Inside the new Codex: Orks: much more than rules
We now have more details on the new Codex: Orks, available to pre-order from this Saturday, and it shows that an army book can be much more than a reference manual.
Games Workshop has used this codex launch to show us what the book really contains beyond the famous datasheets, and there are plenty of reasons to pay attention whether you are a veteran player or thinking about starting with Orks.
Designed to go everywhere
The first thing that stands out is the format change. The new Codex: Orks arrives in softcover inside a slipcase, following the line we already saw in the 500 Worlds campaign books and other recent releases.
This combination of softcover and smaller dimensions makes the book much easier to carry to tournaments, game nights, or your local store, and the slipcase means you can transport it without worrying about damaging it.
For those who cannot live without a hardback version in their collection, there is the Collector’s Edition, which includes even more Ork content inside.
The bestiary returns in a big way
One of the most beloved sections of old codexes was always the bestiary: that detailed run-through of every unit you can collect and take to battle. Well, that section is back in force in this edition.
The lore section has gone from 40 pages in 2024 to nearly 100 in this new 2026 version. That is a huge leap, and it shows that Games Workshop wants to start caring about narrative again inside its own army books.
A guide for new warlords and content that keeps growing
The codex also introduces a brand-new section: a collector’s guide aimed at players who are just starting out, with a look at six key detachments and themed armies built around them. It is a perfect tool if you want inspiration for your next project and do not know where to start among the 15 available detachments.
On the back of the book you will also find something that has become standard: a code that unlocks Ork rules in the Warhammer 40,000 app, plus access to additional content throughout the edition’s lifetime. New rules, lore snippets, and unreleased detachments will keep arriving on a regular basis.
And speaking of the app, with the arrival of Codex: Orks, Legends unit rules will also be added to the app for the first time, so both your classic units and the newest releases will live in the same place.
Our take
We are very pleased to see Games Workshop investing in lore again inside the codexes themselves. For a while it felt as though these books had become almost exclusively rule manuals, with the narrative side pushed into other products, so getting nearly 100 pages of bestiary back feels like great news for those of us who enjoy reading about the universe as much as playing games.
The detachment guide for new players also feels like a smart move. Starting an army can be overwhelming when you do not know which path to take, and having a clear starting point with themed armies already laid out makes that first decision much easier.
