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Model paint guide
How to paint a T'au Riptide
A Riptide is white or sept-coloured armour on a huge battlesuit. Sub-assemble the arms. Match Crisis suits, then push the weapon glow. Unofficial fan recipe.
Difficulty 4 / 5 · ~14 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
Grey Seer or Corax White
Step
Armour panels
White sept path: Apothecary White over Grey Seer, recess shade thin Grey Seer or Nuln Oil mix. Edge White Scar. Alternate sept: Ultramarines Blue or Talassar Blue panels. Keep panel lines clean.
- +Paint the jetpack and arms separately if you can.
Step
Black, metal, glow
Black joints: Black Templar. Metal: Leadbelcher, Nuln Oil, Ironbreaker. Weapon glow: White Scar undercoat, then Warp Lightning or Aethermatic Blue.
Step
Base
Astrogranite with white and blue scrap so it matches Pathfinders.
Buy paints
Paints for Riptide Battlesuit
Colour chips are approximate. Buy links open live marketplace search for that Citadel paint across Shopify catalog stores and other sources.
- Find storesGrey Seer
- Find storesApothecary White
- Find storesWhite Scar
- Find storesBlack Templar
- Find storesLeadbelcher
- Find storesWarp Lightning
- Find storesAethermatic Blue
- Find storesAstrogranite
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 section workflow. Sub-assemblies matter on a Riptide.
Further reading
Other painters
- T'au Empire paint hub
Sept recipe for infantry that should match the suit.
Army recipes
Match the rest of the force
Common questions
How long does it take to paint Riptide Battlesuit?
About 14 hours for a tabletop-to-display finish at difficulty 4 / 5.
What primer should I use for Riptide Battlesuit?
Grey Seer or Corax White
Where do I buy Riptide Battlesuit?
Open the Tau Xv104 Riptide 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.