Which Warhammer 40,000 army should I collect if I like a certain colour?
Blue: Ultramarines. Red: Blood Angels. Gold: Custodes. Silver: Grey Knights or Necrons. Green: Orks. Black and yellow armies are in the table below. For any other colour, the Space Marines in the Armageddon box carry no Chapter markings, so you can paint them blue, green, grey, black, yellow or white.
Armies by colour
The table gives the main armies for each colour, with Games Workshop's own wording.
| Colour | Armies | What Games Workshop says |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | Ultramarines (Space Marines), Knights of House Terryn, Deathskulls Orks | "Royal blue and gold of the Ultramarines" (October 2023). House Terryn is "most commonly seen" in blue and gold (September 2025). A Deathskulls Bigboss painted "decked out in blue" (June 2026). |
| Red | Blood Angels, the Talons of the Emperor (Custodes) | "The deep crimson of the Blood Angels" (October 2023). Red and gold are the Talons' most recognisable colours (April 2024). |
| Gold | Adeptus Custodes | "The shining golden legion of the Ten Thousand" (May 2023). |
| Silver | Grey Knights, Necrons | Grey Knights have "shining silver armour" (May 2023). The bulk of a Necron army is the "Silver Tide" (May 2026). |
| Green | Orks | Orks are "pretty much always green" (March 2026). |
| Black | Dark Angels Ravenwing, Blood Angels | A Ravenwing Land Speeder in a "sable-black" scheme (June 2026). Blood Angels in "black, red, and gold" (September 2024). |
| Yellow | Imperial Fists | An Imperial Fists Intercessor painted in one yellow (October 2026). |
If you love a colour more than an army
In March 2026 Games Workshop said the Space Marines in the Armageddon box have no Chapter-specific markings, so you can paint them in whatever colour you like. The Armageddon box page lists what that box holds. The 11th Edition Starter Set holds the same Space Marines Assault Force alongside the Orks, so either box lets you pick any colour. The Armageddon box is £153.00 and is sold out at the moment. The Starter Set is £126.40 and is in stock.
Orks in red, blue or orange
The skin stays green. In June 2026 the Warhammer team painted a Warboss bright orange against bright green skin, and a Deathskulls Bigboss in blue. Some players paint their Orks red, joking that red ones go faster. Our Orks page covers the army itself.
Matching a colour to a box
There is a Combat Patrol for the gold, silver and green armies, and two boxes of Space Marines that take any colour. Our Paints & Tools: Warhammer 40,000 (11th Edition) set holds 13 Warhammer Colour paints, among them Macragge Blue, Mephiston Red, Abaddon Black and Corax White, so you can try a few of these colours without buying separate pots. It is £22.83 and is sold out at the moment. If it is gone, buy just the one or two pots for the colour you want.
Common questions
What colours do Orks paint?
Green skin, whatever the clan. Games Workshop's March 2026 answer was that Orks are pretty much always green, but they can be Goffs, Blood Axes, Bad Moons, Evil Sunz, Deathskulls, Snakebites or any clan you prefer.
What colour should I paint Necrons?
Silver bodies with green glows are the classic look. Games Workshop calls the main Necron infantry the "Silver Tide", and describes their weapons as firing emerald-green energy. Our Necrons page covers the army.
Which army is blue besides Ultramarines?
Imperial Knights of House Terryn are shown in blue and gold on the box art, and Games Workshop's team painted a Deathskulls Ork Bigboss in blue in June 2026. The Armageddon Space Marines can be painted blue too.
Colours: Warhammer Community (Games Workshop's news site), articles from May 2023 to October 2026. Starter Set and Armageddon contents: Warhammer Community, 23 July 2026. Paint set contents: this shop's listing. Prices and stock: this shop, read live.