Citadel Brushes
Games Workshop label their brushes by job and letter — S Layer, M Base, L Dry, XS Artificer Layer — rather than the numbered sizes every other maker uses, which makes them oddly hard to compare or replace. The table below translates the range into Winsor & Newton and Army Painter equivalents.
The Honest Verdict
Perfectly serviceable brushes, made to sit in a starter set next to the paints. You pay the brand premium: the Artificer line is genuine sable at boutique pricing, while the standard synthetics are matched or beaten by cheaper equivalents from the same factories. The Dry brushes are the sleeper pick — a proper domed drybrush many painters never think to look for elsewhere.
The Range
Citadel Medium Artificer Layer Brush
The premium sable tier of the Citadel range — the one Citadel brush serious painters buy on its own merits.
Sable · Medium (S and XS are separate products)
Not sold in the UK
None of our UK partners sell this.
€20.01 in Europe at eBay
Buy in Europe at eBayPriced in EUR · international delivery and any import duty are on top
Warhammer 40,000: Paints + Tools Set
The official starter bundle — paints, clippers, mould-line remover and a starter brush in one box. The usual first buy alongside a starter set.
Best price
Buy at eBaycheapest of 3 UK sellers · save £3.82 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
Army Painter 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.