How do I paint yellow on Warhammer models?
Yellow is hard because it covers badly over anything dark, so you end up with many weak coats. Start from a white or very pale undercoat. Then take the fast route, one coat of a yellow Contrast paint, or the slower route of Averland Sunset followed by Yriel Yellow. Do not start yellow on a black undercoat.
Pick the undercoat first
| Undercoat | The yellow you get |
|---|---|
| White Scar | The most vivid yellow |
| Grey Seer | A darker, colder yellow |
| Wraithbone | A warmer, sandy yellow |
| Gold, such as Retributor Armour | A richer, slightly more yellow gold, with Iyanden Yellow Contrast over it |
| Black | A dull yellow after many coats. Avoid it. |
Those first three come from Games Workshop's painting team, who say the choice depends on the mood you want: bright and energetic, or sombre and worn. The gold route comes from a Space Marine painted for Warhammer Community, Games Workshop's news site.
One coat of Contrast
Contrast made yellow much easier. Games Workshop's Aidan said, when the yellow Contrast paints launched in 2022, that they have a strong, opaque finish over a White Scar spray, even in one coat. The Warhipster, a YouTube painter who makes Contrast guides, told Warhammer Community he painted a model to Battle Ready in about 25 minutes. Before Contrast, he says, he would have spent that long on the first four coats of yellow alone. Battle Ready is Games Workshop's tabletop standard, and our page on tabletop standard painting explains it.
- Spray the model White Scar, or Wraithbone if you want it warmer.
- Paint the yellow in one coat. Imperial Fist is a favourite of Games Workshop's painting team because it covers very well. The yellow Contrast we list is Iyanden Yellow. It is sold out at the moment.
- To push it further, the painter Vincent Knotley pairs Imperial Fist with a Casandora Yellow Shade.
Contrast pools on big flat panels, so read why Contrast goes patchy before you try it on a vehicle.
Base and Layer, for more control
Use Games Workshop's classic yellow recipe. Paint the basecoat in Averland Sunset, then layer Yriel Yellow over it to push up the brightness. Averland Sunset comes in Paints & Tools: Warhammer 40,000 (11th Edition), a set of 13 paints that is sold out at the moment.
Thin each coat and let it dry fully. Yellow shows every streak, so a second thin coat beats a first thick one. Our page on brush strokes and coverage explains the method.
If you have already primed black
You have two choices. Paint the yellow areas white or very pale first, which takes a few coats, or pick another scheme. Some hobbyists suggest a pink layer between the white and the yellow. It is a hobbyist trick, so test it on a spare model before you try it on one you care about.
Common questions
Why is yellow so hard to paint?
It covers poorly over anything dark, so you need many coats, and each coat shows streaks. Games Workshop's own team call it a notoriously difficult colour. A white undercoat and Contrast make it much easier.
Can I paint yellow over a black undercoat?
It works, but slowly. Yellow covers poorly over black, so expect many coats and a dull result.
Which undercoat should I use for yellow?
White Scar gives the most vivid yellow. Grey Seer gives a darker, colder one, and Wraithbone a warmer, sandy one. Pick the mood you want, then spray the whole model or just the yellow areas.
Yellow undercoats and the Base and Layer recipe: Warhammer Community, 14 July 2023. The yellow Contrast launch: Warhammer Community, 29 June 2022. The 25-minute model: Warhammer Community, 11 February 2025. Imperial Fist with Casandora Yellow: Warhammer Community, 4 February 2025. Gold under yellow: Warhammer Community, 2 July 2021. Yellow as a difficult colour: Warhammer Community, 8 July 2022 and 6 October 2026. The pink-layer tip: replies in four Reddit threads, May to August 2026. Contents of Paints & Tools (11th Edition): this shop's listing. Prices and stock: this shop, read live.