What paints do I need for Ultramarines?

The paint list for Ultramarines includes recommended Citadel / Warhammer Colour, Vallejo and Army Painter paints, ranked by priority. Browse the full list on this page.

What is the base colour for Ultramarines?

Ultramarines (Space Marines) typically starts with a primer suited to its primary colour scheme. Bleu cobalt et or. Le chapitre iconique, parfait pour commencer.

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Warhammer 40,000 · Space Marines

Ultramarines

débutant Space Marines

Bleu cobalt et or. Le chapitre iconique, parfait pour commencer.

Start with a primer Macragge Blue by spray if possible — It acts as a base coat and adheres perfectly. Apply Nuln Oil into all recesses before highlighting with Calgar Blue.

Recommended undercoat black — Several priority paints in this army converge on black.

Paint list

Sorted by priority

🔴 Must-Have

You cannot start this scheme without these paints

Macragge Blue (Citadel) — Main armour · 2 opaque coats
Abaddon Black (Citadel) — Joints and recesses · 1 thin coat
Retributor Armour (Citadel) — Gold ornaments · 2 opaque coats
Leadbelcher (Citadel) — Bolter and metal · 1–2 coats
Nuln Oil (Citadel) — Whole miniature · General wash into recesses

🟠 Core

Needed for a correct and recognisable result

Calgar Blue (Citadel) — Armure (highlight 1) · Drybrush, avoiding recesses
Agrax Earthshade (Citadel) — Gold ornaments · Localised wash into recesses
Liberator Gold (Citadel) — Gold ornaments · Light drybrush
Bugman's Glow (Citadel) — Face skin · 2 coats
Rhinox Hide (Citadel) — Holster and leather · 1 opaque coat

🟡 Recommended

For better rendering, detail, and realism

Hoeth Blue (Citadel) — Armure (highlight 2) · Edges and angles only
Runefang Steel (Citadel) — Bright metal · Drybrush on metal
Kislev Flesh (Citadel) — Skin (layer) · Raised areas of face
Reikland Fleshshade (Citadel) — Skin · Wash over all skin
Dryad Bark (Citadel) — Base · 1 opaque coat

🟢 Optional

Advanced finishes and optional effects

Screaming Skull (Citadel) — Base (drybrush) · Very light drybrush on ground
Pallid Wych Flesh (Citadel) — Skin (highlight) · Tip on facial raised areas
Ushabti Bone (Citadel) — Robe edges · Fine layer

Painting order

Recommended steps

1 Step 1: primer Macragge Blue (spray or brush) over the full armour

2 Step 2: Abaddon Black on the joints d'armure, interior of elbows, holster

3 Step 3: Retributor Armour over all ornaments gold (aquila, kneeguards, belt)

4 Step 4: Leadbelcher on the bolter and the pièces métalliques

5 Step 5: Bugman's Glow on the peau of the face (if casque ouvert)

6 Step 6: Nuln Oil as a wash général over the whole miniature — Leave to dry thoroughly

7 Step 7: Calgar Blue as a layer over raised areas of the armure blue

8 Step 8: Agrax Earthshade localisé on the gold ornaments

9 Step 9: Liberator Gold en drybrush light on the or for the highlights

10 Step 10: Hoeth Blue on the arêtes d'armure for the final highlight

Tips

Hints for this army

1 The spray Macragge Blue of GW is indispensable — It gives exactly the good colour and covers uniformly all the surfaces.

2 Apply Nuln Oil in a single generous coat, leave to dry thoroughly before highlighting. Do not re-brush while drying.

3 For the gold ornaments : Retributor Armour → Agrax Earthshade localisé → Liberator Gold en drybrush. Simple and effective.

Ultramarines

Paint list

🔴 Must-Have

🟠 Core

🟡 Recommended

🟢 Optional

Painting order

Tips

Explore further

🔍 All Paint Equivalents

🔄 Citadel → Vallejo

📖 Conversion guide