Nobz... where do they fit in?

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**Schnitzel**

I know the Mega Nob tactic. I know the Nob biker tactic. But what about a squad of regular Nobz? What is the "magic unit size" they perform best at? Do they work well with the Kan Wall tactic? Are they really only good hopping out of a Battle Wagon with a Warboss and krumpin' into close combat?

As I'm looking at them now, a Nob with a power klaw falls in around Terminator point values. Is that how they should be used? Specialized close combat line breakers?

Or could it be that I'm just looking too deep into their role on the battlefield?

Any help is appreciated

**BeRzErKeR**

Looking too deep.

Nobz kill gak. That's all. There is no special secret tactic; hell, there isn't much by way of tactics, period. You fling Nobz into hard stuff, and beat it down, because a well-equipped unit of Nobz is one of the hardest CC units in the game.

You put the in a BW, you drive it into the middle of the enemy, they jump out and start killing. Very simple in application.

**slice'n'dice**

You can tool up your nobs to not only be a very effective cc unit, but in 1 - 1.5k games you can fully kit them out to take massed firepower from your enemy without losing any nobs.

If you tool up each nob differently, you can choose where all your wounds fall (so you can take 7 wounds and not lose a single nob!)

Combine this with other protective devices like a pain boy and cybork bodies and they become extremely hard to kill.

I played in a game where the Tau opponent fired pretty much everything he had at this unit for two turns running and maybe killed one nob with an instakill weapon.

Meanwhile, the rest of your army advances relatively unmolested

**wib**

As the others have said, Nobz squads can be devastating and with a bit of diversifying of equipment a a painboy can be a real pain to get rid of.

Probably not a great Idea to try and take on Dreadnoughts in CC (although they'd still probably kill it) I don't think much can stand up to them, the only thing you really have to worry about is their expense.

**Limbo**

My friend usually goes at me with 9 - 10 nobs w/bosspole, waagh banner, 2 big choppas, cybork armor and a pain boy. He usually sticks his Warboss in there too. Really really hate when he fields this unit. It costs over 500 points, but then he just fills the rest of his list with like 60 boys. The nobs squads one weakness so far has been VS dreadnoughts since his warboss was the only one with a power klaw. He's fixed that now so I'm not looking forward to facing him again.

**Sentai_Sage**

It is important to understand VERY WELL the rules for wound allocation with "differently equiped, Multiple Wound" units. Rolling saves for GROUPS of like equiped models, and ONLY removing casualties from THAT equipment group is one of the rules you need to know. The other is how ID works with multiple wound modles that are Differently Equiped.

When you use the proper method for allocation of wounds, making saves, ID, and removing models, then Nobs can stay around for a very long time. Nearly impossible to wipe quickly, and when you add a 5++ invuln, and FNP, they are dead 'ard. So, when attacked by a ton of little attacks (Gaunts, boyz) They have a 4+ (or 5++) save followed by FNP. Against heavy attacks (Like Las Cannons and Demolisher Cannons) they have a 5++ save, and you might even get to stack ID's on the same Nob, if they fire more then just ID weapons.

What they are great at is staying alive long enough to deliver multiple WS5 Power Fist attacks into your opponents toughest unit. 4 str9 attacks PER Power Claw'd nob in that unit. Sure, a Dread might kill 1 or 2 of the Lesser Nobs. But 12 power klaws will thrash it. In addition to whatever they multi-assaulted.

**liam0404**

That's why vindicators and leman russes are awsome for ruing said squad's day. Allocate your S10 wounds away now boys!

**wib**

liam0404 wrote:That's why vindicators and leman russes are awsome for ruing said squad's day. Allocate your S10 wounds away now boys!

Absolutely, but in fairness there's not much that would survive that unscathed.

**KingCracker**

Well if the nobs DIDNT have a weakness somewhere, it would be a broken unit for sure. Even if you dont use the wound allocation a nobs unit kicks alot of ass. But basically you tool them nice and good, 2 PK/a big choppa or 2/waaaagh banner/painboy + cybork and your pretty much golden. After that send them into anything tough (terminators are usually not such a good idea but they can make it happen on occasion) They are great IMO

**Claypool**

As everyone above me said, Nobz are pretty much point and shoot. I would just like to emphasize the fact that they almost always need a transport. Footslogging Nobz are too big of a target and are too slow to catch anything that doesn't want to be caught.

I run them in a Trukk, but a Battlewagon is the best choice for fielding Nobz, IMO.

Personally, I believe the optimal size to be 6 Nobz (2PK 2 Big Choppa 2 Vanilla) + a Painboy and attached Warboss. It's not the bloated deathstar of 10 Nobz, but will still Krump most anything.

**Dashofpepper**

I run them in 7-9 model unit....they're sort of my "point filler" unit. If I'm 10 points over or 30 points under, I square it with the nob unit. They work tremendously well if pointed against the correct targets. 5 terminators in cover, three of which have thunderhammers is not the correct target. =p

Feel free to click through some of my ork battlereports in my signature to see how I've used my Nobs in various tournaments.

**QuietOrkmi**

I use a 7 Nob squad, 3 with powerklaws, 3 with uge choppas, and a pain boy, I personally go with the cybork body over 'eavy armor but there are arguements for both. To keep them unique, I give them: 2 Kombi-Skorchas, a Boss Pole, and a Waaagh! Banner...

Pretty much it just kills Gak... as stated earlier...

**Luke_Prowler**

Nobz are your go to unit (aside from Boyz) in the Ork codex. Even a squad of "naked" Nobz is frightening, a tricked out one is down right terrifying. I usually go with 7 with 1 power klaw, 2 a big choppa, A Waaagh! banner, and a Boss pole in a vehicle (most of the time a battle wagon unless I'm low on points or doing a Cult Of Speed army). I don't add the warboss to the squad though, since that make it too obvious a choice.

**KingCracker**

Luke_Prowler wrote:Nobz are your go to unit (aside from Boyz) in the Ork codex. Even a squad of "naked" Nobz is frightening, a tricked out one is down right terrifying. I usually go with 7 with 1 power klaw, 2 a big choppa, A Waaagh! banner, and a Boss pole in a vehicle (most of the time a battle wagon unless I'm low on points or doing a Cult Of Speed army). I don't add the warboss to the squad though, since that make it too obvious a choice.

I agree with this post alot actually. My warboss or BigMek almost NEVER sees a nob unit. Im a big fan of not putting everything in one spot (or the whole "eggs in one basket" logic) The way I see it, is a boss with boyz or burnas, something like that is a pretty scary unit to face down. Do that, AND have a nice unit of nobs, well now your opponent has some thinking to do. Try and take down the nobs, or shoot at the warboss/boyz, because either choice is a bad one. But I also agree alot with what everyone has said above, going a full 10 is a pretty big point sink, you can almost always get the same outcome with 6 or 7 as you can with 10, and it saves on points

**shealyr**

I run 10 diversified Nobz in a Battlewagon. Point them at your opponents hardest stuff, kill it, watch your opponent shoot a disproportionate amount of your army at them, and have them shrug it off, often walking out with over half the mob still left alive.

1. Painboy
2. Power Klaw/'eavy armor
3. Power Klaw/'eavy armor/Waagh! banner
4. Big Choppa/bosspole
5. Big Choppa/'eavy armor
6. Big Choppa
7. 'eavy armor
8. Power Klaw
9. Kombi-rokkit
10. Big Choppa/Bosspole/TL Shoota

All with Cybork bodies and Stikk Bombz.

There is, quite literally, almost nothing in the game that can kill these guys. Yeah, a C'tan is going to ruin a couple, before he gets crumped by mass saves from Big Choppas. Sure, TH/SS Termies are a pain, but 2-3 of them will be dead by the time they start swinging. The Swarmlord tends to be nasty when paired with Lash Whip Guard, but I generally deal with him with Lootas/Rokkits anyways.

The only units which seem to really ruin these guys are Furioso Dreads with Blood Talons, the Sanguinator, and large 'Nid Warrior squads with dual Boneswords and getting Furious Charge.

I also enjoy putting Ghazghkull in the same Battlewagon as these guys, disembarking separately, and charging two different directions, often multi-assaulting with the Nobz. It's a pretty sure way to kill a lot of stuff.

**rubicant99**

I got over confident with 8 diversified nobz & Ghaz in my first game with orks recently. Blasted the truck 19" into enemy lines, it got destroyed and they were forced to disembark. Result I thought as gonna split them and charge next turn anyway, so placed them in front of the truck rather than behind coz they're so tough. SW's hammer them in shooting and assualt their turn, inflicting enough wounds in assault to make the moral test very difficult, they flee and are swept, including Ghaz- gutted! Stupid mistake I know but hopefully shows how you can get carried away with their toughness!

**KingCracker**

You learned rules #1 and #2 about Orks.

Never send 1 trukk, it WILL be destroyed.

And never send one unit (no matter how badass) ahead of everything, it WILL be destroyed.

But I bet you learned that real fast didnt ya?

**rubicant99**

Ha sure did learn me good, I can't wait to use them properly next game!

**Juvieus Kaine**

My Nob squad is 5 strong. Painboy and cyborks all round, 3 big choppas and a PK, and a banner. Put that in a steamrolla-style wagon and add the PK boss and it wrecks things bad. If I tossed it at a dreadnought, that dread never lives. Doesn't help the wagon keeps getting wrecked from behind (cursed str4 bolters of any sort

) but otherwise it gets relatively close to enemy lines and causes hell. The only issue I have is when a tac squad decides to rapid-fire them. Poor guys take a lot of wounds if exposed

**KingCracker**

Thats true, being shot is a big weakness for nobs, because they dont have the save, or enough cheap bodies to soak it up. Boyz squads, I dont care if I lose up to half the squad, as long as they make it to the assault everything will be fine. Nobs take it bad being shot up, thats why you try to get them there fast. Another reason I find rokkit buggies so great, they are cheap, and grant a 4+ cover save on a vehicle holding my nobs. That or they shoot the buggies, and the pros are pretty obvious there

**zhangbob**

how do nobs do vs khorne beserkers with a Power fist, squads of that magic number 8 ;D

**Schnitzel**

There's a lot of excellent info in here. Thanks for all the contributions

There's a lot for me to mull over.

Now, I'm curious, can Nobz work well in a Kan wall list? Do they need the Battle Wagon to get around? Or is foot slogging along with the Boys acceptable?

Also, is it worth it paying for the Painboy, 'eavy armor, and the cybork body?

**QuietOrkmi**

In my 2500 point list, I run 6 Killa Kans to act as a second wave and 20 shootaboyz for capturing objectives... The 2nd Bigmek hides in the shoota boy mob to give them a 4+ obscured save.

**Shake Zoola**

Schnitzel wrote:Also, is it worth it paying for the Painboy, 'eavy armor, and the cybork body?

IMHO not really...

The painboy is an absolute must, and cybork lets you take a save even if your FNP (and by the same note your eavy armor) cant. You can use it to deviersify if you want but I dont really think its worth the points you pay...use those points for a big shoota in your boyz unit or on your wagons...

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Added:

Think of the FNP as a 4 up armor save already...

**yorkskargrimironklaw**

i play 9 Killa Kans in a Kan Wall tactic, i know this is over kill but it always wins other then the time my mate played 5 Nobs all with big choppas and 1 waagh banner in a trukk

long story short he hit me with 20 Str 7 hits 1 kan lived. because the kans have ws2 vs his ws5 i needed 5+ to hit i missed with both it and he won. the nobs killed the last kan with 15 Str 6 and then called waagh fleet and killed a 2nd unit of Killa Kans before i killed the nobs.

point is 5 nobs with +6 sv and no PK broke the backbone of my army in 2 turns.
so kit the nobs out how you like but dont sink 700pts in the unit.

Thats what MEGA NOBS are for

**KingCracker**

Shake Zoola wrote:
Schnitzel wrote:Also, is it worth it paying for the Painboy, 'eavy armor, and the cybork body?

IMHO not really...

The painboy is an absolute must, and cybork lets you take a save even if your FNP (and by the same note your eavy armor) cant. You can use it to deviersify if you want but I dont really think its worth the points you pay...use those points for a big shoota in your boyz unit or on your wagons...

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Added:

Think of the FNP as a 4 up armor save already...

A much better 4+ save. I dotn know why but alot of people seem to have problems understanding the FNP rules. But you can look in the you make da call section to read up on that, its asked plenty there.

I personally never pay for eavy armor on nobs. You either are taking a 4+ cover save (because its pretty easy to get those these days) a 5+ inv save (from cybork) or if those fail your FNP save, giving everyone a save you dont really need just isnt worth it IMO.

But yea, a Painboy is pretty much a given, just like a PK in a boyz mob youve gotta take the painboy. Theres no real way around that argument

**QuietOrkmi**

You do not have to sink 700 points into the unit the following is 500 points and is dead 'ard...

Nob Bikers: 3x Uge Choppa, 3x Powerklaw, Pain boy, 2x Kombi-Skorcha, Waaagh! Banner, Boss Pole, Cybork Bodies, Bikes

**PraetorDave**

@QuietOrkmi: we aren't talking about nob bikers, we are talking about footsloggers.

My main opponent runs a group of 10 nobz, with Doc Grotsnik, 2 kombi-rockets, 2 powerklaws, and cybork. I shoot at least 3 lascannons at that unit every turn while they walk across the table, and I will usually put in some bolter fire as well. When we played today, his squad killed a full tac squad, vulkan he'stan and a LC Termie (the rest had been lost to his shooting, don't ask), and a rhino, and were busy munching their way through another full tac squad when we ended on turn 6. Oh, and he had lost a single guy (to ID), and had a single wound on the unit. Unstoppable.

I literally have no idea how to stop these guys. I'm thinking about shelling out for a land raider, just so I can maybe kill them one of these days.

**ChrisCP**

Big Choppa, 'eavy armour
Big Choppa, kombi skorcha
Big Choppa,
Big Choppa, Waaagh
Big Choppa, ammo runt
Power Klaw, 'eavy armour
Power Klaw, Bosspole
Power Klaw
Painboy
And a 'Naked Guy' for funsies.

Is a 415 point unit, could trim a PK and replace with another BC to have 400 on the dot.
This one's all about the 20 str 7 attacks on the charge ^_^

Automatically Appended Next Post:
To stop foot mob (mine included) just shoot templates at them

**yournamehere**

I have found that my nobz just get picked out or vindi'd as I walk across the board if I'm doing footslog. However I only currently have a more deathstar style load out of models so they are a big target so I dont normally run them like that.

If I were to try to get nobz into my foot slog army I would probably try to keep them super cheap and try to make them as small a target as possible (not small in numbers mind you) so they hopefully arn't such a huge target but people are still gonna wanna shot rockits and lascannons at them, they are just the obvious targets for anti tank fire when you run an army with no vehicles, you would just be hoping the kans themselves scare the opponent more.