Horus Heresy (30K) · Loyalist Legions
Salamanders (XVIII) (Loyalist Legions) Paint List for Horus Heresy (30K)
Chrome-oxide green armour with flame orange and black elements, and sculpted bronze bands. Every legionary is a skilled smith.
Salamanders green is deep and desaturated. Waaagh! Flesh is darker than you think — no black base needed, but avoid too light a primer.
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
- Waaagh! Flesh (Citadel) — Armour · Base
- Abaddon Black (Citadel) — Black armour, undersuit and weapon casing (base) / helmet lenses (deep shade) · Base / Deep shade
- Retributor Armour (Citadel) — Gold / bronze / trim · Base
- Leadbelcher (Citadel) — Metal · Base
- Mephiston Red (Citadel) — Helmet lenses · Base
🟠 Core
Main shades and highlights — the official Simplified Scheme
- Elysian Green (Citadel) — Armour · Highlights
- Ogryn Camo (Citadel) — Armour · Highlight fine
- Corvus Black (Citadel) — Black armour · Chunky highlight
- Dawnstone (Citadel) — Black armour / black undersuit and weapon casing · Highlight
- Evil Sunz Scarlet (Citadel) — Helmet lenses · Chunky highlight
- Fire Dragon Bright (Citadel) — Helmet lenses · Highlight
- Gore-Grunta Fur (Citadel) — Gold / bronze / trim · Shade
- Stormhost Silver (Citadel) — Metal / gold, bronze, trim · Highlight
- Nuln Oil (Citadel) — Metal · Shade
🟡 Recommended
Extra highlights and details that add depth
- Rhinox Hide (Citadel) — Armour · Deep shade
- Khorne Red (Citadel) — Helmet lenses · Soft shade
- Eshin Grey (Citadel) — Black armour (highlight) / black undersuit, weapon casing (Chunky highlight) · Highlight / Chunky highlight
🟢 Optional
Dot highlights and advanced finishes for a showcase result
- Krieg Khaki (Citadel) — Armour · Dot highlights
- Administratum Grey (Citadel) — Black armour · Dot highlights
- Ungor Flesh (Citadel) — Helmet lenses · Dot highlights
Painting order
Recommended steps
1
Grey primer or base Waaagh! Flesh directly on primer black
2
Base Waaagh! Flesh over the full armour
3
Deep shade Rhinox Hide into deep recesses
4
Chunky highlight Waaagh! Flesh 1:1 Elysian Green on the wide edges
5
Highlights Elysian Green on the fine edges
6
Highlight Ogryn Camo on points of light
7
Areas black : base Abaddon Black, chunky highlight Corvus Black, highlights Eshin Grey and Dawnstone
8
Lenses: base Mephiston Red, soft shade Khorne Red, deep shade Abaddon Black, chunky highlight Evil Sunz Scarlet
9
Base Retributor Armour, shade Gore-Grunta Fur, highlight Stormhost Silver
10
Base Leadbelcher, shade Nuln Oil, highlight Stormhost Silver
11
Dot highlights Krieg Khaki, Administratum Grey and Ungor Flesh
Tips
Hints for this army
1
Mixing Waaagh! Flesh 1:1 with Elysian Green for the first chunky highlight is the key to the official scheme.
2
Despite the ordeal on Isstvan V, every legionary is a smith and keeps his armour in order — there is weathering, but the armour still works.
3
Bronze trim is often sculpted and ornamented — work it carefully to reflect the legendary craft of the Salamanders.
4
The orange flame details on the greaves are a signature mark — use Fire Dragon Bright for the flames, a nod to the volcanic world of Nocturne.
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