How to Paint Tyranids — Step by Step Guide

Weathering and Battle Damage

Once your base paintwork is complete, adding weathering effects brings your models to life with a sense of battlefield realism that elevates them beyond a clean tabletop standard. Weathering tells a story — every scratch, scorch mark, and rust streak suggests a history of brutal combat across the grimdark battlefields of the 41st millennium.

Start with sponge weathering using a torn piece of blister pack foam. Dab a small amount of dark brown or black paint onto the sponge, remove most of it on a paper towel, then lightly press it against edges, corners, and raised surfaces where paint would naturally chip. Focus on areas that would see the most wear: knee pads, shoulder pad edges, weapon housings, and the leading edges of armour plates. For a more refined look, go back with a fine brush and add small scratches using a light silver or metallic colour inside the larger chips, simulating exposed metal beneath the paint.

Mud and dust effects work wonderfully on legs and lower hull sections. Mix a brown wash with a touch of texture paint and stipple it around feet, tracks, and lower armour panels. Rust streaks can be painted vertically downward from rivets and bolt holes using thinned orange-brown paint, creating the appearance of rainwater carrying oxidised metal particles down the surface. Finish with a matte varnish to unify the weathering effects and protect your work during gaming sessions.

Speed Painting Alternative

Not every model needs hours of painstaking layering. Speed painting techniques using Citadel Contrast paints, Army Painter Speed Paints, or similar one-coat systems can produce impressive results in a fraction of the time, making them ideal for batch painting large squads or getting an army table-ready for an upcoming tournament.

The key to successful speed painting starts with your undercoat. A zenithal prime — spraying black from below and white from above — creates natural shadow and highlight gradients that Contrast paints will follow beautifully. Apply the Contrast paint in a single, confident coat over the zenithal prime, letting the translucent formula do the heavy lifting. The paint naturally pools in recesses and thins on raised surfaces, creating instant depth and definition without any manual shading.

For batch efficiency, work in assembly-line fashion: complete one colour across all models before moving to the next. A squad of ten can be speed-painted to a solid tabletop standard in two to three hours this way. Pick out key details like lenses, weapon casings, and insignia with regular paints for contrast, then apply a quick drybrush highlight to add extra definition. The result is a cohesive, battle-ready force that looks great on the table and holds up well at normal viewing distances.

Display Painting Tips

For painters looking to push their skills beyond tabletop standard, display painting techniques offer the opportunity to create true miniature works of art. These methods require patience and practice but produce stunning results that stand out in competitions and showcases alike.

Edge highlighting is the foundation of display-quality painting. Use the side of a fine-pointed brush rather than the tip, drawing it along armour edges to create clean, consistent lines. Build up highlights in two to three stages, using progressively lighter colours and applying each layer to a smaller area. The final highlight — often a near-white mix — should touch only the sharpest corners and most prominent edges, creating the illusion of light catching polished surfaces.

Non-metallic metal (NMM) painting replaces actual metallic paints with carefully blended regular colours to simulate reflective surfaces. This technique uses stark transitions between dark shadows and bright highlights, placed according to how light would interact with the surface. Wet blending — applying two colours side by side on the model while still wet and blending them together on the surface — creates the smooth, seamless gradients essential for convincing NMM effects. Practice on spare models or test pieces before committing to your display miniature, and reference photographs of real metal objects to understand how reflections behave on different shapes.

Community Showcase

The Warhammer painting community is one of the most welcoming and inspiring creative spaces in the hobby. Platforms like Reddit’s r/minipainting and r/Warhammer40k, Instagram’s thriving minipainting hashtags, and dedicated Discord servers provide endless inspiration and constructive feedback for painters at every skill level. Sharing your own work — even early attempts — is a fantastic way to track your progress, connect with fellow hobbyists, and discover new techniques. Many local gaming stores also host painting competitions and hobby nights where you can learn directly from experienced painters in your area.

Introduction

Tyranids are one of the most enjoyable armies to paint in Warhammer 40,000. Their organic shapes, alien biology, and monstrous designs offer a completely different painting experience from anything in power armour. This guide walks you through the classic Hive Fleet Leviathan colour scheme — cream carapace over purple skin — step by step.

Tyranids are also one of the best armies for Contrast paints. Their smooth, organic surfaces are perfect for the way Contrast flows into recesses, and we cover exactly how to use them in this guide.

For a deeper look at using Contrast paints across any army, visit our Contrast paints guide.

Paints You Will Need

Paint Type	Paint Name	Used For
Spray	Wraithbone	Primer
Base	Naggaroth Night	Skin basecoat
Layer	Xereus Purple	Skin layer
Layer	Genestealer Purple	Skin highlight
Shade	Druchii Violet	Skin wash
Base	Rakarth Flesh	Carapace basecoat
Layer	Pallid Wych Flesh	Carapace highlight
Shade	Seraphim Sepia	Carapace wash
Base	Screamer Pink	Tongue, fleshy bits
Layer	Pink Horror	Flesh highlight
Base	Abaddon Black	Claws, talons, hooves
Layer	Eshin Grey	Claw highlight
Layer	Dawnstone	Claw edge highlight
Base	Khorne Red	Weapon sacs, vents
Layer	Wazdakka Red	Weapon highlight
Contrast	Magos Purple	Speed paint skin option
Contrast	Skeleton Horde	Speed paint carapace option
Technical	Ardcoat	Glossy effect on claws
Technical	‘Ardcoat / Blood for the Blood God	Glossy mouths, gore

Step 1 — Priming

Prime all your Tyranid models with Wraithbone spray. This warm off-white base serves double duty: it is the starting point for the bone carapace, and it provides the ideal undercoat for Contrast paints if you choose to use them.

Ensure complete coverage. Tyranid models have many overlapping organic plates and deep recesses — rotate the model while spraying and check from underneath for any missed spots.

Step 2 — Painting the Skin (Traditional Method)

The skin on Leviathan Tyranids is a rich purple. Here is the traditional approach:

Basecoat: Paint all skin areas with Naggaroth Night. Skin areas include the fleshy parts between carapace plates, the underside of the body, inner limbs, and the face/jaw area. Two thin coats for good coverage.
Wash: Apply Druchii Violet over all skin areas. This deepens the recesses and gives a rich, organic quality to the purple.
Layer: Apply Xereus Purple to the raised areas of the skin, leaving Naggaroth Night and the wash visible in the deepest recesses.
Highlight: Apply Genestealer Purple as a fine edge highlight on the most prominent skin ridges and muscle definition.

Speed Paint Alternative — Contrast Method

For a faster approach that still looks excellent, use Contrast paints over the Wraithbone primer:

Apply Magos Purple Contrast paint directly over the Wraithbone on all skin areas. Apply it in one smooth stroke per section — do not go back over areas that are starting to dry.
The paint naturally pools in recesses and thins on raised areas, creating an instant gradient from dark purple in crevices to lighter purple on muscles.
Optionally highlight with Genestealer Purple on the highest points for extra pop.

The Contrast method is particularly good for Tyranids because their smooth, organic surfaces allow the paint to flow beautifully. On a Hormagaunt or Termagant, you can complete the skin in under a minute per model.

Step 3 — Painting the Carapace

The carapace is the hard, chitinous armour plates on the top of the model. On Leviathan Tyranids, these are a creamy bone colour:

Basecoat: If you primed with Wraithbone, the carapace already has a good base. Neaten any areas that got purple on them with Rakarth Flesh.
Wash: Apply Seraphim Sepia carefully into the recesses of the carapace plates. You want the sepia to settle in the lines and edges of each plate, not flood the whole surface. Use a smaller brush and controlled application.
Layer: If needed, re-apply Rakarth Flesh to smooth out any areas where the wash spread too far.
Highlight: Edge highlight the carapace ridges and plate edges with Pallid Wych Flesh. This creates a sharp, clean look that contrasts beautifully with the organic purple skin below.

Speed Alternative

Apply Skeleton Horde Contrast paint over the Wraithbone-primed carapace for an instant warm bone finish with natural shading.

Step 4 — Claws, Talons, and Hooves

The hard, sharp extremities of Tyranid models are painted in a dark, glossy black:

Base with Abaddon Black.
Highlight with Eshin Grey about halfway up each claw.
Fine highlight the very tips and edges with Dawnstone.
Apply Ardcoat varnish over the claws for a glossy, chitinous shine. This small step makes a huge difference.

Step 5 — Fleshy Details

Tyranids have various fleshy bits — tongues, mouths, weapon sacs, and exposed internal areas:

Tongues and mouths: Base with Screamer Pink, wash with Carroburg Crimson, highlight with Pink Horror. Apply Ardcoat for a wet, glistening look.
Weapon sacs and vents: Base with Khorne Red, wash with Carroburg Crimson, highlight with Wazdakka Red.
Eyes: Dot with Yriel Yellow and glaze with Casandora Yellow for an alien, glowing look.

Step 6 — Basing

Tyranid bases should suggest a world being consumed or an alien landscape:

Desolate wasteland: Agrellan Earth for cracked terrain, drybrush with Tyrant Skull. Add sparse dead grass tufts.
Urban rubble: Use small pieces of cork or plastic for rubble. Paint grey, wash with Nuln Oil, drybrush Dawnstone. Suggests a city being overrun.
Bio-organic: Use Green Stuff or texture paint to create organic-looking ground. Paint in purples and pinks to match the army, suggesting the Tyranids have already begun digesting the planet.

Alternative Hive Fleet Colour Schemes

Each Hive Fleet has its own distinct colour scheme. Here are the most popular alternatives:

Hive Fleet Behemoth: Red skin with blue carapace. Base skin with Khorne Red, wash with Carroburg Crimson, layer with Wazdakka Red. Carapace with Kantor Blue, wash Drakenhof Nightshade, highlight Calgar Blue.
Hive Fleet Kraken: Bone/cream skin with red carapace. Invert the carapace-skin colour relationship of Leviathan. Base carapace with Mephiston Red, wash Agrax Earthshade, highlight Evil Sunz Scarlet.
Hive Fleet Jormungandr: Grey and purple. A more subdued, subterranean colour scheme. Base with Mechanicus Standard Grey, wash Nuln Oil, highlight Dawnstone. Purple accents on vents and sacs.
Hive Fleet Gorgon: Green skin with bone carapace. Use Warpstone Glow for the skin, suggesting a toxic, venomous nature. Pairs well with bright green toxin sacs.
Custom Hive Fleet: Create your own. Popular choices include black carapace with neon green skin (alien movie inspired), all-white albino swarms, or even bright tropical colours for a truly alien menace.

Tips for Painting Tyranids

Contrast paints are your friend. The organic shapes of Tyranids are literally the best surface in the game for Contrast paints. Use them liberally on small creatures.
Sub-assemble large monsters. For Hive Tyrants, Tyrannofexes, and similar large kits, paint the limbs and body separately before gluing them together. This gives you access to areas that would be impossible to reach once assembled.
Batch paint by size. Paint all your Termagants together, then all your Warriors, then your big monsters. Each size requires slightly different techniques.
Use the same palette across sizes. Consistency is what makes a Tyranid army look like a cohesive swarm rather than a random collection. Use the exact same paint recipes on a Ripper as on a Hive Tyrant.
Glossy claws and mouths sell the look. A coat of Ardcoat on claws, tongues, and carapace edges transforms the model. This glossy-matte contrast makes Tyranids look truly alive and alien.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the easiest Tyranid colour scheme to paint?

Hive Fleet Leviathan with Contrast paints. Prime Wraithbone, apply Magos Purple to skin, Skeleton Horde to carapace, black on claws. Three paints and you have a fully coloured model.

How do I paint Tyranid carapace patterns?

For striped carapace (seen on Leviathan art), paint thin lines of a darker colour along the length of each carapace plate. Use a fine detail brush and thinned paint. Start from the edge and pull toward the centre. Do not worry about perfection — organic patterns should vary.

Should I use Contrast or traditional paints for Tyranids?

For small models like Termagants and Hormagaunts, Contrast paints are faster and produce great results. For large centrepiece models like the Swarmlord or Tyrannofex, traditional paints give you more control over the final look. Many painters use both — Contrast for troops, traditional for characters and monsters.

How do I paint a Tyranid army quickly?

Prime Wraithbone, use Contrast paints for skin and carapace, paint claws black, base, done. A Termagant can be completed in 10–15 minutes this way. For a full swarm of 30, that is 5–7 hours.

Can I mix Hive Fleet colours?

Absolutely. Some players paint different broods in different Hive Fleet colours to represent a combined assault or a splinter fleet. As long as the basing ties them together, it works well on the tabletop.

How do I paint Tyranid bio-weapons?

Bio-weapons like devourers and fleshborers should match the carapace colour for the hard shell parts, with pink or red fleshy internals. The barrel of a fleshborer is essentially a mouth — paint it like one with Screamer Pink and a glossy coat.

Ready to field your painted swarm? Check out our complete Tyranids army guide for rules, stratagems, and competitive tactics.

Batch Painting Tips for Tyranids

When facing a full Tyranids army, the assembly line method is your greatest ally. Start by preparing all models at once — clip, clean mould lines, and prime everything in a single session. For Tyranids specifically, a primer that complements your varies by hive fleet scheme saves enormous time on the basecoat stage. Group your models by unit type and work through one colour at a time across the entire batch. Apply all varies by hive fleet basecoats first, then move to chitin and flesh tones details across every model before progressing to the next stage. This prevents constant paint swapping and keeps your palette wet longer.

The biggest time-saving trick for Tyranids is to identify which steps benefit most from batching. Basecoating the main varies by hive fleet armour panels is ideal for batch work since it covers the largest area. Save individual attention for faces, lenses, and unique character details. Consider using a wet palette to keep your paints workable across longer sessions. For washes, apply them to five or six models at a time — this gives the wash time to settle on earlier models while you work on later ones. Drybrushing highlights across a full squad takes minutes compared to edge highlighting each model individually, and for tabletop-quality Tyranids forces, drybrushing produces excellent results at a fraction of the time. Aim to complete squads in blocks of five to ten models, which balances efficiency with a sense of progress that keeps motivation high.

Colour Variations Across Unit Types

A cohesive Tyranids army uses its organic alien swarm colour scheme as a foundation, but smart variation across unit types adds visual depth to your force. Infantry should carry the core varies by hive fleet scheme faithfully — these are the backbone of your army and establish the visual identity on the tabletop. Keep them clean and consistent so the eye reads them as unified squads. For characters and leaders, elevate the scheme by adding extra detail work to the chitin and flesh tones elements, additional freehand, or more refined edge highlighting to make them stand out from the rank and file.

Vehicles like none — all biological benefit from weathering techniques that would overwhelm infantry models. Sponge chipping, oil washes for streaking, and dust pigments around tracks and lower hulls add realism at vehicle scale. Use the same varies by hive fleet palette but shift the ratio — larger flat panels need more tonal variation through modulation or airbrushing to avoid looking flat. For larger models and monsters such as Hive Tyrants, Carnifexes, and Hierophants, treat each as a centrepiece. These models justify extra time on blending, additional accent colours, and OSL effects. The scale difference naturally justifies a shift in painting approach — where infantry might receive three highlight stages, a centrepiece model can have five or more, creating a visual hierarchy across your entire collection.

Photographing Your Tyranids Army

To showcase your Tyranids army in photos, use a contrasting to your hive fleet scheme backdrop which creates strong contrast against the varies by hive fleet colour scheme. Two daylight-balanced LED panels at 45-degree angles eliminate harsh shadows while revealing the subtle highlights you worked hard to achieve. Position the camera at model eye-level rather than shooting from above — this creates a dramatic perspective that makes your miniatures look imposing. For close-up detail shots, a macro lens or clip-on macro attachment captures edge highlights and texture work. Shoot in RAW format if possible, and avoid over-editing — a slight boost to contrast and sharpness is usually all that is needed to make your Tyranids force look stunning on screen.