Army Painter Brushes
Army Painter brushes ship in every hobby store and every starter bundle, split across the entry Hobby line, the mid Wargamer line (Regiment, Character, Detail and friends) and the premium Masterclass kolinskys. The naming maps to jobs rather than numbered sizes — the size table below translates.
The Honest Verdict
An honest note, because it is the first thing the community will tell you: the cheaper lines have a real quality-control reputation — splitting tips and shedding hairs turn up often enough that it is not just bad luck. The Masterclass range is a different story, and the Masterclass drybrush set in particular is excellent value against Artis Opus. Buy Masterclass with confidence; treat the rest as disposable workhorses.
The Range
Army Painter Masterclass Drybrush Set
Three domed drybrushes that do the Artis Opus Series D job at a fraction of the price. The best-value route into modern drybrushing and slapchop.
Goat and pony mix, domed
Best price
Buy at eBaycheapest of 3 UK sellers · save £4.91 vs the most expensive · excl. delivery
Army Painter Wargamer Brush: Masterclass (Kolinsky, 2/0)
The top of the range and the exception to the QC caveat: a handmade kolinsky detail brush with the triangular control handle.
Kolinsky sable · Size 2/0
Army Painter Hobby Starter Brush Set (3 Brushes)
Standard, small detail and a drybrush — the sensible synthetic starter trio, and our budget pick after judging the alternatives.
Toray synthetic · 3 brushes
Army Painter Wargamer Brush: Regiment
The batch-painting workhorse: a bigger belly for basecoating whole units, still ending in a usable tip.
Rotmarder sable
Army Painter Wargamer Brush: Character
The single-miniature size — basecoating and highlighting heroes and champions.
Rotmarder sable
No discounter in the UK
Only the listing below — no UK discounter we track sells this.
€7.50 in Europe at eBay
Buy in Europe at eBayPriced in EUR · international delivery and any import duty are on top
Army Painter Wargamer Brush: Detail
The standard detail brush of the Wargamer line (not to be confused with the separate Insane Detail).
Rotmarder sable
Army Painter Mega Brush Set (10 Brushes)
Ten brushes covering every Wargamer shape in one box. Fine as an army-scale workhorse kit — pair it with one good kolinsky for detail work.
Synthetic and natural mix
Best price
Buy at Amazon (UK)cheapest of 2 UK sellers · save £0.49 vs the most expensive · excl. delivery
Brush Sizes Compared
| Citadel | W&N Series 7 | Army Painter | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| XS Artificer Layer | 00 | Detail | Eyes, gems, the finest detail |
| S Layer | 0 | Character | Fine highlights, small details |
| S Base / M Layer | 1 | — | Layering, basecoating infantry |
| M Base | 2–3 | Regiment | Basecoating larger areas |
| L Base | 4+ | Monster | Vehicles, monsters, terrain |
These are approximate, community-sourced comparisons. Brush sizes are not standardised across manufacturers. A Raphael 8404 size 1 is noticeably larger than a W&N Series 7 size 1, for example. The S Base and M Layer are physically very similar in size despite having different names. When in doubt, buy from a shop where you can handle the brush, or order a single brush before committing to a set.
Other Brush Ranges
Rosemary & Co Brushes
Winsor & Newton Series 7
Raphael 8404
Artis Opus Brushes
Citadel Brushes
Monument Hobbies Pro Brushes
Da Vinci BrushesNot sure what shape you need in the first place? The brush types guide explains every brush on this site - and whatever you buy, the brush care guide is what makes it last.