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I noticed last night looking at the Ork codex that the Mek can swap out for a Killsaw, which is basically a chainfist. On the charge this would only be strength 7, but it would also be Armourbane, which seems like it has some decent anti-tank potential. This guy is a little costly, but he could get stuck in a boy squad and make a bit more of an impact than usual when running into a lot of armor. I was more interesting in the sweet conversion potential, but I dunno. What do you guys think? My brain tells me, "Nah, you are just a few points away from more boyz" but it seems like occasionally it could be a decent choice.

Depends on the situation,

obviously if your going up against a AV heavy list and you know you are then putting an armourbane chainfist into each of your squads is going to amplify their threat quite heavily.

But what if he's not got any vehicles? you just paid 30 pts for a PK basically, on a model with 1 less attack, wounds and strength than your Nob (who should have a PK). So when it comes to challenges, your still going to throw your mek at the dude knowing hes gona get gibbed before he swings as its still more beneficial to have the Nob striking the rest of the unit.

For me I take the meks barebones to eat challenges, which is something a lot of people on here do also. But that being said having a blob of boys with a PK and chainfist hidden inside is still nasty and useful for crumping AV. If you want to take one go for it, but probably not worth it in every unit. 4 squads of boys is 120 pts of killsaws, which is 20 boys with no upgrades. So then 4 seems quite overkill, but in some cases you'll have kicked yourself for not bringing another etc..

Imo, model the meks with one, and if your not running them with em just call it his cutting tool? I mean ork weapons always look so random anyway

The only ideal uses for a mek are eating challenges and ld 7 for artillery

My Ork dex is at home, but just checking - you can have more than 1 mek in a unit right? If so, there is nothing preventing you having one with a kill saw, a nob with a pk, and a bare bones one to take the challenges...


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In fact - why not go like blob guard do, take 29 meatshield orks, a pk nob and 3 or 4 killsaw meks, for a unit that is tougher and better in combat than the guard blob equivalent?


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4 meks, 3 with kill saws, nob with pk & bp, 29 orks = 320pts
4 sarges with poweraxes and mbs, 36 guardsmen, 20 krak granades = 320pts.
The orks are far stronger initially, but guard can be buffed with orders, priests and inquisitors, these however of course cost more points.

 Rismonite wrote:
The only ideal uses for a mek are eating challenges and ld 7 for artillery

This. If you do want a killsaw mek I'd look at the meks that come with lootas or burna boyz as they can get them for cheaper. Too bad burna boyz aren't very good this ed.

Poly Ranger wrote:
My Ork dex is at home, but just checking - you can have more than 1 mek in a unit right? If so, there is nothing preventing you having one with a kill saw, a nob with a pk, and a bare bones one to take the challenges...


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In fact - why not go like blob guard do, take 29 meatshield orks, a pk nob and 3 or 4 killsaw meks, for a unit that is tougher and better in combat than the guard blob equivalent?


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4 meks, 3 with kill saws, nob with pk & bp, 29 orks = 320pts
4 sarges with poweraxes and mbs, 36 guardsmen, 20 krak granades = 320pts.
The orks are far stronger initially, but guard can be buffed with orders, priests and inquisitors, these however of course cost more points.

You can get a one mek for every HQ, so you're limited to 2-3 meks.

Yeh just checked my dex. Dual CAD, which most ork armies run at over 1500pts will allow you to have 4-6.


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Also now I've checked my dex I've realised that ork unit will cost 370pts.

The thing is if orks catch a vehicle - they kill it even without a chainsaw unless it has it's rear av>10 or it is a walker. And even so, pk nobz are scary enough to frighten off most walkers and vehicles.
Meks are mandatory for eating challenges. And killsaw meks are too freaking expensive. They're situationally good vs stuff like imperial knights and land raiders. But you're usually better off spending this 30 points elsewhere - theyre not worth it on a 6+ 1-wound character with just a 4+ look out. I'd probably consider them at 20 pts per saw. However, some people suggest to deny challenge with nob and still strike with mek. I think, that's a matter of how many ork stuff you have. If you feel you don't have enough models to field - sure, go for a saw, but otherwise, buy an extra buggy or big gun. Or in the case of 2-3 killsaws, just put this investment in tankbustas.


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 flaming tadpole wrote:
Too bad burna boyz aren't very good this ed.

Oh, you wait for the dark eldar dex and we'll see how burnas are bad vs deepstriking open-topped vehicles with firedragonz inside