Top 10 Contrast Paints I Recommend | Warhammer 40k & Sigmar Painting | Miniature Hobby Tutorial

In honor of 2021, and a growing amount of interest in how much I use Contrast Paints when painting Warhammer 40k, I decided to detail my top favorite Contrast Paints! These are the paints I find myself using the most often and would recommend if you were also looking to get started with Contrast Paints for your Dungeons and Dragons, Warhammer, Legion, etc games.

If you're looking to pick up some new paints, and are in North America, consider checking out my FLGS's online store! (I work there too. So... #ad?)

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[HobbyNight]

What isYOUR favorite Contrast Paint?

(I meant to post this when the video went live this morning but I totally spaced out XD forgive me!)

[TheSaraGames]

Sometimes a product is released that has some additional bonuses to it not initially intended. Contrast paints is one such product. Accessibility. Some people may have great difficulty raising their skill in painting due to some form of limitation. There are days when it would not be possible for me to paint. Arms/hands too weak, too sore, etc. Contrast paints gives more options for some of us where traditional painting methods would just not be feasible due to limitations. Contrast paints without a doubt has created more accessibility for people. Not the initial intent but I'm very thankful for them.

[SamOnMaui]

Explaining the paints totally helps. Frankly, looking at the different paint lines (Vallejo, P3, GW, etc) its SO easy to get overwhelmed. So, getting recommendations on a few solid, versatile colors is really good. Getting the best bang for the buck is important! :)

[ZombieMonkey]

Akhelian green over leadbelcher is probably the biggest eye catcher in the entire contrast line, and and it works surprisingly well for ghosts and maybe a necron blackstone substitute

[joshuapicaro]

As someone who’s is partially colorblind putting your suggestions for each contrast paint removes a ton of stress of me. Thank you so much.

[tomtofflemire]

Just watched the video and picked up a good collection of these paints, tested them on a batch of squigs I'd wanted to paint forever. Man they look great, I love how they seep right into the crevices and they look even better with a zenithal base for the shadow effect. Love the channel.

[AlchemicalRabbit]

Fun Fact: I had to talk her into putting Black Templar in the top 10 instead of the Honorable Mentions.

[EricHonaker]

Skeleton Horde, Gullible and Fyreslayer Flesh, and Snakebite Leather are the ones I have that I find myself using frequently. I really like Warp Lightning, too, but I don't have a need for it very often.

[jameskyle]

My favorite is probably Snakebite leather- followed by Iyanden yellow .

[OzSainT]

Great choice for number 1. I also use it in almost every paint job I do. Mainly painting death stuff it’s been amazing for quick coverage and has amazing results not only as a base colour but also used as a shade.

[DismemberTheAlamo]

Agree with skeleton horde.
That paint is a workhorse.

Bone, cloth, stone, rope, shade...
the possibilities are endless.

[simonrobertson]

I think the contrast paints are so useful and its so good to see a focus on using them. I get the feeling sometimes that they are frowned on but its good to see such good results using them!

[jaega]

Great to hear someone else enjoying these paints! I know they're not for everyone, and lots of pro painters look down on them a lot, but to me they've really helped me enjoy the hobby again.
I can't really say I have ONE favourite among them, but I do use Cygor brown a lot as a wash (thinned down with medium). I've also used Space wolves grey when painting metal, using Wraith bone as base, then the Cygor brown wash on top, with the medium scrubbing off a bit of the grey to get some highlights. Very simple, and though the results may vary, I feel like I've had a lot of success with it too.
The problem I have is to get a nice, consistent colour for large, plain surfaces. I don't recommend doing tanks with Contrast paints only, unless you're looking specifically for a very random camo/weathering pattern. Better for 'Guard than the Marines, I guess. They're much better for anything organic, like 'Nids or Daemons - especially something Nurgle-related.
I totally agree with the list as well, save perhaps for Basilicanum grey - I can make it work very well for stone or withered wood, but I keep failing to make it work the way I want for metal and armour. Would love to see a full video on how you'd use it. Skeleton Hordes, on the other hand, can be used for just about anything! :)

[txta]

My favorite is that magos purple. It's awesome for painting reptile and undead skin. Apothecary white and the grey is good for easy capes without much blending.. And skeleton horde is awesome too. I use that blue to shade all my blue glow effects. Nice list.

[drummerwarrior]

I love Aggaros Dunes and use it for EVERYTHING! I only use white undercoat and use Aggaros to represent a rich Yellow and Khaki plus I paint other contrast paints such as Blood Angels Red over the top to get a rich red colour.

[NargSmart]

I’ve found the flesh tones great for adding a rust effect to metals too. Great list!

[mmarchani]

I am a big fan of Space Wolves Grey, slightly thinned, as a NMM. I have been painting for nearly 40 years, and I love Contrast paints. They do amazing over a zenithal prime and I usually only need a couple of highlights to get a lot of minis done and still looking amazing

[mynamesmiked]

I was hoping that Wyldwood would make the list, it's probably my most used contrast color. Nice video!

[wezab]

I currently have 4 contrast paint colours, (Knocked over the pot of black templar and lost the lot) which I purchased specifically with the Death Guard in mind. I think I took on the DG project after being given a pox walker to play at the GW store. Anyway they are Plaguebearer Green, Militarum Green, Flesh Tearers Red and Shysh Purple. But all my models get variations in undercoat a couple of standard GW paints and metal metals. I like the fact that the Contrast can be under shaded and dulled or enhanced. I also like the fact that it goes on quick and is easy to fix.

[beezany]

I really like Basilicanum Grey and Apothecary White for tree bark. Most trees are more gray than anything. Add some flecks of green and orange for moss & lichen and you get a really convincing bark.