Skaven · 25 models · 2 kits
5× Stormcast Eternals Liberators · 20× Skaven Clanrats
How to Paint Skaven
Mangy fur, rusty metal and glowing warpstone, done fast
Prices in $ for the US
Before you commit
How hard to paint
61of 116 easiest
About average
Model size1 out of 5Detail density2 out of 5Technique demanded5 out of 5
Compare all 116 factions →
What it costs to start
$57.87
$0.24 per point
Age of Sigmar: Introductory Set, 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.
Skaven boxes to start with
Compare Skaven boxesThe Skaven boxes we can price in your market, cheapest first.
Skaven · 35 models · 4 kits
1× Lord-Veritant · 1× Gryph-crow · 3× Prosecutors · 5× Liberators · 1× Grey Seer · 1× Warlock Engineer · 3× Rat Ogors · 20× Clanrats
20% off RRPSkaven · 25 models · 3 kits
1× Grey Seer · 3× Stormfiends · 1× Warp Lightning Cannon · 20× Clanrats
Skaven · 37 models · 5 kits
1× Lord-Vigilant on Gryph-stalker · 1× Lord-Veritant · 1× Gryph-crow · 3× Prosecutors · 5× Liberators · 1× Clawlord on Gnaw-beast · 1× Grey Seer · 1× Warlock Engineer · 3× Rat Ogors · 20× Clanrats
Skaven · 74 models · 9 kits
Skaven · 74 models · 9 kits
1× Lord-Vigilant on Gryph-stalker · 1× Lord-Veritant · 1× Gryph-crow · 1× Lord-Terminos · 1× Memorian (with the Lord-Terminos) · 1× Knight-Questor · 3× Reclusians · 2× Memorians (with the Reclusians) · 3× Prosecutors · 10× Liberators · 1× Clawlord on Gnaw-beast · 1× Grey Seer · 1× Warlock Engineer · 1× Ratling Warpblaster · 3× Warplock Jezzails · 40× Clanrats · 3× Rat Ogors
Paint sets that cover this scheme
All paint setsOne box of paints instead of 13 pots. Each card says how many of this scheme's colours it holds.
69 paints
Covers 10 of 13 colours in this scheme
50 paints
Covers 9 of 13 colours in this scheme
24 paints
Covers 8 of 13 colours in this scheme
8 paints
Covers 8 of 13 colours in this scheme
16 paints
Covers 7 of 13 colours in this scheme
6 paints
Covers 6 of 13 colours in this scheme
Or cover 92% of this scheme with 2 paint sets, $307.79 together: 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 coatOlive BrownVallejo · Model Color 70.889View paint
- ShadeStrong ToneArmy Painter · Quickshade Washes SetView paint
- LayerMedium BrownVallejo · Model Color 70.826View paint
- HighlightMedium GreyVallejo · Mecha Color 69.038View paint
- Edge highlightUS Army Tank Crew HighlightsVallejo · Panzer AcesView 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
- SkinUngor FleshCitadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951337View paint
- LensesChronus BlueCitadel (Warhammer Paints) · DryView paint
- BasingEnglish UniformVallejo · Model Color 70.921View paint
- Rusty bladesJohn Blanche Masterclass: Sunburst OchreArmy Painter · Warpaints FanaticView paint
- Warpstone glowRainforestArmy Painter · Warpaints Fanatic WP3057PView paint
1
Base coat
Lay the foundation colour down over primer, slightly darker than the final tone.
Suggested
★ Our pick for base coat
Very CloseDiscontinued
Close
Close
Adepticon Drab Brown
Monument · Monument Pro Signature Series
from$4.50· compare 2 shops· priced 13 Sep
2
Shade
Wash the recesses to add depth and separate the details.
Suggested
Strong Tone
Army Painter · Quickshade Washes Set
No shop price tracked yet — the paint’s page has every seller we find.
★ Our pick for shade
Close
Black Legion
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Contrast 99189960237
from$6.63· compare 6 shops· priced 13 Sep
Close
3
Layer
Rebuild the main colour on the raised areas, leaving the shade in the cracks.
Suggested
★ Our pick for layer
Very Close
Close
4
Highlight
Pick out the upper edges and surfaces that catch the light.
Suggested
Very Close
Close
Baneblade Brown
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951346
from$4.55· compare 6 shops· priced 5 Jul
Close
5
Edge highlight
Sharpen only the sharpest edges for a crisp, finished look.
Suggested
★ Our pick for edge highlight
Very Close
Close
Baneblade Brown
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951346
from$4.55· compare 6 shops· priced 5 Jul
Close
Vince Venturella Beige Red
Monument · Monument Pro Signature Series MPA-S05
from$4.50· compare 2 shops· priced 13 Sep
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
★ Our pick for skin & flesh
Exact Match
Very 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
Very Close
Close
Basing — earth
Groundwork. Earth basecoat, drybrushed bone, finished with your choice of grass, sand or snow.
Suggested
★ Our pick for basing — earth
Very Close
Rusty blades
Crude weapons - rust and grime dragged over dark metal.
Suggested
John Blanche Masterclass: Sunburst Ochre
Army Painter · Warpaints Fanatic
$4.25at War Games USA· priced 1 Sep
★ Our pick for rusty blades
Very Close
Very Close
Adepticon Orange Oxide
Monument · Monument Pro Signature Series
from$4.50· compare 2 shops· priced 13 Sep
Very CloseDiscontinued
Close
Warpstone glow
Green warpstone on weapons, vials and eyes.
Suggested
★ Our pick for warpstone glow
Very CloseDiscontinued
Your paints
Tick off what's already on your shelf — whatever's left is your shopping list.
13 paints in this scheme
Price this recipe
13 paintspostage per seller
- not stocked: US Army Tank Crew Highlights, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Chronus Blue, John Blanche Masterclass: Sunburst Ochre
$6.99 US delivery, 3-5 business days
- not stocked: Olive Brown, Medium Brown, Medium Grey, US Army Tank Crew Highlights, Beasty Brown, Chronus Blue, English Uniform
prices shown on Amazon at checkout
- not stocked: Olive Brown, Medium Brown, Medium Grey, US Army Tank Crew Highlights, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Chronus Blue, English Uniform, John Blanche Masterclass: Sunburst Ochre
$10 US delivery, 4-8 business days, free over $75
- not stocked: Olive Brown, Strong Tone, Medium Brown, Medium Grey, US Army Tank Crew Highlights, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Beasty Brown, Ungor Flesh, Chronus Blue, English Uniform, John Blanche Masterclass: Sunburst Ochre
- not stocked: Olive Brown, Strong Tone, Medium Brown, Medium Grey, US Army Tank Crew Highlights, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Beasty Brown, Ungor Flesh, Chronus Blue, English Uniform, John Blanche Masterclass: Sunburst Ochre, Rainforest
totals excl. delivery · affiliate links
Strong Tone
Army Painter · Quickshade Washes Set
No shop price tracked yet — the paint’s page has every seller we find.
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
John Blanche Masterclass: Sunburst Ochre
Army Painter · Warpaints Fanatic
$4.25at War Games USA· priced 1 Sep
Every Skaven kit and box, priced
Prices compared across the shops that stock them — boxes ranked by cost per model.
Skaven are the ultimate horde army - you need dozens of ratmen, and they are meant to look scruffy, diseased and improvised. That makes them one of the most forgiving armies to paint, where mess and grime read as character rather than mistakes.
The signature look
A sea of mangy brown or grey fur, dirty cloth, rusty scavenged armour and weapons, pink tails and ears, and the sickly green glow of warpstone. Nothing should look clean or new - this is a verminous underhive horde.
Painting the horde fast
- Fur - basecoat brown or grey, wash heavily, then a quick drybrush up. A fur contrast paint over a light undercoat does it in one pass.
- Skin (tails, ears, hands) - a pink/flesh contrast over the undercoat.
- Metal - dark and rusty: dark metal basecoat, brown wash, stipple orange rust.
- Cloth - muted, dirty tones - olive, dull red, sackcloth.
A zenithal undercoat plus contrast paints will get a whole clanrat regiment table-ready in an evening.
Warpstone glow
The one bright accent: glowing green warpstone on weapons and icons. A bright green over a light base, with a thin green glaze onto the surrounding metal for object-source lighting, ties the army together.
Tips and common mistakes
- Embrace the grime. Heavy washes and rust suit Skaven more than any other army.
- Vary the fur. Slightly different brown/grey tones make a horde look like a swarm, not clones.
- One bright accent. Warpstone green is the only clean colour - let it pop against all the muck.
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.