The shoota is the standard Ork projectile weapon in Warhammer 40k, and it’s about as Ork as a gun gets. No two are alike, they’re built by Mekboyz, and an Ork judges one mostly by how loud it is.
What a shoota actually is
There’s no standard shoota pattern. Most are hand-built by Mekboyz and then tinkered with by whoever owns them, so they follow a rough shape rather than a blueprint. A shoota throws either big solid bullets or explosive shells, and sometimes a mix of both.
They’re crude, but they work. An Ork considers a shoota good when it spits a burst of shots and makes a proper racket. Noise matters because plenty of Orks genuinely believe a louder gun hits harder and shoots further.
Why Orks love them
Shootas are common, cheap-ish, and easy to get hold of, which is why Orks who like shooting tend to grab one and band together as Shoota Boyz. Mekboyz compete to outdo each other, so shootas vary wildly in looks while staying roughly comparable in performance, unless a particularly clever Mek has done a kustom job.
Because they’re so widespread, shootas often get bolted onto other weapons to make Kombi-Weapons.
- Iron Sight shootas use red tracer rounds, and their odd accuracy has caught the Ordo Xenos’ attention.
- Twin-linked shootas add a second barrel for more firepower, cost more teef, and usually end up with Nobs, Warbosses, or inside Mega Armour.
- Dakka shootas are triple-barrelled versions carried by Kommandos.
- Kannons are slower, kick harder, and are less popular, though they’re loud and intimidating.
- Blunderbusses (Spechul Shootas) are short-muzzled kannon offshoots that spray ricocheting pellets, easy to hit with but useless at range.
Shootas beyond the tabletop
The shoota also gave its name to Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef, a run-and-gun platformer from Belgian studio Rogueside. You play an Ork leading an invasion of the planet Luteus, picking from four classes and spending teef on new weapons or cosmetic bits.
It came out on 20 October 2022 for PC and Switch, then Xbox and PlayStation shortly after. Ammo is infinite but magazines need reloading, and kills charge a WAAAGH meter that boosts your fire rate.
Key facts
- The shoota is the most common Ork projectile weapon in Warhammer 40k.
- No two shootas are identical; they’re built by Mekboyz and customised by owners.
- Orks rate a shoota by noise and burst fire, believing louder means more damage and range.
- Variants include iron sight, twin-linked, dakka, kannon, and blunderbuss types.
- Shootas are often combined with other weapons to make Kombi-Weapons.
- Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef (2022) is a run-and-gun game named after them.
FAQ
Is there a standard shoota design?
No. Shootas are hand-crafted by Mekboyz and customised by their owners, so they share a general look but no two are identical. Performance stays roughly similar unless a Mek has done a kustom job.
What do shootas fire?
Either massive bullets or explosive shells, and sometimes a mix of both. Orks care more about a noisy burst of shots than about precision.
What’s the difference between a shoota and a kannon?
A kannon is a simpler, slower-firing Ork gun with a single thick barrel and heavy recoil. It’s louder and more intimidating, but less popular than the shoota.