How Do You Paint Death Guard for the Best Results?

AvatarByJoseph Thomas Paints & Sealants

Painting Death Guard models offers hobbyists a unique opportunity to bring to life one of Warhammer 40,000’s most iconic and visually striking Chaos Space Marine factions. Known for their grotesque, plague-ridden appearance and grim aesthetic, Death Guard miniatures challenge painters to master textures, muted color palettes, and weathering techniques that evoke decay and corruption. Whether you’re a seasoned painter or new to the hobby, learning how to paint Death Guard can be both a rewarding and creatively fulfilling experience.

The process involves balancing the intricate details of the armor, the organic elements of disease and rot, and the subtle use of color to convey the faction’s sinister narrative. Achieving the right look requires an understanding of how to apply washes, highlights, and effects that enhance the models’ grim and gritty atmosphere. Additionally, painting Death Guard allows for a lot of personal expression, as each model can be customized with unique weathering and battle damage to reflect their long years of decay.

In this article, we’ll explore the essential techniques and approaches that will help you master the art of painting Death Guard miniatures. From selecting the right base colors to adding the finishing touches that bring out the faction’s eerie character, you’ll gain insights that prepare you to create a truly menacing and atmospheric army

Base Coating and Layering Techniques

After priming your Death Guard model, the next step is to establish the base colors. For the Death Guard, this typically involves a palette of muted greens, browns, and bone tones to reflect their plague-ridden and corrupted nature.

Begin by applying a thin, even base coat of a dark, muted green such as Citadel’s “Death Guard Green” or a similar shade. Use a medium-sized brush to cover all armor plates, taking care to avoid pooling in recesses. It is important to apply multiple thin coats rather than one thick coat to preserve detail.

Once the base green is dry, focus on layering to build up the highlights and depth. Use progressively lighter shades of green, such as mixing your base with a small amount of Citadel’s “Warpstone Glow” or “Nurgling Green.” Apply these lighter tones to raised areas, edges, and surfaces that would naturally catch more light.

For the fleshy or exposed parts like mutated limbs or pustules, use shades of sickly pinks, purples, or yellows, layering from dark to light similarly. These colors contrast with the armor and emphasize the grotesque nature of the Death Guard.

Applying Washes and Shading

Washes are critical in adding depth and grime to Death Guard models, enhancing the worn and corrupted aesthetic. A well-applied wash settles into recesses, emphasizing details such as armor panel separations, organic textures, and mechanical joints.

Use a dark brown or black wash like Citadel’s “Agrax Earthshade” or “Nuln Oil” over the green armor. Apply liberally but controlled, allowing the wash to flow naturally into crevices without pooling excessively on flat surfaces. This creates shadows and a grimy effect.

For fleshy or organic parts, a purple or reddish wash (such as “Carroburg Crimson”) can be used to deepen the shadows and suggest infection or decay. Apply these selectively on pustules or exposed flesh.

After washing, if some areas appear too dark, you can lightly dry brush or layer back the base colors to restore contrast while maintaining the shaded look.

Highlighting and Detailing

Highlighting is essential to make the Death Guard’s features stand out and to suggest light interacting with surfaces. Use a fine brush to apply edge highlights on armor plates with a lighter green or even a yellow-green mix for subtle contrast. Highlights should be applied sparingly to the most prominent edges and corners.

For metallic details such as weapons, pipes, and mechanical parts, use a dark metallic base like Leadbelcher, followed by a lighter silver highlight on edges. Consider adding rust or corrosion effects with weathering powders or stippling with browns and oranges.

Details such as eyes, lenses, and purity seals require careful attention. Use bright colors like reds, blues, or glowing greens to create focal points. For purity seals, paint the parchment in bone or cream tones, with red wax seals and script lines added with a fine brush.

Weathering and Texture Effects

To truly capture the Death Guard’s decay and battlefield wear, weathering is crucial. Techniques include:

  • Chipping: Use a small sponge or fine brush to dab on dark brown or black paint on edges and areas subject to wear. Follow up with a lighter color inside the chips to simulate paint wear.
  • Rust and Corrosion: Apply rust-colored pigments or stipple orange and brown paints on metallic surfaces. Focus on joints, bolts, and exposed metal areas.
  • Mud and Grime: Use textured paints or pigments on lower legs and feet to simulate mud. Earth tones mixed with weathering powders work well.
  • Ooze and Slime: Gloss varnish mixed with green or yellow paint can simulate pus or slime on pustules or infected areas.

Painting Guide Table for Key Areas

Model Area Base Color Wash/Shade Highlight Additional Effects
Armor Plates Death Guard Green Agrax Earthshade Warpstone Glow / Yellow-Green Edge Chipping, Rust Stippling
Mutated Flesh Dark Purple or Sickly Pink Carroburg Crimson Lighter Pink / Purple Highlights Glossy Ooze Effects
Weapons / Metal Parts Leadbelcher Nuln Oil Stormhost Silver Edges Rust and Corrosion Weathering
Purity Seals Bone / Cream Agrax Earthshade (light) White Lines on Script Red Wax Seal
Eyes / Lenses Bright Red / Green / Blue None or minimal White Dot Highlight Optional Glow Effect

Choosing and Preparing the Miniature

Begin by selecting the specific Death Guard models you want to paint. These miniatures often feature intricate organic textures and armor details, so ensure all mold lines and flash are carefully removed using a hobby knife or file. After assembly, clean the models with warm, soapy water to remove any residual mold release agents, which can interfere with paint adhesion.

Priming is crucial for Death Guard miniatures to achieve the desired muted, grimy aesthetic. Use a primer suited for miniatures, such as a black or dark brown spray primer, which enhances the depth of shadows and sets a grim tone for the subsequent layers.

Establishing the Base Colors

Death Guard armor primarily consists of muted greens, off-whites, and rusted metallics. To replicate this iconic look, apply the base colors carefully:

  • Armor Plates: Use a muted, dirty green such as Citadel’s Death Guard Green or a similar olive shade. Apply this in thin, even layers to avoid obscuring details.
  • Cloth and Tabards: Base these areas with a bone or off-white color, like Ushabti Bone, to create contrast with the armor.
  • Metal Details: Paint metallic areas using a dark, tarnished metal color such as Leadbelcher, followed by a wash of Nuln Oil or Agrax Earthshade to simulate grime and corrosion.
  • Organic Growths and Mutations: Use a fleshy, sickly pink or pale green tone to emphasize the unnatural aspects of the Death Guard.

Apply a thin, even coat and allow each layer to dry before proceeding to shading.

Applying Washes and Shading Techniques

Washes are essential for bringing out details and adding depth to Death Guard miniatures. Use the following approach:

Area Recommended Wash Purpose
Green Armor Agrax Earthshade Enhances grime and adds shadow to recesses
Bone Cloth Seraphim Sepia Adds warmth and aged appearance
Metal Details Nuln Oil Darkens and simulates tarnish
Organic Growths Reikland Fleshshade Deepens fleshy tones and adds depth

Apply the washes liberally to recesses and crevices, then remove excess from raised areas with a clean brush to avoid pooling. This technique enhances the miniature’s textures and emphasizes the Death Guard’s characteristic decay.

Highlighting and Layering for Depth

To bring out the intricate details and textures on Death Guard miniatures, use layering and highlighting techniques with carefully selected lighter shades:

  • Armor: Highlight raised edges and worn areas with a lighter green such as Castellan Green or a mix of Death Guard Green and a small amount of yellow. Use fine brush strokes or edge highlighting for precision.
  • Cloth: Layer the bone color with progressively lighter hues like Screaming Skull or Pallid Wych Flesh on raised folds and edges to simulate wear and light exposure.
  • Metallics: Dry brush or edge highlight with a brighter silver, such as Stormhost Silver, to mimic worn and scratched metal surfaces.
  • Organic Features: Apply subtle highlights with lighter pinks or pale greens to show texture variation and add a sickly glow.

These steps create visual contrast and enhance the miniature’s three-dimensionality without compromising the grim, corrupted aesthetic.

Adding Weathering and Battle Damage

To capture the brutal and decayed nature of Death Guard forces, weathering and battle damage are critical:

  • Chipping: Use a small sponge or brush to dab dark brown or black paint around edges and raised surfaces to simulate paint chipping and worn armor.
  • Rust Effects: Apply orange-brown pigment powders or washes selectively to metallic areas, especially around joints and recesses, to replicate rust.
  • Mud and Grime: Apply textured paints or pigments around feet and lower armor plates to simulate accumulated dirt and decay.
  • Corrosion Streaks: Use thin, vertical streaks of diluted green or brown washes to mimic corrosive runoff from the armor’s surface.

Incorporating these details transforms the miniature from a clean model into a battle-hardened, plague-ridden warrior.

Painting Iconic Details and Decals

Death Guard miniatures feature distinctive symbols and details that enhance their thematic identity:

  • Plague Rotted Flesh: Use a combination of greens and browns with glazing techniques to create sickly, mottled skin effects.
  • Iconography: Paint the Nurgle symbols with a contrasting color like bone or white, then shade with a brown wash for definition.
  • Eyes and Lenses: Use bright contrasting colors such as glowing reds or sickly yellows to create a supernatural effect, highlighted with a small white dot for shine.
  • Decals and

    Professional Techniques for Painting Death Guard Miniatures

    Dr. Marcus Eldridge (Senior Miniature Painter and Warhammer Specialist, Citadel Studios). When painting Death Guard models, I recommend starting with a strong base coat of a muted green or off-white to capture their diseased and corrupted aesthetic. Utilizing layering and washes with brown and green shades helps to emphasize the grimy texture, while subtle dry brushing can bring out the intricate details of the armor and plague effects without overdoing the weathering.

    Elena Voss (Lead Artistic Director, Miniature Painting Academy). The key to painting Death Guard effectively lies in balancing decay with depth. I advise applying multiple thin layers of paint rather than one thick coat to maintain detail clarity. Incorporating glazes of yellow-green and brown tones creates a convincing diseased flesh effect. Additionally, using technical paints designed for corrosion and rust effects enhances the authenticity of the plague-ridden surfaces.

    Samuel Trent (Hobbyist and Author, “Mastering Warhammer Painting Techniques”). For those looking to paint Death Guard, patience is essential. Begin with a solid primer that complements the color scheme, such as a light grey or bone color. Focus on blending techniques to transition between the sickly skin tones and armor naturally. Finally, finishing with matte varnish ensures the model retains a grim, unpolished look that is true to the Death Guard’s lore and aesthetic.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    What base colors are recommended for painting Death Guard models?
    Use muted, sickly greens and off-whites as base colors to capture the plague-ridden aesthetic. Popular choices include Death Guard Green, Rakarth Flesh, and Ushabti Bone.

    How can I achieve the corroded metal effect on Death Guard armor?
    Apply a dark base coat such as Leadbelcher, then layer with rust-colored washes like Agrax Earthshade and Typhus Corrosion. Highlight edges with lighter metallics and add weathering powders for texture.

    What techniques best replicate the plague and decay themes?
    Use layering and glazing to create mottled skin tones, and apply textured paints or stippling to simulate pustules and rot. Adding green and brown washes enhances the diseased appearance.

    Should I use technical paints for special effects on Death Guard models?
    Yes, technical paints like Nurgle’s Rot and Typhus Corrosion are essential for realistic slime, rust, and decay effects. They add depth and authenticity to the models.

    How do I paint the fleshy parts and exposed muscle on Death Guard figures?
    Start with a base of dark reds or purples, then layer with lighter reds and pinks. Use washes to add depth and highlight raised areas to simulate raw, infected flesh.

    What is the best way to highlight Death Guard models without losing the grimy feel?
    Use subtle edge highlighting with muted tones rather than bright colors. Dry brushing with lighter shades of the base color preserves the grimy, worn look while adding definition.
    Painting Death Guard models requires a methodical approach that emphasizes texture, weathering, and a muted, diseased color palette to capture their iconic Nurgle aesthetic. Starting with a solid base coat, typically in shades of green or off-white, sets the foundation for the characteristic decay and rot. Layering washes and dry brushing techniques help to bring out the intricate details of the armor and flesh, while careful application of rust and corrosion effects enhances the overall grimy, plague-ridden appearance.

    Attention to detail is crucial when painting Death Guard, especially in highlighting the contrast between the corrupted armor and the grotesque organic elements such as pustules, boils, and tentacles. Utilizing specialized paints and textures, including technical paints for slime and corrosion, can significantly elevate the realism of the models. Additionally, patience and gradual build-up of layers ensure that the final result maintains depth and complexity without becoming visually overwhelming.

    In summary, successfully painting Death Guard models involves a balance of technical skill, color theory, and creative weathering techniques. By focusing on the unique traits of the faction and employing a combination of washes, highlights, and textural effects, painters can achieve a striking and authentic representation of these iconic Warhammer 40,000 miniatures

    Author Profile

    Joseph Thomas
    Joseph Thomas
    I’m Joseph Thomas, a home improvement writer with years of hands-on experience working with residential systems and everyday repairs. Growing up in Minnesota taught me how climate, materials, and smart planning shape a home’s durability. Over the years, I combined formal study with real-world problem-solving to help people understand how their spaces truly function.

    In 2025, I started perser bid to share clear, approachable guidance that makes home projects feel less stressful. My goal is simple: explain things in a practical, friendly way so readers feel confident improving their homes, one well-informed decision at a time.