Skaven · 25 models · 2 kits
5× Stormcast Eternals Liberators · 20× Skaven Clanrats
How to Paint Skaven
Mangy fur, rusty metal and glowing warpstone, done fast
Prices in £ for the UK
Before you commit
How hard to paint
61of 116 easiest
About average
Model size1 out of 5Detail density2 out of 5Technique demanded5 out of 5
Compare all 116 factions →
What it costs to start
£37.40
£0.16 per point
Age of Sigmar: Introductory Set, 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.
Start Skaven — boxes & paint sets
The boxes we can price for this faction, cheapest first, and the paint sets that cover most of the recipe below.
Skaven · 35 models · 4 kits
1× Lord-Veritant · 1× Gryph-crow · 3× Prosecutors · 5× Liberators · 1× Grey Seer · 1× Warlock Engineer · 3× Rat Ogors · 20× Clanrats
20% off RRPSkaven · 25 models · 3 kits
£90.20 of contents → £76.00 (save at least £14.20)
Skaven · 37 models · 5 kits
1× Lord-Vigilant on Gryph-stalker · 1× Lord-Veritant · 1× Gryph-crow · 3× Prosecutors · 5× Liberators · 1× Clawlord on Gnaw-beast · 1× Grey Seer · 1× Warlock Engineer · 3× Rat Ogors · 20× Clanrats
Army Painter Warpaints Fanatic Mega Paint Set
50 paints
£136.00
£160.15-15%
+38
· compare 4 shops· priced 1 OctCovers 9 of 13 colours in this scheme
Covers 8 of 13 colours in this scheme
Vallejo Model Color - American Colonial Set
16 paints
£38.39
£47.99-20%
+4
· compare 3 shops· priced 3 JulCovers 8 of 13 colours in this scheme
Covers 8 of 13 colours in this scheme
Covers 8 of 13 colours in this scheme
Covers 8 of 13 colours in this scheme
Recommended recipe
How the scheme reads on a model
Armour — base to highlight
Base coat
Shade
Layer
Highlight
Edge highlight
- Base coatOlive BrownVallejo · Model Color 70.889View paint
- ShadeStrong ToneArmy Painter · Quickshade Washes SetView paint
- LayerMedium BrownVallejo · Model Color 70.826View paint
- HighlightMedium GreyVallejo · Mecha Color 69.038View paint
- Edge highlightUS Army Tank Crew HighlightsVallejo · Panzer AcesView paint
Additional details
Trim
Weapons
Leather
Skin
Lenses
Basing
Rusty blades
Warpstone glow
- TrimNecron CompoundCitadel (Warhammer Paints) · Dry 99189952048View paint
- WeaponsJohn Blanche Masterclass: Heavy MetalArmy Painter · Warpaints FanaticView paint
- LeatherBeasty BrownVallejo · Game Color 72.043View paint
- SkinUngor FleshCitadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951337View paint
- LensesChronus BlueCitadel (Warhammer Paints) · DryView paint
- BasingEnglish UniformVallejo · Model Color 70.921View paint
- Rusty bladesJohn Blanche Masterclass: Sunburst OchreArmy Painter · Warpaints FanaticView paint
- Warpstone glowRainforestArmy Painter · Warpaints Fanatic WP3057PView paint
1
Base coat
Lay the foundation colour down over primer, slightly darker than the final tone.
★ Our pick for base coat
Very Close
Very CloseDiscontinued
Battlefield Brown
P3 · Privateer Press Formula P3 SFP3-N144-S
from£3.48· compare 2 shops· priced 1 Oct
Close
Close
2
Shade
Wash the recesses to add depth and separate the details.
Strong Tone
Army Painter · Quickshade Washes Set
No shop price tracked yet — the paint’s page has every seller we find.
★ Our pick for shade
Very Close
Close
Black Legion
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Contrast 99189960237
from£4.03· compare 6 shops· priced 1 Oct
Close
Close
3
Layer
Rebuild the main colour on the raised areas, leaving the shade in the cracks.
★ Our pick for layer
Very Close
Very Close
Close
CloseDiscontinued
4
Highlight
Pick out the upper edges and surfaces that catch the light.
★ Our pick for highlight
Very Close
Close
Baneblade Brown
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951346
from£2.69· compare 4 shops· priced 13 Sep
Close
Close
5
Edge highlight
Sharpen only the sharpest edges for a crisp, finished look.
★ Our pick for edge highlight
Very Close
Very Close
Close
Baneblade Brown
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951346
from£2.69· compare 4 shops· priced 13 Sep
Close
Details & accent colours
Everything else on the model - metals, skin, leather, lenses, basing and this faction's signature accents.
Metal — trim
Trim and bare plate. Basecoat steel, wash dark, then edge bright silver.
★ Our pick for metal — trim
Very Close
Very Close
Very Close
Close
Shining Silver
Army Painter · Warpaints
No shop price tracked yet — the paint’s page has every seller we find.
Metal — weapons
Bolters, blades and casings. Dark gunmetal, washed black, edged with bright steel.
★ Our pick for metal — weapons
Very Close
Close
Close
Adepticon Magnesium
Monument · Monument Pro Signature Series MPA-S42
£4.29at Loaded Dice· priced 13 Sep
Similar
Leather & pouches
Straps, holsters and bare wood. Mid brown, shaded, then drybrushed a lighter tan.
★ Our pick for leather & pouches
Exact Match
Very Close
Flameon Dark Green Brown
Monument · Monument Pro Signature Series MPA-S25
£4.29at Loaded Dice· priced 13 Sep
CloseDiscontinued
Skin & flesh
Faces and hands. Basecoat, a flesh wash into the recesses, then build the highlights back up.
★ Our pick for skin & flesh
Exact Match
Very Close
Very Close
Very Close
Eyes & lenses
Lenses, eyes and energy. A bright spot colour that pops against the armour - dot it on and add a white glint.
Very Close
Close
Close
Basing — earth
Groundwork. Earth basecoat, drybrushed bone, finished with your choice of grass, sand or snow.
★ Our pick for basing — earth
Very Close
Very Close
Very CloseDiscontinued
Close
Rusty blades
Crude weapons - rust and grime dragged over dark metal.
★ Our pick for rusty blades
Very Close
Very CloseDiscontinued
Close
Warpstone glow
Green warpstone on weapons, vials and eyes.
★ Our pick for warpstone glow
Very CloseDiscontinued
Very Close
Very Close
Buy It as a Box
Paint sets that cover this recipe - a set is usually cheaper than buying pots one by one.
No price tracked yet
Covers 10 of 13 paints in this scheme (77%) — base coat, shade, layer, highlight and more.
Or cover 92% of the recipe with 2 boxes (£29.61 for 1 of the 2 — the rest are priced in dollars):
No price tracked yet
Your paints
Tick off what's already on your shelf — whatever's left is your shopping list.
13 paints in this scheme
Price this recipe
13 paintsfree UK delivery over £20
- not stocked: Olive Brown, Medium Brown, US Army Tank Crew Highlights, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Chronus Blue, John Blanche Masterclass: Sunburst Ochre
postage per seller
- not stocked: US Army Tank Crew Highlights, Necron Compound, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Ungor Flesh, Chronus Blue, John Blanche Masterclass: Sunburst Ochre
free UK delivery over £75, from £2.66 below that
- not stocked: Strong Tone, Necron Compound, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Ungor Flesh, Chronus Blue, John Blanche Masterclass: Sunburst Ochre, Rainforest
free UK delivery over £75, £3.99 below that
- not stocked: Olive Brown, Medium Brown, US Army Tank Crew Highlights, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Chronus Blue, English Uniform, John Blanche Masterclass: Sunburst Ochre
£4.99 UK delivery, 1-2 working days, free over £65
- not stocked: Olive Brown, Strong Tone, Medium Brown, US Army Tank Crew Highlights, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Chronus Blue, John Blanche Masterclass: Sunburst Ochre
- not stocked: Strong Tone, US Army Tank Crew Highlights, Necron Compound, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Ungor Flesh, Chronus Blue, John Blanche Masterclass: Sunburst Ochre
- not stocked: Olive Brown, Strong Tone, Medium Brown, Medium Grey, US Army Tank Crew Highlights, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Beasty Brown, Chronus Blue, English Uniform, John Blanche Masterclass: Sunburst Ochre, Rainforest
prices shown on Amazon at checkout
- not stocked: Olive Brown, Strong Tone, Medium Brown, Medium Grey, US Army Tank Crew Highlights, Necron Compound, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Chronus Blue, English Uniform, John Blanche Masterclass: Sunburst Ochre, Rainforest
totals excl. delivery · affiliate links
Olive Brown
Vallejo
at SnM Stuff· priced 24 SepStrong Tone
Army Painter
at Merlin's Miniatures· priced 1 OctMedium Brown
Vallejo
at SnM Stuff· priced 24 SepMedium Grey
Vallejo
at SnM Stuff· priced 24 SepUS Army Tank Crew Highlights
Vallejo
at SnM Stuff· priced 24 SepNecron Compound
Citadel (Warhammer Paints)
at Merlin's Miniatures· priced 1 OctJohn Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal
Army Painter
No price tracked yetBeasty Brown
Vallejo
at SnM Stuff· priced 24 SepUngor Flesh
Citadel (Warhammer Paints)
at Merlin's Miniatures· priced 1 OctChronus Blue
Citadel (Warhammer Paints)
No price tracked yetEnglish Uniform
Vallejo
at SnM Stuff· priced 24 SepJohn Blanche Masterclass: Sunburst Ochre
Army Painter
No price tracked yetRainforest
Army Painter
at Merlin's Miniatures· priced 1 Oct
Recommended Box Set
Age of Sigmar: Introductory Set Affiliate links — how we make money What's inside this box
The fastest way to start a Skaven army — a boxed force to paint with this scheme.
5× Stormcast Eternals Liberators · 20× Skaven Clanrats
Best price
£37.40Merlin's Miniatures
in stock · priced 1 Oct · free UK delivery over £75, £3.99 below that
cheapest of 4 UK sellers · save £6.60 vs the most expensive · excl. delivery
Every Skaven kit and box, priced
Prices compared across the shops that stock them — boxes ranked by cost per model.
Skaven are the ultimate horde army - you need dozens of ratmen, and they are meant to look scruffy, diseased and improvised. That makes them one of the most forgiving armies to paint, where mess and grime read as character rather than mistakes.
The signature look
A sea of mangy brown or grey fur, dirty cloth, rusty scavenged armour and weapons, pink tails and ears, and the sickly green glow of warpstone. Nothing should look clean or new - this is a verminous underhive horde.
Painting the horde fast
- Fur - basecoat brown or grey, wash heavily, then a quick drybrush up. A fur contrast paint over a light undercoat does it in one pass.
- Skin (tails, ears, hands) - a pink/flesh contrast over the undercoat.
- Metal - dark and rusty: dark metal basecoat, brown wash, stipple orange rust.
- Cloth - muted, dirty tones - olive, dull red, sackcloth.
A zenithal undercoat plus contrast paints will get a whole clanrat regiment table-ready in an evening.
Warpstone glow
The one bright accent: glowing green warpstone on weapons and icons. A bright green over a light base, with a thin green glaze onto the surrounding metal for object-source lighting, ties the army together.
Tips and common mistakes
- Embrace the grime. Heavy washes and rust suit Skaven more than any other army.
- Vary the fur. Slightly different brown/grey tones make a horde look like a swarm, not clones.
- One bright accent. Warpstone green is the only clean colour - let it pop against all the muck.
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.