Part of our Orks hub: every Orks guide, lore page and painting tutorial in one place. Browse every Combat Patrol & Spearhead guide.
What’s in the Orks Combat Patrol?
There are two Ork Combat Patrols you might come across, so it’s worth getting this straight first.
The current one, and the one most new players will start with, is the ‘Ardmob. Its models all come in the Ork half of Armageddon, the box that launched 11th Edition in June 2026 (which adds a Bannernob, a Bigboss and a Painboy), and it’s also sold on its own as Getting Started with Orks and in the Warhammer 40,000 Starter Set. Warhammer Community calls it part of the “core Combat Patrol offer”, and it was one of the first two forces supported when Combat Patrol moved into the Warhammer 40,000 app. Here’s what’s in it:
- 1x Warboss: your leader. A huge, brutal Ork who makes the Boyz around him even more dangerous.
- 1x Weirdboy: an Ork psyker who channels the raw power of the Waaagh!
- 20x Boyz: the classic Ork infantry, fielded as two mobs of ten, each led by a Boss Nob.
- 10x Gretchin: small, cowardly gits who grab objectives and soak up fire.
- 1x Wartrakk: a fast, ramshackle vehicle that races ahead of the mob.
That’s 33 models. They’re push-fit, so they’re easy to build. Getting Started with Orks also includes paints, a brush and an introductory guidebook.
The standalone Combat Patrol: Orks box
There’s also an older, standalone Combat Patrol: Orks box, released in 2024. Its force is called Morgrim’s Butchas, and it contains:
- 1x Beastboss: played as Beastboss Morgrim
- 20x Beast Snagga Boyz: two mobs of ten
- 4x Squighog Boyz: three Squighog Boyz plus a Nob on Smasha Squig, with a Bomb Squig
Some guides list Deffkoptas in that box, but it doesn’t include any. At the time of writing, Morgrim’s Butchas isn’t one of the forces supported in the app, though Games Workshop says support for older Combat Patrols is on the way. The models are still excellent for a Beast Snagga army in regular games. The rest of this guide focuses on the ‘Ardmob.
Which Rules Does It Use?
Orks are one of only three factions with an 11th Edition codex so far, alongside Space Marines and Adeptus Custodes. Our Orks codex guide covers what changed, and our 11th Edition rules changes guide explains the new core rules. Games Workshop has said no more codexes are coming until 2027; see our codex release order tracker for the full schedule.
The ‘Ardmob’s Combat Patrol rules are in the Warhammer 40,000 app, free, along with its datasheets, enhancements, Stratagems and a bespoke mission. You don’t need the codex to play it. At the time of writing, the force uses the Orks’ famous Waaagh! army rule: you can re-roll Advance rolls, and once per battle you can call a Waaagh!, letting your Boyz advance and still shoot and charge. The detachment rule, ‘Ard As Nails, makes your units harder to wound with high-Strength attacks while the Waaagh! is active. If you’re new to the format, our Combat Patrol rules guide explains how it works.
What Each Unit Does
Warboss
The Warboss is your best fighter. Attach him to a mob of Boyz and point them at the enemy. In the app, one of the enhancements lets him bring back fallen Boyz in his mob, which makes that unit very hard to grind down.
Weirdboy
The Weirdboy is your psyker. He gets stronger when lots of Orks are nearby, so keep him with the other mob of Boyz. He adds damage and helps the mob get where it needs to go.
Boyz
Twenty Boyz are the heart of the army. On their own, each Boy isn’t much, but a mob of ten charging together is terrifying. Use one mob with the Warboss and one with the Weirdboy, and send them both at the enemy.
Gretchin
Gretchin are cheap and fragile, and that’s fine. Their job is to sit on your home objective and stop your opponent taking it for free. They can also screen the Boyz from enemy charges.
Wartrakk
The Wartrakk is your fast unit. Use it to grab distant objectives, harass the enemy’s back line and pick off weak units. An enhancement in the app can make it much tougher.
How to Play the Orks Combat Patrol
The ‘Ardmob plays exactly how you’d expect Orks to: charge across the board and overwhelm the enemy with numbers. The trick is timing your Waaagh! so that both mobs of Boyz hit at the same time.
Deployment
Put the Gretchin on your home objective. Deploy both mobs of Boyz, with the Warboss and Weirdboy attached, in the centre behind cover. Put the Wartrakk on a flank where it can race towards an objective.
Turn 1
Move the Boyz forward using cover. Send the Wartrakk to grab an objective. Don’t call the Waaagh! yet unless you can actually reach the enemy this turn.
Turns 2–3
Call the Waaagh! when both mobs are close enough to charge. Advance, shoot and charge with everything. This is the turn that decides most games, so make it count.
Turns 4–5
Keep fighting, but don’t forget to score. The Gretchin and Wartrakk are good at grabbing objectives late in the game while the Boyz keep the enemy busy.
Key Tips
- You only get one Waaagh!, so wait until both mobs can use it.
- Keep the Boyz together. Orks are much stronger in big groups.
- Don’t throw away the Gretchin. Your home objective needs a guard.
- Use the Wartrakk to distract your opponent. Enemies often waste shots on it.
Value and Building Notes
Getting Started with Orks is one of the easiest ways into Warhammer 40,000. The push-fit models build quickly, and the paints and brush mean you can start painting straight away. Twenty Boyz, ten Gretchin and two characters are all useful in a full Ork army. If you already own Armageddon, you have exactly the same force.
Strengths:
- Easy to build and supported in the app from day one
- Lots of models and a simple, fun game plan
- Backed by a brand-new 11th Edition codex
- Every unit is useful in a bigger army
Weaknesses:
- Not much long-range firepower or anti-tank
- Ork Boyz are easy to kill one by one
- The army relies heavily on timing its one Waaagh!
Painting the Orks Combat Patrol
Orks are one of the most relaxed armies to paint. They’re meant to look scruffy, so you can paint fast and still get a great result.
Recommended Colour Scheme
- Skin: Ork Flesh Contrast over a light undercoat, or Warboss Green highlighted with Skarsnik Green.
- Clothing: browns and blacks, such as Rhinox Hide and Abaddon Black.
- Metals: Leadbelcher, washed with Nuln Oil, with Ryza Rust for rust.
- Clan colours: red for Evil Sunz, yellow and black checks for Bad Moons, or black and white for Goffs.
Painting Tips
- Use the paints that come in Getting Started with Orks to paint your first mob.
- Paint the Gretchin first to practise your skin colour.
- Battle damage and rust make Ork vehicles look great. See our rust and battle damage tutorials.
For a full step-by-step, see our how to paint Orks guide. For more Ork guides and army tips, visit our Orks army hub.
Expanding Beyond the Combat Patrol
Our Orks 1000 point army list guide has three different armies to aim for. Here are the best next purchases.
Path to 1,000 Points
- More Boyz: Orks are best in big numbers
- A Deff Dread: a tough walker that hits hard in melee
- Trukks: transports to get your Boyz across the board faster
- The Combat Patrol: Orks box: a Beastboss, 20 Beast Snagga Boyz and Squighog Boyz, if you can find one
Path to 2,000 Points
- Meganobz: elite Orks in heavy armour
- A Battlewagon: a huge transport and centrepiece
- Ghazghkull Thraka: the greatest Warboss of them all
Our Ork units encyclopedia has more options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Orks Combat Patrol good for beginners?
Yes. The ‘Ardmob is designed for new players. It’s easy to build, simple to play and supported in the app for free. Our Armageddon starter set guide covers the full box.
What’s the difference between the ‘Ardmob and Combat Patrol: Orks?
The ‘Ardmob is the 11th Edition starter force with a Warboss, Weirdboy, 20 Boyz, 10 Gretchin and a Wartrakk. Combat Patrol: Orks is an older 2024 box built around a Beastboss, Beast Snagga Boyz and Squighog Boyz. Only the ‘Ardmob is in the app at the time of writing.
Do I need Armageddon to get the ‘Ardmob?
No. The same models are sold on their own as Getting Started with Orks.
What paints do I need for the Orks Combat Patrol?
Essentials: Ork Flesh or Warboss Green, Skarsnik Green, Rhinox Hide, Abaddon Black, Leadbelcher, Ryza Rust and Nuln Oil. Getting Started with Orks includes a starter set of paints.
Do Orks have an 11th Edition codex?
Yes. Orks were one of the first factions to get a new codex in 11th Edition. See our Orks codex guide for details.
Can I use the ‘Ardmob models in bigger Warhammer 40k games?
Yes. The Warboss, Weirdboy, Boyz, Gretchin and Wartrakk are all standard Ork units with full datasheets in the 11th Edition Orks codex, so they go straight into a 1,000 or 2,000-point army. The Combat Patrol enhancements, Stratagems and detachment rule only apply in Combat Patrol games, so bigger games use the codex rules instead.
How long does an Orks Combat Patrol game take?
Usually around an hour once you know the rules. Combat Patrol uses small forces and a smaller board, so games are much quicker than full 2,000-point battles. Your first few games will take longer while you learn the Waaagh! timing and look up rules, but it’s a format designed to fit into an evening.