Blue is one of the most popular armour colours in Warhammer 40,000, and one of the more forgiving to paint. Most blues cover well, shade cleanly and take highlights nicely. The common problems are chalky highlights, patchy flat panels and a scheme that looks dull from arm's length.
The short answer: prime grey or black, basecoat with a strong mid blue in two thin coats, shade with a dark blue wash in the recesses, and highlight by mixing a lighter blue or a touch of pale grey-blue rather than pure white.
Blue armour at a glance
| Look | Primer | Basecoat | Shade | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deep royal blue | Black or dark grey | Dark royal blue | Dark blue wash | Mid blue, then pale blue edges |
| Bright ultramarine | Grey or white | Bright mid blue | Dark blue wash | Light sky blue edges |
| Midnight blue | Black | Very dark navy | Black-blue glaze | Small grey-blue edges |
| Pale or ice blue | White | Pale grey-blue | Thin blue-grey wash | Off-white edges |
What primer should I use for blue armour?
Grey is the safest all-round choice, giving solid coverage in two coats. Black suits deep, moody blues and white suits pale or bright blues. A blue spray primer is the fastest option for a whole army. See how to prime properly.
How many coats of blue do I need?
Two thin coats over a grey primer is usually enough. Thin the paint slightly so it flows into detail without pooling, and let the first coat dry fully before the second. Our guide to thinning paints explains the consistency to aim for.
What should I shade blue armour with?
A dark blue wash applied into recesses and panel lines keeps the shading clean. Washing the whole model can darken flat panels unevenly, so recess shading gives a sharper finish. See our guide to using washes.
How do I highlight blue without it going chalky?
Highlight with a lighter blue rather than white, and keep the highlight to the very edges. If you mix in white, add only a little at a time and finish with a thin blue glaze to bring saturation back. Our edge highlighting guide covers the technique.
How do I paint a dark, almost black blue?
Start from a black primer, basecoat with a very dark navy and keep highlights small and cool, such as a grey-blue. The less highlight you use, the darker the armour reads on the table.
Is there a simple blue armour recipe?
- Prime mid grey.
- Apply two thin coats of a strong mid blue.
- Recess shade panel lines and joints with a dark blue wash.
- Tidy flat panels with the mid blue if the wash has spread.
- Edge highlight with a lighter blue.
- Add a final, finer highlight on the sharpest corners only.
Can I use one-coat or contrast paints for blue?
Yes. Over a white or zenithal primer, a blue one-coat paint shades itself into recesses and gives a fast tabletop result. On big flat panels, thin it with medium to avoid pooling. Read our guide to one-coat paints.
How do I keep blue armour consistent across an army?
Write the recipe down, use the same paints on every model and paint in batches. Primer colour has the biggest effect, so stick with one. Our guide to batch painting an army covers the workflow.
Which colours go with blue armour?
Gold, silver, white, red and bone all work well. A warm spot colour such as red or orange on lenses or details stands out strongly against cool blue. See choosing a colour scheme.
How do I fix patchy blue panels?
Add another thin coat rather than one thick one. A thin glaze of the same blue across the whole panel evens out the tone. Our guide to fixing painting mistakes covers other repairs.
More hobby guides
- How to Paint Green Armour on Warhammer 40,000 Miniatures
- How to Paint Red Armour on Warhammer 40,000 Miniatures
- How to Paint White Armour on Warhammer 40,000 Miniatures
- How Long Does It Take to Paint a Warhammer 40,000 Army?
- Warhammer 40,000 Hobby Guides & Free Tools
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