The new Warhammer 40K Ork models are good enough to make me want to declare WAAAGH on all other factions

I don't think it's outrageous to say that Warhammer 40K Orks stole the limelight for this new edition of the game. The Space Marines are good-looking, by all means. But compared to those greenskins, they shrink into the shadows – and this new range of WAAAGH! warriors continues the trend.

A horde of Warhammer 40K Orks wound up on my doorstep ahead of their early September release, and as the first wave of models for 11th Edition, I was eager to put these ladz through their paces and see what Dakka they could muster. With that in mind, I've built every model I can and pored over the new Codex to give you a full lowdown on what they're like to make, as well as whether you should add them to your army based on hard stats. Each one offers something specific that'll suit certain playstyles more than others, so it's worth considering your options.

Short on time? Here's the Cliff Notes version: these guys hit incredibly hard, and I don't think there's a duff note amongst the new models. No matter whether you're building an army from scratch or are looking to plug new units into an existing force, there's a lot of choice depending on your preferred strategy (essentially boiling down to fast-moving murderhobo or slow and steady murderhobo). When combined with the new Ogor Mawtribes range for Age of Sigmar, might definitely makes right in Warhammer right now…

Note: Even though it's easy enough to pre-order these models straight from the source at Warhammer, it's worth considering indie stores like Miniature Market in the US and Wayland Games in the UK. They usually provide between 10-15% off all new Warhammer models. (If they haven't popped up yet, give it a moment – they should drop soon.)

Nazdreg

It's been literal decades since the last Nazdreg miniature, and… well, it's not polite to comment on someone's age, but the years haven't been kind to the original. The bloodthirsty Warboss of the Bad Moon clan deserved a new model, and this fresh take doesn't disappoint. It towers over most Orks as a walking wall of iron, and it's an ode to all things 'traditional' Ork - we're talking grinning moons, skulls, furs from vanquished monsters, wicked-looking claws, and guns that appear to be multiple weapons strapped together. (You can't beat the classics, after all.)

Gameplay

As you'd probably expect for such a hulking monster, Nazdreg is unbelievably strong and very tough; his weaponry will overwhelm not just with the number of attacks rolled every time, but thanks to their armor-piercing values and a weapon/ballistic strength that reaches 12 at its highest. In short, he can make a mockery of almost any foe. Throw in Deep Strike and the fact that his ranged weapons ignore cover for a particularly nasty combo. If your opponents don't fear him at the start of a match, they will before long.

Then there are his abilities. Once per battle round, Nazdreg can make sure a unit within six inches removes battle-shock and becomes "riled up" (a very handy buff for your greenskins). Once per phase, he can also move extra if an enemy unit dares to come too close.

Basically, Nazdreg is an all-round terror but is especially nasty in close-combat. If that's your style, you'll want to add him to the lineup (or build a horde around him).

Build

• Complexity: Moderate
• Build time: 10-15mins
• Customization: None

Despite this just being a single model, I was taken aback by how many pieces there were; you get a couple of sprues chock-full of parts. Luckily, these weren't difficult to assemble and slot together nicely with minimal effort.

Warboss

Seeing as we already got a new Ork Warboss in the Armageddon box (which was like Christmas for fans as is), I wasn't chomping at the bit to try the new one. Funnily enough, though, it's ended up being one of my favorites in the new Warhammer 40K Ork range. As well as being far more customizable than the Armageddon version, this badass is generally more impressive to look at at the head of a horde.

Gameplay

Very respectable – but not overwhelming – stats may not seem like much to write home about after Nazdreg, but it's this model's flexible loadout and abilities that make them a force to be reckoned with. An "Ammo Runt" who follows the Warboss around can add +1 to hit rolls once per battle, while the "Might Makes Right" power significantly increases both attack and strength if he charged this turn. (In other words, get him into melee ASAP.) Much like Nazdreg, he can rile up troops and remove battle shock once per round too.

While the named heroes are always going to steal the spotlight, this Warboss is no slouch as a result. Want an army with your own character leading it? The moster is a great choice.

Build

• Complexity: Moderate
• Build time: 15-20mins
• Customization: Multiple heads, weapons, etc

Although things didn't start well (there are some unnecessarily fiddly bits right off the bat, like a section of the torso that was awkward to fit), I was quickly won over by how much I could personalize this guy. While you've only got a few weapon options, there are plenty of heads so you can give them a distinct personality. I went with a military hat that makes my Warboss – who I named "The Captain" – look like an '80s prog rocker.

Mek

Sometimes, life imitates art. I have a suspicion that the Mek is often overlooked by his greenskin buddies who are more taken with the bigger, stabbier heroes in their midst, and I was the same. I totally forgot he existed until I got to this section of the guide. Poor lad.

That isn't to say he's a bad model, of course; far from it. He's just a little more modest compared to the other newcomers, is all.

Gameplay

Being the mechanics of the Ork army, you'd think that Meks are support players. And to an extent, they are; their "Clever Know-wotz" ability lets them heal vehicles and buff the things with a +1 on to-hit rolls. However, they're no slouch in battle either. Besides ignoring cover, their Kustom Mega-Slugga gun is surprisingly hard-hitting thanks to a -2 armor-piercing score.

If you like to use Speed Freekz units or have an Evil Sunz army like me, you need one of these guys on your lineup.

Build

• Complexity: Low
• Build time: 5-10mins
• Customization: None

This was incredibly quick and easy to make. Even the most complicated bit, the backpack, goes together very nicely. The downside? There's no way to make it your own without breaking out some serious kitbashing skills.

Trukk

Alright, here we go – the real star of the show, and the most visually impressive of the new Ork range. The Trukk may not be the army's biggest model, but it's one of the most intricate and feels like a diorama in its own right. That made it the most difficult thing here to construct, but also the most satisfying.

Gameplay

Despite how cool it looks, the Trukk is pretty simple in terms of gameplay; it's a straightforward transport that can ferry up to 12 of your Orks around the tabletop. Well, I say "straightforward." That's an oversimplification. Even though it's a glorified taxi, it can make a right mess thanks to its ranged weaponry (either a Dual Big Shoota or Rocket Launcha turret with a couple of firing modes) and close combat nastiness. Besides being able to ram into enemies with the spikes on its front, the Trukk also packs either a buzzsaw or claw on a winch it can lower into passing foes. Nasty.

Build

• Complexity: High
• Build time: 1hr+
• Customization: Multiple configurations, weapons, etc

This was by far the most complex of the Ork miniatures to make, largely because there are so many tiny pieces to fit and extras to make (that ramshackle look requires a lot of legwork, funnily enough). These were often tricky to place, and it wasn't always clear where they should go. Set aside a lot of time for the Trukk; you'll need it.

Oh, and a PSA: make sure you paint the Orks and Trukk separately, if you can. It'll be much easier to add the painted passengers later.

Warbikers

These gearheads are some of the coolest in the new Warhammer 40K Ork range, and while you're only getting three per pack, they make quite the impact. Seeing how dynamic and customizable they are really makes me bummed out about how static the current Space Marine Outriders are.

Gameplay

As you'd expect from a unit like this, the Warbikers are all about getting in fast, making a mess, and leaving sharpish. They get a bonus if they charged this turn, and even though their ranged weapons will be a nuisance rather than causing outright panic, their melee weapons are enough to cause serious mischief.

Build

• Complexity: Moderate
• Build time: 45-50mins
• Customization: Alt heads, weapons, and bike pieces

These lads took a lot longer to build than I expected; they're surprisingly complex. While there isn't an overwhelming amount of fiddliness, and they become less complicated once the leader is out of the way, each figure is still divided up into numerous little pieces that take a good swath time to combine.

If I can give any advice, it'd be to make damn sure your pieces are set before moving on to the next stage – I fell foul of this a few times, and chunks began to fall apart while I was assembling them.

For more recommendations, why not check out our guide to the best board games and the best tabletop RPGS?