Warhammer 40K Meta Hotness: Deathskull Orks!

6 Minute Read

Apr 26 2023

Deathskull Orks are the little talked-about Subfaction brother of the Ork family that pack a punch. Here’s why they’re this week’s 40K Meta Hotness.

Deathskulls were always one of those second best Ork groupings within the army. They provided a lot of interesting rules, could usually be shown as a small patrol to give ya some Objective secured options, or where utilized as a pain bringer utilizing their rerolls and Grot shooting back in the day. Of course, with 9th they got an update and while not as good as before they are still plenty strong with their trifecta of awesome rules.

Rule 1 – Slightly Nerfed Rerolls!

Hey Deathskulls are one of the few Ork Kultures that kept a reroll of some kind. They are able to reroll one hit, or one would roll per unit. This isn’t bad at all as any massed reroll that benefits an MSU-style build – this is a good one. Also – since the army gets two other rules, it is a nice add-on.

A 5+ Feel no Pain to Mortal Wounds

Orks are not known for their armor saves and Mortal Wounds can be an issue for them too. Having a save versus Mortal Wounds helps the army just get more saves when Orks normally don’t have them. Plus again – it’s just one of the three rules they get to utilize being a Deathskull. Who would have thought some Blue Body paint would grant such a nice little ability.

Deathskulls Care About Objectives Too!

We all now how powerful having an army-wide Objective Secured ability on all your Ork units can be. This lets all your good Elite stuff just get better for you – from holding objectives, doing actions, or just stealing things from your opponent. Having all your Elite units get this is a huge benefit. While it’s not nearly as brutal as exploding 6’s, it can help win you the game when punching things for Mork isn’t always the best answer.

Making MSU Orks Great!

Orks are an army with a plethora of powerful Elite choices, FA choices, and just other choices. Deathskulls grants extra abilities on all of those and lets you not have to invest a ton in Beast Boyz or Ork Boys to help hold things down. This lets you overload on Grots and then have a ton of Elites who do a much better job of Krumpin things while your Grots hold the backfield.

DeathSkulls Example List

Good buddy Matt Root took this army to a 1st place finish at Forgefire Open in IL with a perfect 500 point score. Moving away from the pure Goff pressure and instead going into the the Objective Secured Ork pressure of Death Skulls creates a whole different monster on the Metagame scene.

+++ Orks – AOO Elite Deathskulls (Warhammer 40,000 9th Edition) [130 PL, 1CP, 1,999pts] +++++ Arks of Omen Detachment (Orks) [130 PL, 1,999pts, 1CP] ++

+ Configuration [6CP] +

Arks of Omen Compulsory Type: Elites

Battle Size [6CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points) [6CP]

Clan Kultur: Deathskulls

Game Type: 5. Chapter Approved: Arks of Omen

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+ Stratagems [-1CP] +

Stratagem: Heroic Support [-1CP]: Speedboss

+ HQ [18 PL, 325pts, -4CP] +

Big Mek in Mega Armour [6 PL, 95pts, -2CP]: Da Ded Shiny Shoota, Kustom Shoota, Opportunist (Deathskullz), Stratagem: Big Boss [-1CP], Stratagem: Extra Gubbinz [-1CP], Tellyport Blasta [10pts]

Warboss in Mega Armour [6 PL, 115pts]: Warlord

Warboss on Warbike [6 PL, 115pts, -2CP]: 4. Brutal but Kunnin, Da Killa Klaw, Power Klaw, Stratagem: Big Boss [-1CP], Stratagem: Extra Gubbinz [-1CP]

+ Troops [8 PL, 160pts] +

Gretchin [2 PL, 40pts]
. 10x Gretchin [40pts]: 10x Grot Blaster

+ Elites [62 PL, 844pts] +

Kommandos [4 PL, 60pts]
. Boss Nob [16pts]: Power Klaw [5pts]
. 4x Kommando [44pts]: 4x Choppa, 4x Slugga, 4x Stikkbombs

Meganobz [12 PL, 150pts]
. Boss Meganob [30pts]: Kustom Shoota, Power Klaw
. Meganob [30pts]: Kustom Shoota, Power Klaw
. Meganob [30pts]: Kustom Shoota, Power Klaw
. Meganob [30pts]: Kustom Shoota, Power Klaw
. Meganob [30pts]: Kustom Shoota, Power Klaw

Nob with Waaagh! Banner [4 PL, 70pts]

Nobz [12 PL, 154pts]: Ammo Runt, Trukk Boyz
. Boss Nob [22pts]: Choppa, Killsaw [5pts]
. Nob [22pts]: Choppa, Killsaw [5pts]
. Nob [22pts]: Choppa, Killsaw [5pts]
. Nob [22pts]: Choppa, Killsaw [5pts]
. Nob [22pts]: Choppa, Killsaw [5pts]
. Nob [22pts]: Choppa, Killsaw [5pts]
. Nob [22pts]: Choppa, Killsaw [5pts]

Nobz [6 PL, 110pts]: Ammo Runt
. Boss Nob [22pts]: Choppa, Killsaw [5pts]
. Nob [22pts]: Choppa, Killsaw [5pts]
. Nob [22pts]: Choppa, Killsaw [5pts]
. Nob [22pts]: Choppa, Killsaw [5pts]
. Nob [22pts]: Choppa, Killsaw [5pts]

+ Fast Attack [12 PL, 230pts] +

Stormboyz [6 PL, 110pts]
. Boss Nob [20pts]: Power Klaw [10pts]
. 9x Stormboy [90pts]: 9x Choppa, 9x Slugga, 9x Stikkbombs

Stormboyz [3 PL, 60pts]
. Boss Nob [20pts]: Power Klaw [10pts]
. 4x Stormboy [40pts]: 4x Choppa, 4x Slugga, 4x Stikkbombs

+ Heavy Support [22 PL, 300pts] +

Battlewagon [8 PL, 120pts]: Deff Rolla [15pts]

Killa Kans [7 PL, 90pts]
. Killa Kan [30pts]: Big Shoota, Kan Klaw
. Killa Kan [30pts]: Big Shoota, Kan Klaw
. Killa Kan [30pts]: Big Shoota, Kan Klaw

+ Dedicated Transport [8 PL, 140pts] +

Trukk [4 PL, 70pts]

Give Me All the Good Bitz!

It’s always nice to see a non-Goff Ork army do well, and the Death Skulls are another interesting little wrinkle in the current Meta that is Dataslate updated 9th. Their old nemesis of Deathwing Dark Angels is now a lot different, which means the same hard-hitting Elite units can actually have play versus them which means this list might be a nice pick for an upcoming event for the next few months.

Blue paint for the win!

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Author: Thomas / Goatboy

Thomas Reidy, aka Goatboy, the ever-evil member of BoLS. I do arts, play 40k, and even paint a lot of stuff. I have been playing Warhammer 40K since the 1990s, and have won multiple national events including Adepticon and GW GTs. I've been writing for BoLS for 15 years. Look at my Instagram to see what I am working on - or working on for someone. I am always doing something hobby related.

Game Rules Orks Tactics Wargames Warhammer 40k Warhammer 40K 9th Edition