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Painting miniatures for D&D or Warhammer is a fun hobby, but it requires a specific set of high-quality and specialized tools.

Miniatures are an important part of many different kinds of games. Having the perfect miniature for a D&D character or their enemies can help get players immersed in the world. Miniatures are integral to wargames like Warhammer, and a fully painted army is basically a necessity. Most of the best-quality miniatures come unpainted, which gives the player an unrivaled level of creative control.

No matter the purpose, painting miniatures can be a tricky task. Not only is every detail quite small, but mistakes can be very difficult to correct as well. Luckily, with the right tools (and of course, lots of practice) miniature painting can quickly become a fun and relaxing hobby.

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A painting handle clamps onto a miniature’s base and holds it upright. This allows for a wide range of motion while painting, more so that only holding the miniature with hands. Holding onto a miniature’s feet or base can be cumbersome, risks smearing paint, and limits the angles a brush can reach. Because of these risks, a handle is an excellent investment for painters of all levels.

There are a multitude of sizes to purchase as well. While extra-large models can be harder to find handles for, most standard handles can easily accommodate 25mm, 28mm, 32mm, and 40mm bases. Bespoke miniature painting handles can seem like a luxury to new painters, but they can be easily made at home from dowels, pill bottles, or spray-paint caps and some double-sided tape.

Though it may seem an odd choice for a “painting supply,” paper towels are an indispensable tool. Paper towels absorb moisture well and dry quickly, making them excellent for getting rid of excess moisture on brushes. They also work very well with the dry brushing technique, for this same reason.

Paper towels are versatile and easy to acquire, so they make for a convenient tool across all budgets. They are by no means the only choice for drying brushes, but are among the best.

Palettes help organize and mix paints while keeping them easy to access. Palettes also keep paints fresh and clean by eliminating the risk of mixing colors directly in the pot. There are generally two types of palettes used in miniature painting, and both are very useful in different instances.

Wet palettes, as the name suggests, keep paints wetter for longer and are excellent for mixing or thinning. On the other hand, the paper used on wet palettes needs to be constantly replaced. Dry palettes require water or thinner to be added manually but are a bit more flexible overall. They can also be simply washed after use, making them more economical.

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When painting in miniature, every detail counts. A good lamp is critical to illuminate the model and bring a fresh perspective to a paint job. It can be harmful to the eyes to strain in dim lighting, so a lamp is a great long-term investment.

There is a wide variety of lamps available for every budget. While having a massive ring light is handy, it is far from necessary. As long as the lamp properly illuminates a workspace, it is a great choice.

A small, sharp tool is very important while building and painting models. Many miniatures come pre-assembled or can be snapped together; however, there will almost always be seam lines and imperfections that will become glaring once the figure is painted. Hobby knives are very useful in smoothing out a model to ensure an even coat of primer/paint for an upcoming project.

Clippers are used in building unassembled models, like the ones found in Warhammer. When building models this way, each individual part can be checked for remaining mold lines and sprue nubs. This is often easier than fixing an intricate pre-built model.

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Brush cleaners are a type of soap specifically designed to clean paint and protect the brushes. The soap will filter through the bristles and pick up residue better than water and a towel can. Even better, they're relatively inexpensive.

Using a brush cleaner will ensure all brushes are clean of sticky paint residue. Washing a brush with water is fine between colors, and it is always good to have a cup available. But a throughout cleaning with brush cleaner at the end of a painting session will ensure that nothing dries inside the brush and damages it.

After meticulously painting for hours, the last thing an artist wants is for the paint to chip off. A sealant is the best way to ensure a paint job stays clean and unblemished through years of play or display.

There are many types of sealants available. Generally, matte finishes are favored to maintain the color saturation of paint (and to take better pictures). Spray sealants are the most popular, as they eliminate the risk of residual brush strokes posed by a brush-on varnish. However, brush-on varnishes are much easier and safer to use.

A good primer is extremely important to ensure an even paint job. Some models come pre-primed, but any that don't must be primed before they can be painted. Primer creates a better grip on the surface of a model so the paint will stay in place and appear more vibrant.

Primer comes in many forms and colors. Many painters consider spray-on primers to be ideal as they tend to create a more even surface. The color is entirely dependant on what the final result should look like. Gray primers can be used on just about any miniature, but darker or lighter shades, or even a mix, can help create some visual interest.

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Most miniature paints are acrylic because it is flexible, safe, and easy to use. The most important part of selecting paints is to ensure they are thin enough; it is far better to add several thin layers to a model than a single thick one. For this reason, and especially for beginners, paints that are specifically designed for miniature painting are recommended.

Some paints are designed to be used in layers of base coats and highlights. Others, like ArmyPainter's Speed Paints and Citadel's Contrast Paints, are much thinner and will flow over the miniature to create shadows and highlights on their own. Glazes, washes, and textures are all used to achieve more advanced and impressive visual effects.

“Good brushes'' may seem like a no-brainer. However, with the sheer amount of paintbrushes available, it can be difficult to pick the right ones. A variety of sizes is always good to have, but focusing on the quality is equally important. It's easier to do fine detail work with a good brush that's a little too big than with a poor quality tiny brush.

Because miniature painting can be so meticulous, it is vital for a brush to be smooth. Shedding brushes can easily ruin a paint job, as can a brush without a proper shape for the particular job. There is no need to break the bank on brushes, but by investing in a good quality set, a hobbyist can ensure their paint will look as good as possible.

Joey Collins writes Gaming Features articles on a variety of topics, as is in-line with their eclectic array of interests and industry knowledge. After graduating from the University of Galway, where they were a long-time member of Warhammer and Magic (the Gathering) Club, they sought to meld their interests of writing and gaming into a career. Their first brush with gaming came in the form of a pink Gameboy Color, a Pokemon Red cartridge, and a binder full of Base Set Pokemon trading cards. This particular game sparked the lifelong love of gaming they now utilizes in their work. The binder also has a mint Base Set Charizard in it, and is currently a large part of their retirement fund.Their favorite part of writing is being able to share their love and passion with thousands of people, and (hopefully) inspire more people to get into gaming.