Welcome to This Week in Warhammer, our weekly roundup of the biggest news from across the hobby. It’s been a green one — the Orks are having their moment as the first codex of 11th Edition arrives, and Ghazghkull Thraka has been reforged into something genuinely terrifying. Here’s everything that mattered this week.
The new Orks codex has landed
The headline is unmissable: Codex: Orks is the first faction codex of 11th Edition, and it’s a big one. It ships with 15 detachments to mix and match — enough to build everything from a full-throttle Speedwaaagh! to a grinding green-tide horde.
The reworked Waaagh! army rule is the star. Orks now re-roll Advance rolls at all times, and gain a new “riled up” status — granting a 5+ invulnerable save, the ability to charge after Advancing, and the Assault ability on their guns. Basic Shootas also pick up Lethal Hits against most targets, which quietly makes massed Ork firepower a real threat again.
Read our full breakdown: New Orks Codex (2026): Ghazghkull, the Waaagh! Rule & Every Big Change.
Ghazghkull gets a Primarch-tier glow-up
The most talked-about datasheet of the week is Ghazghkull Thraka. Games Workshop has upgraded the Beast of Armageddon from a tough infantry leader into, in their words, “an outrageously powerful beast more akin to a Primarch.” He gains Lone Operative near friendly units, a Prophet of da Great Waaagh! aura, a Torrent profile on his shooting, and the ability to bestow riled-up on several nearby units — making him a portable Waaagh! button as much as a beatstick.
More on the warlord: Ghazghkull Thraka — full lore guide.
Kill Team: Exodite hits shelves
Away from the greenskins, Kill Team: Exodite is now out (released 8 August, $165). The box pits three Aeldari Dragon Masters and their Drakolithes against a warband of Beast Snagga Boyz and Squighog Boyz — a maiden-world clash that continues Kill Team’s excellent run of dual-faction boxes. The Dragon Masters kit can also build lance-armed Dragon Knights, with full Warhammer 40,000 rules confirmed for the future.
New to skirmish gaming? Our Kill Team beginner’s guide covers how to get started.
On Warhammer TV: Butcher’s Nails
Warhammer+ subscribers got a new animation drop this week with Butcher’s Nails, following a World Eaters Khorne Berzerker named Makrath through the assault on an Imperial bastion — brutal, short, and exactly what it says on the tin.
What’s coming next
- Orks pre-orders are imminent — the Sunday Preview teased that “Orks rampage in next week,” so expect the codex and new kits up for pre-order shortly.
- Kill Team Season 3 is expected in September, though Games Workshop hasn’t previewed the new box or teams yet. We’ll cover it here the moment it’s revealed.
- More 11th Edition codexes will follow Orks through the rest of the year.
New to the edition? Start with our Warhammer 40k 11th Edition hub, get to grips with army building in our Detachment Points explained guide, and read the story behind the launch box in Blood Angels vs Orks: The Lore Behind the Armageddon Box.
That’s it for this week — check back next week for the latest Warhammer news, or follow along as the Orks continue their rampage.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.