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Are orks still a competitive army? How good are they in a tournament? Looking maybe to buy them next. Need any and all input.

Orks are definitely still a competitive army you need to know how to field them correctly.

^^^ seconded, they can and are a really competitive army when you want to be, but also a really fun army to play

competitive and fun to play.

Yeah, they're not in the top tier bracket, but they can still be pretty competitve, and, as has already been mentioned, very fun to play.

Who cares if they are competitive. The hobby is not about competitveness. Do Orks because you like them not whether they will win or not. If you like to play them and learn how to play them you will win. End of story.

Awesome. I always loved orks from when I played fantasy. But I wasn't sure about 40k. I just didn't want to get tabled every game or anything like that. Lol. Love the answers. I'm currently playing blood angels and but I was missing my green skinned friends.

Remember that timeless, classic ork saying

"Orkses is never defeated in battle. If we win we win, if we die we die, so it don't count as defeat. If we runs for it we don't die neither, so we can always come back for annuver go, see!"

Better than 'nids and SoB. Then they are knocking on the door of the other 5th edition codices.
Dark Angels and Black Templars make better claims as 4th edition competitive codices but orks can still give bloody noses in tournaments.

I have won and placed highly in all tournament with orks if played right they are the most dominant army in the game the destroy all umies and xenos

I think the best part about playing Orks is, even if you lose you don't really care. You field a mob of 'eadbanging stompy Orks and you tear through your opponents coveted Space Marines with their 3+ saves and their beautiful paintjobs, and their fancy shmancy technology of the Imperium with a bunch of Choppas and Sluggas that only work because the Orks believe they do.

No matter what army you face, as long as you have a decent list you are going to do some damage to them. And you're going to have a good time doing it. In my experience, I find Ork players are often good winners/losers and I think it's because of the mentality you play with. You don't play like some hyper-elite wannabe, you play to have a good time and get some krumpin done.

With all that in mind, Orks are competitive. Pick em up and have fun!

balsak_da_mighty wrote:Who cares if they are competitive. The hobby is not about competitveness. Do Orks because you like them not whether they will win or not. If you like to play them and learn how to play them you will win. End of story.

While I agree with the attitude, I'd have to disagree with the statement. The attraction to the hobby is different for everyone. Some play for storyline, some for slaughter(no matter who wins), some for random results anticipating each throw of the dice, some for the concept of fielding X(whatever list), some for glory and winning, and some to pit their tactical minds against others. Many people get caught up in competitiveness(myself included without a doubt).

Orks are competitive. Yes, there are types of armies that may table any given ork list, HOWEVER, that is a true statement for any 40k list!

It has been said that orks can do any one thing and do it best. I'm slightly at odds with this, but there is some truth to it. Orks, for the most part, are glass cannons.....and cheap ones. Read up on the tacticas, because that will give you some universal truths, along with opinions. Allow me to be so pompous as to quote myself:

1. Nobs

If the unit can upgrade a nob, do it. Nobs provide a couple options that are necessary to a unit, and provide the base of a close combat terror supported by many cheap bodyguards.

2. Bosspole

Don't leave home without it. If a unit can take a bosspole, pay for it. A Standard group of boyz, or ANY non-HQ ork unit has a leadership of 7. Without modifiers, a basic leadership test(from gunfire for example) will succeed 58.3% of the time. For 5 points, a re-roll is allowed. This re-roll increases the chances of success to 82.6%, which is comparable to having a leadership of 9 (83.3% success). Granted, this re-roll inflicts a wound on a model. Don't forget to make an armor save, because you might just get a free re-roll! If you lose an assault by 2( Leadership 5 after modifier) you have a 47.7% chance of success versus a 27.7% chance.

Independent characters rarely have a need for bosspoles. The units they join should have bosspoles, and this is better because independent characters get singled out in close combat, and are killed quickly. A nob leading a group of boys should have the bosspole, not your warboss or big mek.

I will always argue for the validity of bosspoles. I just recently lost an assault against Black Templars by 5, requiring snake-eyes to stay. I missed the roll, used the bosspole, the boy made his armor save so NO wound, and then rolled a 2. I was amazed myself, but there it was: PK stuck around to kill more of the Emperor's finest.

3. Power Klaws

A nob with a power klaw is a menace to everyone. 4 attacks at strength 9 that normally hit on a 4+ is a nasty thing. Nobz with powerklaws shred MEQs like paper. They can pop any vehicle(though Land Raiders and Monoliths slow them down). Ultimately, every unit of boyz with a PK nob is a threat to anything it can get its klaws on. As a rule of thumb, if a unit can upgrade a leader to a nob, do it. Give it a bosspole(see #2) and a power klaw. The exception to nobs always taking power klaws is a Nobz unit. Approximately 1/3 should be appropriate. Full groups of nobz typically wield 3-4 PKs. You want enough to kill your enemy unit on the second turn of assault, which should be the ENEMY'S assault phase. This allows you to move and charge another unit on yours. Too many PK's, and you've spent too much. Remember that those other nobz are basically a delivery system for the PKs. They'll cause a few deaths, but those PKs will destroy MEQ units.

Choose a style of list: Green Tide, Kan Wall, Mechanized(Battlewagon Rush). The Tide is weakest. Kan Walls are much, much stronger and effective. I play mechanized with battlewagons, and prefer it for mobility, which allows me to take initiative and assault. If your opponent is more mobile than you, then HE dictates the circumstances of engagement, and I don't play that way =P

Don't mix speeds(some foot slogging and some transports). Orks do best slamming into the enemy in a massive wave. Overwhelm them.

All in all though, as Balsak and many others have said, HAVE FUN. If your main attraction is winning, play a cookie cutter list(the more competitive your get the more the lists get monotonous). If you just don't want to get walked all over, have no fears, as long as you follow some of the basics of ork tactics, you'll have a blast and as previously said, bloody some noses along the way and win a fair share of games!

Welcome to the WAAAGH!!!