Śśś-Waaagh! 500 Points of Very Un-Orcy Orcs & Goblins
We love those tiny list-building moments when someone drops a roster into chat and the immediate reaction is basically: wait, what is this supposed to do? That was exactly the vibe with Stas’s new Warhammer: The Old World list for Orc & Goblin Tribes at 500 points.
And honestly? That is usually a very good sign.
The list
Stas called it:
Śśś-waaagh!
Warhammer: The Old World, Orc & Goblin Tribes, Battle March — 500 pts
Orc Bigboss, Great weapon, Heavy armour, Shield, General, On foot, Trollhide Trousers - 104
19 Orc Mob, Light armour, Shields, Full Command - 131
20 Goblin Mob, Shields, 2x Nasty Skulkers, Musician - 85
20 Goblin Mob, Shields, 2x Nasty Skulkers, Musician - 85
Orc Boar Chariot, Cavalry spears, 4+, Third Orc crew member - 95
The first thing that got called out in chat was the obvious one: no Black Orcs. Michał immediately noticed that this was going to be a first for him to see in action, which already gives the list its own personality.
“I have no idea what this list does” is high praise
Our favourite reaction was probably this one from Michał:
“I have absolutely no idea what this list does.”
Perfect. Wonderful. Exactly the kind of energy we want from a 500-point army.
Because this really does feel a bit sideways compared to the more straightforward “big angry orcs walk forward and solve the problem” approach. It still has a solid orc core, but the list leans into a more awkward, tricksy, layered style:
- an Orc Bigboss on foot to keep the centre together,
- a proper block of Orc Mob as the anchor,
- two Goblin Mob units with Nasty Skulkers hidden inside,
- and an Orc Boar Chariot to add impact where needed.
That doesn’t read like a classic blunt instrument. It reads like a list that wants to create weird situations.
The really interesting bit: the Skulkers
The part that made us perk up most was definitely the Nasty Skulkers. Two goblin units, each packing 2 hidden surprises, gives the army a very different feel from a more obvious combat brick.
At 500 points, that kind of threat can really mess with how an opponent evaluates charges and trades. The goblins stop being “just goblins” and start becoming something you actually have to respect, or at least account for.
And that is probably why the list feels, as Michał put it, “not very orcy.”
Which, to be clear, we mean as a compliment.
It is still green, still scrappy, still full of potential chaos — just not in the most expected way.
Why we like it
There is something very charming about a small list that doesn’t immediately explain itself. At this points level, lots of armies are extremely direct. This one feels like it has a bit of bluff to it.
The Orc Mob and Bigboss look like the obvious centre. The chariot threatens a punchy support charge. Meanwhile, the goblin units are not just filler — they are part of the actual plan.
That alone makes us want to see it on the table.
Will it be brilliant? Will it be a complete mess? Will the whole thing somehow collapse into an argument between cowardly goblins and confused orcs?
Hopefully all of the above.
Final thoughts
This is exactly the kind of list we enjoy seeing in our group: not just “good stuff,” but something with a strong idea and a bit of personality.
No Black Orcs. Hidden Skulkers. A generally suspicious amount of goblin nonsense. Michał called it weird, un-orcy, and super.
We agree.
Śśś-waaagh! sounds like the right name for it.