Intensive Army Analysis: Orcs

[Tai-Pan]

A blue mass surges across the field of battle, screaming in some gutteral tongue. For the most part, the soldiers of this army are armed with swords or bows, but surrounding the great generals are vanguards of heavily armored troops wielding polearms. The leaders of this force ride upon great beasts, and are renowned for both their fighting prowess, and their cruelty. They move as one with their force, and inspire those around them to fight harder. The orc archers work flawlessly with both their swog riding leaders and all manners of great beasts. There is a reason the orcs were the dominant civilization on Grut, if one could call their barbarous ways civilized. This is the horde of the Orc army.

Ornak
Tornak
Grimnak
Nerak
Swog Rider
Heavy Gruts
Blade Gruts
Arrow Gruts
Mimring
Krug

[guido]

Ah but they're no match for an army of sporcs...

One of of the Orc army's best features is that it can stand alone against the tide of other armies. It is a fully functional themed army, something not many of the other themed armies can boast. With the recent addition of Ornak, the Orc's flexibility is even more intense. I just love using order marker #1 to drive Marcu into the fray of battle without the fear of his Eternal hatred, and then drive Ornak into range to do it again with the Heavy Grut's Orc Champion bonding. It's bonding that makes this army, and bonding that drives it to victory.

[Tai-Pan]

I only have one squad of arrow gruts, and one swog rider, but I like to use Mimring with the arrow gruts, and think of it more as a marker on Mimring, with three little guys I can move for free.

I've never had tremendous luck with the arrow gruts, but, like I said, in my games, optimum conditions only give them an attack of three.

[guido]

I only have one squad of arrow gruts, and one swog rider, but I like to use Mimring with the arrow gruts, and think of it more as a marker on Mimring, with three little guys I can move for free.

I've never had tremendous luck with the arrow gruts, but, like I said, in my games, optimum conditions only give them an attack of three.

Except when they have a height advantage and are adjacent to multiple Swog Riders...

[Tai-Pan]

I only have one squad of arrow gruts, and one swog rider, but I like to use Mimring with the arrow gruts, and think of it more as a marker on Mimring, with three little guys I can move for free.

I've never had tremendous luck with the arrow gruts, but, like I said, in my games, optimum conditions only give them an attack of three.

Except when they have a height advantage and are adjacent to multiple Swog Riders...

Yeah, unfortunately, when you live in the middle of nowhere and don't order online, it's kinda hard to find stuff. I'm bloody lucky I have one of everything.

I could definately see how having several Swog and a few squads of Arrow Gruts could be devastating.

[guido]

I only have one squad of arrow gruts, and one swog rider, but I like to use Mimring with the arrow gruts, and think of it more as a marker on Mimring, with three little guys I can move for free.

I've never had tremendous luck with the arrow gruts, but, like I said, in my games, optimum conditions only give them an attack of three.

Except when they have a height advantage and are adjacent to multiple Swog Riders...

Yeah, unfortunately, when you live in the middle of nowhere and don't order online, it's kinda hard to find stuff. I'm bloody lucky I have one of everything.

I could definately see how having several Swog and a few squads of Arrow Gruts could be devastating.

I hear you man. I was lucky enough to find Wave 1 at TRU last November. As it stands, I have one of every orc army card except Nerak (0) and the Heavy Gruts (2).

[Einar's puppy]

Yes yes quite. Blade gruts (0) Arrow gruts (0) Nerak (0) swogs (0) Krugs (0) ornak (1!!!!) heavies (0) tornack(0) Grimnack(1) mimring (1)
my freind has 1arrows 1 blades 1 heavies

[Browncoat]

I have 4 sets of all the common squads (Blade, Arrow, Heavy), 3 Swog Riders, and all the heroes, including Nerak. That's a lot of blue!

guido is correct. The orc army is not powerful. These are low cost/low stat units that don't really perform well on their own. They need supporting figures (heroes) and proper tactics to win. Bonding and Disengage are what make up for their lack of power. You are able to move and attack with many figures each round, and it becomes a law of numbers thing. Yes, they may have a low attack, but sooner or later they're going to wear you down.

A friend of mine likes to use Jotun and other high point figures in his armies. It only takes 1 skull to bring them down, and I have felled Jotun with a lone Arrow Grut. Don't underestimate the orcs!

Just as a shameless plug for my own front page articles on strategy with the orcs, have a look at these links, just in case you missed them originally: Battlecry of the Orcs - Part I (http://www.heroscapers.com/community/showthread.php?t=14099) and Part II (http://www.heroscapers.com/community/showthread.php?t=14414)

[Bach]

Ah but they're no match for an army of sporcs...

:lol: Fear the spork horde!

[guido]

A friend of mine likes to use Jotun and other high point figures in his armies.

The fool should be drafting Braxus or Q9 instead. Both are impressive squad killers and both cost less than Jotun. My vote will go with Q9 because he can stand up to the Orc heroes a lot better.

[darkclown789]

Flexibility is really their strength. You can do the beast-arrow grut thing, or just plain orc warriors, or a mix of the two. Many leaders lead to many options.

~Darkclown

[miniandmee7]

my buddies and i play themed armies some times and i
normally use an orc army

Grimnak
Ornak
Krug
Tornak
2x Swog
2x Arrow
2x Blade
Heavy
:twisted:

[Tai-Pan]

I really enjoy playing the Orc army because it requires sound tactics to win, at least in most games I've played. None of the units, with the exception of Krug, are incredibly durable, so it's important to know when and where to engage the enemy. I like the way that certain squads work better with certain heroes. Tornak and the Blade Gruts form a highly mobile group that can easily strike a target and then withdraw to a better position. Grimnak and the Heavies form a slower but harder hitting group that can take out some of the tougher units. Arrow Gruts can bond with Krug, Mimring, or the Swog Rider. When they bond with Krug or Mimring, the opponent will generally ignore the Arrow Gruts, allowing them to get off enough shots to get lucky a couple times.

[J-Unit94]

Yeah, Orcs are the best species ever. They can destroy anything. :twisted:

[Tomcrush626]

I would love to have an orc army, problem is I cant get my hands on anything form waves 1-4!

[wk4c]

Could a Heavy Gruts x3/Arrow Gruts x2/Swog Riders x2/Grimnak army work?

Also, what about Stingers x3/Heavy Gruts x3/Grimnak/Isamu army?

[Nadom]

Also, what about Stingers x3/Heavy Gruts x3/Grimnak/Isamu army?
Don't know why, but I really like that army. Very nice!

[wk4c]

Also, what about Stingers x3/Heavy Gruts x3/Grimnak/Isamu army?
Don't know why, but I really like that army. Very nice!

Of course it relies on Grimnak not being slaughtered in the first 1-3 rounds, but thanks for the compliment!

[Nadom]

Also, what about Stingers x3/Heavy Gruts x3/Grimnak/Isamu army?
Don't know why, but I really like that army. Very nice!

Of course it relies on Grimnak not being slaughtered in the first 1-3 rounds, but thanks for the compliment!
You might be able to pick up that needed longevity by replacing one squad of Heavies and Isamu with Raelin (RotV). It would lose the cool pure Utgar vibe, but it would both draw fire away from Grimnak and provide that Raelin defense buff we all know and love.

[playa1]

Also, what about Stingers x3/Heavy Gruts x3/Grimnak/Isamu army?
Don't know why, but I really like that army. Very nice!

Of course it relies on Grimnak not being slaughtered in the first 1-3 rounds, but thanks for the compliment!
You might be able to pick up that needed longevity by replacing one squad of Heavies and Isamu with Raelin (RotV). It would lose the cool pure Utgar vibe, but it would both draw fire away from Grimnak and provide that Raelin defense buff we all know and love.

My son has had a lot of luck with a
Grimnak, 2 Heavy Gruts, Krug, 3 arrow grut (500 pt) army. Krug keeps the Utgar theme going and makes it so that Grimnak's demise isn't completely devastating. Chompy tends to go down quickly, but the Heavies don't completely need him to do some damage. After a Grimnak/Heavy Charge, having a full-health Krug take the field is pretty intimidating!

[holylink718]

Ah but they're no match for an army of sporcs...

Neither spoon nor fork...