Building Your Core Paint Collection

With literally hundreds of paints in the Citadel range, figuring out where to start can be more overwhelming than trying to understand the rules for line-of-sight in a dense terrain setup. Whether you are painting Warhammer 40k, Age of Sigmar, or just some Dungeons & Dragons miniatures for your next campaign, having a solid core set of colours will make mixing, matching, and experimenting infinitely easier.

The Unbeatable Essentials List

1. Abaddon Black (Base): Your absolute go-to for the deepest shadows, bolter casings, and darkening other colours. You’ll use this on almost every model.
2. Corax White (Base): A smooth off-white that covers much better than pure white. Use it as a base for bright colours or as a final extreme highlight.
3. Mephiston Red (Base): The perfect, vibrant starting point for any red scheme, covering brilliantly over dark undercoats.
4. Leadbelcher (Base): The undisputed king of gunmetal and silver basecoats. Essential for weapons, exhausts, and tank treads.
5. Retributor Armour (Base): A rich, warm gold that covers brilliantly in one coat. Perfect for Stormcast Eternals and Custodes.
6. Nuln Oil (Shade): Often referred to as “liquid talent” within the UK hobby community, this black wash adds instant depth to metals and cool colours.
7. Agrax Earthshade (Shade): A brown wash perfect for dirt, grime, leather, gold, and anything that needs to look weathered.
8. Bugman’s Glow (Base): The foundational colour for most human (and dwarven) skin tones.
9. Mournfang Brown (Base): An excellent, warm brown for leather straps, boots, and pouches.
10. Wraithbone (Base): A warm, creamy off-white perfect for bone, parchment, or as a Contrast undercoat.

Stock up on these absolute essentials in our Citadel Paints collection. We offer free UK shipping options, so keeping your paint rack stocked has never been easier.