The new edition of Warhammer Age of Sigmar is nearly here, and it’s being heralded not just with the sounding of 13 brass bells, but with a massive launch box. As you’d expect from a box with a name like Skaventide, it’s absolutely packed with perfidious ratmen of all shapes and sizes.
As is tradition, members of the Warhammer Community team were given the chance to paint some of the contents ahead of release, fitting it in around writing, editing, and designing the dozens of articles you’ve been reading. Here are the team’s Skaven results.
Gadge
I usually prefer skirmish games, as I’m notoriously slow at painting armies. Part of the problem is that I always try to paint every model to the best of my ability as if it were a ‘character’. But with over twenty charming little ratty lads to do, I was in need of a new approach.
I decided to let spray paint do a lot of the work, with a light undercoat of Mournfang Brown over Chaos Black – this left all the overhangs and shadows suitably covered but also gave me a more neutral tone to paint flesh, fur and cloth.
I painted all of the fleshy parts first with Kislev Flesh, and the metal bits with Stormhost Silver or other metallic shades. I then chose four colours for clothes and shields to apply in an almost random way, to give the unit a cohesive look without being too uniform – as that’s not very Skaven! The skin was shaded using Reikland Flesh with a tiny drop of Doomfire Magenta to give it that pink rodent-style hue. Pretty much everything else got a coat of Nuln Oil or Agrax Earthshade and then a quick highlight over the top with the original colour. Lastly, the ‘furry’ bits of the limbs and faces had a thin overcoat of one of several natural shades of Contrast paints.
I took a little more time over the Grey Seer, as befits his station, but as he’ll be one of many characters in my new Skaven army he was still a very ‘quick’ job and done in an evening. If you look closely, you can see where I’ve cut corners for expediency, but on the table when you’re looking at them from a foot or so away, they look like the brave and noble warriors of the Great Horned Rat that they are!
Okay, that's the first units out the way… only 40 more Clanrats to paint, eeek! Better get to it quick-quick!
Luke
I was lucky enough to get the chance to paint the three hero miniatures from Skaventide – two amazing twists on some classic archetypes, and a new hero on a mount, something delightfully off-kilter for the Skaven.
I wanted to paint each one to the best of my ability, as I don’t plan on collecting a Skaven army just yet (well, maybe a tiny little Spearhead…) and so I sat down to plan some alternate, eye-catching colour schemes. For the Clawlord, I went with a luminous bright yellow armour to contrast with the darker tone I’d picked for the Gnaw-beast. I wanted the mount to be as gnarly and disgusting as possible, with lots of raw looking skin, but still recognisably a rat of some kind.
For the Warlock Engineer I kept things simple and went with a muted green robe shaded with some ruddy browns, which helped sell both the contrast and that grimy engineer vibe. Finally, I painted the Grey Seer in a fairly traditional pale grey with some weathering on his cloak’s ragged edges – why mess with the classics? I chose a deep burgundy red for the collar – a motif that’s turned up in various versions of this venerable archetype across the years.
Time being as cruel as it is, I didn’t quite get there with all the details and there are some elements I'd like to refine. I’m looking forward to adding some freehand to the Clawlord’s armour and cloak, and adding some extra definition to the horns.
Steve
Skaven are such an interesting faction with so many different themes to choose from. There are crazy contraptions, bio-engineered monstrosities and sneaky whatnots aplenty that can fulfil any commander's want-needs.
For me, Skaven are all about the rats… LOTS of rats! I opted to paint a selection of 20 Clanrats and a Warlock Engineer, but the problem with that choice is that I struggle with the time and (if i’m being frank) concentration to paint huge hordes of miniatures.
I wanted to try and find a method of painting my 20 Clanrats quickly that would also work on big centrepieces and character models that I would tackle later. Using a mix of Contrast pants, washes and a few quick and dirty line highlights (since neatness doesn't really lend itself to Skaven) I think I have achieved my goal.
Charlie
As a devotee of the Clans Moulder, I loved painting the new Rat Ogors. They're far and away the most impressive push-fit kit I've ever assembled – not only do they have loads of interchangeable build options, they slot together incredibly smoothly, and hide most of the joins using fur, stitching, and armour.
The chunks of furless exposed skin on these monstrosities can be painted in all sorts of ways – shaved skin, gooey yellow or black pus, fresh red gore, glowing warpstone, and so on. They're perfect for tying your Rat Ogors together, regardless of their different fur colours. I went for big eye-catching patches of exposed muscle, with a Volupus Pink wash and thin Flayed One Flesh lines to highlight.
Whatever colours you choose to paint them, I'd recommend base-coating those patches first. There are lots of them, and a splash of colour for each helps you get a good grasp on where they all are, and what your finished verminbrutes will look like.
Thanks guys, those look fantastic. Skaventide will be available for pre-order on Saturday, and when you’ve painted your own please share them with us on X/Twitter and Facebook, If you want more inspiration you can check out our interview with ’Eavy Metal, or this week’s Citadel Colour Masterclass.