What is the Easiest Warhammer 40K Army to Paint?
Painting your Warhammer 40k armies is an exciting way to bring your basic grey armies to life. Whether you want to highlight the technological superiority of the Aeldari, the chaos and scrap metal of the Orks, or the world-eating Tyranids, painting miniatures is a rewarding skill to learn.
But what is the easiest Warhammer 40k army to paint to help you get started? Should you stick with the basics, or jump right into your favorite armies and characters?
The fun of Warhammer 40k painting is that you can choose several ways to get started. You can start with easy armies like the Space Marines, Adeptus Mechanicus, and Necrons. Alternatively, you can create unique design schemes as you learn without worrying about “perfection”.
We’ll break down the armies we recommend for beginners, and also show you which equipment will make your journey easier.
As you learn, you want to use the best Warhammer 40k paints and Warhammer 40k paint brushes. Different brushes will enable you to cover everything from wide base layers to fine details around the pupils, while paints help you bring out vibrant color schemes.
Danireon is the #1 home for Warhammer 40k painting equipment in Canada. Beginners and pros rely on us for painting tools that bring armies to life. We offer speedy shipping and friendly customer support to help you along your way.
What is the Easiest Warhammer 40K Army to Paint?
Army selection is a crucial part of learning how to start Warhammer 40k painting. The Warhammer world features several factions and armies. You can then customize each one per your liking, whether you try to master the default palette or create your own lore around an army.
So, what is the easiest Warhammer 40k army to paint? The good news is that there are a few great candidates, as the game has a few beginner-friendly factions you can get started with.
Space Marines
The Space Marines are specialized soldiers fighting for the Imperium. Yet despite their combat prowess, many pros consider them the easiest Warhammer 40k army to paint.
Space Marines have iconic power armor, characterized by distinctive yet straightforward colors. The massive armor plates are great for beginners, as they have fewer intricate details. You can pick up a standard base brush and cover each armor plate with a few strokes. Armor is also very forgiving for contrast paints. You can shade and highlight over a large surface area without much worry.
Space Marines are also great for long-term skill development. They teach you about weapon details, face painting (which can be covered up by helmets), and edge highlights.
Necrons
Necrons are a powerful skeleton army waking up out of a 60-million-year hibernation. Yet that also makes them a reliable candidate for the title of easiest Warhammer 40k army to paint.
You can paint Necrons with just a few shades of metallics. A bottle of Grey Seer base paint or Mechanicus Standard Grey base paint, along with a few contrast colors, is enough to get started.
Necrons also teach you the critical skill of drybrushing. This involves taking a semi-dry brush and dragging it across the surface. Necron drybrushing is very forgiving, as minor mistakes appear to be the result of weathering from battle or hibernation.
There are only a few other armies where your “mistakes” end up adding more character to the final result, making Necrons a convenient choice for beginners.
Adeptus Mechanicus
The Adeptus Mechanicus, or AdMechs, are the technological priest class of the Imperium. They’re known for their long red robes and intricate technology. The AdMech robes are similar to Space Marines' power armor in that they are forgiving of mistakes and easy to paint. You can hide splotches on the torso or legs with a well-painted robe.
The metallic features and tiny glowing elements also introduce you to advanced features. The contrast of bright elements against dark red robes captures all the attention and hides basic imperfections.
Orks
What is the easiest Warhammer 40k army to paint? For many beginners, it’s the built-in chaos of the Orks. Like Necrons, Orks are forgiving of mistakes.
Get a color wrong? It adds to the wacky charm of Orks, who use mismatched weapons and armor. There’s a nice freedom in the lack of rules that come with scrap metal armor. Every mistake is simply a new interpretation of Ork culture.
Orks are also great for speed painting. You can slap on a base color and a few accents and be on your way to the next unit in your army. They’re a reliable way to get lots of reps and learn.
Tyranids
Tyranids consume planets with a terrifying ease. Yet painting them is relatively easy compared to other mighty armies.
Tyranids strike fear in the hearts of their opponents. Natural color shades are perfect for their organic skin texture. They also feature plenty of curves and dips that are the ideal foundation for contrast paints.
Like Orks, Tyranids are great for speed painting. You can choose a few colors to design your army, and pump out 20 to 30 units in no time. The extra numbers will also hide imperfections.
Warhammer Armies That Are Slightly More Challenging to Paint
Once you advance from the introductory armies, you’ll encounter slightly more difficulties. Note that the skills you learn from painting easier armies directly translate to complex ones. So feel free to skip straight to these armies if that’s what inspires you.
The Thousand Sons provide extra difficulty due to their gold trim and thin lines. The fine pieces of gold require precision and focus. You also have to balance the contrast between rich blues and opulent golds without going overboard.
The Imperial Guard offers a challenge in terms of scale. Individual pieces aren’t particularly more difficult compared to the Orks or AdMechs. However, the Imperial Guard has a wide variety of color options, vehicles, and artillery. Each one has a unique color scheme. They will test your patience in the long run.
Aeldari or Eldar bring their technological superiority to the table, putting your painting skills to the test. Helmets, weapons, vehicles, and accessories feature gems and highlight pieces. The flowing details are prone to errors that stick out like a sore thumb.
The Death Guard may be unsettling to look at, but that only adds to the difficulty of painting them. Boils, tentacles, organic growths, and corroded armor have visual complexity that takes your skills to the limit. You need to create diseased-flesh and corroded armor while maintaining good brushstrokes.
Tips for Making Any Army Easier to Paint
Whether you’re testing your limits with a difficult army or just starting with an easy faction, you’ll want to pick up a few tips. Learning how to paint Warhammer 40k models is as much about mindset as it is raw skill. Take your time and don’t get discouraged by imperfections - the human element is what makes an army truly yours.
Start With Spray Primers and Pre-Shading
You must set yourself up for success before painting. Spray primers create a smooth foundation on the base model. Start with a black or dark grey base primer. Then add a white or light grey to create natural shadows and highlights.
This base pre-shades your model. You can then focus on adding colors without stressing about shadows.
Focus on One Squad at a Time
What sounds easier to you: painting two models, or painting 150 for an entire army?
Cut down your focus to small squads. This will help you remain calm without feeling overwhelmed. You also get to learn specific ins and outs of those characters.
Plus, as your skills grow, each squad will take on its own unique color identity. A squad with slightly uneven layers from your first few attempts can end up taking on a unique role in your army in comparison to later results.
Each squad you complete builds momentum for your skills. You get to see the progress you make, and even complete mock battles with your freshly painted squads. That will give you the confidence you need to try trickier armies.
Use Washes and Drybrushing For Quick Depth
Washes and drybushing add extra layers to your models. You paint washes over base colors to create shadows and definition. It also leaves room for mistakes in your base coat, as the wash coat blends in naturally.
Drybushing involves removing most of the paint from your brush. You then lightly drag your brush across the model. This creates natural highlights on top of your base paint.
Both methods add an element of realism and mitigate the risk of errors. You can also add these finishing touches to multiple models at once, allowing you to remain efficient with your time.
Don’t Aim for Perfection - Consistency Matters Most!
We can be our own worst critics at times. Whether you have the easiest Warhammer 40k army to paint or you’re trying your skills with the Aeldari or Death Guard, your mindset will influence your final results.
The honest truth is that perfection is impossible. Even professional painters make tiny mistakes. Yet many new painters will spend days if not weeks on a single model, going over mistakes in hunt of the ideal results.
Chasing perfection ruins your momentum and confidence. Aim for ‘good enough’. It will give you a feeling of accomplishment and allow you to enjoy playing Warhammer. After all, that’s what your models are for - to enjoy on your shelf and to compete in fun battles.
Don’t let them be a constant stress. Instead, enjoy your results and work on constantly getting better. Over time, you’ll love the results you’re able to achieve.
Set Yourself Up For Success at Danireon Today
Your painting journey starts with the right equipment. You need miniatures to paint, brushes, paints, primers, and more.
The #1 Warhammer 40k shop in Canada is here to help. At Danireon, we have everything you need to get started. You can choose from hundreds of Warhammer 40k miniatures from your favorite armies.
Whether you want to paint default Space Marines or create your own custom faction of Tau and Salamanders, we’ve got you covered. Our friendly team is here to help you learn the ins and outs of painting. We can recommend brushes, colors, and shades. Plus, we provide speedy shipping throughout Canada to ensure you can get started ASAP.
You can shop our online store or visit our in-person store in Ottawa. We’d love to see your new creations, so visit us and bring in your latest painted models or send us pictures!
Final Thoughts on the Easiest Warhammer 40K Army to Paint
Painting Warhammer 40k armies is an exciting skill to learn. You get to dictate the personalities and lore of your armies. Whether you want to participate in exciting battles or just want miniatures to place on your desk, learning to paint gives you complete control.
You can start with beginner armies like the Orks or Space Marines. You are also free to jump right into challenging factions and learn skills through trial and error. That’s the best part about Warhammer 40k - you get to make the game truly yours.
Danireon has all of the equipment you need to get started. Browse our online store or visit us in person in Ottawa for everything you need!
