The most used paints in Warhammer 40K
This ranking analyzes 117 Warhammer 40K subfactions and 96 Citadel paints actually used in the schemes documented by ChromaStack. Each paint is ranked by the number of army paint lists that use it.
The goal is simple: identify the most important paints to own when starting out or building a versatile collection. The data comes exclusively from the paint schemes recorded in the ChromaStack database, with no generic content.
Methodology: the ranking is based on the Warhammer 40K army files in ChromaStack. This page ranks the Citadel paints actually cited in those schemes. A paint can be must-have (priority 1), core (priority 2), recommended (priority 3) or optional (priority 4). A presence does not necessarily mean the paint is mandatory. The figures evolve with the database.
Top most used paints
| Rank | Paint | Brand | Schemes covered | Coverage | Essential schemes | Score | Equivalents | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leadbelcher | Citadel (Games Workshop) | 111 | 94.9% | 111 | 442 | 5 | Detail |
View armies (111)
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| 2 | Nuln Oil | Citadel (Games Workshop) | 100 | 85.5% | 97 | 342 | 2 | Detail |
View armies (100)
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| 3 | Abaddon Black | Citadel (Games Workshop) | 87 | 74.4% | 86 | 345 | 20 | Detail |
View armies (87)
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| 4 | Agrax Earthshade | Citadel (Games Workshop) | 86 | 73.5% | 73 | 264 | 2 | Detail |
View armies (86)
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| 5 | Retributor Armour | Citadel (Games Workshop) | 75 | 64.1% | 60 | 254 | 5 | Detail |
View armies (75)
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| 6 | Runefang Steel | Citadel (Games Workshop) | 55 | 47.0% | 27 | 138 | 11 | Detail |
View armies (55)
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Results analysis
Most represented category
Metallics — 13 paints
Most represented paint
Leadbelcher — 111 armies
Armies analyzed
117 armies
Blacks
- Abaddon Black87 armies
- Incubi Darkness1 armies
Whites
- Corax White45 armies
- White Scar3 armies
Greys
- Administratum Grey31 armies
- Mechanicus Standard Grey12 armies
- Ulthuan Grey10 armies
- Rakarth Flesh8 armies
- Dawnstone8 armies
- Celestra Grey7 armies
- Dark Reaper1 armies
- Eshin Grey1 armies
- Warpfiend Grey1 armies
Reds
- Mephiston Red50 armies
- Evil Sunz Scarlet25 armies
- Jokaero Orange13 armies
- Khorne Red11 armies
- Screamer Pink10 armies
- Gal Vorbak Red6 armies
- Emperor's Children2 armies
- Blood Angels Red1 armies
- Pink Horror1 armies
- Fulgrim Pink1 armies
Oranges
- Troll Slayer Orange12 armies
Yellows
- Averland Sunset14 armies
- Flash Gitz Yellow14 armies
- Yriel Yellow7 armies
- Iyanden Yellow1 armies
Greens
- Moot Green25 armies
- Caliban Green15 armies
- Warboss Green14 armies
- Ionrach Skin9 armies
- Elysian Green7 armies
- Castellan Green6 armies
- Death Guard Green3 armies
- Nurgling Green2 armies
- Deathworld Forest2 armies
- Sons of Horus Green1 armies
- Ogryn Camo1 armies
- Plaguebearer Flesh1 armies
Blues
- Calgar Blue12 armies
- Macragge Blue9 armies
- Hoeth Blue9 armies
- Kantor Blue7 armies
- Temple Guard Blue5 armies
- Sotek Green5 armies
- Aethermatic Blue4 armies
- Thousand Sons Blue3 armies
- Altdorf Guard Blue3 armies
- Caledor Sky1 armies
- Daemonette Hide1 armies
- Ahriman Blue1 armies
Purples and pinks
- Naggaroth Night5 armies
- Genestealer Purple3 armies
- Xereus Purple1 armies
- Dechala Lilac1 armies
Browns
- Rhinox Hide27 armies
- Skrag Brown4 armies
- Steel Legion Drab2 armies
- XV-882 armies
- Dryad Bark2 armies
Flesh tones
- Bugman's Glow30 armies
- Kislev Flesh7 armies
Bone and ivory
- Screaming Skull32 armies
- Pallid Wych Flesh19 armies
- Ushabti Bone11 armies
- Zandri Dust7 armies
- Wraithbone2 armies
- Karak Stone1 armies
Metallics
- Leadbelcher111 armies
- Retributor Armour75 armies
- Runefang Steel55 armies
- Liberator Gold40 armies
- Stormhost Silver6 armies
- Auric Armour Gold3 armies
- Balthasar Gold1 armies
- Brass Scorpion1 armies
- Iron Warriors1 armies
- Hashut Copper1 armies
- Runelord Brass1 armies
- Sycorax Bronze1 armies
- Skullcrusher Brass1 armies
Shades
- Nuln Oil100 armies
- Agrax Earthshade86 armies
- Carroburg Crimson24 armies
- Reikland Fleshshade14 armies
- Seraphim Sepia14 armies
- Drakenhof Nightshade12 armies
- Druchii Violet10 armies
- Biel-Tan Green7 armies
- Casandora Yellow5 armies
- Athonian Camoshade4 armies
- Coelia Greenshade3 armies
- Fuegan Orange3 armies
Technical
- Stirland Mud1 armies
- Typhus Corrosion1 armies
Schemes with the most distinct paints
The subfactions whose scheme references the largest number of distinct paints. A more detailed scheme is not necessarily more influential or more popular.
- Ultramarines 18 paints
- Blood Angels 16 paints
- Space Wolves 15 paints
- Cadians 14 paints
- Dark Angels 14 paints
- Bloody Rose 14 paints
- Sacred Rose 14 paints
- Verdant Succour 14 paints
- Salamanders 14 paints
- Thousand Sons 14 paints
Build a versatile collection
The 5 paints with the highest importance score, weighted by their role in each scheme (must-have, core, recommended, optional). A concrete starting point to build a versatile collection.
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111 armies 111 essential schemes
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87 armies 86 essential schemes
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3 Nuln Oil100 armies 97 essential schemes
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86 armies 73 essential schemes
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75 armies 60 essential schemes
Frequently asked questions
The ranking is based on the 117 Warhammer 40K paint schemes documented in ChromaStack. Each paint is counted once per distinct scheme that uses it, considering only the French version of each scheme to avoid duplicates. A weighted importance score differentiates must-have paints (4 points), core paints (3 points), recommended paints (2 points) and optional paints (1 point). For a single army, only the highest importance level is retained.
The ranking analyzes 117 Warhammer 40K subfactions referenced in ChromaStack and cross-references their schemes with the paint catalogue. 96 distinct paints appear in at least one scheme. The exact total is shown at the top of the page and updates automatically as the data evolves.
The "Build a versatile collection" section keeps the 5 paints with the highest importance score. This score weights each scheme according to the paint's role: must-have (4 points), core (3 points), recommended (2 points) and optional (1 point). Ties are broken by the number of schemes using the paint, then alphabetically. It is the best starting point for a versatile collection without unnecessary purchases.
The "available equivalents" column counts the Delta-E matches computed by the ChromaStack equivalence engine. Some very specific shades (like Agrax Earthshade) have no close substitute in other brands. The paint detail page remains accessible to see the closest matches, even when they are distant.