Base, Layer, Shade, Contrast, Technical and Dry paints: which does which job?
Base paints cover, Layer paints highlight, Shades fill recesses, Contrast does base and shade in one coat, Technical paints texture bases and Dry paints are for drybrushing fur and chainmail. For a first army, buy Base paints, one Shade and one Technical.
That kit paints a model to Battle Ready, the standard Games Workshop sets for a model that is ready to game with. Layer and Dry paints can wait.
Six paint types, one job each
The sizes come from our product titles; the Dry pots are listed without one.
| Type | Its job | A real pot here | Not the right pot when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base | A strong, solid colour that everything else builds on. | Abaddon Black, 12ml, £2.25 | You want a highlight; use a Layer paint on top. |
| Layer | Goes over a Base to brighten it or pick out highlights. | Teclis Blue, 12ml, £2.25 | There is no Base coat beneath it. |
| Shade | Flows into recesses to make shadow. | Nuln Oil, 18ml, £3.75 | You want one even colour over a wide area. Shades are made for recesses. |
| Contrast | Base and shade in one coat, over a light undercoat. | Ultramarines Blue, 18ml, £3.75 | The surface is a big flat panel, or the undercoat is dark. |
| Technical | Thick paint for textured bases and effects. | Stirland Mud, 24ml, £3.75 | You would apply it with a brush you care about. It forces the bristles apart as it dries. |
| Dry | Made for drybrushing fur, chainmail and other rough surfaces. | Dawnstone, £2.25 | The surface is smooth. Drybrushing picks out texture. |
One model, paint by paint
Take a single Space Marine in any chapter colours. These are the steps in the order they go on, with the optional ones marked. Games Workshop's Classic method is the Base, Shade and Technical steps.
- Undercoat. Spray the whole model first, in a light colour if you plan to use Contrast.
- Base. Block in every main colour: armour, cloth, leather, metal.
- Shade. Brush a Shade into the recesses. It settles into panel lines and folds and leaves raised parts clean.
- Layer (optional). Edge the armour with a lighter Layer paint, so the corners catch the light.
- Dry (optional). Drybrush any fur, chainmail or rough surface.
- Technical. Texture the base, then paint the rim.
The Contrast route replaces steps 2 and 3. Spray light, add one coat of Contrast per colour, then finish the base with a Technical paint.
What a first army needs
Games Workshop calls a model Battle Ready when its main areas are coloured and its base has a simple finish. Base, Shade and Technical paints get you there, so Layer and Dry (steps 4 and 5) are optional extras. Three Base pots, a Shade and a Technical, such as Macragge Blue, Leadbelcher, Abaddon Black, Nuln Oil and Stirland Mud, come to £14.25.
Our paints and tools guide covers the starter sets, and the primer page covers the sprays.
Common questions
What is the difference between Citadel base, layer, and contrast paint?
Base paint gives strong, solid colour. Layer paint goes on top to brighten or highlight. Contrast paint goes over a white or light undercoat and does the base colour and the shading in one coat. Citadel Colour is now called Warhammer Colour, and the paint is the same.
Do I need Layer paints as a beginner?
Not for a first army. Games Workshop's Battle Ready method uses Base, Shade and Technical paints, or Contrast and Technical. Layer paints add highlights, which you can do later, one unit at a time, once the first squad is finished.
Which paint types are in the Warhammer Paints and Tools set?
The 10th Edition Paints + Tools set holds nine Base paints, one Layer, one Contrast, one Shade and one Technical, according to its listing. The 11th Edition set names its 13 paints without types. It is sold out at the moment.
Can I use Shade paint as a base coat?
You can, but a Shade is built to flow into recesses and leave the raised parts relatively clean, so it will not cover a large area evenly the way a Base does. Use a Base for the main colour and the Shade for the shadows.
Paint type descriptions: Warhammer Community, 24 June 2022 (paint types) and 28 June 2022 (Just What Is Battle Ready?); Technical paints and brushes: 14 July 2023 (Highlights, Basing, and Eyes); Shade behaviour: 13 June 2022. Pot sizes: our product titles, read 29 October 2026. Prices: this shop, read live.