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Orc Warboss

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"We iz strong an' tough. Da strong onez win, an' then eat the weak. Some of dem Gobboes is awright to keep for slaves or ter catch Humie cannonballs in the heads, but most is best fer the pot. One day we eats all of youse. One day soon."

—Galnash, Orc warboss[2a]
Orc Warboss

A hulking, brutish Orc warboss of magnificent size.

An Orc warboss, also known as a warlord when they command extremely large Waaagh!s, is the biggest, meanest, and strongest Orc warrior within a tribe, being both a supreme, iron-fisted tyrant and a hulking behemoth who is considered by himself to be the greatest Greenskin warrior around.

Quick Answers

What is the role of an Orc Warboss in a tribe? toggle section
The Orc Warboss, the tribe's leader, is known for his immense size and strength. This position is maintained by keeping the tribe in order and accepting challenges from other tribe members. If defeated in a duel, the victor becomes the new Warboss. Leading the Greenskin hordes from the front lines, the Warboss is driven by a desire to fight and is equipped with formidable weapons and armor, making them a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.
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What is the difference between an Orc Warboss and a Warlord? toggle section
In the Warhammer universe, an Orc Warboss is a leader known for his strength and brutality, leading his tribe into battle. He is often the biggest and brawniest of the Orcs. A Warlord, however, is a Warboss who has subdued and leads several tribes in a Waaagh!. Warlords are among the strongest and most brutal of the Greenskin races, towering over other behemoths.
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What is the significance of the term 'Waaagh!' in the context of an Orc Warboss? toggle section
'Waaagh!' is a rallying cry for Orc Warbosses, signifying 'War!'. It unites Greenskin tribes into a formidable force. Small 'Waaagh!'s denote united tribal attacks, while larger ones represent massive invasions, attracting Orcs and Goblins from afar. This term incites fervour among Greenskins, motivating them to travel vast distances for the thrill of violence and plunder.
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How does an Orc Warboss assert his dominance over the tribe? toggle section
An Orc Warboss maintains control over the tribe by demonstrating superior physical strength and size. Regularly asserting dominance over underlings, the Warboss discourages rebellion and stunts the growth of potential rivals. If an Orc or Goblin dares to challenge the Warboss, a duel ensues. Victory in this duel leads to the challenger becoming the new Warboss, subsequently growing in size and strength.
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What is the meaning of 'Orc Warboss on Wyvern' in Warhammer 40k? toggle section
An 'Orc Warboss on Wyvern' in Warhammer 40k signifies an Orc warboss, or warlord, riding a Wyvern. This represents a rare and formidable form of Orc aerial cavalry. The Orc warboss, the most powerful and fiercest Orc warrior, leads a Waaagh. When they command vast Waaaghs, they earn the title of warlord. The Wyvern, a formidable beast, serves as the warboss's mount, boosting their battle prowess.
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Role[]

"Pure muscle and rage, warbosses devastate enemies with their brutal melee attacks."

—Description of Orc warbosses in Total War: Warhammer[3a]
Total Warhammer Trailer Orc Warboss

An Orc warboss leading his Boar Boyz into battle.

Orcs are always led by the biggest and brawniest of their kind. These hulking individuals have pummelled their way to the top in a culture where only the strongest survive. Equipped with powerful weapons and armour, they are near unstoppable upon the battlefield.[1a][3a]

Orc leaders do not rise above the knock-down brawls so common amongst their race, they thrive on them -- at least until they are toppled by a still-mightier challenger. Having established dominance over all competitors, Orc leaders take control of a mob or, if they are strong enough, an entire tribe. Any who question the right of the leader to rule must be slain, driven off or spectacularly beaten into submission.[3a]

Since Orc culture is based on the idea that it is the right and indeed duty of the strong to oppressively rule the weak, larger, stronger Orcs such as the Warboss himself are accorded higher status within society. In more practical words: Orc warbosses literally live to fight. The sophistication of their tactics varies enormously according to who is in command of them and how effectively a given boss is able to communicate with his troops. Orcs become bosses through being bigger and tougher than other Orcs, not necessarily through being more intelligent, and many an Orc warlord or warboss simply sends his troops at the enemy with little thought for tactics, trusting to their innate strength and ferocity to win the day.[2a]

That being said, those Orc warbosses who are either naturally smarter than the rest, or who simply have the kind of low cunning that can observe another race's tactics and borrow from them, will often be the Orc warbosses whose tribes survive and prosper. So, it is certainly possible to see quite sophisticated Orc tactics at work, with warbosses using the various forces they have available as optimally as possible. Yet due to infighting, no plan ever survives contact with the enemy, and for an Orc warboss few plans survive contact with his own troops either. Yet it has been proven many times that it isn't the tactics that prove the decisive victory for a Greenskin army, but rather the brutality and intimidating sight of their leader on the field of battle.[2a]

Notable Orc Warbosses[]

Miniatures[]

Sources[]

  • 1: Warhammer Armies: Orc and Goblins (8th Edition)
    • 1a: pg. 34
  • 2: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Old World Beastiary (RPG)
    • 2a: pp. 22-23
  • 3: Total War: Warhammer (PC Game)
    • 3a: Ork Warboss unit description

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