The Burna is the Orks’ basic flame weapon, a heavy-duty cutting torch and flamethrower rolled into one. It matters because it’s the tool that builds Ork war machines and the weapon that torches whatever gets in the way, often in the same afternoon.
What a burna actually is
Think of it as an Ork take on the Imperial Flamer, but cruder and more versatile. Most burnas are little more than a fuel can hooked up to a pump, which doesn’t sound like much until you see one in action.
The trick is a spigot that changes the fuel pressure. Twist it one way and you get a tight cutting flame; twist it the other and you get a wide gout of fire. Same weapon, two very different jobs.
How Orks use it
In cutting mode, a burna slices through personal armour, bulkheads, and even a starship’s hull. Mekboys lean on that constantly when they’re building or tearing apart war machines.
In flame mode, it works like any flamer: point, squeeze, watch things burn. Orks who get obsessed with fire tend to gather into mobs of Burna Boyz, and they’re not fussy about which setting they use once a fight gets close.
- Cutting torch for armour, hulls, and construction work
- Flamethrower for incinerating infantry
- Doubles as an improvised club when the fuel runs dry
Fuel and build quality
Burnas run on a toxic liquid, usually a mix of pressurised squig oil and promethium. Every Mekboy brews his own version, and each one swears his recipe is the best.
Like most Ork tech, a burna is built to take a beating. It has to be, because Orks keep swinging them at things long after the fuel’s gone.
Where it fits in Ork tech
The burna sits in the same family as the Skorcha and the bigger Supa Skorcha, all flame weapons in the Ork arsenal. It’s the smallest and most common of the bunch.
There’s also a Splash Burna variant, though the basic burna is what you’ll see most often on the tabletop and in the lore.
Key facts
- The burna is the Orks’ basic flame weapon, comparable to an Imperial Flamer
- A spigot adjusts fuel pressure to switch between cutting torch and flamethrower modes
- Fuel is a toxic mix of pressurised squig oil and promethium, brewed by Mekboys
- Orks who favour burnas form mobs called Burna Boyz
- Built to survive heavy punishment and often used as a club in close combat
FAQ
What is a burna in Warhammer 40k?
It’s the basic Ork flame weapon, a combination cutting torch and flamethrower that runs on a toxic squig-oil and promethium mix.
What’s the difference between a burna and a flamer?
Functionally they’re similar, but a burna can switch between a cutting torch and a flamethrower by adjusting fuel pressure. Imperial flamers don’t do that.
Who uses burnas?
Orks who are obsessed with fire, often organised into Burna Boyz mobs. Mekboys also use them as construction tools.