How to Paint Aeldari
Smooth craftworld armour, sharp contrast panels and glowing spiritstones
Prices in $ for the US
Before you commit
How hard to paint
90of 116 easiest
Harder than most
Model size2 out of 5Detail density4 out of 5Technique demanded2 out of 5
Compare all 116 factions →
What it costs to start
$121.55
$0.28 per point
Combat Patrol: Aeldari, cheapest shop we track
Compare armies by value →
Painting ratings are our judgement, with the reasoning on the comparison page; prices are live and dated.
Aeldari boxes to start with
Compare Aeldari boxesThe Aeldari boxes we can price in your market, cheapest first.
20% off RRPAeldari · 21 models · 4 kits
1× Spiritseer Miniature · 5× Wraithblades Miniatures (which can alternatively be built as Wraithguard) · 5× Warp Spiders Miniatures · 10× Dire Avengers Miniatures
20% off RRPAeldari · 17 models · 4 kits
1× Kharseth · 1× Wave Serpent · 5× Corsair Skyreavers · 10× Corsair Voidreavers (which can alternatively be built as Corsair Voidscarred)
20% off RRPAeldari · 23 models · 5 kits
1× Prince Yriel Miniature · 1× Kharseth Miniature · 1× Starfang Miniature(which can alternatively be built as a Vyper) · 10× Corsair Skyreavers Miniature · 10× Corsair Voidreavers Miniature(which can alternatively be built as Corsair Voidscarred)
Paint sets that cover this scheme
All paint setsOne box of paints instead of 14 pots. Each card says how many of this scheme's colours it holds.
50 paints
Covers 11 of 14 colours in this scheme
16 paints
Covers 6 of 14 colours in this scheme
69 paints
Covers 5 of 14 colours in this scheme
4 paints
Covers 5 of 14 colours in this scheme
24 paints
Covers 4 of 14 colours in this scheme
10 paints
Covers 4 of 14 colours in this scheme
Recommended recipe
How the scheme reads on a model
Armour — base to highlight
Tap a colour to change its paint.
- Base coatSplinter Blotches IVallejo · Panzer AcesView paint
- ShadeHulky Green DipGreen Stuff World · Dipping InksView paint
- LayerLight GreenVallejo · Mecha Color 69.025View paint
- HighlightGhost GreenVallejo · Game Color 72.121≈ Closest paint we sellView paint
- Edge highlightVerdigrisVallejo · Game Color 72.096View paint
Additional details
- TrimBright GoldArmy Painter · WarpaintsView paint
- WeaponsJohn Blanche Masterclass: Heavy MetalArmy Painter · Warpaints FanaticView paint
- LeatherBeasty BrownVallejo · Game Color 72.043View paint
- SkinBestigor FleshCitadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951243View paint
- LensesFluorescent MagentaVallejo · Game Color 72.158View paint
- BasingEnglish UniformVallejo · Model Color 70.921View paint
- Contrast panelsBold Titanium WhiteMonument · Monument Pro Acrylic Paints MPA001View paint
- Spiritstones & gemsTransparent RedVallejo · Model ColorView paint
- Undersuit & weaponsWaaagh! FleshCitadel (Warhammer Paints) · Base 99189950277View paint
1
Base coat
Lay the foundation colour down over primer, slightly darker than the final tone.
Suggested
Exact Match
Greenskin
Army Painter · Warpaints
No shop price tracked yet — the paint’s page has every seller we find.
Very CloseDiscontinued
Close
Close
Warpstone Glow
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951321
from$4.55· compare 6 shops· priced 5 Jul
2
Shade
Wash the recesses to add depth and separate the details.
Suggested
Very Close
Close
Close
3
Layer
Rebuild the main colour on the raised areas, leaving the shade in the cracks.
Suggested
★ Our pick for layer
Very Close
Very Close
Very Close
Close
4
Highlight
Pick out the upper edges and surfaces that catch the light.
Closest paint we sell — not an exact match for this colour
Suggested
★ Our pick for highlight
Close
Close
Rogue Hobbies Bright Green
Monument · Monument Pro Signature Series MPA-S33
from$4.50· compare 2 shops· priced 13 Sep
Similar
Skarsnik Green
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951324
from$4.55· compare 6 shops· priced 5 Jul
5
Edge highlight
Sharpen only the sharpest edges for a crisp, finished look.
Suggested
★ Our pick for edge highlight
Exact Match
Gauss Blaster Green
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951374
from$4.55· compare 4 shops· priced 5 Jul
Details & accent colours
Everything else on the model - metals, skin, leather, lenses, basing and this faction's signature accents.
Metal — trim
Aquilas, rims and ornament. Basecoat gold, wash with a brown shade, then edge a brighter gold.
Suggested
Bright Gold
Army Painter · Warpaints
No shop price tracked yet — the paint’s page has every seller we find.
★ Our pick for metal — trim
Very Close
Very Close
Close
Balthasar Gold
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Base 99189950310
from$3.87· compare 6 shops· priced 13 Sep
Close
Metal — weapons
Bolters, blades and casings. Dark gunmetal, washed black, edged with bright steel.
Suggested
John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal
Army Painter · Warpaints Fanatic
$4.55at War Games USA· priced 1 Sep
★ Our pick for metal — weapons
Very Close
Close
Close
Adepticon Magnesium
Monument · Monument Pro Signature Series MPA-S42
from$4.50· compare 2 shops· priced 13 Sep
Similar
Leather & pouches
Straps, holsters and bare wood. Mid brown, shaded, then drybrushed a lighter tan.
Suggested
★ Our pick for leather & pouches
Very Close
Flameon Dark Green Brown
Monument · Monument Pro Signature Series MPA-S25
from$4.50· compare 2 shops· priced 13 Sep
CloseDiscontinued
Skin & flesh
Faces and hands. Basecoat, a flesh wash into the recesses, then build the highlights back up.
Suggested
Bestigor Flesh
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951243
from$4.55· compare 5 shops· priced 5 Jul
★ Our pick for skin & flesh
Very Close
Barbarian Flesh
Army Painter · Warpaints
No shop price tracked yet — the paint’s page has every seller we find.
Very Close
Very Close
CloseDiscontinued
Eyes & lenses
Lenses, eyes and energy. A bright spot colour that pops against the armour - dot it on and add a white glint.
Suggested
★ Our pick for eyes & lenses
Very Close
Similar
Emperor's Children
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951366
from$4.55· compare 6 shops· priced 5 Jul
Basing — earth
Groundwork. Earth basecoat, drybrushed bone, finished with your choice of grass, sand or snow.
Suggested
★ Our pick for basing — earth
Very Close
Contrast panels
Helmets and shoulder plates in bone or white over a grey base, white on the highest edges only. A craftworld model is two flat colours in hard contrast; this is the second one.
Suggested
Bold Titanium White
Monument · Monument Pro Acrylic Paints MPA001
from$5.00· compare 4 shops· priced 12 Aug
★ Our pick for contrast panels
Very Close
Close
Spiritstones & gems
Black in the stone, a crescent of colour in the lower two-thirds, a brighter crescent inside it and one white dot at the top edge. Gloss it. Thirty seconds, and it is the detail that sells the model.
Suggested
Very Close
Expert Acrylics Primary Magenta
Monument · Monument Expert Acrylics
from$6.30· compare 2 shops· priced 13 Sep
Very Close
Very Close
Very CloseDiscontinued
Undersuit & weapons
Shuriken catapults, joints and bodyglove in a near-black teal, edged a shade up. Keep them dark - one bright accent per model, and it should be the gem.
Suggested
★ Our pick for undersuit & weapons
Very Close
Matt Cexwish Dark Emerald
Monument · Monument Pro Signature Series MPA-S20
from$4.50· compare 2 shops· priced 13 Sep
Your paints
Tick off what's already on your shelf — whatever's left is your shopping list.
14 paints in this scheme
Price this recipe
14 paintspostage per seller
- not stocked: Splinter Blotches I, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Bold Titanium White, Transparent Red
prices shown on Amazon at checkout
- not stocked: Splinter Blotches I, Hulky Green Dip, Light Green, Verdigris, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, English Uniform, Transparent Red
$6.99 US delivery, 3-5 business days
- not stocked: Splinter Blotches I, Hulky Green Dip, Light Green, Ghost Green, Verdigris, Bright Gold, Beasty Brown, Fluorescent Magenta, English Uniform, Bold Titanium White, Transparent Red
postage by parcel weight and destination, shown at checkout — no free-shipping threshold
- not stocked: Splinter Blotches I, Light Green, Ghost Green, Verdigris, Bright Gold, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Beasty Brown, Bestigor Flesh, Fluorescent Magenta, English Uniform, Bold Titanium White, Transparent Red, Waaagh! Flesh
$10 US delivery, 4-8 business days, free over $75
- not stocked: Splinter Blotches I, Hulky Green Dip, Light Green, Ghost Green, Verdigris, Bright Gold, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Beasty Brown, Bestigor Flesh, Fluorescent Magenta, English Uniform, Bold Titanium White, Transparent Red
- not stocked: Splinter Blotches I, Hulky Green Dip, Light Green, Ghost Green, Verdigris, Bright Gold, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Beasty Brown, Bestigor Flesh, Fluorescent Magenta, English Uniform, Bold Titanium White, Transparent Red
- not stocked: Splinter Blotches I, Hulky Green Dip, Light Green, Ghost Green, Verdigris, Bright Gold, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Beasty Brown, Bestigor Flesh, Fluorescent Magenta, English Uniform, Transparent Red, Waaagh! Flesh
- not stocked: Splinter Blotches I, Hulky Green Dip, Light Green, Ghost Green, Verdigris, Bright Gold, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Beasty Brown, Bestigor Flesh, English Uniform, Bold Titanium White, Transparent Red, Waaagh! Flesh
totals excl. delivery · affiliate links
Bright Gold
Army Painter · Warpaints
No shop price tracked yet — the paint’s page has every seller we find.
John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal
Army Painter · Warpaints Fanatic
$4.55at War Games USA· priced 1 Sep
Bestigor Flesh
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951243
from$4.55· compare 5 shops· priced 5 Jul
Bold Titanium White
Monument · Monument Pro Acrylic Paints MPA001
from$5.00· compare 4 shops· priced 12 Aug
Compare every Aeldari box
Want the codex too? At Loaded Dice (UK):save £23.01 vs RRP(out of stock)
Shopping from the US?save $25.50 vs RRP
Every Aeldari kit and box, priced
Prices compared across the shops that stock them — boxes ranked by cost per model.
Aeldari are the opposite of a wash-and-drybrush army. The armour is smooth, curved and almost entirely free of the rivets and cabling that hide mistakes on other factions, so every brush mark shows. That sounds punishing, but it cuts both ways: there is very little to paint. A Guardian is two large armour colours, a helmet, a gun and a gem. Get those four things clean and the model looks finished.
The signature look
A craftworld model is built on hard contrast between two flat colours - the body armour and the helmet or shoulder plates - with a bone or white secondary and one point of glowing gemstone. There is no grime and no chipping. Aeldari wargear is meant to look grown rather than manufactured, so keep the finish even and resist the urge to weather anything.
The armour
Thin your paint and build up. Over a Wraithbone or Grey Seer undercoat, two thin coats of the base colour will cover where one thick coat would pool in the panel lines and ruin them.
For a Biel-Tan green: base Caliban Green, shade only in the recesses with Biel-Tan Green, layer Warpstone Glow across the panel and edge-highlight Moot Green. For the fast version, a single coat of Aeldari Emerald over Wraithbone does the shading and basecoat in one pass, and you can still edge it with Moot Green afterwards.
Contrast panels in Ulthuan Grey over Celestra Grey, then White Scar on the highest edges, give you the crisp white the scheme needs. Weapons and undersuits stay dark - Incubi Darkness shaded with Nuln Oil and edged Kabalite Green reads as alien and keeps the bright armour dominant.
Spiritstones and gems
This is the detail that sells the model, and it takes about thirty seconds each. Paint the stone Abaddon Black, then a crescent of colour in the lower two-thirds - Khorne Red, Kantor Blue or Caliban Green - leaving black at the top. Add a smaller, brighter crescent inside it (Evil Sunz Scarlet, Teclis Blue, Warpstone Glow), then a single dot of White Scar at the upper edge. Gloss it and you are done.
Faster still: Spiritstone Red, Soulstone Blue or Waystone Green over a Runefang Steel base gives a glossy jewelled finish in one coat, which is exactly what the technical paints were made for.
Craftworld colour schemes
The recipe is the same each time; only the two armour colours change.
- Biel-Tan - green armour, white or bone secondary.
- Ulthwe - black armour with bone, the quickest of the lot.
- Saim-Hann - Mephiston Red into Evil Sunz Scarlet, black secondary.
- Iyanden - Averland Sunset into Yriel Yellow, deep blue helmets.
- Alaitoc - Kantor Blue into Alaitoc Blue, bone secondary.
Yellow Iyanden is the slowest by a distance; black Ulthwe is the fastest army on this list, since the armour is a single dark colour and all the work goes into the bone panels and gems.
Tips and common mistakes
- Undercoat light. Aeldari colours are saturated and thin. A black undercoat will fight you for three extra coats.
- Do not wash the whole model. An all-over shade muddies the smooth panels. Shade only the recess lines, with a brush, and wipe the excess.
- Edge highlights, not blends. A clean thin line along each panel edge does more for these curved shapes than any amount of blending.
- One bright accent per model. The gems and the weapon glow should be the only things shouting.
Recipes are generated by perceptual colour matching against our cross-brand paint database. Use them as a strong starting point and test paints in person when precision matters.