Orks are the loudest, greenest, and craziest faction in all of Warhammer 40,000. They love fighting above all else, their tech runs on the power of collective belief, and their army embodies pure, unrestrained chaos on the battlefield. That's exactly why they're a great choice for beginners and veterans alike — painting them is straightforward, kitbashing is baked right into their DNA, and no two Ork armies ever look the same.
We'll cover everything you need to know as a beginner: who the Orks actually are, how their Clans work, which units to get first, how to paint them, and where to start. Currently updated for 11th edition Warhammer 40,000 (2026).
Who are the Orks?
Orks are an ancient and powerful race known as Greenskins — fungal organisms spreading across the galaxy like a green plague. They don't grow up in families or civilizations. They reproduce through spores, find food anywhere, and the one thing they truly care about is WAAAGH! — an epic battle, the biggest possible army, the biggest explosion, and the hardest punch.
What makes Orks truly unique in the whole 40k universe is their "collective power of belief": things work because Orks believe they work. A vehicle painted red goes faster, because every Ork believes red paint means speed. Their weapons, machines, and "technology" run on a principle of collective psychic faith — which is exactly why their science makes no sense whatsoever to every other race, but Orks couldn't care less. As long as it goes bang or cuts deep, it's good enough.
On the battlefield, they show up in enormous hordes, roar WAAAGH!, shoot at anything in reach, and eventually crash into the enemy in a merciless brawl. Whoever survives is the Boss. Whoever falls was clearly weak — and weak Orks deserve to die.
Why start with Orks?
An ideal start for painting
The rough, dirty, battle-worn aesthetic of the Orks forgives painting mistakes like no other faction. Dark lines, rusty metals, and green skin hide imperfections that would be immediately obvious on Space Marines.
Kitbashing is mandatory
Orks collect junk and bolt it onto their vehicles and weapons — so converting models and kitbashing aren't just allowed, they're baked directly into the faction's character. There's no such thing as a bad Ork model.
The most fun playstyle
Hordes of Orks flood the table, shoot at everything, fuel their energy with a loud WAAAGH! roar, and create chaos across the battlefield. Playing Orks is generally considered a more lighthearted way to play.
Maximum creative freedom
No two Ork armies look the same. Every player tailors their army to their chosen Clan, invents their own Warboss name, their own colors, and their own story. Orks are one of the most personal armies in all of 40k.
Guide to the Clans
Orks are divided into six main Clans (Klanz) — each with a different culture, a different fighting style, and a different color palette. Your choice of Clan shapes your army's character both visually and in gameplay. In Warhammer 40K, Clans are represented through detachments and Kulturs.
Goffs
The biggest and toughest · black and white · pure melee
Goffs are the biggest, greenest, and toughest Orks in the whole galaxy. They love close combat and consider shooting a form of cowardice — if you have to shoot, you're just too far away. They're blunt, proud, and without exaggeration the most aggressive of all the Clans. Their motto is simple: hit 'em 'ard, hit 'em fast.
PlaystyleA pure melee machine — Goffs get bonus hits in close combat and a bonus to their Strength stat. Maximum effectiveness in melee, no compromises on shooting. Their standard tactic is typically 20 Ork Boyz rolling across the table.
Colors and paintingBlack and white in a checkerboard pattern — the iconic Goffs look. Black is the easiest color to paint on Orks: Chaos Black primer → Nuln Oil wash → light grey drybrush on the edges. The checkerboard pattern is painted freehand or with masking tape.
The best-looking Goffs model →Bad Moonz
The richest Orks · yellow · big guns and flashBad Moons are the richest Orks around, because their teeth — Ork currency — grow faster than anyone else's. That lets them buy the biggest, loudest, and shiniest guns in the entire galaxy. They're flashy, boastful, and utterly convinced that money (or rather, teeth) solves everything — including battles.
PlaystyleBad Moons get extended shooting range and an overall bonus to shooting. This is the strongest shooting-focused Ork Clan — great for players who want an Ork army with a powerful shooting phase instead of pure melee.
Colors and paintingBold yellow — a trickier color, but the result really stands out. Averland Sunset as a base → Agrax Earthshade wash → Yriel Yellow highlight. Alternatively, Iyanden Yellow Contrast over a white base for a faster result.
Dakka Dakka models →Evil Sunz
Red ones go faster · red · Speed FreaksEvil Sunz live for speed. Their belief in the Ork saying Red 'uns go fasta is so strong that vehicles painted red genuinely do go faster — the Orks' psychic reality works in their favor. Evil Sunz are the Speed Freaks Clan par excellence: every model needs at least one red detail, or it just doesn't count.
Playstyle+1" movement for all units, +2" for Speed Freaks. They ignore to-hit penalties from Assault weapons after advancing. Evil Sunz are the fastest Clan — ideal for aggressive, fast-advancing armies built around Trukks, Deffkoptas, and Warbikes that reach the enemy before they can even react.
Colors and paintingRed vehicles, red details, flames. Blood Angels Red Contrast over a white primer gives a beautifully vivid red from just a single layer. Flame motifs are painted freehand — going from yellow through orange to red.
Vroom Vroom models →Deathskulls
Thieves and scavengers · blue · Objective SecuredDeathskulls are Orks obsessed with blue lucky charms and stealing anything that isn't nailed down. They believe blue brings good luck — which is why they paint themselves blue, paint their vehicles blue, and steal blue things from absolutely anyone. They're opportunists and casual thieves of the worst kind.
PlaystyleA re-roll of one die roll in every phase, and every INFANTRY unit gets the Objective Secured rule. Deathskulls are the most flexible Clan — their bonuses work in every situation, in shooting as well as melee.
Colors and paintingBlue paint and lucky charms — the Orks' skin stays green, but clothing, tattoos, charms, and details are blue. Talassar Blue Contrast over a light base is a quick route to a bold blue.
Mega tin can →Blood Axes
Strategists (for Orks) · khaki and military uniforms · Kommandos
Blood Axes are total outsiders in the Ork world — they actually study the enemy and even copy their tactics. They wear military uniforms, salute officers, and use tactical hand signals. Other Orks consider them filty 'umie luvvas (disgusting human-lovers), but the results on the battlefield speak for themselves.
PlaystyleBlood Axes get access to Fall Back & Shoot and better strategic reserves. Kommandos are their signature unit — infiltrating specialists who start the game behind enemy lines and cause chaos before the opponent even takes their first turn.
Colors and paintingMilitary style — khaki, green, grey. They often imitate the Imperial Guard, just in Ork fashion. A great Clan for kitbashing with Astra Militarum or Chaos Guard components. Agrax Earthshade over khaki tones gives an excellent weathered look.
Blood Axes models in our shop →Snakebites
Primitive and proud · brown and bone · Squig riders and monstersSnakebites are Orks who reject modernization. They live as nomads, ride Squigs and other monsters instead of Trukks, and rely on brute strength and tough hide rather than technology. Other Clans see them as oddballs — but Snakebites are convinced everyone else has just gone soft.
PlaystyleToughness and resilience — Snakebites get a bonus to their Toughness stat or to Feel No Pain effects. Beast Snagga Boyz are their signature infantry, with bonuses against vehicles and monsters. The Kill Rig is their rare and powerful combat monster on wheels. A Clan for players who want a wild, primitive army full of teeth.
Colors and paintingBrown hides and bone instead of metal details, natural materials, animal skins. Agrax Earthshade and Reikland Fleshshade are the go-to washes for organic surfaces. Less shiny metal, more texture and grime.
Beast Snagga Boyz Combat Patrol →Quick Clan comparison
| Clan | Colors | Playstyle | Beginner-friendly? | Signature unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goffs | Black + white checkerboard | Pure melee, hordes | ✅ Best choice | Ork Boyz (20-strong) |
| Bad Moons | Yellow | Shooting, big guns | ✅ Good choice | Big Mek, Flash Gitz |
| Evil Sunz | Red, flames | Fast vehicles, Speed Freeks | ✅ Good choice | Deffkoptas, Warbikes |
| Deathskulls | Blue, grubby | Balanced, Objective Secured | 🟡 Intermediate | Boyz + re-roll mechanic |
| Blood Axes | Khaki, military style | Tactical, Kommandos | 🟡 Intermediate | Kommandos |
| Snakebites | Brown, bone, organic | Monsters, resilience | 🟡 Intermediate | Beast Snagga Boyz |
Where to start — recommended starting path
Combat Patrol box
Orks Combat Patrol is the best entry point — a complete army for the Combat Patrol format. It includes a varied lineup of models that shows you the different types of Ork models, and it's playable right out of the box (once assembled).
Armageddon Battalion — the new launch box
For players wanting to jump into 11th edition, Orks: Armageddon Battalion includes newly reworked models, including updated Boyz (20-strong with new sculpts — now carrying both Shoota and Slugga at once), Gretchins, a Wartrakk, and a brand-new Big Mek Dakkarig as the army's crowning centerpiece.
How to paint Orks — green skin step by step
Ork green skin is the faction's most distinctive feature — and also one of the easiest to learn. Here's the basic process:
Primer — a black base
Spray on Chaos Black. A black base gives instant, natural shadows in the skin's creases and adds a darker undertone to the green, which visually "roughens up" the Orks — exactly how they're meant to look.
Green skin — base coat
Apply Waaagh! Flesh (Citadel Base) over the entire skin. One even layer — apply it thoroughly over the black base without going too thick. This is the most important step for the final tone.
Wash — depth and grime
Apply Agrax Earthshade or Nuln Oil over the entire skin. Agrax gives a warmer, more organic tone, Nuln Oil a darker, cooler one. The wash alone does 80% of the work — the skin's creases will naturally darken.
Highlight — muscle detail
Warboss Green (Citadel Layer) on the raised muscles and edges of the skin. A lighter Skarsnik Green just on the absolute highest points for maximum contrast. Ork muscular skin reacts very dramatically to highlighting.
Metal, leather, and details
Leadbelcher over all the metal surfaces, a Nuln Oil wash, then a Necron Compound drybrush for an instant Ork-worn metal look. Leather (jackets, belts) via Wyldwood Contrast.
How to decide — a quick guide
- Want simple painting + pure melee? → Goffs — black + white, Ork Boyz
- Want Orks with shooting? → Bad Moons — yellow, big guns
- Love fast vehicles? → Evil Sunz — Deffkoptas, red
- Want a more tactical game? → Deathskulls — blue charms, Objective Secured
- Want primitive wilderness and monsters? → Snakebites — Beast Snagga Boyz
- Best starter set: Orks Combat Patrol
- New models for 11th edition: Armageddon Battalion
- Not sure what to pick? Drop by our shop — we're happy to help.
The full range of Orks, Combat Patrol boxes, and the new Armageddon Battalion is available at our shop in Plzeň at Zbrojnická 116/2, open Mon–Fri 1pm–6pm. We'll help you choose a Clan and a starter set.
obchod@coloursofwarriors.com · +420 737 281 727