A mob of Ardboyz unleash their wrath.
Ardboyz are orruks that are among the most skilled, well-armed and armoured and surprisingly disciplined among their kind when it comes to war. They usually wear suits of full plate armour, which is the source of their name.
Ardboyz are among the strongest and physically largest of the orruks, and flock to the brawls of the warclans of the hulking Ironjawz, eager to prove themselves to a Megaboss with acts of bone-crunching violence. Strength calls to strength, and so drawn by the brutal might of the Ironjawz, their ranks contain countless Ardboy mobs.
Role[]
A mob of Ironjawz Ardboyz
To orruks, the Ironjawz warclans are like the fists of Gorkamorka, the god of destruction, pounding the face of the Mortal Realms. Ardboyz hear this thundering tempo of violence and abandon their original tribes to fight at the side of these mightiest of greenskins. Of all the other orruks, Ardboyz are the only ones that are tolerated in the Ironjaw warclans, for they are the hardest Boyz about -- next to the Ironjawz themselves.
Already great warriors themselves, the Ardboyz seek to make themselves harder still, plastering themselves in plate armour and toting massive choppas in imitation of the Ironjawz. Despite their prodigious strength, enough to break the spine of a man one-handed, they cannot beat iron into shape with their hands like the Ironjawz. Instead, they forge it from salvaged iron, displaying surprising skill for their species, and giving their mobs a distinctive appearance.
Ardboyz form their own mobs and fists within the Ironjaw warclans. Strangely for orruks, they believe in discipline and have banners and drums so they can fight in ranks or march about in lines. Blazoned across the Ardboyz's banners are images of horned and ironjawed orruks, perhaps representing how the Ardboyz see themselves, or to depict the Ironjawz they follow to war.
They also give their mobs or "fists" fearsome names like the Facesmashas or the Gutrippas, to make them seem even harder. Most Ironjawz think Ardboyz are a bit funny -- after all, what's marching to a drum got to do with smashing skulls -- but admit that they know their stuff when it comes to war.
Eager to impress the Ironjawz, Ardboyz fight all the harder when there is a Megaboss about. If there is a tough job to do, Ardboyz mobs are often the first to charge forward to do it, scaling fortress walls, hunting down enemy lords or braving deadly terrain. Rivalry between Ardboy mobs is also common, and fists of Ardboyz thunder into the fray, smashing and bashing everything in sight, each mob eager to prove they are the best.
Ardboy Bosses[]
Ardboyz mobs have their own bosses, and these bloody-minded orruks love to show just how "fighty" they are. Should a chance present itself, the boss will let out a deafening yell and lead their Boyz into the fray, telling the standard bearer to hold up their mob colors. These bosses embody not just the brashness of the Ardboys, but also their pride at getting to fight beside the awe-inspiring Ironjawz.
Many times the brutal enthusiasm and the natural discipline of the Ardboys has turned the tide of war. In the siege of the Gorehaunt Bastion, it was Boss Krug and his Kneecracker Boyz that felled its skull gates. His constant bellowing ensured his Boyz never faltered as they dragged their battering ram up the castle's causeway.
During the battle for the Headsman's Bridge in the Gallowsway, it was Boss Burug of the Bonehammas that held the narrow span over the Vargale Deeps. For days, Deathrattle Legions hacked at him and his Boyz, until at last the undead ranks thinned and he ordered his Ardboyz to stomp forward and vanquish their enemies.
Notable Ardboyz[]
- Krug - Ardboy Boss of the fist known as the Kneecracker Boyz.
- Burug - Ardboy Boss of the fist known as the Bonehammas.
Wargear[]
A unit of Ardboyz has at least 10 warriors. Each unit is armed with an array of weapons; some of the Boyz carry Orruk-forged choppas and smashas, while others wield Orruk-forged big choppas.
Some of the Boyz may instead carry a single Orruk-forged choppa or smasha and an Orruk-forged shield. They are led by a Boss and one or several drummers and standard bearers.
Sources[]
- Destruction Battletome: Ironjawz (2nd Edition), pp. 57, 117
- Games Workshop - Ardboys.
- Ardboyz's Warscroll.