The Tankbustas are Ork warriors who live for one thing: wrecking enemy vehicles. They’re the greenskins you call when a Leman Russ or a Land Raider needs to stop existing, and they enjoy every second of it.
What the Tankbustas are
They’re a specialised Ork mob fixated on the pure thrill of a direct hit on an enemy tank. That feeling goes back to something primal in Ork nature, similar to what a Feral Ork gets from bringing down a rampaging Squiggoth.
Orks who chase that high tend to band together. The ones who get really good at long-range vehicle kills become famous, like big game hunters, and they attract a following of younger Orks who haven’t popped their first tank yet.
- Specialist anti-tank Ork infantry
- Driven by the thrill of a confirmed vehicle kill
- Successful veterans gain fame and hangers-on
- Sometimes form Wrecka Krews alongside Breaka Boyz, though the two groups have a violent rivalry
Gear and rituals
Their standard kit is the Rokkit Launcha and Tankbusta Bombs, which they slap onto enemy vehicles and then enjoy the bang. Veterans like to carry trophies: bits of wrecked tanks, pieces torn off the crew, that sort of thing.
It’s common to see Tankbustas wearing armour cut from a destroyed tank or sporting nuts and cogs as crude jewellery. Some branch out with Tankhammers for close-in vehicle wrecking, or keep trained Bomb Squigs as walking explosives.
After a first confirmed kill, a Tankbusta gets ‘tanked up’. That ritual involves eating the tank’s crew and drinking engine oil straight from the smoking wreck.
- Rokkit Launchas and Tankbusta Bombs
- Tankhammers for melee vehicle wrecking
- Bomb Squigs as living explosives
- Trophy armour and scrap jewellery
- Boss Nobz in a Tankbusta Krew can take a Rokkit Pistol and Smash Hammer
Sub-types
Recent Kill Team rules split them into a couple of roles. The Tankbusta Gunner carries an ‘Eavy Rokkit Launcha and operates inside Wrecka Krews. The Tankbusta Rokkiteer isn’t happy with a standard Rokkit Launcha and upgrades to Rokkit Racks and Pulsa Rokkits.
| Sub-type | Role | Notable gear |
|---|---|---|
| Tankbusta Gunner | Wrecka Krew member | ‘Eavy Rokkit Launcha |
| Tankbusta Rokkiteer | Wrecka Krew member | Rokkit Racks, Pulsa Rokkits |
Why they matter
Orks usually solve problems by charging at them. The Tankbustas are the exception: they’re the dedicated answer to enemy armour, and they turn a normally reckless army into one that can crack tanks at range.
They also show up in Kill Team through the Brutal and Cunning box, which is where the Gunner and Rokkiteer rules come from. If you’re building an Ork force that needs to deal with vehicles, these are the ladz you want.
- Give Ork armies a real ranged anti-tank threat
- Featured in Kill Team: Brutal and Cunning
- Connect to Rokkit Launchas and the wider Ork weapons lore
Key facts
- The Tankbustas are Ork anti-tank specialists obsessed with destroying vehicles
- Standard gear includes Rokkit Launchas and Tankbusta Bombs
- Veterans wear trophies from wrecked tanks and get ‘tanked up’ after a first kill
- Sub-types include the Tankbusta Gunner and Tankbusta Rokkiteer
- They appear in Kill Team: Brutal and Cunning alongside Breaka Boyz
FAQ
What makes the Tankbustas different from other Orks?
They’re specialists. Instead of just charging, they hunt enemy vehicles with rokkits and bombs, and they treat every tank kill like a trophy hunt.
What’s a Wrecka Krew?
It’s a mixed mob of Tankbustas and Breaka Boyz who team up despite a violent rivalry. Tankbusta Gunners and Rokkiteers are part of these crews.
Do the Tankbustas have rules in Kill Team?
Yes, they appear in Kill Team: Brutal and Cunning, with the Tankbusta Gunner and Tankbusta Rokkiteer as distinct operatives.