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

How to Paint Stormcast Eternals — Step by Step Guide

What You Will Need — Paint List

Step 1 — Assembly and Preparation

Stormcast Eternals are relatively straightforward to assemble. Most modern kits are push-fit and snap together cleanly. For older multi-part kits, use plastic cement for strong bonds. Clean mould lines from all components — pay particular attention to the lines running along the flat armour panels, as these are very visible on the large, smooth Stormcast plates.

Consider painting shields and weapons separately as sub-assemblies, especially for models with large shields that obscure the chest and tabard. The body, shield, and weapon can be painted individually and then glued together once complete.

Step 2 — Priming

You have two excellent priming options for Stormcast:

Option A — Retributor Armour Spray: This gold spray primer is a massive time-saver. It applies both the primer and the gold basecoat in a single step, cutting your painting time dramatically. This is the recommended option for batch painting an army.

Option B — Chaos Black Spray: If you prefer more control, prime black and then brush on Retributor Armour. This gives you deeper shadows in the recesses but requires much more time spent basecoating. Black primer is better for a more grimdark, battle-worn look.

If using the gold spray, apply thin, even coats from about 25-30 cm away. Gold spray can be slightly grainier than regular primers, so avoid thick coats. Two or three light passes are better than one heavy one.

Step 3 — Gold Armour Basecoat

If you used gold spray, check for any missed spots and touch them up with brush-on Retributor Armour. If you primed black, apply two thin coats of Retributor Armour to all the armour panels — this includes the helmet, shoulder pads, chest plate, gauntlets, greaves, and any decorative armour elements.

Retributor Armour is one of Citadel’s best base paints — it has excellent coverage and a rich, warm gold tone. Two thin coats will give you smooth, opaque coverage even over a black undercoat.

Step 4 — Reikland Fleshshade Wash

This is the most important step for the gold armour. Apply Reikland Fleshshade to all gold surfaces. This warm-toned wash settles into the recesses between armour plates, creating rich, warm shadows that enhance the gold beautifully. Reikland Fleshshade is specifically designed for gold — it adds depth without making the gold look dirty the way Nuln Oil would.

Apply the wash generously but watch for pooling on flat surfaces. Use a brush to guide the wash into recesses and wick away any excess from flat panels. The goal is dark recesses and clean flat surfaces.

Allow the wash to dry completely — at least 30 minutes. Do not rush this step.

Step 5 — Liberator Gold Layer

Once the wash is completely dry, apply Liberator Gold to the raised surfaces and flat panels of the gold armour. This layer paint is slightly brighter than Retributor Armour, so it creates a subtle highlight while restoring the brightness that the wash darkened. Leave the washed recesses untouched — this creates the contrast between light and shadow that makes the armour look three-dimensional.

Focus on the tops of shoulder pads, the front of the helmet, the centre of the chest plate, and the fronts of the leg armour — anywhere that would naturally catch the light.

Step 6 — Blue Cloth and Tabards

Stormcast Eternals feature blue cloth elements — tabards, cloaks, sashes, and shield interiors. Apply Kantor Blue as the base colour for all cloth areas. Kantor Blue is a deep, rich blue that provides excellent coverage in two thin coats.

Once the base is dry, apply Nuln Oil to the blue areas to darken the recesses in the folds of cloth. Then highlight the raised folds with Caledor Sky, applying it to the upper surfaces of each fold. For a final, sharper highlight, mix Caledor Sky with a little white and apply it to the very tops of the folds.

Step 7 — Steel and Weapon Details

Paint all steel areas with Leadbelcher — this includes weapon blades, hammer heads, chain links, and any non-gold metallic areas. Wash these areas with Nuln Oil for definition, then highlight with Ironbreaker on the edges and raised surfaces.

For weapon hafts and handles, use Rhinox Hide or Dryad Bark for a warm wood tone, washed with Agrax Earthshade and highlighted with Baneblade Brown.

Step 8 — Stormhost Silver Edge Highlights

The final step for the gold armour is adding Stormhost Silver edge highlights. This bright silver on the very edges of gold armour plates creates a striking gleam effect, as if the golden armour is catching the light. Apply thin lines of Stormhost Silver along the most prominent edges — the rims of shoulder pads, the brow of the helmet, the edges of the chest plate, and the tops of knee guards.

Use the side of a fine brush rather than the tip, and run it along each edge. This takes practice, but even imperfect edge highlights dramatically improve the model.

Step 9 — Additional Details

• Gems and eyes: Paint with Mephiston Red, add a highlight of Evil Sunz Scarlet, and a tiny dot of white for a gem effect.
• Parchment and scrolls: Base with Rakarth Flesh, wash with Agrax Earthshade, highlight with Pallid Wych Flesh.
• Plumes and crests: Base with Kantor Blue or Mephiston Red (depending on the look you want), shade and highlight accordingly.
• Lightning bolt iconography: Paint with Ceramite White or Corax White for crisp white heraldry against the gold.

Step 10 — Basing

Stormcast Eternals look fantastic on a variety of bases. For the classic look, apply Astrogranite Debris to the base, wash with Nuln Oil, and drybrush with Administratum Grey for a rocky, storm-blasted landscape. Add tufts of dead grass or small bits of cork painted as rocks for extra detail.

For a Realm of Heavens theme, consider a celestial base — paint the base in dark blues and add dots of white to represent stars, or use crackle paint effects for a magical ground appearance.

Paint the base rim with Abaddon Black for a clean, professional finish.

Speed Painting Stormcast Eternals

If you need to get an army on the table fast, here is the quickest method:

1. Spray with Retributor Armour primer (1 step for all gold)
2. Wash everything with Reikland Fleshshade (1 step for all shading)
3. Drybrush gold areas with Sigmarite (1 step for all highlights)
4. Block in blue cloth with Kantor Blue
5. Block in steel with Leadbelcher
6. Base and done

This six-step method produces impressive results and takes about 15-20 minutes per model.

Alternative Stormcast Colour Schemes

• Hallowed Knights: Silver armour (Leadbelcher) with white cloth. A striking, angelic look.
• Celestial Vindicators: Turquoise armour using Kabalite Green as the base. Unique and eye-catching.
• Anvils of the Heldenhammer: Black armour (Abaddon Black) with red details. Dark and dramatic.
• Knights Excelsior: White armour with blue details. Challenging but beautiful when done well.
• Hammers of Sigmar (classic): The gold and blue scheme described in this guide. The most iconic Stormcast look.

Painting Stormcast Characters and Monsters

Characters like the Lord-Celestant, Knight-Incantor, and Lord-Relictor use the same gold technique but benefit from extra time spent on their unique details — ornate weapons, magical effects, flowing capes, and detailed faces. For faces, use a standard skin recipe: Bugman’s Glow base, Reikland Fleshshade wash, Cadian Fleshtone layer, Kislev Flesh highlights.

For larger models like Stardrakes and Dracoths, the gold spray primer is essential — brush painting gold onto a model that size would take hours. Apply the spray, wash with Reikland Fleshshade, and drybrush the highlights for efficient large-model painting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fastest way to paint Stormcast Eternals?

Spray with Retributor Armour, wash everything with Reikland Fleshshade, drybrush with Sigmarite or Liberator Gold, block in blue and metal details, and base. This method takes about 15-20 minutes per model and produces great tabletop results.

Should I use Reikland Fleshshade or Agrax Earthshade on the gold?

Reikland Fleshshade is the standard choice — it creates warm, natural shadows in gold. Agrax Earthshade creates a dirtier, more weathered look. Nuln Oil makes gold look cold and metallic. For clean, shining gold armour, Reikland Fleshshade is correct.

Can I use Contrast Paints on Stormcast?

Yes. Spray with Wraithbone, apply Gore-Grunta Fur Contrast (which creates a bronze/gold effect over white), and you have a quick alternative to the metallic gold approach. This creates a more muted, realistic gold than metallic paints.

How do I paint glowing lightning effects on Stormcast?

For lightning effects on weapons, paint the lightning bolt pattern with Caledor Sky, then layer White Scar into the centre of each bolt. Thin Caledor Sky with Lahmian Medium and apply it as a glaze around the lightning to create a glow effect. For a simpler approach, paint the lightning Corax White and apply a thin glaze of Aethermatic Blue Contrast around it.

Do I need to paint Stormcast Eternals gold?

Not at all. The gold scheme is the most well-known, but Stormcast look fantastic in any colour. The model design works well with silver, black, white, or even non-metallic schemes. Choose whatever inspires you.

What size brush should I use for the gold armour?

A medium base brush (Citadel Medium Base or equivalent) for the large armour panels, and a small layer brush for the trim and edges around cloth and steel areas. For edge highlighting, a fine detail brush or a size 0 is ideal.

Discover more about the Stormcast Eternals faction in our comprehensive Stormcast Eternals army guide. For more painting techniques, see our drybrushing tutorial and Contrast Paints guide.

Should I varnish gold Stormcast armour?

Yes, if you game with your models, because metallic paint rubs off handled edges quickly. A matt varnish dulls metallics, so many painters use a gloss or satin varnish over the gold, then a matt varnish only on cloth and bases. Test on a spare model first, since some sprays can frost in humid weather.

Can I paint Stormcast Eternals with non-metallic gold?

Yes. Non-metallic metal (NMM) paints gold using browns, yellows and an off-white for the reflections, with no metallic paint at all. It’s slower and harder than the Retributor Armour method, but it photographs well and works best on the big, smooth armour plates of characters and display models.

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• Drybrushing Tutorial — Fast highlighting technique
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