Citadel base paints are the opaque, flat-coverage colors meant to go directly over primer as the first solid layer of color on a model, before any layering, washing, or highlighting happens. They're built for maximum coverage in as few coats as possible rather than for subtlety, which is exactly what you want in a first coat that everything else gets built on top of. The full range currently runs to 57 colors; the complete swatch list with hex values is on the Citadel Base range page, and this guide covers what the category is for and which colors earn a spot in a starter kit.
What makes a base paint different from a layer or contrast paint
Base paints are thick and fully opaque, formulated to cover a primed surface solidly in one or two coats without the undercoat showing through. Layer paints are thinner and semi-translucent by comparison, meant to be built up gradually over a base coat to create highlights. Contrast paints go the opposite direction from base paints entirely, applied in a single coat over a light undercoat to handle base color and shading at once. If you're not sure which category a Citadel paint falls into, base paints are the ones that read as one solid, even color when you check the bottle against the finished model photo.
Which base colors should a new painter buy first
Out of the 57 colors in the range, a handful come up constantly regardless of what army or genre you're painting, because they cover the most common jobs: a true black, a true white, a mid grey, and a handful of primary colors in red, blue, and green that can be mixed or highlighted toward almost anything.
| Color | Common role |
|---|---|
| Abaddon Black | True black base coat |
| Corax White | True white base coat |
| Grey Seer | Neutral mid grey, stone and armor |
| Macragge Blue | Standard deep blue |
| Mephiston Red | Standard bright red |
| Caliban Green | Standard deep green |
| Rhinox Hide | Dark base brown, leather and fur |
| Leadbelcher | Base metallic steel |
That short list covers black, white, grey, the three primary-adjacent hues, a workhorse brown, and a metallic, which between them handle the large majority of what a new army needs before any layering starts.
Do base paints need thinning
They can be used straight from the pot, but most painters thin them slightly with water or a dedicated thinning medium to avoid a thick, brush-stroke-heavy finish, especially on larger flat areas like capes or vehicle hulls. Two thin coats gives smoother, more even coverage than one thick coat straight from the bottle, which is where the wider hobby phrase "two thin coats" actually comes from.
Do you need all 57 base colors
No. Most painters own a working subset built around whatever army or color scheme they're currently painting, and add new base colors as new projects call for them rather than buying the full range up front. The full range page is the place to browse the complete list with swatches once you know exactly which color you're chasing.
Starting a base paint collection
A starter set bundles the most commonly needed base colors in one purchase rather than buying single bottles as you go: Citadel Colour Essentials set(affiliate link).
FAQ
Are Citadel base paints the same as Citadel Air paints
No. Citadel Air is a separate, pre-thinned range formulated for airbrush use, even where the color names match a base paint one for one. Base paints need thinning yourself if you want to run them through an airbrush.
Can base paints be layered over each other like contrast paints
Base paints can absolutely be layered, but that's the job of the layer range, which is built thinner specifically for gradual buildup. Using a base paint for layering works but tends to need more thinning and more coats to blend cleanly than a purpose-built layer paint.
What's the difference between a base paint and a foundation paint
Older Citadel product lines used the name "foundation" for what is now called the base range; the naming changed but the role in the painting process, an opaque first coat of color, stayed the same.
Do all 57 base colors have equivalents in other brands
Most do, since primary and commonly used colors tend to exist across every major brand's catalog. Check any specific color on the paint converter to see its closest match in Vallejo, Army Painter, and the other brands in this catalog.