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Publication date
March 2011


Notable changes and highlights​

  • The Orcs & Goblins 8th Edition release was one of the first army books designed specifically for the new ruleset, and it set the tone for how Games Workshop would modernise classic Warhammer factions.
  • The lore was expanded and polished but stayed true to the army’s chaotic, comedic brutality. It focused on the fractious tribes of the Badlands, the ceaseless infighting between Orcs and Goblins, and their shared love of destruction.
  • Emphasis was placed on Gork and Mork, the brutal twin gods of the Greenskins — one “cunningly brutal,” the other “brutally cunning” — whose rivalry shaped the army’s personality.
  • The narrative tone struck a balance between dark savagery and slapstick humour, showcasing the Greenskins as both terrifying and absurd.
  • The book also detailed the “Great Waaagh!” phenomenon — a near-religious wave of psychic fury that drives Orc hordes to conquest — and the fragile alliances between Orcs, Goblins, and their monstrous kin.

Rules and army design​

  • The Orcs & Goblins army retained its anarchic charm, built around huge numbers, unpredictable behaviour, and varied unit types.
  • The Animosity rule remained a core feature, but was reworked to fit the 8th Edition flow — now less punishing and more likely to produce funny or chaotic outcomes than outright disaster.
  • The magic system introduced two distinct lores:
    • Lore of the Big Waaagh! – for Orc Shamans, focusing on raw destructive power and melee enhancement.
    • Lore of the Little Waaagh! – for Goblin Shamans, focusing on trickery, debuffs, and mischief.
  • A new army-wide mechanic, Waaagh! Power, made spells stronger when the army was engaged in large-scale combat — rewarding aggressive play.
  • Several units were redesigned or introduced:
    • Arachnarok Spider – a massive new centrepiece model and a defining release of this edition; counted as both a monster and a mount for Goblin characters.
    • Savage Orc Big ’Uns – became a highly competitive core choice due to their offensive power and frenzy synergy.
    • Mangler Squigs – explosive living weapons that could tear through units, adding signature Greenskin randomness.
    • Squig Herds and Squig Hoppers were refined for better mobility and damage output.
    • River and Stone Trolls gained variant abilities, introducing regeneration and elemental traits.
  • Leadership remained the army’s weak point — poor morale often led to spectacular chain routs, keeping the faction thematically volatile.
  • War machines such as Doom Divers, Rock Lobbas, and Goblin Spear Chukkas added strong but unreliable ranged support.

Community reception​

  • The Orcs & Goblins 8th Edition book was warmly received as a fun, characterful, and balanced update.
  • Players praised the book for preserving the Greenskins’ humour and unpredictability while improving their internal balance.
  • The new Arachnarok Spider was especially celebrated — both for its model and its battlefield presence, quickly becoming a fan favourite.
  • Competitive players found the army mid-tier but enjoyable — capable of great victories through sheer numbers and aggression, but vulnerable to panic, miscasts, and bad dice.
  • Many appreciated the flavourful split between Orc and Goblin magic, which captured their cultural divide perfectly.
  • Overall, it was remembered as one of the most “Warhammer-feeling” armies of the edition — chaotic, hilarious, and dangerous in equal measure — setting a strong creative tone for 8th Edition’s other books.