What is the best set to buy to army build orcs?

[Alfadas]

As the title says, I wan't to build an army of orcs. I don't care if it are Mordor/Gundabad/Moria. I don't have a lot of money (around 20 euros a month) and I don't need giant armies, but a few more then 4 Gundabad orcs, 0 Moria orcs and 5 Mordor orcs. I think I want at least 30 in total (I have around 20 green orcs from Fantasy Era).

So, with that little money, what is the best way to get orcs? (I don't want to bricklink them, I want them in sets.)

[InvincibleEagle]

Right now, I believe Dol Guldur Ambush is the cheapest set with Orcs. It's also great for Gundabad Orcs since it's the only set where they have hair and ears. But for a higher price (I don't know exactly how much higher it is in Europe), you can get the Mirkwood Elf Army. You don't get hair/ear pieces for your orcs, but you do get three (four including Thranduil) Elves plus a Warg for the extra money, doubling your army building power! If you don't care about Elves or the Warg at all, I must recommend multiple Dol Guldur Ambushes for Orcs alone due to the lower price and earpieces.

The more knowledgeable Lego fans on this site may still give you a different answer.

[Alfadas]

I don't really care for the elves, but the Wargs are cool! I like the hair/ear piece, but an orc army entirely of gundabad orcs is a bit boring. I have one of the DGA set, and will definitely buy at least one more. I just went to my local toy shop, the DGA set sells for 28! euros, the MEA for 39. As I also want Azog (and Bolg, but that isn't until the next wave, I guess), I need to buy DGB which has 2 Gundabaddies. For the Gundabads DGA is the best set, now for Mordor/Moria orcs. I know Moria orcs only come in MOM, which currently sales for 80 euros, I don't think that is a good army builder.

[InvincibleEagle]

You could also buy the orcs individually alone on Bricklink. Mordor and Moria orc army building with sets alone is impractical since the sets that include them are expensive and/or rare/retired.

Edited February 2, 2014 by InvincibleEagle

[Andeh]

I think you're better off buying the Hunter Orcs rather than the Mordor Orcs from Bricklink, which are usually cheaper and come with the headpieces. They're basically the same, and if you don't like the Hunter Orc legs, you can easily switch them out with some common reddish-brown legs.

[Alfadas]

Thanks. Yeah, Bricklink is getting more and more attractive. Guess I should give it a try.

[InvincibleEagle]

I think you're better off buying the Hunter Orcs rather than the Mordor Orcs from Bricklink, which are usually cheaper and come with the headpieces. They're basically the same, and if you don't like the Hunter Orc legs, you can easily switch them out with some common reddish-brown legs.

And then you can use the discarded hunter legs to turn your goblin scribes into regular Misty Mountain goblins.

[Deathleech]

You could also buy the orcs individually alone on Bricklink. Mordor and Moria orcs army building with sets alone is impractical since they sets that include them are expensive and/or rare/retired.

This is really your only option (and why I keep saying we need just as many Mordor Orcs in an army builder as we do Gondor Soldiers!). About the only set you could use to army build Mordor Orcs was Orc Forge, and even that set was pretty terrible to do it with ($40 for 4 minifigs, one of which was Lurtz). It's also been retired for some time and probably hard to find cheap now. Personally, I would say go BrickLink. You can get so many orcs for so much cheaper than buying the sets if you don't care about the bricks. The bald orcs are rediculously cheap on there, usually under $3. The hair versions can get fairly pricey, easily adding $2-3 bucks per fig.

This is what I ended up doing. I bought 40 bald orcs a few weeks ago for the price it would of cost me to get 2 Mines or Moria (on sale), 3 Orc Forge, 3 Warg Attacks, etc.

Edited February 1, 2014 by Deathleech

[h22chen]

I agree that the bald orcs are ridiculously cheap compared to the haired versions. Hence when I trade, I'm prepared to use more 'bald' orcs for 'haired orcs'.

Another set for the "coffee" (that's what I like to call the Mordor colored orcs) are the Orc hunters from the 'Attack of the Wars' set; but that set is not cheap either, for 3 orcs (and one of them is a unique orc), it is hard to buy tons of the set.

Edited February 2, 2014 by h22chen

[Alfadas]

Thanks. I will go bricklink a few orcs. But do you know a cheap store, in or close to the Netherlands, which sells Moria, Mordor and Gundabad orcs?

[J bij de W]

Maybe a stupid question related to the above question. What will the prices of mini figures do once a line is no longer in producion.Will prices reduce because people lose interest in the line? Or will prices increase because the mini figures are out of production?

With all the discussion about the future of the LOTR/Hobbit line I'm not sure how to spent my money.

I'm just out my ark ages and now buying LOTR/Hobbit sets. For some sets I buy multiples for the figures and parts.

I'm now wondering if I should keep spending my money on sets or start buying some mini figures on Bricklink. As chances are low for more Moria Orcs in new sets I might start buying some of those on Bricklink. Or do prices stay the same once a line is done

[SMC]

I'm starting to think I need more orcs but I dont like using bricklink for figs, I think there is not a great set for orcs so it is hard

[SerenityInFire]

Uruk Hai Army is hands down the best for army building LotR Uruks. For Gundabad Orcs I'd say Dol Guldor Ambush, which is on sale at Amazon.com for $17.00 US Dollars. Attack of the Wargs if you want Hunter Orcs, Doggies and lots of brown pieces. For Mordor Orcs, there really aren't any great sets. There really aren't any great sets for army building the old sand green castle orcs/trolls either. They're called trolls, but we all know they're orcs.

[Deathleech]

There really aren't any great sets for army building the old sand green castle orcs/trolls either. They're called trolls, but we all know they're orcs.

Whaaat??? There was this set! It doesn't get much better than 5 minifigures with weapons all for $15 bucks. Even on BrickLink they are mostly under $3 a piece.