20% off RRPTyranids · 18 models · 4 kits
1× Parasite of Mortrex · 3× Tyrant Guard (can be built as Hive Guard) · 1× Biovore (can be built as a Pyrovore) · 3× Spore Mines · 10× Genestealers
How to Paint Tyranids
Carapace, skin and chitin done fast for a whole hive fleet
Prices in $ for the US
Before you commit
How hard to paint
32of 116 easiest
Easier than most
Model size2 out of 5Detail density5 out of 5Technique demanded4 out of 5
Compare all 116 factions →
What it costs to start
$121.55
$0.30 per point
Combat Patrol: Tyranid Assault Brood, 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.
Tyranids (Leviathan) boxes to start with
Compare Tyranids boxesThe Tyranids (Leviathan) boxes we can price in your market, cheapest first.
20% off RRP
20% off RRPTyranids · 30 models · 6 kits
1× Hive Tyrant Miniature · 1× Lictor Miniature · 3× Tyranid Warriors Miniatures · 3× Von Ryan's Leapers Miniatures · 10× Hormagaunts Miniatures · 10× Termagants Miniatures · 2× Ripper Swarms Miniatures
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.
50 paints
Covers 9 of 13 colours in this scheme
69 paints
Covers 7 of 13 colours in this scheme
16 paints
Covers 5 of 13 colours in this scheme
16 paints
Covers 4 of 13 colours in this scheme
6 paints
Covers 4 of 13 colours in this scheme
16 paints
Covers 4 of 13 colours in this scheme
Or cover 85% of this scheme with 2 paint sets, $242.94 together: Army Painter Warpaints Fanatic Mega Paint Set + Combat Se7ens: Purple Xenos Flesh
Recommended recipe
How the scheme reads on a model
Armour — base to highlight
Tap a colour to change its paint.
- Base coatAlien PurpleVallejo · Game Color 72.076View paint
- ShadeShyish PurpleCitadel (Warhammer Paints) · Contrast 99189960101View paint
- LayerBlue VioletVallejo · Model Color 70.811View paint
- HighlightKakophoni PurpleCitadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951382View paint
- Edge highlightDechala LilacCitadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951378View paint
Additional details
- TrimBright GoldArmy Painter · WarpaintsView paint
- WeaponsJohn Blanche Masterclass: Heavy MetalArmy Painter · Warpaints FanaticView paint
- LeatherBeasty BrownVallejo · Game Color 72.043View paint
- SkinWyvern FuryArmy Painter · Warpaints Fanatic WP3116P≈ Closest paint we sellView paint
- LensesRainforestArmy Painter · Warpaints Fanatic WP3057PView paint
- BasingEnglish UniformVallejo · Model Color 70.921View paint
- CarapaceAncient StoneArmy Painter · Warpaints Fanatic WP3088PView paint
- Fleshy muscleWyvern FuryArmy Painter · Warpaints Fanatic WP3116P≈ Closest paint we sellView paint
1
Base coat
Lay the foundation colour down over primer, slightly darker than the final tone.
Suggested
★ Our pick for base coat
Close
CloseDiscontinued
Close
Close
Naggaroth Night
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Base 99189950269
from$3.87· compare 7 shops· priced 13 Sep
2
Shade
Wash the recesses to add depth and separate the details.
Suggested
Shyish Purple
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Contrast 99189960101
from$6.63· compare 4 shops· priced 13 Sep
★ Our pick for shade
Very Close
Very Close
Close
Similar
3
Layer
Rebuild the main colour on the raised areas, leaving the shade in the cracks.
Suggested
★ Our pick for layer
Very Close
Alien Purple
Army Painter · Warpaints
No shop price tracked yet — the paint’s page has every seller we find.
Close
Genestealer Purple
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951308
from$4.55· compare 6 shops· priced 5 Jul
4
Highlight
Pick out the upper edges and surfaces that catch the light.
Suggested
Kakophoni Purple
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951382
from$4.55· compare 2 shops· priced 5 Jul
★ Our pick for highlight
Close
Close
Close
Similar
5
Edge highlight
Sharpen only the sharpest edges for a crisp, finished look.
Suggested
★ Our pick for edge highlight
Very Close
Very Close
Close
Similar
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
Very Close
Very Close
Close
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
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.
Closest paint we sell — not an exact match for this colour
Suggested
★ Our pick for skin & flesh
Very Close
CloseDiscontinued
Similar
Emperor's Children
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951366
from$4.55· compare 6 shops· priced 5 Jul
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 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
Carapace
Claws, talons and chitin plates - bone shaded brown, highlighted to white.
Suggested
★ Our pick for carapace
Exact Match
Very Close
Very CloseDiscontinued
Fleshy muscle
Skin between the carapace - pink-purple washed red for that raw look.
Closest paint we sell — not an exact match for this colour
Suggested
★ Our pick for fleshy muscle
Very Close
CloseDiscontinued
Similar
Emperor's Children
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951366
from$4.55· compare 6 shops· priced 5 Jul
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: Shyish Purple, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal
prices shown on Amazon at checkout
- not stocked: John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, English Uniform, Ancient Stone
$6.99 US delivery, 3-5 business days
- not stocked: Alien Purple, Blue Violet, Bright Gold, Beasty Brown, English Uniform
- not stocked: Alien Purple, Blue Violet, Bright Gold, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Beasty Brown, Wyvern Fury, Rainforest, English Uniform, Ancient Stone
$10 US delivery, 4-8 business days, free over $75
- not stocked: Alien Purple, Blue Violet, Kakophoni Purple, Dechala Lilac, Bright Gold, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Beasty Brown, Wyvern Fury, English Uniform, Ancient Stone
totals excl. delivery · affiliate links
Shyish Purple
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Contrast 99189960101
from$6.63· compare 4 shops· priced 13 Sep
Kakophoni Purple
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951382
from$4.55· compare 2 shops· priced 5 Jul
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
Compare every Tyranids box
Want the codex too? At Loaded Dice (UK):save £23.01 vs RRP
Every Tyranids kit and box, priced
Prices compared across the shops that stock them — boxes ranked by cost per model.
Tyranids are a horde army, so the goal is a striking, cohesive scheme you can apply quickly across dozens of models. The classic split is a hard carapace colour against a contrasting softer skin/flesh, and contrast paints make both fast.
The signature look
A hive fleet scheme is built from two or three colours: a carapace (the hard plates), a skin/flesh (the muscle and limbs), and claws/teeth (bone). Hive Fleet Leviathan, for example, pairs a purple carapace with pale bone skin. Pick a carapace and a complementary skin and you have an instantly recognisable fleet.
Painting a horde fast
- Carapace - the recipe above gives the ramp; a contrast paint over the right undercoat does it in one pass on small models.
- Skin - a flesh or bone contrast over a light undercoat, shaded automatically.
- Claws and teeth - bone basecoat, brown wash, light drybrush.
A zenithal undercoat (dark up to light) under contrast paints does most of the shading for you - ideal for getting a hundred gaunts painted.
Hive fleet variations
Swap the two main colours to invent your own fleet, or follow the classics: Leviathan (purple/bone), Hive Fleet Kraken (purple/cream), Behemoth (red/bone), Gorgon (green/purple).
Tips and common mistakes
- Two colours, applied well, beats five rushed ones. Keep the scheme simple for a horde.
- Use contrast paints. They are made for organic, textured models like these.
- Batch ruthlessly. Do every model's carapace, then every model's skin - never one model at a time.
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.