Orks are loud, brutal and surprisingly colourful. If you have ever wondered why some Orks paint everything red while others are covered in blue, this guide answers one question: what are the Ork clans, and what do their colours mean?
Clans are not tribes
First, an important distinction. Orks fight in tribes and warbands that constantly break apart and reform around whoever is the biggest, toughest boss. Clans are different: they are lasting cultural groups, a bit like a philosophy or a way of life. A single warband usually contains Orks from several clans, and an Ork's loyalty is to his warboss rather than to his clan, although rivalry between clans is fierce.
There are many minor clans, but six great clans dominate Ork culture. Each has its own character, colours, markings and way of making war.
The six great clans at a glance
| Clan | What they're about | Colours and symbols | Painting idea (base / shade / highlight) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goffs | The toughest, most aggressive clan, and close-combat specialists. They think wearing flashy colours is for weaklings and find camouflage cowardly. | Mostly black, sometimes with black-and-white checks and dags; a bull's head emblem and horned helmets | Black clothing / black wash for depth / grey edge highlight, with crisp white checks |
| Evil Sunz | Speed freaks who love loud, fast vehicles. They believe red ones go faster. | Red everywhere, often with flames; a grimacing red sun emblem | Bright red / dark red-brown wash / orange-red edges, with yellow or orange flames |
| Bad Moons | The richest clan, because their teeth grow faster and Orks use teeth as money. They show off with the flashiest gear. | Yellow and black, with plenty of shiny metal (see note below) | Warm yellow over a white undercoat / orange-brown wash / pale yellow edges |
| Deathskulls | Superstitious looters and scavengers. Blue is lucky, and painting loot blue also hides who it used to belong to. | Blue warpaint on skin, gear and vehicles, often with white | Mid blue / dark blue wash / light blue edges; streaks of blue warpaint across the face |
| Snakebites | Stubborn traditionalists who distrust newfangled technology and keep the old ways. | Natural, earthy tones: hides, leather and bone (see note below) | Brown leather / dark brown wash / tan edges, with bone details |
| Blood Axes | Distrusted by other Orks for 'un-orky' habits like camouflage and actual battle plans. | Camouflage patterns and military-style gear, often olive, khaki or grey | Khaki or olive base / brown wash / lighter khaki highlights, with darker camo blotches |
Note on sources: the Goffs' black, the Evil Sunz' red, the Deathskulls' lucky blue and the Blood Axes' camouflage come from official background (Lexicanum and published codex text). The specific camouflage shades are our suggestion. The Bad Moons yellow and the Snakebites' earthy palette are long-established in Games Workshop's art and model painting, but we couldn't find them written out on the reference pages we checked. Treat them as the classic look rather than strict rules.
Why do the colours matter?
In Ork culture, belief shapes reality. Orks are convinced that red vehicles go faster, and in the background that belief seems to work. This makes clan colours more than decoration: they are a statement of what an Ork values. That is also great news for painters, because a clan scheme instantly tells a story about your army.
The basics of Ork culture
- Gork and Mork: the two Ork gods. Gork is brutal but cunning; Mork is cunning but brutal.
- Teeth as money: Orks regrow their teeth regularly, so teeth work as currency. Because they eventually crumble, nobody can hoard them for long.
- The Waaagh!: when a powerful enough warboss emerges, Orks flock to him in a vast crusade called a Waaagh!, which grows bigger with every battle.
Mixing clans in one army
Because real Ork warbands mix clans, you don't have to choose just one. A popular approach is to pick a main clan for most of the army and add a few mobs from other clans for variety. A red-painted buggy squadron in a Goff army, for example, instantly reads as Evil Sunz riders who joined for the fun of it.
Painting tips that work for every clan
- Skin first, clan colours second. Green skin covers most of an Ork, so get that right and the clan colour becomes an accent. Our guide on painting Ork skin and armour covers the basics.
- Rust and grime are your friends. Ork gear is scavenged and battered, so chips and rust make clan colours look more convincing.
- Hand-painted glyphs. Simple clan symbols on banners and armour plates add lots of character. Our freehand banners guide shows how to keep them clean.
Common beginner questions
Do Orks have to stay in one clan?
Lexicanum notes that lineage isn't required for clan membership: clans are about culture and attitude, so in practice Orks mix freely within warbands.
Are Freebooterz or the Kult of Speed a clan?
No. They are non-clan cultures: Freebooterz are pirates and mercenaries, while the Kult of Speed draws in speed-obsessed Orks from many clans.
Can I invent my own Ork clan colours?
Yes. Minor clans exist alongside the big six, so a homemade clan fits perfectly.
Quick summary
- Clans are lasting cultural groups; tribes and warbands are the units Orks actually fight in.
- The six great clans are the Goffs, Evil Sunz, Bad Moons, Deathskulls, Snakebites and Blood Axes.
- Each clan's colours reflect what it values: black for toughness, red for speed, blue for luck.
Independent resource published by Blubbercove Ltd. This page is not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, authorised by or licensed by Games Workshop Limited.
Warhammer 40,000 and the names of all associated armies, characters, races, vehicles, units and places are trademarks of Games Workshop Limited, used here without permission and solely to identify the subject. This is an unofficial fan guide.