How to Paint Drukhari

Drukhari are a study in contrast: very dark armour, very pale skin, and edges everywhere. The models are covered in blades, spines and armour plates that all terminate in a hard line, which makes edge highlighting the single technique that defines the army. Skip it and a Kabalite Warrior is a black smudge; do it and the model looks like it could cut you.

They are quicker than they look. The armour is one dark colour over a dark undercoat, the skin is small, and there is very little cloth or ornament to slow you down.

The signature look

Deep, cold armour - teal, green or near-black - highlighted to a sharp bright edge, with bone-pale skin, dark leather and glinting bladed weapons. Nothing on a Drukhari model is warm except the poison and the blood.

Kabalite armour

Undercoat black. Base the plates Incubi Darkness, shade with Nuln Oil in the recesses only, then layer Kabalite Green across the raised areas. Edge-highlight Sybarite Green, and on the very sharpest points add a hint of Gauss Blaster Green. Keep every highlight to a thin line - a broad highlight on armour this dark just looks like a second basecoat.

Faster route: Akhelian Green contrast over a Grey Seer undercoat gives you the base and shade in one, and you can go straight to the Sybarite Green edge.

Armour panels on vehicles and the Raider hulls take the same recipe, but drybrush Kabalite Green across the large flat areas before edging so they do not read as slabs.

Skin

Drukhari skin should look like it has never seen a sun. Base Rakarth Flesh, shade with thinned Druchii Violet rather than a flesh wash, then layer Pallid Wych Flesh and highlight the cheekbones, nose and knuckles with Praxeti White. A tiny amount of Carroburg Crimson glazed into the lips and around the eyes puts some life back without warming the whole face.

For Wyches and anyone with more skin showing, add a faint Genestealer Purple glaze into the shadows of the limbs - it keeps large areas of pale flesh from going flat.

Blades, leather and poison

Blades are the second signature. Leadbelcher shaded Nuln Oil, then Runefang Steel on the cutting edge and Stormhost Silver at the tip. Leather straps and bodygloves in Rhinox Hide highlighted Gorthor Brown, or Abaddon Black edged Eshin Grey for a glossier look.

Poison is the accent that ties the army together. Glaze Waywatcher Green along the blade edge and let it pool, or run Nurgles Rot into a barb for something viscous. Splinter weapon crystals take Xereus Purple into Genestealer Purple with a White Scar dot.

Kabal colour schemes

The recipe stays the same; change the armour colour and the trim.

• Black Heart - dark teal plate with bone and gold trim, the studio scheme.
• Poisoned Tongue - Naggaroth Night into Xereus Purple, with acid-green weapons.
• Flayed Skull - Mephiston Red plate with bone-white trim and lots of exposed metal.
• Obsidian Rose - Abaddon Black plate edged Eshin Grey with Screamer Pink detailing.
• Baleful Gaze - Kantor Blue into Alaitoc Blue, cold and clean.

Tips and common mistakes

• Edge highlight everything. It is the whole technique. Thin your paint and use the side of the brush.
• Do not warm the skin. Flesh washes make Drukhari look like sunburnt humans.
• Keep the blades cleaner than the armour. Bright metal against dark plate is the visual hook.
• Wyches take longer than Kabalites. Plan for it - far more skin, far more straps.