Goatboy here to talk about GW’s sneak peek of the new 40K Ork stuff coming later in 2026. Here’s what it may mean for the army’s future.
It was such a weird leak with an old box picture taken, and it was neat of GW to showcase the Ork Warboss model off. Then they showed even more new 40K Ork related stuff that has me wondering what they are going to be doing with these new Ork designs and what they might mean for the army.
Orks Are Getting a BIG Design Update
The first thing I notice is that the design is a lot different from the older Ork models. You saw this in the latest Beast Snagga stuff, but the newer minia have started to get stretched a bit more. They have lost that squat kind of tone and have been replaced with the idea of a big brute. They have even shifted a bit more away from the AOS Orks as well, with their stature almost feeling like a football lineman. They are big, tall, stretched out, and still look very dangerous.
They even look less complicated, which is interesting. The last few years, the Orks have gotten some interesting designs that almost feel too much. They are almost over-designed with too many options, straps, and other things. If you look at some of the old designs, they were weirdly fascinated with what looked like watches on their forearms. This new range looks a lot less like the need to add more and has kinda pushed back a bit.
I do like it. It is a neat look, and the last time I saw something like this was the old Wartrike with its giant boss on the back that was muscular but not insanely big. At the same time, the Grots are also looking a lot sneakier. They are bigger too, with their proportions stretched out a bit, and it really feels like the sneaky Mork side of things is going to come out.
Hints For The Ork Future?
This has me thinking if GW decided to redo some of the armored tank-like aspects, they might see less of the slapdash nature we are used to and go back to a more simplified, brutal nature that matches Mad Max and some of the more basic machinery. I would love to see a new Deff Dread that is less stumpy and more brutal-looking, with faster-looking legs and a better idea of how scary this giant “suit” housing an angry Ork might actually be.
Future Ork Rules?
This, of course, has me wondering what they will do with their rules. Right now, the Orks feel offensive but not as brutal as you would want them to be. I am thinking with the rumors swirling that Space Marines would be getting somehow tougher and most likely have less on the field in the months ahead – the idea of the Orks becoming a wave of brutal death might be the choice in their design. I would love to see how the WAAAGH could be used in a way that isn’t just a crazy turn but something more akin to amplifying each other unit up with their own energy.
The Psychic wave of Angry Ork Nonsense would be a great thing for them to explore. They could do things like bonuses if more units attack or have each “shooting” engagement that targets the same enemy, get better as waves of bullets cause issues. I think this idea of utilizing combined shooting to get better could be a cool factor in the Orks. I don’t think we need a Marker Light system like T’au, but instead of you gang up your attacks, your hitting power gets better.
I also really miss the old Ork Psychic nonsense and how it utilized other boyz to power things up. There is a lot of fun that fell away from the Ork Codex, and I hope they bring some of it back. I don’t think they need to be more random; just invent some interesting rules and interactions. You could just utilize a lot of neat Aura-like mechanics, as these heroes of the Waagh are within their boyz mobs and drives them crazy.
Oh, and they should bring back Wazzdakka as this game needs more Ork nonsense, and he was insanely ridiculous with his giant Warbike of doom. I think they should bring back more Biker nonsense, too, with all the other armies, and get that whole zoom zoom going for everyone. Doomrider needs to ride again.
What do you think? Do you like the new Ork design? Are you excited to see something else that isn’t just hoping you get a good Waagh turn, and you jail your opponent enough?
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Thomas Reidy, aka Goatboy, the ever-evil member of BoLS. I do arts, play 40k, and even paint a lot of stuff. I have been playing Warhammer 40K since the 1990s, and have won multiple national events including Adepticon and GW GTs. I’ve been writing for BoLS for 15 years. Look at my Instagram to see what I am working on – or working on for someone. I am always doing something hobby related.
Source: Bell of Lost Souls
