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Model paint guide
How to paint a Tyranid Carnifex
A Carnifex is carapace and flesh on a big monster. Match your hive fleet, then push the weapon symbiotes. Unofficial fan recipe.
Difficulty 3 / 5 · ~10 hrs · Updated 2026-07-10
Unofficial fan guide. Citadel paint and kit names identify products for sale. Not affiliated with Games Workshop.
Primer
Start here
Wraithbone or Grey Seer
Step
Carapace and flesh
Leviathan path: carapace Leviadon Blue or Black Templar, flesh Magos Purple or Volupus Pink. Behemoth path: carapace Blood Angels Red, flesh Skeleton Horde. Pick one fleet and stick to it.
Step
Weapons and teeth
Claws and teeth: Skeleton Horde or Leadbelcher with Nuln Oil. Tongue and vents: Carroburg Crimson glaze.
Step
Base
Astrogranite or Stirland Mud with bone scrap.
Buy paints
Paints for Carnifex
Colour chips are approximate. Buy links open live marketplace search for that Citadel paint across Shopify catalog stores and other sources.
- Find storesLeviadon Blue
- Find storesMagos Purple
- Find storesBlack Templar
- Find storesSkeleton Horde
- Find storesCarroburg Crimson
- Find storesAstrogranite
- Find storesWraithbone
Video
YouTube tutorials
External videos. We link creators whose techniques match this kit. Watch on YouTube. Support the painter if you use their method.
- How to Paint: Lion El'JonsonWarhammer / Citadel Colour
Large kit workflow. Match Hive Tyrant colours first.
Further reading
Other painters
- How to paint a Hive Tyrant
Monster companion. Same hive fleet recipe.
Army recipes
Match the rest of the force
Common questions
How long does it take to paint Carnifex?
About 10 hours for a tabletop-to-display finish at difficulty 3 / 5.
What primer should I use for Carnifex?
Wraithbone or Grey Seer
Where do I buy Carnifex?
Open the Tyranid Carnifex Brood price page for the live sealed floor, then set a watch under the middle of that band.
Are these official Games Workshop instructions?
No. Unofficial fan recipes that name Citadel paints and kits as products. Not affiliated with Games Workshop.