How to paint Necrons
Metal + one glow colour. One of the fastest 40K armies to table. Difficulty 1 / 5. About 6 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.
Necron Dynasty (Contrast speed)
- Method
- contrast
- Difficulty
- 1 / 5
- CP time
- ~6 hrs
- Primer
- Chaos Black
- 01PrimeChaos Black
Even coat. Necrons forgive thin spots on recesses.
- 02Metal armourLeadbelcher
Drybrush or thin base over black.
- 03Shade metalNuln Oil
All-over wash. Wipe raised plates if you want brighter metal.
- 04Energy / orbsWarp Lightning
Contrast into glowing rods and orbs.
- 05Highlight edgesStormhost Silver
Quick edge on weapons and shoulders.
- 06BaseAstrogranite · Black Templar
Texture then recess shade.
- +Batch Warriors 5 at a time. Same metal wash for the whole squad.
- +Skip freehand glyphs on day one. Tabletop reads fine without them.
Other Necrons recipes
After the first box
Combat Patrol: Necrons first. Add Warriors or a Canoptek unit second. Skip magazine issues tagged as full boxes.
Full start collecting path →Common questions
How long does it take to paint a Necrons Combat Patrol?
About 6 hours with the Necron Dynasty (Contrast speed) Contrast recipe, batching infantry.
What primer should I use for Necrons?
Chaos Black. Match the recipe on this page so Contrast colours land cleanly.
Where do I buy Necrons kits at a fair price?
Open the Necrons army hub or the linked Combat Patrol box page for live floors, then set a watch under the middle of the sealed band.