20% off RRPThousand Sons · 15 models · 3 kits
1× Daemon Prince · 1× Tzaangor Shaman · 3× Tzaangor Enlightened · 10× Rubric Marines
How to Paint Thousand Sons
Blue-and-gold armour and warpfire magic effects
Prices in $ for the US
Before you commit
How hard to paint
100of 116 easiest
Harder than most
Model size4 out of 5Detail density2 out of 5Technique demanded2 out of 5
Compare all 116 factions →
What it costs to start
$121.55
$0.25 per point
Combat Patrol: Thousand Sons, 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.
Thousand Sons boxes to start with
Compare Thousand Sons boxesThe Thousand Sons boxes we can price in your market, cheapest first.
20% off RRPPaint 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 9 of 12 colours in this scheme
69 paints
Covers 6 of 12 colours in this scheme
16 paints
Covers 4 of 12 colours in this scheme
24 paints
Covers 4 of 12 colours in this scheme
6 paints
Covers 3 of 12 colours in this scheme
6 paints
Covers 3 of 12 colours in this scheme
Recommended recipe
How the scheme reads on a model
Armour — base to highlight
Tap a colour to change its paint.
- Base coatAzure MagicArmy Painter · Metallic Colours Paint SetView paint
- ShadeWagram BlueVallejo · Xpress Color 72.464View paint
- LayerAhriman BlueCitadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951372View paint
- HighlightLothern BlueCitadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951316≈ Closest paint we sellView paint
- Edge highlightSunrise BlueVallejo · Game Color 72.118≈ Closest paint we sellView paint
Additional details
- TrimBright GoldArmy Painter · WarpaintsView paint
- WeaponsJohn Blanche Masterclass: Heavy MetalArmy Painter · Warpaints FanaticView paint
- LeatherBeasty BrownVallejo · Game Color 72.043View paint
- SkinBestigor FleshCitadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951243View paint
- LensesBright OrangeVallejo · Model Color 70.851View paint
- BasingEnglish UniformVallejo · Model Color 70.921View paint
- Warpflame & discsArctic GemArmy Painter · Warpaints Fanatic WP3029PView paint
1
Base coat
Lay the foundation colour down over primer, slightly darker than the final tone.
Suggested
★ Our pick for base coat
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2
Shade
Wash the recesses to add depth and separate the details.
Suggested
★ Our pick for shade
Close
Drakenhof Nightshade
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Shade 99189953053
from$6.63· compare 5 shops· priced 13 Sep
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3
Layer
Rebuild the main colour on the raised areas, leaving the shade in the cracks.
Suggested
★ Our pick for layer
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4
Highlight
Pick out the upper edges and surfaces that catch the light.
Closest paint we sell — not an exact match for this colour
Suggested
★ Our pick for highlight
Very Close
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Expert Acrylics Phthalo Turquoise Light
Monument · Monument Expert Acrylics
$7.00at Monument Hobbies· priced 12 Aug
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
★ Our pick for edge highlight
Close
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Details & accent colours
Everything else on the model - metals, skin, leather, lenses, basing and this faction's signature accents.
Metal — trim
Aquilas, rims and ornament. Basecoat gold, wash with a brown shade, then edge a brighter gold.
Suggested
Bright Gold
Army Painter · Warpaints
No shop price tracked yet — the paint’s page has every seller we find.
★ Our pick for metal — trim
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Balthasar Gold
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Base 99189950310
from$3.87· compare 6 shops· priced 13 Sep
Close
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
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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
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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
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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
★ Our pick for eyes & lenses
Very Close
Troll Slayer Orange
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951301
from$4.75· compare 3 shops· priced 13 Sep
Very Close
Expert Acrylics Pyrrole Orange
Monument · Monument Expert Acrylics
from$6.30· compare 2 shops· priced 13 Sep
CloseDiscontinued
Basing — earth
Groundwork. Earth basecoat, drybrushed bone, finished with your choice of grass, sand or snow.
Suggested
★ Our pick for basing — earth
Very Close
Warpflame & discs
Sorcerous fire and Tzeentch magic - bright cyan glow blended to white at the core.
Suggested
★ Our pick for warpflame & discs
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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: John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal
prices shown on Amazon at checkout
- not stocked: Azure Magic, Lothern Blue, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Bright Orange, English Uniform
$6.99 US delivery, 3-5 business days
- not stocked: Azure Magic, Sunrise Blue, Bright Gold, Beasty Brown, Bright Orange, English Uniform
$10 US delivery, 4-8 business days, free over $75
- not stocked: Azure Magic, Wagram Blue, Sunrise Blue, Bright Gold, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Beasty Brown, Bestigor Flesh, Bright Orange, English Uniform
- not stocked: Azure Magic, Wagram Blue, Sunrise Blue, Bright Gold, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Beasty Brown, Bestigor Flesh, Bright Orange, English Uniform, Arctic Gem
totals excl. delivery · affiliate links
Bright Gold
Army Painter · Warpaints
No shop price tracked yet — the paint’s page has every seller we find.
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 Thousand Sons box
Want the codex too? At Loaded Dice (UK):save £23.01 vs RRP(out of stock)
Shopping from the US?save $25.50 vs RRP
Every Thousand Sons kit and box, priced
Prices compared across the shops that stock them — boxes ranked by cost per model.
Thousand Sons are one of the most ornate and rewarding armies to paint - a rich blue-and-gold scheme covered in intricate trim, with plenty of opportunity for glowing warpfire and magical effects.
The signature look
Deep teal/blue armour with extensive gold trim, blue-and-gold tabards, and blue or pink warpfire on weapons and around the Rubric Marines' empty armour. The gold-to-blue ratio is high, so neat trim work pays off.
Painting the blue and gold
- Blue - use the ramp above for a saturated teal-blue. A blue contrast over gold-tinted or white undercoat speeds up the basecoat.
- Gold - this is half the model. Basecoat a bright gold, shade with a brown or sepia wash, and highlight the edges with a lighter gold or silver. Good gold trim is what makes Thousand Sons look premium.
Warpfire and magic
The blue or pink flame effects use object-source lighting: bright core fading to a glaze of the same colour on nearby surfaces. A bright blue technical/contrast paint in the eyes and weapon glows ties the army's magical theme together.
Tips and common mistakes
- Invest in the gold. Washed and edge-highlighted gold trim is the centrepiece - don't rush it.
- Keep the blue rich. A teal lean reads more "Tzeentch sorcery" than a plain royal blue.
- Add a magic accent. A consistent warpfire colour across the army looks deliberate and cohesive.
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.