How to Paint Cities of Sigmar — Colour Schemes Guide

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How to Paint Cities of Sigmar — Colour Schemes Guide

Cities of Sigmar armies are made up of many human, duardin and aelven soldiers, so a clear, repeatable recipe matters more than for most factions. This guide uses a red, gold and white cloth scheme in the style of Hammerhal’s heraldry: bold enough to read well on the table, and simple enough to batch paint across a regiment of Freeguild.

We cover the paint list, then base coating, shading, layering and highlighting, through to faces, basing and finishing touches, and finish with advice on designing colours for your own city. Every recommendation uses specific Citadel paint names so there is no guesswork involved.

Complete Paint List for Cities of Sigmar

Before you start painting your Cities of Sigmar army, gather these Citadel paints. Having everything ready before you begin will make the process smoother and more enjoyable.

Step-by-Step Painting Guide

This guide breaks down the process of painting Cities of Sigmar into manageable steps. Whether you are batch painting a full army or lavishing attention on a single character model, these steps will help you achieve a striking red, gold and white scheme that looks fantastic on the tabletop.

Step 1: Preparation and Priming

Begin by cleaning all mould lines from your Freeguild soldiers using a sharp hobby knife or mould line remover tool. Dry-fit all components before gluing to ensure proper alignment. For subassembly painting, consider keeping shields, riders, banners or weapons separate — this gives you better access to recessed areas that would otherwise be difficult to reach.

Prime your models with Chaos Black spray primer for this colour scheme. Hold the can approximately 20-30cm away and apply several thin, sweeping passes rather than one heavy coat. Allow the primer to cure fully for at least 30 minutes before handling. If you spot any areas the primer missed, touch them up with Abaddon Black applied with a brush.

A black primer works perfectly for Cities of Sigmar because it naturally creates shadows in the recesses and provides an excellent foundation for strong reds and golds. The white cloth is built up from grey, so it still works over black.

Step 2: Base Coating the Primary Colours

Apply Mephiston Red to all the primary colour areas: tunics, sleeves, hose, banners and plumes. Then base the gold fittings with Retributor Armour, the white cloth with Celestra Grey, armour plates and blades with Leadbelcher, and faces and hands with Bugman’s Glow. Use a medium-sized base brush (such as a Medium Base brush from Citadel) and apply two thin coats rather than one thick coat. Allow each coat to dry fully before applying the next — this prevents the paint from obscuring surface detail.

When applying the base coat, use smooth, controlled brush strokes that follow the contours of the model. Load your brush with paint, then wick off the excess on your palette until the paint flows smoothly without pooling. You want complete, even coverage while still being able to see the underlying sculpted details.

At this stage, do not worry about being perfectly neat. Focus on getting solid, opaque coverage on all the primary surfaces. You will clean up any mistakes in later steps.

Step 3: Shading and Washes

Once your base coats are fully dry, apply Agrax Earthshade shade to the primary surfaces. This is where your Cities of Sigmar models really start to come alive. The shade paint flows into recesses, panel lines, and joints, creating natural-looking shadows that add tremendous depth.

Apply the shade with a medium shade brush, guiding it into the recesses rather than slathering it over flat panels. For a cleaner result on the red, use the recess shading technique — carefully apply the shade only into the deepest recesses using a fine detail brush. This takes longer but produces a much smoother finish on the raised surfaces.

Use Nuln Oil on any metallic areas, and Reikland Fleshshade on cloth, leather, and flesh areas. Allow all shades to dry completely before proceeding — rushing this step will cause the shade to lift when you paint over it.

Step 4: Layering and Building Up Colour

Now layer Evil Sunz Scarlet over the primary surfaces, leaving the shade visible in the recesses. This is the most important step for creating a polished look. Load your brush with a small amount of paint, and apply it to the raised areas and flat panels while carefully avoiding the shaded recesses.

Apply Liberator Gold to the gold areas, building up from the Retributor Armour base. For the white cloth, use Ulthuan Grey in the same fashion. On faces, layer Cadian Fleshtone onto the cheekbones, nose and brow.

Apply Ironbreaker to metallic areas, focusing on the raised surfaces while leaving the darker base coat visible in the recesses. This creates a convincing metallic sheen that catches the light naturally.

The key to good layering is patience. Use thin paint, a steady hand, and build up opacity gradually. Two thin layers will always look better than one thick one.

Step 5: Edge Highlighting

Edge highlighting is what separates a good paint job from a great one, and it is especially important for Cities of Sigmar. Using a fine detail brush, apply Wild Rider Red to the edges of the red cloth folds, slashed sleeves and banner edges. Focus on the most prominent edges — the ones that would naturally catch the light.

For the gold and white cloth, apply Auric Armour Gold and White Scar to their respective edges. On metallic areas, use Runefang Steel for the finest highlights on helmet rims, blade edges and gun barrels.

Hold your brush perpendicular to the edge and drag it lightly along — the paint should only catch on the very edge of the surface. If you apply too much, you can always go back with the layer colour to tidy up. Practice on a less visible area first if you are not confident.

Prioritise the edges that face upward, as these catch the most light when the model is viewed on the tabletop. Downward-facing edges can be left darker for a more natural appearance.

Step 6: Basing and Final Details

A well-painted model deserves a well-finished base. Apply Stirland Mud or Astrogranite Debris texture paint to the base, depending on whether you want a battlefield-outside-the-walls or cobbled-street look. Once dry, dry brush with Tyrant Skull or Longbeard Grey to bring out the texture.

Add tufts of static grass or small rocks for visual interest. Paint the base rim with Abaddon Black or Steel Legion Drab for a clean finish.

Finally, apply any transfers or decals and soften them with Micro Sol and Micro Set for a painted-on look. Pick out final details such as feathers in hats and helmets, leather straps (Reikland Fleshshade over a brown works well), and any heraldic icons on shields and banners.

Seal your finished models with a matte varnish spray to protect your hard work during gaming.

Pro Tips for Painting Cities of Sigmar

• Batch painting: Paint 5-10 Freeguild soldiers at a time for maximum efficiency. Complete each step across all models before moving to the next step — this keeps your paint consistency uniform and speeds up the overall process.
• Wet palette: Use a wet palette to keep your paints workable for longer. This is especially important when layering, as you need consistent paint thickness across the entire model.
• Brush care: Clean your brushes regularly during painting sessions and reshape the tips before storing. A good brush makes edge highlighting significantly easier.
• Subassembly: For heroes, cavalry and large models such as Steam Tanks or monstrous mounts, paint components separately before assembly. This makes it much easier to reach all the details.
• Thin your paints: The golden rule of miniature painting applies doubly to Cities of Sigmar. Thin coats preserve detail and create smoother transitions between colours.

Painting Your Own City’s Colours

There is no single correct Cities of Sigmar scheme. Each city in the lore has its own heraldry, and the Freeguild regiments of a single city often vary in the details. If you want to match an official city exactly, use the heraldry shown in the current Cities of Sigmar battletome and on Warhammer Community as your reference.

Many players invent a city of their own, which the setting fully supports. A few tips if you do:

• Pick two main colours and a metal. One colour for tunics and banners, one for sleeves, plumes or trim, plus gold, brass or steel for fittings. The step-by-step above works for any palette: swap Mephiston Red for your main colour’s base and follow the same shade-layer-highlight order.
• Repeat it on every unit. Freeguild, duardin and aelven contingents look like one army when banners, shields and cloth trims share the same colours.
• Test on one model first. Paint a single Freeguild soldier in the new scheme before committing a whole regiment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What primer should I use for Cities of Sigmar?

Chaos Black spray primer is the best choice for this red, gold and white scheme. It provides natural shadows and works as the deepest shade colour. For lighter alternative schemes, consider Grey Seer or Wraithbone primers instead.

How long does it take to paint a Cities of Sigmar army?

A tabletop-ready 2,000-point Cities of Sigmar army is a big project, often several dozen hours, because of the number of infantry models. It depends on your skill level and the standard you are aiming for. Batch painting in groups of 5-10 models is the most efficient approach, and a single display-standard hero can take many hours on its own.

Can I use Contrast paints for Cities of Sigmar?

Yes, Contrast paints can significantly speed up the painting process. For Cities of Sigmar, try Blood Angels Red Contrast over a Grey Seer or Wraithbone primer. While the results differ from traditional layering, Contrast paints produce excellent tabletop-quality results in a fraction of the time.

What are the most important colours to buy first?

Start with the essentials: Mephiston Red, Evil Sunz Scarlet, Agrax Earthshade, and Leadbelcher. These four paints alone will let you get a solid base-coated and shaded army on the table. Add the highlight and accent colours as your budget allows.

How do I paint the faces on Cities of Sigmar models?

Base the skin with Bugman’s Glow, shade it with Reikland Fleshshade, then layer Cadian Fleshtone back onto the nose, cheekbones and brow. For the eyes, a thin line of Abaddon Black in each socket is enough at tabletop distance. Use the finest brush you have and brace your painting hand against the model for stability.

Should I use an airbrush for Cities of Sigmar?

An airbrush is excellent for base coating large surfaces quickly and creating smooth colour transitions, especially useful for Steam Tanks, monstrous mounts and other centrepiece models. However, it is absolutely not required — every technique in this guide can be accomplished with standard brushes. If you do use an airbrush, it pairs brilliantly with zenithal priming for natural lighting effects.

Do all Cities of Sigmar armies use the same colour scheme?

No. Each city has its own heraldry, so there is no single correct Cities of Sigmar scheme. This guide’s main scheme is a red, gold and white cloth look in the style of Hammerhal. For other official cities, use the heraldry shown in the current battletome. Many players also invent colours for their own home city, which the faction’s lore fully supports.

How do I paint white cloth on Cities of Sigmar models?

Over a black primer, base the cloth with Celestra Grey, layer it with Ulthuan Grey, and then highlight the raised folds with White Scar. Working up from grey keeps the recesses shaded, so the cloth doesn’t look flat or chalky. A thin wash of Agrax Earthshade before the final White Scar highlights will give an aged, off-white look if you prefer it.

Learn More About Cities of Sigmar

Now that you know how to paint your Cities of Sigmar army, make sure you understand how to play them on the tabletop. Check out our comprehensive Cities of Sigmar faction guide for army lists, strategies, and tactics that will help you dominate your games of Age of Sigmar.

Related Content

• Cities of Sigmar — Explore the full army guide
• Warhammer Painting for Beginners — Start with general painting tips
• Best Paints for Warhammer — Choose the right paints for your scheme
• Contrast Paints Guide — Speed up painting with Contrast paints