Ere’ we go, fellow Waaagh! enthusiasts, because Battletome: Orruk Warclans is coming in hot, and it’s bringing some truly gnarly content with it.
This new book splits into two heavy-hitting halves: the rugged, straightforward Ironjawz and the underhanded, devious Kruleboyz—and the differences between these two green-skinned factions are pretty clear, as we’ll dive into.
The Ironjawz vs. The Kruleboyz: Big, Brawny Bashers vs. Cunning Little Schemers
Let’s start with the Ironjawz, the straight-up brawlers of the Orruk Warclans. These guys are all about charging headfirst into battle, swinging massive weapons, and making the biggest mess possible. If you’ve got a taste for stomping around on boar-sized pigs and smashing things without much finesse, then Ironjawz are your go-to. No subtlety here, just sheer power and rage.
Then we’ve got the Kruleboyz, who are a whole different kettle of fish. These guys love dirty tricks and sneak attacks, preferring poisoned blades and mercenary antics over smashing things to bits. Picture a group of scrawny, sneaky goblins who live for underhanded victories. They’ve got Hobgrot Slittabosses leading the charge, who can make Hobgrots strike right after their cruel masters and even tweak wound rolls to make sure their little scamps make the kill. It’s all about trickery, not just brute strength.
Hobgrot Slittaboss: The Sneaky Leader You Didn’t Know You Needed
Now, if you’re thinking about Kruleboyz, let’s talk about Swampboss Skumdrekk—a legendary beast-master. This guy can pick a unit of Hobgrot Slittaz and make them crit (deal mortal wounds) in melee. And if he’s feeling particularly devious, he can even make them better at wounding certain units. While Hobgrots might look weak and squishy, this guy can turn them into a surprisingly potent threat. It’s all about stacking those odds in your favor, baby.
Faction Terrain and Endless Spells: Buildings and Magic That Smash Harder
Both factions get their own Faction Terrain and Endless Spells to mess with the battlefield. The Ironjawz and Kruleboyz, despite usually wrecking everything in sight, are getting some cool toys that let them take control of the terrain as well.
Take the Bossrokk Towers and Skaregob Totems, for instance. These are like big, bossy structures that let Orruks get even more aggressive. You can climb them, shout at everyone, and reduce enemy control or charge rolls, making your enemies second-guess everything. The Skaregob Totems are particularly nasty, distorting perception and making it easier for those sneaky Kruleboyz tricks to land. They even have decent durability (12 wounds, 4+ save), so they’re not just one-hit wonders.
The Return of the Foot of Gork: A Smash Hit from the Past
Then we’ve got the Foot of Gork, which, let’s be real, is one of the most iconic pieces of magic from the old days. Two giant, angry feet appear and just stomp across the battlefield, making enemies reconsider their life choices. These bad boys not only dish out damage but also mess with charge rolls. But here’s the twist: the two feet need to stay within 9” of each other because the Orruks can’t quite imagine Gork having a longer stride. It’s an oddly specific but hilarious detail that adds to the charm of the Waaagh!
Mork’s Influence: The Morkspit Marsh and Gork-Roara
Mork’s crafty influence is felt through the Morkspit Marsh, a quagmire that traps enemies and stops them from running away. Perfect for creating choke points where your Man-Skewer Boltboyz can line up some tasty shots without worrying about enemies escaping.
Meanwhile, the Gork-Roara bellows out a terrifying roar, boosting your wizards and priests with some insane power from the Waaagh! (with a slight chance of popping their heads, because why not?). It’s classic Orruk chaos, and it feels like it could do some serious work in the right army.
Big Waaagh! Army of Renown: A New Way to Play
Now, if you can’t pick between the brute force of the Ironjawz and the tricky Kruleboyz, there’s always the Big Waaagh! Army of Renown, which lets you run both factions together. Expect more details on this later in the week, but from what we know, it’s all about combining their strengths for some truly explosive results.
Final Thoughts: More Ways to Wreck, More Ways to Win
In short, Battletome: Orruk Warclans has everything you need to wreak havoc across the battlefield. Whether you’re charging in with the Ironjawz or scheming with the Kruleboyz, there’s a lot of fun to be had. Plus, with all the new terrain features, Endless Spells, and classic spells like the Foot of Gork, this book gives Orruk players tons of new ways to smash their foes into the dirt. The real challenge will be deciding whether you want to go big and brawny or dirty and sneaky. Either way, you’re going to be having a blast!
And remember, Frontline Gaming sells gaming products at a discount, every day in their webcart!
