Death Guard · 14 models
7× Angels of Death Kill Team operatives · 7× Plague Marine Kill Team operatives
How to Paint Death Guard
Rotten green armour, rust, corrosion and gore made easy with washes
Prices in $ for the US
Before you commit
How hard to paint
9of 116 easiest
One of the easiest
Model size4 out of 5Detail density2 out of 5Technique demanded5 out of 5
Compare all 116 factions →
What it costs to start
$190.00
$0.38 per point
Combat Patrol: Death Guard, 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.
Death Guard boxes to start with
Compare Death Guard boxesThe Death Guard boxes we can price in your market, cheapest first.
20% off RRPDeath Guard · 13 models · 5 kits
1× Lord of Virulence · 1× Tallyman · 3× Deathshroud Terminators · 7× Plague Marines · 1× Chaos Rhino
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 8 of 14 colours in this scheme
69 paints
Covers 7 of 14 colours in this scheme
12 paints
Covers 4 of 14 colours in this scheme
6 paints
Covers 4 of 14 colours in this scheme
6 paints
Covers 4 of 14 colours in this scheme
12 paints
Covers 4 of 14 colours in this scheme
Or cover 93% of this scheme with 3 paint sets, $523.78 together: Army Painter Warpaints Fanatic Mega Paint Set + PRO Acryl Mega Set (69 Colors) + Warpaints Fanatic Metallics Paint Set
Recommended recipe
How the scheme reads on a model
Armour — base to highlight
Tap a colour to change its paint.
- Base coatYellow GreenMonument · Monument Pro Acrylic Paints MPA065View paint
- ShadeAcid Green DipGreen Stuff World · Dipping InksView paint
- LayerOgryn CamoCitadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951329View paint
- HighlightTyrant SkullCitadel (Warhammer Paints) · Dry 99189952045View paint
- Edge highlightOff-WhiteVallejo · Game Color 72.101≈ Closest paint we sellView paint
Additional details
- TrimNecron CompoundCitadel (Warhammer Paints) · Dry 99189952048View paint
- WeaponsJohn Blanche Masterclass: Heavy MetalArmy Painter · Warpaints FanaticView paint
- LeatherBeasty BrownVallejo · Game Color 72.043View paint
- SkinNecrotic FleshArmy Painter · WarpaintsView paint
- LensesElectric BlueScale75 · FX RangeView paint
- BasingEnglish UniformVallejo · Model Color 70.921View paint
- Rust & corrosionGolgfag BrownCitadel (Warhammer Paints) · Dry 99189952060View paint
- VerdigrisTalisman TealArmy Painter · Warpaints Fanatic WP3046PView paint
- Gore & woundsTuskgor FurCitadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951344View paint
1
Base coat
Lay the foundation colour down over primer, slightly darker than the final tone.
Suggested
★ Our pick for base coat
Close
2
Shade
Wash the recesses to add depth and separate the details.
Suggested
Close
Similar
Similar
Agrax Earthshade
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Shade 99189953084
from$7.80· compare 5 shops· priced 5 Jul
3
Layer
Rebuild the main colour on the raised areas, leaving the shade in the cracks.
Suggested
★ Our pick for layer
Close
Similar
4
Highlight
Pick out the upper edges and surfaces that catch the light.
Suggested
★ Our pick for highlight
Close
Necrotic Flesh
Army Painter · Warpaints
No shop price tracked yet — the paint’s page has every seller we find.
CloseDiscontinued
Similar
5
Edge highlight
Sharpen only the sharpest edges for a crisp, finished look.
Closest paint we sell — not an exact match for this colour
Suggested
Very Close
Very Close
Flameon Bright Pale Yellow
Monument · Monument Pro Signature Series
from$4.50· compare 2 shops· priced 13 Sep
CloseDiscontinued
Details & accent colours
Everything else on the model - metals, skin, leather, lenses, basing and this faction's signature accents.
Metal — trim
Trim and bare plate. Basecoat steel, wash dark, then edge bright silver.
Suggested
Necron Compound
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Dry 99189952048
from$3.87· compare 7 shops· priced 13 Sep
★ Our pick for metal — trim
Very Close
Close
Shining Silver
Army Painter · Warpaints
No shop price tracked yet — the paint’s page has every seller we find.
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
Necrotic Flesh
Army Painter · Warpaints
No shop price tracked yet — the paint’s page has every seller we find.
★ Our pick for skin & flesh
Very Close
Screaming Skull
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951331
from$4.55· compare 6 shops· priced 5 Jul
Very Close
Close
Close
Eyes & lenses
Lenses, eyes and energy. A bright spot colour that pops against the armour - dot it on and add a white glint.
Suggested
Similar
Expert Acrylics Primary Cyan
Monument · Monument Expert Acrylics
from$6.30· compare 2 shops· priced 13 Sep
Approximate
Altdorf Guard Blue
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951313
from$4.55· compare 7 shops· priced 5 Jul
Approximate
Basing — earth
Groundwork. Earth basecoat, drybrushed bone, finished with your choice of grass, sand or snow.
Suggested
★ Our pick for basing — earth
Very Close
Rust & corrosion
Stipple orange-brown around rivets, vents and lower edges. Vary the tone so it reads as organic decay, not a flat colour.
Suggested
★ Our pick for rust & corrosion
Very Close
Adepticon Orange Oxide
Monument · Monument Pro Signature Series
from$4.50· compare 2 shops· priced 13 Sep
Very CloseDiscontinued
Close
Verdigris
A touch of pale turquoise on brass and copper trim sells centuries of rot. Use it sparingly.
Suggested
★ Our pick for verdigris
Close
Close
Temple Guard Blue
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951318
from$4.55· compare 5 shops· priced 5 Jul
Gore & wounds
Glossy deep red in wounds, mouths and exposed guts - wet rot against the matt armour.
Suggested
★ Our pick for gore & wounds
Very Close
Very Close
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: Yellow Green, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Electric Blue
prices shown on Amazon at checkout
- not stocked: Yellow Green, Acid Green Dip, Off-White, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Electric Blue, English Uniform, Golgfag Brown
$6.99 US delivery, 3-5 business days
- not stocked: Yellow Green, Acid Green Dip, Tyrant Skull, Off-White, Beasty Brown, Electric Blue, English Uniform, Golgfag Brown
$10 US delivery, 4-8 business days, free over $75
- not stocked: Acid Green Dip, Tyrant Skull, Off-White, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Beasty Brown, Electric Blue, English Uniform, Golgfag Brown
- not stocked: Yellow Green, Acid Green Dip, Tyrant Skull, Off-White, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Beasty Brown, Necrotic Flesh, Electric Blue, English Uniform, Golgfag Brown, Talisman Teal
postage by parcel weight and destination, shown at checkout — no free-shipping threshold
- not stocked: Yellow Green, Ogryn Camo, Tyrant Skull, Off-White, Necron Compound, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Beasty Brown, Necrotic Flesh, Electric Blue, English Uniform, Golgfag Brown, Talisman Teal, Tuskgor Fur
- not stocked: Acid Green Dip, Ogryn Camo, Tyrant Skull, Off-White, Necron Compound, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Beasty Brown, Necrotic Flesh, Electric Blue, English Uniform, Golgfag Brown, Talisman Teal, Tuskgor Fur
totals excl. delivery · affiliate links
Necron Compound
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Dry 99189952048
from$3.87· compare 7 shops· priced 13 Sep
John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal
Army Painter · Warpaints Fanatic
$4.55at War Games USA· priced 1 Sep
Necrotic Flesh
Army Painter · Warpaints
No shop price tracked yet — the paint’s page has every seller we find.
Compare every Death Guard box
Want the codex too? At Loaded Dice (UK):save £23.01 vs RRP(out of stock)
Every Death Guard kit and box, priced
Prices compared across the shops that stock them — boxes ranked by cost per model.
Death Guard are the most forgiving "advanced-looking" army in the game. The whole faction is built on decay - rust, slime, rot and grime - which means mess is the point. Every imperfection, pooled wash and uneven layer just reads as more corruption, so this is a fantastic army for painters who want a rich, weathered result without needing crisp, clean technique.
The signature look
Death Guard armour is a sickly, washed-out green - somewhere between pallid bone and rotten olive - covered in rust, verdigris, and oozing wounds. The texture-heavy plague armour kits are designed to take washes and drybrushing, so the techniques that look fiddly on smooth Marines are quick and effective here.
Painting the plague armour
The recipe above gives you the base ramp for the pallid green. The corruption comes after:
- Basecoat and shade the armour using the ramp - keep it muted and slightly desaturated.
- Rust and corrosion: stipple orange and brown around rivets, vents and lower edges. Typhus Corrosion or any dark textured wash through the recesses adds instant grime.
- Verdigris: a touch of pale turquoise/green on brass and copper trim sells the centuries of rot.
- Rust streaks: drag thinned orange-brown downward from rivets and chips with a fine brush.
Gore, slime and wounds
The exposed guts and tentacles are where contrast paints shine - a single coat of a flesh or purple contrast over a light base gives instant depth. Gloss varnish or a dedicated "blood"/slime technical paint on wounds and mouths adds a wet, fresh-rot sheen that contrasts beautifully with the matt armour.
Tips and common mistakes
- Let the washes pool. On most armies pooling is a mistake; on Death Guard it is grime. Lean into it.
- Mix your rust. Vary orange, brown and dark red so the corrosion looks organic rather than a single flat colour.
- Matt armour, gloss gore. The contrast between a flat, dusty body and a few wet, glossy wounds is what makes Death Guard look genuinely diseased.
- Don't overdo verdigris. A little on the metal trim is striking; too much turns the whole model green-blue and muddy.
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.