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How to Paint Salamanders

Bright green armour, black skin and fiery accents

Prices in $ for the US

Army Painter Warpaints Fanatic Mega Paint Set$215.99

Before you commit

Painting ratings are our judgement, with the reasoning on the comparison page; prices are live and dated.

Paint sets that cover this scheme

All paint sets

One box of paints instead of 12 pots. Each card says how many of this scheme's colours it holds.

Or cover 92% of this scheme with 2 paint sets, $248.78 together: Army Painter Warpaints Fanatic Mega Paint Set + Warpaints Fanatic Metallics Paint Set

General starter boxes

All boxes

We can't price a Salamanders box in your market today, so these are general starter boxes, and each card says so.

Recommended recipe

1

Base coat

Lay the foundation colour down over primer, slightly darker than the final tone.

Closest paint we sell — not an exact match for this colour

Suggested
2

Shade

Wash the recesses to add depth and separate the details.

Suggested
3

Layer

Rebuild the main colour on the raised areas, leaving the shade in the cracks.

Suggested
4

Highlight

Pick out the upper edges and surfaces that catch the light.

Suggested
5

Edge highlight

Sharpen only the sharpest edges for a crisp, finished look.

Suggested

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

Metal — weapons

Bolters, blades and casings. Dark gunmetal, washed black, edged with bright steel.

Suggested

Leather & pouches

Straps, holsters and bare wood. Mid brown, shaded, then drybrushed a lighter tan.

Suggested

Skin & flesh

Faces and hands. Basecoat, a flesh wash into the recesses, then build the highlights back up.

Suggested

Eyes & lenses

Lenses, eyes and energy. A bright spot colour that pops against the armour - dot it on and add a white glint.

Suggested

Basing — earth

Groundwork. Earth basecoat, drybrushed bone, finished with your choice of grass, sand or snow.

Suggested

Flame & lenses

Eyes, flamers and heraldry - the chapter signature orange flame.

Suggested

Your paints

Tick off what's already on your shelf — whatever's left is your shopping list.

12 paints in this scheme

Price this recipe

12 paints
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  • $6.99 US delivery, 3-5 business days

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Forest Green

Vallejo · Arte Deco

#055D2BBase
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from$3.79· compare 4 shops· priced 1 Sep
Paint

Green Tone

Army Painter · Quickshade Washes Set

#0F2B18Matte
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from$3.45· compare 4 shops· priced 1 Sep
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Splinter Blotches I

Vallejo · Panzer Aces

#01633CBase
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Skarsnik Green

Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951324

#608F6B
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from$4.55· compare 6 shops· priced 5 Jul
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Gauss Blaster Green

Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951374

#89C1A6
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from$4.55· compare 4 shops· priced 5 Jul
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Necron Compound

Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Dry 99189952048

#9DA3A7Metallic
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from$3.87· compare 7 shops· priced 13 Sep
Paint

John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal

Army Painter · Warpaints Fanatic

#3E3E3EMetallic
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$4.55at War Games USA· priced 1 Sep
Paint

Beasty Brown

Vallejo · Game Color 72.043

#55371BBase
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from$3.29· compare 2 shops· priced 5 Jul
Paint

Splinter Blotches II

Vallejo · Panzer Aces

#3C2B24Base
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Warlock Purple

Army Painter · Warpaints

#C34D81Matte
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English Uniform

Vallejo · Model Color 70.921

#6F532BMatte
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from$3.29· compare 3 shops· priced 5 Jul
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Bright Orange

Vallejo · Model Color 70.851

#E05921Matte
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from$3.29· compare 3 shops· priced 5 Jul
Paint

Every Salamanders kit and box, priced

Prices compared across the shops that stock them — boxes ranked by cost per model.

Salamanders are one of the most visually distinct Space Marine chapters - bright green armour, jet-black skin and plenty of fire and forge imagery. The strong, saturated green makes them pop on the table, and the dark skin is a fun, unusual detail to paint.

The signature look

Vivid green armour (brighter and more saturated than Dark Angels), black weapons and trim, gold/brass forge details, and the chapter's characteristic green glow on power weapons and drakes. Salamanders are proud of their fire and forge heritage, so flame motifs and heat-stained metal fit well.

Painting the green armour

Use the ramp above and keep the green bright. A green contrast over a white undercoat is a quick way to a clean, vivid basecoat; edge highlight with a lighter, slightly yellow-green for definition.

Black skin and fiery details

  • Skin - basecoat black/very dark grey, then highlight with cool dark greys and a touch of purple or blue on the high points so it reads as skin, not just black plastic. Salamanders famously have glowing red/orange eyes - a tiny dot of bright orange sells it.
  • Flames and heat - blend orange to yellow on flamer tanks and weapon glows; heat-stain exhausts with thin blue and purple glazes over metal.

Tips and common mistakes

  • Keep the green saturated. Salamanders should look bright and bold.
  • Don't leave skin flat black. Grey highlights and a bright eye make it read as flesh.
  • Use the eyes. Glowing orange eyes are a quick, iconic touch.

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.