What paints do I need for the Warhammer 40,000 Starter Set?
The 11th Edition Starter Set (£126.40) comes with no paints. The 11th Edition Paints & Tools set (£22.83, sold out at the moment) holds every paint in both of Games Workshop's army paint sets, one for Space Marines and one for Orks. It adds a brush, clippers and a mouldline remover, and has five paints to spare.
It works if you paint the Space Marines in the Ultramarines scheme and the Orks as Goff clan, the schemes those paint sets are built around. Any other colours need different pots. As an alternative, the two army paint sets together hold the same eight paints, for £37.77.
What the Starter Set leaves out
The Starter Set holds two Combat Patrol armies, one of Space Marines and one of Orks, with two battlefield boards, terrain, dice, rulers, a Core Rulebook, a Starter Set Handbook and reference sheets. That contents list names no paints, brush or tools. Games Workshop's Starter Set preview does not say which Space Marine Chapter or Ork clan the two armies are meant to be, and neither does our listing.
Games Workshop makes a paint set for each army. The Space Marines set has six paints based around the classic Ultramarines scheme from the box art. The Orks set has enough paints to do two Boyz and a Gretchin as members of the Goff clan. Those are Games Workshop's suggested schemes for the paint sets. They do not describe this box.
Which army set holds each Paints & Tools paint
This table compares the 13 paints in the Paints & Tools set with the six paints in each army set. "Yes" means the army set holds that paint.
| Paint | Space Marines set | Orks set |
|---|---|---|
| Macragge Blue | Yes | No |
| Retributor Armour | Yes | No |
| Orruk Flesh | No | Yes |
| Zandri Dust | No | Yes |
| Leadbelcher | Yes | Yes |
| Abaddon Black | Yes | Yes |
| Corax White | Yes | Yes |
| Mournfang Brown | Yes | Yes |
| Averland Sunset, Mephiston Red, Rakarth Flesh, Armageddon Dust, Agrax Earthshade | No | No |
The two army sets use eight different paints between them, and four are shared: Leadbelcher, Abaddon Black, Corax White and Mournfang Brown. The 13-paint set holds all eight, so it serves both armies. The five left over are three Base paints (Averland Sunset, Mephiston Red, Rakarth Flesh), a Shade (Agrax Earthshade) and a Technical paint (Armageddon Dust).
Which paints to buy for the Starter Set
- Paints & Tools (11th Edition) (£22.83, sold out at the moment) covers both armies. It holds all eight paints the two army sets use between them, plus tools, so it is the closest fit.
- Intercessors and Paints plus Boyz and Paints (£37.77 for both) also cover both armies and give you five extra models, but four paints are bought twice.
- Paints + Tools (10th Edition) (£21.73, sold out at the moment) suits the Marines only. It holds four of their six paints and is a poor match for the Orks; paints for Orks has the detail.
If you want to paint the Orks, choose the 11th Edition set, the Boyz and Paints set or the six Orks pots one by one.
What to avoid
- Do not assume the models match the paint sets. Games Workshop's own advice is that you can paint your models however you want, so check what you plan to paint before you buy.
- Do not buy the army sets on top of Paints & Tools. Every paint in them is already in Paints & Tools, and each adds another brush. They suit someone who wants a few models to practise on first.
- Do not expect a primer. None of these sets names a primer or spray in its contents. Sprays are in our paints collection.
Common questions
Is there a paint set for Space Marines and one for Orks?
There is one for each army. Space Marines: Intercessors and Paints is built around the Ultramarines scheme from the box art. Orks: Boyz and Paints has paints for Goff clan Orks. Each has six paints, a brush and a few models.
Can I paint both Starter Set armies with one Paints and Tools set?
If you use the Ultramarines and Goff schemes, yes: the 11th Edition Paints & Tools set (£22.83, sold out at the moment) is the one that covers both. For a different Chapter or clan you will need other pots.
What are the extra paints in the Paints and Tools set for?
They are Averland Sunset, Mephiston Red and Rakarth Flesh (Base paints), Agrax Earthshade (a Shade, which adds depth) and Armageddon Dust (a Technical paint, for textured bases). Games Workshop says the 13 paints cover a wide variety of jobs, from armour and metal to flesh and cloth.
Starter Set contents and army paint sets: Warhammer Community, 5 July 2026. Paint lists: the product listings on this shop for the Paints & Tools sets, the Intercessors and Boyz paint sets. Single-pot listings checked 29 October 2026. Prices and stock: this shop, read live.