Part of our Imperial Fists hub: every Imperial Fists guide, lore page and painting tutorial in one place.

How to Paint Imperial Fists — Step by Step Guide

Paints You Will Need

The Golden Rule of Yellow Paint

Before we begin, understand this fundamental truth: yellow pigment has poor coverage over dark colours. This is physics, not skill. Yellow paint is made from pigments that are inherently semi-transparent. The solution is simple — always paint yellow over a light base. Never try to paint yellow over black primer. You will lose your mind and waste hours. Wraithbone or Corax White primer is essential.

Method A — Contrast Paint (Fastest)

Step A1 — Prime with Wraithbone Spray

Apply Wraithbone spray primer to the entire model. This off-white base is specifically designed to work with Contrast paints and gives yellow the best possible foundation. Make sure coverage is complete and smooth — any gaps will show through the transparent Contrast paint.

Step A2 — Apply Imperial Fists Contrast

Apply Imperial Fists Contrast paint to all armour panels. Use a medium brush and work one panel at a time. Load your brush, apply to one panel, and move on before it dries. Do not go back over areas that have started drying — this causes tide marks. The Contrast paint will naturally shade recesses darker and leave highlights on raised areas.

Work from the top of each panel and push paint downward. If excess pools in an area, wick it away with a damp brush. It is better to apply too little than too much — you can always add a second coat to deepen the colour, but fixing pooling is much harder.

Step A3 — Clean Up and Highlight

Once the Contrast is completely dry, edge highlight with Flash Gitz Yellow on the most prominent edges. Then add a fine highlight of Dorn Yellow on corner points. These highlights add definition that the Contrast paint alone does not provide.

Method B — Traditional (Smoothest Result)

Step B1 — Prime with Wraithbone Spray

Same as Method A. Wraithbone primer is the foundation for both approaches.

Step B2 — Basecoat with Averland Sunset

Apply two thin coats of Averland Sunset over all armour panels. Averland Sunset is a Base paint with strong pigment and excellent coverage over Wraithbone. It goes on as a warm, slightly orange-tinted yellow. This is your shadow colour. Let each coat dry fully before applying the next.

Step B3 — Layer with Yriel Yellow

Apply Yriel Yellow over the Averland Sunset, leaving the Averland showing in the recesses and lower edges of each panel. Yriel Yellow is a brighter, purer yellow that brings the armour to its final colour. Apply two thin coats. Use a medium layer brush and work slowly to avoid streaking.

The key to avoiding streaks is thin paint and consistent brush direction. Always brush in the same direction on each panel. If you get a streak, let it dry and apply another thin coat rather than trying to fix it while wet.

Step B4 — Shade the Recesses

Apply Reikland Fleshshade carefully into the recesses only using a fine detail brush. Do not apply it as an all-over wash — this will stain the yellow and give it a dirty orange tone. Targeted recess shading preserves the brightness of your yellow while adding definition. Casandora Yellow shade is an alternative that gives a more subtle effect.

Step B5 — Highlight

Edge highlight with Flash Gitz Yellow, then apply a fine edge highlight of Dorn Yellow on the sharpest edges and corner points. For zenith highlights on flat panels, you can mix Yriel Yellow with a touch of white and glaze the very top surfaces.

Remaining Steps (Both Methods)

Step C — Black Areas and Metallics

Paint Abaddon Black on bolter casings, flexible joints, and any black details. Apply Leadbelcher to weapon barrels, metal components, and Chapter markings that are metallic. Wash metals with Nuln Oil and highlight with Ironbreaker.

Step D — Chapter Details

The Imperial Fists icon is a red or crimson fist. Paint the fist icon on the shoulder pad with Mephiston Red. If you struggle with freehand, use the transfers from the Space Marines transfer sheet. Apply Retributor Armour to any aquilas, decorative trim, and honour markings.

Step E — Other Details

Paint purity seals with Zandri Dust parchment and Mephiston Red wax. Paint pouches and holsters with Rhinox Hide, washed with Agrax Earthshade. Paint eye lenses with Macragge Blue, shade with Drakenhof Nightshade, then highlight with Teclis Blue and add a dot of white.

Step F — Basing

Imperial Fists look excellent on dark or muted bases that contrast with the bright yellow. Astrogranite Debris (grey rubble) or Stirland Battlemire (dark mud) both work well. Urban rubble bases complement the Imperial Fists’ speciality in siege warfare. Drybrush with Administratum Grey and paint the rim Abaddon Black.

Alternative Colour Schemes

Crimson Fists (Successor)

If you love the Fists’ lore but hate painting yellow, the Crimson Fists are their most famous successor chapter. Use Macragge Blue armour with red fists. Same heritage, completely different painting experience.

Horus Heresy Imperial Fists

The Heresy-era Imperial Fists use the same yellow but with more silver and less gold in the trim. Use Leadbelcher for trim rather than Retributor Armour, and add black hazard stripes on heavy weapons for a Heresy-authentic look.

Weathered Siege Specialist

Imperial Fists are siege experts, so heavy weathering is lore-appropriate. After finishing your clean yellow, add sponge damage with Rhinox Hide, then drybrush lower legs with Stirland Mud texture paint. Add Typhus Corrosion to boots and lower armour. Streaking Grime (from AK Interactive) works brilliantly over yellow for a grimy, campaign-worn look.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Never prime yellow models with black spray. The coverage required to get yellow over black makes the paint too thick and kills surface detail. Always use a light primer — Wraithbone, Corax White, or Grey Seer. If you only have black primer, apply a zenithal coat of white from above before the yellow.

Do not use a shade wash all over the model. Yellow is extremely susceptible to staining from washes. Use recess shading only, or accept that a full wash will darken your yellow to a warm, muted tone.

Thin your yellow paints properly but not too much. Over-thinned yellow runs and leaves tide marks. Aim for a consistency like whole milk — it should flow off the brush smoothly but not run. Two thin coats are always better than one thick coat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it really easier to paint Imperial Fists with Contrast paint?

Yes, significantly. Imperial Fists Contrast over Wraithbone gives a tabletop-ready yellow in one coat. The traditional method gives a smoother, more controlled result but takes two to three times longer. For your first Imperial Fists, start with Contrast to build confidence.

Why does my yellow paint look streaky?

Streaking happens when yellow paint is too thick or when you brush over areas that have started to dry. The fix is thin coats applied in one consistent direction, letting each coat dry before the next. A wet palette keeps yellow paint at the right consistency for longer.

What is the best alternative to painting yellow?

If you truly cannot get along with yellow, consider painting your Imperial Fists as one of their successor chapters — the Crimson Fists (blue and red) or Black Templars (black and white) share the Imperial Fists’ heritage but dodge the yellow problem entirely.

How many coats of yellow do I need?

Over Wraithbone primer, Averland Sunset typically needs two coats for full coverage. Yriel Yellow over Averland needs one to two coats. Imperial Fists Contrast usually works in one coat, though a second coat deepens the colour nicely.

Should I spray paint or brush paint the yellow?

If you have an airbrush, yellow is one of the strongest cases for using it. Airbrushed yellow goes on perfectly smooth with no brush strokes. If you do not own an airbrush, the Contrast method is the next best option for smooth results.

For the full Imperial Fists army guide including rules, lore, and competitive lists, visit our Imperial Fists army guide.

Can I paint Imperial Fists with Army Painter paints?

Yes. The same golden rule applies: start from a light primer, such as a white spray or Army Painter’s Daemonic Yellow colour primer, and build yellow up in thin coats. Army Painter’s yellows and Speedpaints work like Citadel’s layers and Contrast, so you can follow either method in this guide and swap in the equivalent Army Painter shades.

Related Content

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