How to Paint T'au
Clean ochre battlesuits, smooth panels and crisp decals
Prices in $ for the US
Before you commit
How hard to paint
62of 116 easiest
About average
Model size3 out of 5Detail density4 out of 5Technique demanded3 out of 5
Compare all 116 factions →
What it costs to start
$121.55
$0.38 per point
Combat Patrol: T'au Empire, 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.
T'au Sept boxes to start with
Compare T'au Empire boxesThe T'au Sept boxes we can price in your market, cheapest first.
20% off RRPT'au Empire · 29 models · 4 kits
1× Commander in Enforcer Battlesuit (can be built as a Coldstar Battlesuit) · 1× Devilfish · 10× Breacher Fire Warriors (can be built as a Strike Team) · 10× Pathfinders · 7× Drones (5 Tactical Drones, 1 Recon Drone, 1 Support Turret)
Paint sets that cover this scheme
All paint setsOne box of paints instead of 12 pots. Each card says how many of this scheme's colours it holds.
50 paints
Covers 8 of 12 colours in this scheme
16 paints
Covers 7 of 12 colours in this scheme
16 paints
Covers 6 of 12 colours in this scheme
69 paints
Covers 6 of 12 colours in this scheme
6 paints
Covers 6 of 12 colours in this scheme
16 paints
Covers 5 of 12 colours in this scheme
Or cover 100% of this scheme with 3 paint sets, $299.77 together: Army Painter Warpaints Fanatic Mega Paint Set + Warpaints Fanatic Metallics Paint Set + Model Color Set - Face/Skin Colours (x16)
Recommended recipe
How the scheme reads on a model
Armour — base to highlight
Tap a colour to change its paint.
- Base coatFlesh BaseVallejo · Panzer AcesView paint
- ShadeOrange ToneArmy Painter · Warpaints Fanatic Wash WP3207PView paint
- LayerTau Light OchreCitadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951340View paint
- HighlightSunny Skin ToneVallejo · Model Color 70.845View paint
- Edge highlightSkin ToneVallejo · Game Color 72.099View 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
- SkinBestigor FleshCitadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951243View paint
- LensesChronus BlueCitadel (Warhammer Paints) · DryView paint
- BasingEnglish UniformVallejo · Model Color 70.921View paint
- Sept markings & lensesScarlet BloodVallejo · Game Color 72.106View paint
1
Base coat
Lay the foundation colour down over primer, slightly darker than the final tone.
Suggested
Close
Close
Flameon Dark Orange Brown
Monument · Monument Pro Signature Series
from$4.50· compare 2 shops· priced 13 Sep
CloseDiscontinued
2
Shade
Wash the recesses to add depth and separate the details.
Suggested
★ Our pick for shade
Very Close
Gore-Grunta Fur
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Contrast 99189960114
from$6.63· compare 4 shops· priced 13 Sep
Very Close
3
Layer
Rebuild the main colour on the raised areas, leaving the shade in the cracks.
Suggested
Tau Light Ochre
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951340
from$4.55· compare 7 shops· priced 5 Jul
★ Our pick for layer
Very Close
Very CloseDiscontinued
4
Highlight
Pick out the upper edges and surfaces that catch the light.
Suggested
★ Our pick for highlight
Close
Barbarian Flesh
Army Painter · Warpaints
No shop price tracked yet — the paint’s page has every seller we find.
Close
Close
Bestigor Flesh
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951243
from$4.55· compare 5 shops· priced 5 Jul
CloseDiscontinued
5
Edge highlight
Sharpen only the sharpest edges for a crisp, finished look.
Suggested
★ Our pick for edge highlight
Very Close
Very Close
Close
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
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
Very Close
Very 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
Sept markings & lenses
Red lenses and sept symbols pop against the ochre armour.
Suggested
★ Our pick for sept markings & lenses
Exact Match
Evil Sunz Scarlet
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951303
from$4.55· compare 4 shops· priced 5 Jul
Very Close
John Blanche Masterclass: Fiery Vermilion
Army Painter · Warpaints Fanatic
$4.25at War Games USA· priced 1 Sep
Exact MatchDiscontinued
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 paintspostage per seller
- not stocked: Flesh Base, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Chronus Blue
prices shown on Amazon at checkout
- not stocked: Flesh Base, Skin Tone, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Chronus Blue, English Uniform, Scarlet Blood
$6.99 US delivery, 3-5 business days
- not stocked: Flesh Base, Sunny Skin Tone, Skin Tone, Beasty Brown, Chronus Blue, English Uniform, Scarlet Blood
$10 US delivery, 4-8 business days, free over $75
- not stocked: Flesh Base, Sunny Skin Tone, Skin Tone, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Beasty Brown, Bestigor Flesh, Chronus Blue, English Uniform, Scarlet Blood
- not stocked: Flesh Base, Orange Tone, Sunny Skin Tone, Skin Tone, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Beasty Brown, Bestigor Flesh, Chronus Blue, English Uniform, Scarlet Blood
totals excl. delivery · affiliate links
Tau Light Ochre
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951340
from$4.55· compare 7 shops· priced 5 Jul
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
Bestigor Flesh
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951243
from$4.55· compare 5 shops· priced 5 Jul
Compare every T'au Empire box
Want the codex too? At Loaded Dice (UK):save £23.01 vs RRP
Shopping from the US?save $25.50 vs RRP
Every T'au Empire kit and box, priced
Prices compared across the shops that stock them — boxes ranked by cost per model.
T'au are the sci-fi army of the setting, and their painting reflects it: large, smooth battlesuit panels, clean colours, and a tidy, almost vehicle-like finish with decals and sept markings. They reward neat basecoating over heavy weathering.
The signature look
The classic T'au Sept scheme is a warm ochre/tan armour with white and dark contrast panels, black recesses, and red or blue accents on lenses and sensors. The look is clean and high-tech - flat, even colour with sharp panel separation.
Painting smooth armour
T'au battlesuits have big flat areas where brush marks and patchiness show, so:
- Thin your basecoat and do two or three even coats (an airbrush is ideal but not required).
- Shade only the panel lines, not the whole panel, to keep the surfaces clean.
- Highlight edges crisply - the angular suits suit sharp edge highlights.
Panels, decals and accents
Break up the ochre with white or dark grey panels and plenty of decals (sept symbols, unit markings). Glowing lenses and pulse-weapon coils in red or blue give the high-tech finish its final pop.
Tips and common mistakes
- Keep it clean. T'au should look manufactured, not battle-worn - go easy on weathering.
- Panel-line, don't slather. Shade the recesses only so flat armour stays smooth.
- Use decals. They are core to the T'au look and far easier than freehand markings.
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.