loadeddice.uk with fast UK dispatch.