Horus Heresy (30K) · Loyalist Legions
Raven Guard (XIX) (Loyalist Legions) Paint List for Horus Heresy (30K)
Stealthy black armour with minimal white or grey markings. Some legionaries wear a matt black so deep they vanish into the dark.
Raven Guard black differs from Dark Angels black — it shifts towards cool blue-grey to evoke shadow rather than pure darkness.
Recommended undercoat
black
— Several priority paints in this army converge on black.
Paint list
Sorted by priority🔴 Must-Have
Bases — the fundamental colours without which the scheme is impossible
- Abaddon Black (Citadel) — Armour / black undersuit and weapon casing · Base
- Administratum Grey (Citadel) — Markings, grey highlights · Base
- Leadbelcher (Citadel) — Metal · Base
- Corax White (Citadel) — White / markings · Base
🟠 Core
Main shades and highlights — the official Simplified Scheme
- Dark Reaper (Citadel) — Armour (chunky highlight) / white, markings (deep shade) · Chunky highlight / Deep shade
- Evil Sunz Scarlet (Citadel) — Helmet lenses · Chunky highlight
- Fire Dragon Bright (Citadel) — Helmet lenses · Highlight
- Nuln Oil (Citadel) — Metal · Shade
- Stormhost Silver (Citadel) — Metal · Highlight
- White Scar (Citadel) — White / markings · Highlight
- Baneblade Brown (Citadel) — White / markings · Chipping inside the White Scar chips
- Dawnstone (Citadel) — Black undersuit / Weapon casing · Highlight
🟡 Recommended
Extra highlights and details that add depth
- Thunderhawk Blue (Citadel) — Armour (secondary highlight) / white, markings (soft shade) · Secondary highlight / soft shade
- Fenrisian Grey (Citadel) — Armour · Highlight fine
- Khorne Red (Citadel) — Helmet lenses · Soft shade
- Eshin Grey (Citadel) — Black undersuit / Weapon casing · Chunky highlight
🟢 Optional
Dot highlights and advanced finishes for a showcase result
- Grey Seer (Citadel) — Armour · Dot highlights
- Ungor Flesh (Citadel) — Helmet lenses · Dot highlights
Painting order
Recommended steps
1
Matt black primer — essential for a stealth finish
2
Base Abaddon Black over the full armour
3
Chunky highlight Dark Reaper on the wide edges (cool blue-grey shade)
4
Highlight Thunderhawk Blue on the fine edges
5
Highlight Fenrisian Grey on the brightest points
6
Lenses: base Mephiston Red, soft shade Khorne Red, deep shade Abaddon Black
7
Chunky highlight Evil Sunz Scarlet then Fire Dragon Bright on the lenses
8
Basecoat Corax White on the markings, soft shade Thunderhawk Blue, deep shade Dark Reaper
9
Highlight White Scar, chipping Baneblade Brown in the chips
10
Base Leadbelcher, shade Nuln Oil, highlight Stormhost Silver
11
Dot highlights Grey Seer and Ungor Flesh
Tips
Hints for this army
1
Dark Reaper → Thunderhawk Blue → Fenrisian Grey over the black gives a night-shadow look, quite different from the Dark Angels' warm black.
2
The markings are kept to a minimum — add only a few per model to respect the stealth lore.
3
Some legionaries wear a black that swallows light: a matte finish is mandatory, no gloss varnish on the armour.
4
Tarnished steel or bronze trim reads understated — treat it plainly so it does not betray the silhouette.
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