Standing in front of a shelf or an online shop with hundreds of little paint pots, with no idea where to start? That's a completely normal feeling — and the good news is, you don't need more than a handful of colors for your first miniature. We'll show you exactly what to buy so you can start painting this very week, without wasting money and without feeling like you're missing something.
We'll cover the types of paint that exist, which starter set to pick based on what you'll be painting, and how to expand your palette gradually from there. The goal is for you to walk away with a clear plan — and, most importantly, the itch to finally get started.
The single most important tip: don't buy a hundred colors at once
This is the most valuable piece of information in the whole article. For your first miniatures, 8–14 colors are enough — skin, metal, one or two armor colors, brown, black, white, and one wash (a shading paint). That's it. You'll fill in the rest based on what you specifically go on to paint.
A huge set of 50+ colors sounds tempting, but realistically you won't touch half of them for months — and in the meantime you might be missing exactly the shade you need for your particular miniature. A small, targeted set is a better start than a big all-purpose one.
What types of paint are there?
Before picking out a specific set, it helps to understand the basic categories. Acrylic paints for miniatures are usually divided into three types based on what they do:
Base (base coats)
Thickly opaque colors for the first layer — they cover a black or white base evenly in one or two coats. This is the color you'll use as the model's main shade.
Shade / Wash (shading)
Thin, dark paints that flow into recesses and creases on their own, creating a natural shadow. A single wash instantly gives a model more depth with no extra work.
Layer (highlighting)
Lighter colors applied to raised areas and edges to add highlights. These go on as the next step, once the base coat and wash are done.
This trio — Base → Shade → Layer — is the most fundamental and time-tested approach to painting miniatures. A single color from each category is enough to give you a miniature that looks finished and cohesive.
Which starter set is right for you?
The easiest way to get started is to grab a ready-made starter set — manufacturers put these together with a balanced selection of colors for everyday situations. Here's an overview of the three most recommended options, based on what you're planning to paint:
Citadel Set: Warhammer 40k Paints + Tools
Best for: complete beginners who want everything in one package13 Citadel Colour paints
A core selection in 12ml pots, ideal for your first models. And we have to say, it's a fairly versatile set — the colors mix well with each other too.
Brush and tools included
Citadel sets typically also include a basic brush and tools for prepping models — so you don't need to buy those separately.
Wide availability of tutorials
Citadel is the most widely used system — you'll find thousands of tutorials and video guides online for every color in this set.
Army Painter Speedpaint Starter Set
Best for: those who want fast results without learning Base/Shade/Layer right away10× 18ml transparent Speedpaint 2.0 colors
Apply one rich layer directly onto a light-colored or sprayed model — the paint creates both shadows and highlights on its own. No complicated layering involved.
Base-coating brush included
The set also includes a basic brush, so you have everything you need for your first model right out of the box.
Mixing balls in each bottle
Every bottle has stainless steel balls inside for easy mixing — give it a shake and the paint is ready to use right away.
Army Painter Warpaints Fanatic Starter Set
Best for: those who want to learn the classic Base/Shade/Layer process from the ground up11 colors — 7 acrylics, 2 metallics, a wash, and a primer
A complete mini-set for tabletop-quality painting. Includes everything you need for the classic process: base colors, metallic shades, a shading wash, and a brush-on primer.
Works for any wargaming system
The set isn't tied to a single faction or game — the color palette is universal enough for Warhammer, D&D, Bolt Action, and more.
Mixing balls in each bottle
Just like with Speedpaint — every bottle has balls inside for quick, easy mixing.
Don't want a ready-made set? Pick your own 8 colors
If you'd rather build your own small palette instead of a pre-made set, here's a tried-and-tested list of eight colors that will cover the vast majority of miniatures:
Black primer/base
White primer/highlight
Red armor/details
Blue armor/details
Brown leather/wood
Skin tone body/flesh
Metallic weapons/armor
Black Wash shading
With this foundation, you can paint almost any miniature to tabletop quality. Black and white work as a primer (or even as colors in their own right), and the remaining tones cover armor, skin, wood, metal, and shading. Once you want more — say, a specific color for a particular faction, or effects like fire and magic — you can add to it gradually as needed.
What else you need besides paint
Paint alone isn't enough — for your first miniature, you'll also need a few basic items:
Primer (base coat spray)
A black or white spray that ensures paint holds properly on the model and covers evenly. Without a primer, acrylic paint doesn't adhere well to plastic. More in our guide to choosing a primer.
One good brush
A size 1 or 2 brush handles most of the work on a first miniature — base coating and basic details alike. There's no need to invest in an expensive Kolinsky brush right away — good-quality synthetic under 100 CZK is plenty to start with. More detail in our guide to choosing brushes.
A palette
Anything flat will do — even a piece of tile or an old plate. For more comfortable painting sessions, we'd recommend a wet palette, which keeps paint wet for longer. You can easily make one at home from a sponge and baking paper.
4
A water cup
For rinsing your brush between colors. Anything works — a glass, an old yogurt cup, basically any container with water that you change regularly.
The most common beginner mistakes when choosing paint
Buying a huge set right at the start
A big set of 50+ colors looks like a bargain, but realistically you won't touch most of it for months. A small, targeted set of 8–14 colors is a better start — you can add the rest as you need it.
Art-store craft paints
Tempera and school-grade acrylics aren't designed for miniatures — they cover poorly in thin layers and look rough on fine details. The price difference versus hobby paints is minimal.
Contrast/Speedpaint without a light-colored primer
Transparent paints need a white or grey base to work correctly. Over a black primer, they'll stay dark and flat, with no shading effect at all.
Forgetting a primer and a brush
Paint on its own isn't enough — without a primer, paint doesn't hold well, and without at least one good brush, even quality paint will be hard to apply cleanly.
Summary — how to choose your first paints
- 8–14 colors are enough — skin, metal, armor, brown, black, white, and a wash
- A ready-made starter set is the easiest way to start — Citadel Paints + Tools, Speedpaint Starter Set, or Warpaints Fanatic
- Base + Shade + Layer is the most time-tested process — one color from each category is enough to start
- Contrast/Speedpaint = a faster route, but they need a light-colored primer
- Use acrylic paints made for miniatures, not craft tempera from an art store
- Don't forget a primer, a brush, and a palette — paint alone isn't enough
- Expand gradually — based on what you specifically go on to paint
If you're still not sure, drop by our shop in Plzeň — we'll help you put together a small palette exactly for your first miniature, whether it's a Space Marine, a Stormcast, or anything else. You don't have to leave with a full bag — just what you actually need to get started.
Citadel, Army Painter Speedpaint, and Warpaints Fanatic starter paint sets are available at our shop in Plzeň at Zbrojnická 116/2, open Mon–Fri 1pm–6pm. You can also order online — we ship throughout the Czech Republic and the EU. We're happy to help you pick the right set for your first miniature.
obchod@coloursofwarriors.com · +420 737 281 727