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How to Paint Blood Angels — Step by Step Guide

Introduction

The Blood Angels are one of the most iconic Space Marine chapters in Warhammer 40,000, and their rich red armour makes them one of the most visually striking forces on the tabletop. Painting a convincing red can be tricky — it often looks orange or chalky — but this guide gives you a foolproof method for achieving the deep, vibrant red that defines the sons of Sanguinius.

This step-by-step tutorial covers everything from priming to final highlights, including the gold details, black weapons, and gemstone effects that complete the Blood Angels look.

Paints You Will Need

Step 1 — Priming

Spray your models with Mephiston Red spray. This serves as both your primer and your armour basecoat, saving significant time. Blood Angels are mostly red, so a red spray covers the majority of the model in one step.

Apply two thin passes rather than one heavy coat. Make sure to hit the undersides of arms, between legs, and inside shoulder pads. Let the spray dry fully — at least 30 minutes — before handling.

If Mephiston Red spray is unavailable, prime with grey or black and brush on Mephiston Red base paint. Grey gives a brighter result; black gives a deeper, darker red.

Step 2 — Recess Shading

The key to making red armour look three-dimensional is clean recess shading. Using a small brush, carefully apply Nuln Oil only into the recesses of the armour — panel lines, around rivets, where armour plates meet, and under shoulder pads.

Take your time here. Sloppy washing is the most common mistake when painting Blood Angels. If the wash spills onto a flat panel, clean it up immediately with a damp brush and touch up with Mephiston Red once dry.

For a quicker but less precise method, you can apply a full wash of Nuln Oil over the entire model, but this will darken the red considerably and require more layering to bring it back up.

Step 3 — Layering the Red Armour

This is where the Blood Angels red really comes alive:

1. First layer: Apply Evil Sunz Scarlet to the raised areas and flat panels of the armour, leaving Mephiston Red visible in the lower portions of each panel and near the recesses. This creates a natural gradient from dark to bright.
2. Second layer: Apply Wild Rider Red more selectively — just the upper portions of panels, the tops of shoulder pads, the front of knee pads, and the edges of raised areas. Thin this paint well.
3. Edge highlight: Apply a fine edge highlight of Fire Dragon Bright along the sharpest armour edges. This orange-red catches the eye and defines the silhouette of the model. Use the side of your brush, not the tip, and keep the lines thin.

The progression from Mephiston Red (deep red) through Evil Sunz Scarlet (bright red) to Wild Rider Red (orange-red) and finally Fire Dragon Bright (bright orange) creates a warm, rich armour that reads as unmistakably Blood Angels.

Step 4 — Gold Details

Blood Angels wear more gold than most Space Marine chapters. It appears on aquilas, chest eagles, shoulder pad trim, helmet decorations, and blood drop iconography:

1. Base all gold areas with Retributor Armour. Two thin coats for solid coverage.
2. Wash with Reikland Fleshshade for a warm, rich shadow. Alternatively, use Agrax Earthshade for a slightly dirtier finish.
3. Layer raised areas with Liberator Gold.
4. Apply tiny dots or fine lines of Stormhost Silver on the highest points for a bright, metallic gleam.

Step 5 — Black Weapons and Equipment

Blood Angels weapons — bolters, chainswords, power fists — are traditionally painted black:

1. Base with Abaddon Black.
2. Layer with Eshin Grey on raised panels and edges.
3. Edge highlight with Dawnstone.
4. For weapon casings that should look different from cloth, add a final fine highlight of Administratum Grey on the sharpest corners.

Silver metal parts of weapons (barrel tips, blade edges) should be painted Leadbelcher, washed with Nuln Oil, and highlighted with Ironbreaker.

Step 6 — Parchment and Purity Seals

Blood Angels are adorned with purity seals and oath papers:

1. Paint the parchment with Zandri Dust.
2. Wash with Seraphim Sepia.
3. Layer with Ushabti Bone.
4. Paint the wax seal with Mephiston Red (matching the armour) or Khorne Red for contrast.
5. Optionally add tiny lines of Rhinox Hide to represent text.

Step 7 — Gemstone Effects

Blood Angels have numerous blood drop gems on their armour. These small details are what elevate a good paint job to a great one:

1. Paint the gem with Abaddon Black.
2. Apply Spiritstone Red technical paint over the black. This creates a realistic, translucent gemstone effect with minimal effort.
3. For extra realism, add a tiny dot of white on the upper corner of each gem for a specular highlight.

Alternatively, paint gems traditionally: base Khorne Red, paint the lower half Evil Sunz Scarlet, add a small Wild Rider Red spot at the very bottom, and dot white at the top.

Step 8 — Eyes and Lenses

Blood Angels helmet lenses are typically painted green for contrast against the red armour:

1. Base with Caliban Green.
2. Layer with Warpstone Glow in the lower portion.
3. Add a dot of Moot Green in the front corner.
4. Dot white in the opposite corner for a reflection point.

Step 9 — Basing

Blood Angels bases should complement the warm red armour. Popular options include:

• Desert sand: Agrellan Earth or Armageddon Dust, wash with Seraphim Sepia, drybrush Tyrant Skull. Add small rocks or rubble.
• Urban rubble: Cork pieces painted Mechanicus Standard Grey, washed with Nuln Oil, drybrushed Dawnstone. Red armour pops against grey urban environments.
• Baal-themed: Red-orange desert using Martian Ironearth technical paint for a cracked, Baal-like surface. Drybrush with Kindleflame.

Alternative Blood Angels Schemes

• Death Company: Black armour with red saltire crosses. Prime black, highlight with Eshin Grey and Dawnstone. Add red crosses with Mephiston Red. These models represent marines who have succumbed to the Black Rage.
• Sanguinary Guard: Full gold armour instead of red. Base Retributor Armour, wash Reikland Fleshshade, layer Liberator Gold, highlight Stormhost Silver. White angel wings with Corax White layered over Celestra Grey.
• Flesh Tearers (successor): Much darker red — almost maroon. Use Khorne Red as the base instead of Mephiston Red. Highlight with Wazdakka Red and Squig Orange. Black shoulder pads with a circular saw blade icon.
• Angels Encarmine (successor): Bright, almost cherry red. Use a zenithal prime and glaze with thinned Mephiston Red for a smooth, vibrant finish. White helmet stripe.

Tips for Painting Blood Angels

• Thin your reds. Red pigments are notoriously transparent. Apply thin, even coats and build up coverage gradually. Three thin coats beats one thick coat every time.
• Clean your recess shading. The difference between an average and excellent Blood Angels army is the neatness of the recess shading. Take time to keep the wash in the lines.
• Use a red spray. Mephiston Red spray saves enormous time. Brush-painting red over a dark primer requires many coats.
• Practice edge highlighting on spare bits. The orange edge highlight is what makes Blood Angels pop, but it takes practice. Use old sprue pieces to develop your technique.
• Do not neglect the gold. Blood Angels’ heraldic gold is a major part of their identity. Paint it carefully and give it proper highlights.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best red for Blood Angels?

Mephiston Red is the standard and the best starting point. It is a strong, opaque red that layers well. The spray version doubles as a primer for maximum efficiency.

How do I avoid chalky red armour?

Always thin your red paints. Use a wet palette to keep them at the right consistency. If you are getting chalky results, add a drop of Lahmian Medium to your paint for smoother application.

Should I wash the whole model or just the recesses?

For the best results, apply wash only to the recesses (panel lining). A full wash darkens the red significantly and requires extra layering to correct. Recess shading takes more time but produces a cleaner, brighter finish.

How do I paint Blood Angels quickly?

Spray Mephiston Red, apply Nuln Oil to recesses, do a single layer of Evil Sunz Scarlet on raised areas, paint gold details, and base. Skip the edge highlighting on rank-and-file models. This produces a solid tabletop standard in about 30 minutes per Intercessor.

What colour should Blood Angels bases be?

Neutral tones work best — sandy deserts, grey urban rubble, or brown earth. These provide contrast with the red armour. Avoid green or warm brown bases that can clash with or mute the red.

How do I paint Dante or the Sanguinor?

These models are predominantly gold. Follow the gold recipe (Retributor Armour, Reikland Fleshshade, Liberator Gold, Stormhost Silver) for the majority of the model. Add red details to tie them into the rest of your army. Paint the death masks carefully — they are the focal point of these models.

Want to learn how to play Blood Angels on the tabletop? Check our Blood Angels army guide for rules, stratagems, and competitive list advice.

Can I use Contrast paint for Blood Angels?

Yes. Blood Angels Red Contrast over a Wraithbone or Grey Seer primer gives a bright red in a single coat. Apply it thinly and evenly so it doesn’t pool, then pick out the gold and black details as normal. Adding a fine orange edge highlight afterwards makes Contrast-painted Blood Angels look much sharper.

Why does my red paint look pink?

Red turns pink when you highlight it with white or grey. Highlight upwards with oranges instead, as in this guide: Evil Sunz Scarlet, then Wild Rider Red and a fine edge of Fire Dragon Bright. Red is a transparent colour, so it can also look pinkish over a white or light grey primer if your coats are too thin.

Related Content

• Blood Angels Army Guide — full army overview for Blood Angels
• Warhammer Painting for Beginners — start painting with confidence
• Best Paints for Warhammer — our top paint recommendations