Do you have to paint your Warhammer 40,000 models to play?
Painting standard as defined in a Games Workshop article of 28 June 2022; checked 29 October 2026.
No. You can play with grey plastic at home. Battle Ready, which means the main areas coloured and a simple finish on the base, is the minimum at Games Workshop's own events at Warhammer World. Other organisers set their own rules, and some opponents prefer painted models.
What Games Workshop says
In a 2022 article Games Workshop called Battle Ready, models ready to game with, the minimum for its events at Warhammer World. It also said Battle Ready "isn't a bar you have to pass to be allowed into our hobby".
We found no 11th edition article that requires painting for a game at home.
Where it does matter
| Where you play | What to do |
|---|---|
| At home with a friend | Play as soon as the models are built. Paint a squad at a time between games. |
| A club night or shop table | Ask first and say what state the army is in. Opinions differ: some players happily face a mix of painted, primed and grey models, others prefer painted. |
| An organised event | Read the event pack. Organisers set their own rules. |
Whatever the venue, an army with a base coat and finished bases shows you are working on it.
The quickest way to Battle Ready
Contrast paints colour and shade in one coat, which makes them the quick route. The Classic route of Base, Shade and Technical paints takes longer. Our page on tabletop standard painting sets out both.
What to buy first
A box that includes paints is the easiest way to start. The Getting Started sets hold 11 paints, a brush and a texture spreader, and the Paints & Tools set holds 13 Warhammer Colour paints, a brush, clippers and a mouldline remover.
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Common questions
Can I play Warhammer 40k with unpainted models?
At home you can play with unpainted models. Clubs, shops and events set their own expectations, so ask before you turn up with grey models.
Do Warhammer models come painted?
Warhammer models come unpainted. Our boxes say the miniatures are supplied unpainted, and the Getting Started sets add paints and a brush so you can colour them.
Do I have to paint models before I use them in a Combat Patrol game?
Not before your first game. A Combat Patrol is a pre-set army with a low model count, so it is a small job to take from box to Battle Ready. Build it, play a game or two, then paint.
Battle Ready and the Contrast method: Warhammer Community, 28 June 2022. Getting Started contents: Warhammer Community, 5 July 2026. Paints & Tools contents, prices and stock: this shop, read live.