Black Orc Bosses
If you want a Black Orc Mob, you also want a Black Orc Boss - and thanks to the Da Boyz USR, this isn’t even optional. But it could be worse, because Black Orc Bosses are amongst the best fighters in the game.
You have access to both tiers, the hero-level Black Orc Bigboss and the mighty lord-level Black Orc Warboss. If you’re mainly interested in the Black Orc Mob, taking a Black Orc Bigboss is totally fine. He’s quite a capable fighter and will boost the effectiveness of your Black Orc Mob significantly.
If you have the points to spare (and you should think hard about making them available), go for a Warboss. At WS7 S5 T5 I6 and A4 plus Furious Charge, Full Plate Armour and access to 100pts worth of magic items he is your best fighter. And it doesn’t stop there: You have access to three mounts
- War Boar: On its own it’s not even a bad mount! That +1 to Armour Save is huge, and on the charge the Boar has S4 AP-1. Sadly there is not much synergy with your army, as the Black Orc on Boar cannot join the Bull Centaur Renders. Probably better to skip, unless you have a plan.
- Boar Chariot: Now it gets interesting! A Heavy Chariot is always welcome and it comes with two Orcs and two Boars. Definitely an option for an aggressive army build. The chariot might be an especially good fit for a Bigboss.
- The Arcane Journal: Orc & Goblin Tribes amended the Black Orc Boss unit entry with the option of a Black Orc Boar Chariot, which is therefore also available to us. For an additional 40pts you get a Black Orc crew (+1WS, +1S, Furious Charge and the option for additional hand weapons or great weapons), better armour save (inconsequential since the Black Orc Boss usually has a better one) and an optional standard for a cheeky +1 combat resolution. It’s better but also a significant points increase and you lose Warband, it is not the default choice.
- Wyvern (Warboss only): Our answer to the Monster-Character-META. The Wyvern itself can just about compete with a Great Taurus, but you take this mount for the +1T and +4W for the Black Orc.
Or have your Black Orc Boss on foot, put him with his Boyz where he belongs and maximise his Waaagh USR on the most important charge of the battle. He’ll feel right at home where the fighting is the thickest.
Be aware that a Black Orc Bosses cannot have any magic items from the Chaos Dwarf Grand Army list but instead uses the ones from the Orc & Goblin Tribes. Pour one out for a Black Orc Warboss on Wyvern with Mantle of Stone, but no need to be depressed, as there are some really interesting items available now. Worth taking a closer look at:
- Battleaxe of the Last Big Waaagh!
- Da Choppiest Choppa (Affordable and good)
- Bigger, Choppier Axe
- Mortog’s Best Basha (Damn that’s good)
- Da Akrit Axe
- Trollhide Trousers (Especially this one!)
- Dead 'Ard Armour (And/or this!)
- Effigy of Mork (almost an auto-include!)
- Glowy Green Amulet (Give it to me!)
- Grisly Trophy Rack (Also this!)
- ‘Eadbuttin’ 'At