Walk into any hobby store and the paint selection can feel completely overwhelming. Hundreds of colors, multiple brands, different finishes, and zero guidance on where to start. Here's the honest truth: you don't need a full paint rack to get your first army looking great.
Most experienced tabletop gaming painters will tell you the same thing - five paint types cover almost everything a beginner needs, and once you have those down, everything else is just extra. Whether you're just getting into Tabletop Gaming in Utah City or picking up your first Warhammer kit, this guide tells you exactly which paints to buy and why each one matters.
Why the Right Paints Matter More Than the Right Colors
New painters often spend too much time picking colors and not enough time thinking about paint types. A beginner with the right five paint types will always out-paint someone with fifty random colors and no system. The five essentials work together as a process, each one building on the last to create a finished miniature that looks clean, deep, and professional.
The goal isn't to have every color imaginable. It's to understand the role each paint plays in the overall process, then choose colors that fit your army from there.
The 5 Essential Paint Types for Wargaming Beginners
1. Primer
Primer isn't technically a paint, but it's the most important product on this list. Paint doesn't stick properly to bare plastic or resin. Primer gives your miniatures a surface the paint can grip, and it also helps you see fine surface details more clearly before you start.
Grey primer is the most versatile starting point. It works under both light and dark color schemes. White primer suits bright colors like yellows and whites. Black primer is popular for darker armies since it creates natural shadows in recessed areas from the start. Most beginners do well with a grey spray primer that covers evenly and dries fast. Every painter at any skill level in the wargaming community starts here.
2. Base Paints
Base paints are thick, high-pigment paints designed to give solid, opaque coverage in one or two coats. These are the paints you use to lay down the main colors on your miniature, the armor, cloth, skin, leather, and metal areas. They're formulated to cover primer cleanly without needing ten thin layers to achieve a solid finish.
Citadel Base paints are the most widely used option in the tabletop gaming world. Army Painter Warpaints and Monument Hobbies Pro Acryl are strong alternatives. Pick two or three base colors that match your army's color scheme and start there. You don't need a full range; you just need the main tones your models will wear.
3. Washes or Shades
A wash is a thin, ink-like paint that flows into the recessed areas of a miniature and creates instant, realistic-looking shadows. This single product makes the biggest visual difference of anything on this list. A flat base-coated model looks like a toy; the same model after a wash suddenly looks like something a seasoned painter finished.
Citadel Shade paints are the standard recommendation for beginners. Agrax Earthshade works on almost everything from skin to leather to brown armor. Nuln Oil is ideal for metals and dark surfaces. Apply the wash over a fully base-coated model, let gravity do the work, and allow it to dry completely before moving on. The result will genuinely impress you.
4. Layer or Highlight Paints
Once your wash dries, the model looks great in the recesses but the raised areas look dark and flat. Layer paints fix this. They're slightly thinner than base paints and designed for applying lighter tones over raised surfaces, giving your miniature a sense of light and dimension.
Pick a highlight color one shade lighter than each of your base colors. Load a small brush, wipe most of the paint off on your palette, then lightly drag the brush across raised edges and surfaces. This technique, called edge highlighting, is the most common way to finish a tabletop-quality miniature and it improves quickly with practice.
5. Contrast or Speed Paints
Contrast paints from Citadel and Speed Paints from Army Painter work differently from standard acrylics. They combine a base coat, shade, and basic highlight effect in a single application. One coat over a white or grey primer gives you a miniature that looks genuinely finished in minutes.
These paints aren't a shortcut to competition-level results, but for tabletop gaming in Utah beginners who want a full army painted and ready to play fast, they're one of the most practical tools available. They're especially useful for rank-and-file troops where you need consistent results across dozens of models quickly.
Tips for Getting the Most from Your Starter Paint Set
Thin your paints slightly with water before applying them. Paint straight from the pot is often too thick and obscures fine detail. A good consistency flows smoothly off the brush and spreads evenly without pooling or streaking.
Keep your brushes clean throughout every session. Dried paint in brush bristles ruins the tip and makes detail work harder. A brush cleaning pot with water nearby and a quick wipe on a paper towel between colors keeps everything working well. Good habits from session one save you from replacing brushes constantly.
FAQ: Essential Paints for Wargaming Beginners
Q1: What paints should a complete beginner buy first for tabletop gaming?
A1: Start with primer, a few base paints in your army's main colors, a wash like Agrax Earthshade, and one or two highlight paints. That covers everything.
Q2: Are Citadel paints worth the price for beginners?
A2: Yes. Citadel paints are well-formulated, widely available, and easy to use. Army Painter and Pro Acryl are excellent budget-friendly alternatives found at any good hobby store.
Q3: Can I use contrast paints as my only paints for wargaming miniatures?
A3: Contrast paints work well for tabletop-standard results on their own. For competition or display quality, you'll want to combine them with traditional base and highlight paints.
Q4: How many paints do I actually need to start painting a Warhammer army?
A4: Five to eight paints cover most beginner armies. Focus on your main armor color, a skin tone, a metal paint, a wash, and a highlight. Add colors gradually as your army grows.
Q5: Where can I find beginner wargaming paints in Utah?
A5: MRS Hobby Shop stocks a full range of Citadel, Army Painter, and other top brands, making it one of the best spots for tabletop gaming supplies in Utah.
Stop Staring at the Paint Rack and Start Building Your Army
Five paint types. That's all you need to go from bare plastic to a finished, table-ready miniature. Primer, base paints, washes, highlights, and contrast paints work together as a simple system that any beginner can follow from the very first session.
MRS Hobby Shop has been a go-to destination for tabletop gaming supplies since 1984. Our paint selection covers every major brand, including Citadel, Army Painter, Duncan Rhodes Painting Academy, and Monument Hobbies Pro Acryl, all in one place. Whether you're shopping in our store or browsing online, you'll find everything on this list ready to go.