Custodes are a small, elite army where every model is a centrepiece, so it is worth slowing down and getting the gold to look genuinely rich. The low model count means you can spend the time that a horde army never allows.
The signature look
Almost entirely gold armour with red and black detailing, blue or red plumes, and ornate trim. The gold has to carry the model, so depth - dark recesses up to bright highlights - is everything.
Painting the gold
Two approaches:
- Metallic gold (easier). Basecoat a rich gold, shade heavily with a brown/sepia wash plus targeted dark recesses, then highlight edges with brighter gold and a final silver touch on the sharpest points. The contrast between deep brown recesses and bright edges is what sells it.
- Non-metallic metal, NMM (advanced). Paint the "metal" with browns, yellows and creams to fake reflections. Stunning but time-consuming - save it for characters.
Accents
Red and black panels, gilded laurels, and coloured plumes break up the gold. Keep them clean and deliberate - on such a rich base, sloppy accents stand out.
Tips and common mistakes
- Shade gold deeply. Flat gold looks like brass; deep recesses make it look like gold.
- Take your time. With so few models, each one deserves character-level effort.
- Vary the metallics. A slightly different gold on trim vs plates adds richness.