With Greenskins, relentless aggression is rewarded. This guide explains the key mechanics that shape their campaigns: Waaagh surges, Scrap upgrades, rapid confederation, the Underway movement, province commandments, and faction-specific strengths. You will be able to choose the right lord for your playstyle, build armies around their special mechanics, and use expansion tools efficiently.
Quick answer
| What | Answer |
|---|---|
| Waaagh unlock | 100 reputation |
| Scrap income | post-battle loot and raising settlements |
| Confederation method | win against a Greenskin faction leader |
| Underway risk | interception can wipe the army out |
| Grimgor bonus | more Black Orc availability and more battle income |
| Skarsnik key restriction | no Orc units until Karak Eight Peaks is taken |
| Grom mechanic | Grom's Cauldron |
| Gorbad mechanic | Plans |
Get your first Waaagh running
Launching your first Waaagh is the moment Greenskins transform from border raiders to campaign juggernauts. Reputation must reach 100 to unlock the Waaagh, mainly gained by fighting battles and raising settlements. Once triggered, you select a target: higher-value settlements and stronger factions lead to greater rewards upon completion. Before launching, decide whether to dedicate the Waaagh to Gork (melee buffs) or Mork (ranged buffs).
Existing armies at the time of the Waaagh gain extra Waaagh unit capacity based on their current size. Filling armies before launching maximizes the number of Waaagh units added. New armies raised after the Waaagh starts do not benefit from this bonus.
Your goal after launching is to claim, raise, or occupy the target's capital before the Waaagh ends. Waaagh units join every battle while the surge lasts. Success yields a trophy, a choice of Waaagh units or gold and Scrap, and a boost toward the next Waaagh.
Spend Scrap on the upgrades that matter
Scrap is the Greenskins' secondary resource. It is earned mostly after winning battles and by raising settlements, so aggressive expansion directly fuels your upgrade economy. Scrap is spent on unit upgrades, accessed via the button below the army panel after selecting a unit. Early upgrades are often accessible, but advanced upgrades may require certain research projects, increasing their Scrap cost.
While raising settlements grants more Scrap per turn, it limits your territory and income; choosing when to hold and when to raze is a tactical decision. Upgrade key units with Scrap first: Trolls can gain improved leadership, Rock Lobbers explosive projectiles, and many units have access to upgrades that significantly boost their combat performance. Focus on unlocking those that change a unit's role or address a weakness.
Confederate nearby Greenskin factions
Confederation is a powerful and often overlooked expansion mechanic. By winning a battle against another Greenskin faction leader, you unlock the option to absorb their entire empire instantly. This is often available early due to the close proximity of Greenskin start positions.
Confederation is most valuable when used against neighboring Greenskin lords before they grow too strong and difficult to defeat. This method can quickly give you a large territorial base, reducing the need for slow traditional conquest and enabling rapid snowballing.
Use the Underway safely
The Underway stance allows Greenskins to move their armies underground, making difficult terrain such as mountains much easier to traverse. The risk is interception: if you use the Underway near enemy armies, they can intercept you, forcing a battle. Losing this battle results in your army being completely wiped out.
Always scout for nearby enemy forces and use the Underway safely in regions with low interception risk. It is best for crossing mountains, escaping pursuers, or repositioning for surprise attacks.
Choose the right commandment for the province
Province commandments give powerful passive effects once you secure a region. Choosing the right one fits your campaign need:
| Commandment | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Camp Rrookus | Supports control, corruption reduction, and growth. |
| Brag About the Boss | Enhances recruitment speed and capacity. |
| Give it Ear | Provides extra settlement income and reduces building costs. |
Play the Greenskin economy as a war economy
Greenskin campaigns are built around battle, not trade or passive income. Constant fighting drives their major mechanics and gold income; they cannot trade and settlements do not generate strong income early. Speed is rewarded: trigger Waaaghs quickly and aim them at powerful factions. Investing Scrap and gold in strong units is more effective than relying on cheap goblin spearmen.
Raising settlements instead of occupying them can farm Scrap for upgrades, so balance permanent expansion with Scrap farming. Hunt neighboring Greenskin leaders for confederation and use Waaagh rewards to fund new units and conquests.
Pick the lord that fits your campaign
Every Greenskin legendary lord starts with a unique mechanic, bonus, and start position. Use this table to match your campaign preferences with each lord's strengths.
| Lord | Unique Mechanics & Bonuses |
|---|---|
| Grimgor | More Black Orcs and heroes available, +30% post-battle loot income, -15% Black Orc upkeep. Best late-game snowball; difficult starting position but excellent loot and strong units. |
| Azag | Immune to vampiric attrition, cheaper Lore of Death casting, early access to Necromancers, terror for all units on unique Waaagh. Strong sacking, late-game magic power. |
| Skarsnik | Cannot recruit Orc units until Karak Eight Peaks captured, goblins/squigs upkeep reduced, hero experience/ambush tools. Unique stalking stance for all armies after Eight Peaks. |
| Wurrzag | Higher magic capacity, cheaper Savage Orcs, improved movement range, physical resistance on Waaagh. Best when spamming Savage Orcs and casters. |
| Grom | Grom's Cauldron ingredient hunting and recipes, cheap goblins/chariots/pump wagons, faction-wide buffs from meals. Poor starting climate; relies on meals and cheap armies. |
| Gorbad | Plans (currency and mechanic), unlocks tied to buildings/unit kills, temporary army buffs, rapid global recruitment. Rewards unusual unit combos and fast expansion. |
Build around each lord's main strength
Each legendary lord drives a unique army composition and campaign focus:
- Grimgor scales best by recruiting Black Orcs as soon as they become available, benefiting from their reduced cost and higher capacity. Invest loot and rewards in elite units for late-game dominance.
- Azag focuses on sacking settlements and pairing multiple Necromancer and magic casters. Use his army's terror effect, magic immunity, and fast casting for devastating hits.
- Skarsnik begins with goblin and squig armies only, with reduced upkeep and improved ambush skills. Once Karak Eight Peaks is captured, all Crooked Moon armies can use the stalking stance for surprise attacks. Keep goblins and squigs relevant even after Orcs unlock, as Skarsnik's bonuses persist.
- Wurrzag should prioritize Savage Orcs and magic casters, using hit-and-run tactics and charging to maximize physical resistance and movement bonuses.
- Grom uses cheap goblins, chariots, and pump wagons, focusing on collecting ingredients and cooking meals in the Cauldron for unique faction and unit buffs. Use meal buffs to adapt to campaign threats.
- Gorbad rewards experimenting with new unit combinations, rapidly expanding through global recruitment and ticking off Plan requirements for army buffs. Invest the reward income from raised settlements into diverse armies for flexible campaign tools.
Also worth knowing
- Stalking stance unlocks for all Crooked Moon armies after Karak Eight Peaks is taken. This bonus lets every army ambush, not just Skarsnik's own. Ambush-focused skills become much more useful at that stage.
- Nasty Skulkers are armor-piercing and strong against Dwarfs. If fighting Dwarfs as Skarsnik or another Greenskin lord, use these goblins to outperform regular options.
- Grom's goblins have been weakened by DLC tech removals. Many of the technologies that used to support goblin strength were removed, so Grom's goblin armies are not as strong as they once were.
Frequently asked
How do Greenskins get a Waaagh?
A Waaagh starts when reputation reaches 100. Reputation comes mainly from battling and raising settlements, and staying out of the red gives faction-wide bonuses without major downsides. The Waaagh also needs a target, and the target chosen affects the rewards at the end.
How do you get Scrap for Greenskin upgrades?
Scrap comes mainly from post-battle loot and raising settlements. It is spent on unit upgrades from the button below the army panel after selecting a unit. Some upgrades also require research before they can be bought.
Can Greenskins confederate other Greenskin factions?
Yes. Winning a battle against another Greenskin faction leader gives the option to confederate that faction. It is a fast way to absorb nearby territory and can produce a large early-game land gain.
What is the Underway good for?
The Underway lets Greenskins move underground and handle mountains and other difficult terrain much more easily. The tradeoff is interception risk near enemy armies, which can force a battle. Losing that battle destroys the army.
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