Warhammer 40,000 Battle Report #7 – Orks vs Tyranids

Griff has been sitting on an Ork collection for quite some time now. With the new book now out, he decided to brush off the dust and pit them against the ever-present threat of Hive Fleet Nug, in attempt to add a Hive Tyrant’s head to Boss Blitzdakka’s pointy stick!

The Armies

Blitzdakka’s Waaagh!

Orks – 2,000

HQ

Warboss: WARLORD (Master of Ambush); Power Klaw, ‘Eavy Armor, Bosspole, Da Finkin’     Kap

Big Mek: Shokk Attack Gun

ELITES

Tankbustas: seven additional Tankbustas, Boss Nob, Trukk transport

Nobz: seven additional Nobz, Trukk transport

TROOPS

Boyz: two additional Boyz, Boss Nob with Power Klaw, Trukk transport

Boyz: two additional Boyz, Boss Nob with Power Klaw, Trukk transport

Boyz: two additional Boyz, Boss Nob with Power Klaw, Trukk transport

Boyz: two additional Boyz, Boss Nob with Power Klaw, Trukk transport

Gretchin: five additional Gretchin

FAST ATTACK

Stormboyz: ten additional Stormboyz, Boss Nob with Power Klaw

Warbikers: three additional Warbikers, Boss Nob with Big Choppa

HEAVY SUPPORT

Mek Gunz: two additional Mek Gunz, Traktor Kannons

Lootas: ten additional Lootas

Flash Gitz: five additional Flash Gitz

Hive Fleet Nug Assault Swarm

Tyranids – 2,000

HQ

Hive Tyrant: WARLORD (Princeps of Deceit); Wings, 2x Twin Devourers with Brainleech          Worms, Thorax Swarm with Dessicator Larvae; Dominion, The Horror, Warp Blast

Tervigon: Cluster Spines; Dominion, Onslaught

ELITES

Haruspex: Adrenal Glands

Zoanthrope Brood: two additional Zoanthropes; Dominion, Catalyst, Warp Blast

Venomthrope Brood: one additional Venomthrope

TROOPS

Hormagaunt Brood: ten additional Hormagaunts

Hormagaunt Brood: nine additional Hormagaunts

Hormagaunt Brood: nine additional Hormagaunts

Hormagaunt Brood: nine additional Hormagaunts

FAST ATTACK

Hive Crone: Cluster Spines

Hive Crone: Cluster Spines

HEAVY SUPPORT

Carnifex: 2x Scything Talons, Adrenal Glands, Spine Banks

Carnifex: 2x Scything Talons, Adrenal Glands, Spine Banks

Carnifex: 2x Scything Talons, Adrenal Glands, Spine Banks

After Action Review

The Orks are always fun to witness on the tabletop, whether commanding them or blowing them to pieces. It was refreshing to face the old green xenos once more.

The new Mob Rule is very interesting. It makes the Orks feel like an unruly mob, which more fits their fluff than Fearless did before. I understand the concern coming from critics of the Codex, but Fearless was ultimately too good for the points cost of an Ork Boy. Besides, it always seemed slightly off that they became well-disciplined, oiled battle machines assuming enough of them were around. I like the new feel, as it makes the Orks seem more, well, mobby. Also, despite the additional casualties it caused, it simply didn’t feel like they mattered in the grand scheme of the green horde.

The Ork Trukk was interesting as well, given that the Ramshackle rule saved it from destruction at the hands of a Warp Blast attack. The rule cannot be counted on as part of your general strategy, but when it pays off there will be times that the payoff is huge.

The Hive Crones continue to make themselves indispensable, and if anything they feel more useful against Orks than against other armies. That template attack just rips Ork Boyz to ribbons, and when you add in the No Escape rule on their Open-Topped Transports, it just gets even meaner. They also soak so much firepower that would otherwise be cutting my ground units to pieces. With some factions I’d say that shooting the Crones is a waste of time, but I just don’t feel like the Orks can allow them to run around burning handfuls of Boyz at a time.

Every time I play the new Psychic Phase with the Tyranids, I like it more. Warp Blast proved to be excellent, as I was able to target something for destruction before shooting both sets of Devourers into the survivors. With so many cheap abilities in terms of Warp Charge, it seems very easy for the Tyranids to get off the powers they need.

More battle reports featuring the Orks and Tyranids will be headed your way, so stay tuned!