How to paint Chaos Space Marines
Black Legion gold trim. Same bones as loyalist Marines. Difficulty 2 / 5. About 8 hours for a Combat Patrol with Contrast.
Updated 2026-07-10
Unofficial fan guide. Citadel paint and kit names identify products for sale. Not affiliated with Games Workshop.
Kits to buy, then paint
Live floors for stores that ship to the US.
Black Legion (Contrast)
- Method
- contrast
- Difficulty
- 2 / 5
- CP time
- ~8 hrs
- Primer
- Chaos Black
- 01PrimeChaos Black
- 02ArmourBlack Templar
Or drybrush Leadbelcher then Black Templar for texture.
- 03TrimRetributor Armour
- 04WeaponsLeadbelcher · Nuln Oil
- 05Eyes / iconsBlood Angels Red
- 06BaseAstrogranite · Nuln Oil
- +Gold trim is the Black Legion tell. Do not skip it.
- +Same recipe works on Legionaries and many vehicles.
Other Chaos Space Marines recipes
After the first box
Combat Patrol: Chaos Space Marines sealed. Add Legionaries or a Chaos Lord next. Separate god-marked Legion boxes when comparing prices.
Full start collecting path →Common questions
How long does it take to paint a Chaos Space Marines Combat Patrol?
About 8 hours with the Black Legion (Contrast) Contrast recipe, batching infantry.
What primer should I use for Chaos Space Marines?
Chaos Black. Match the recipe on this page so Contrast colours land cleanly.
Where do I buy Chaos Space Marines kits at a fair price?
Open the Chaos Space Marines army hub or the linked Combat Patrol box page for live floors, then set a watch under the middle of the sealed band.