Painting miniatures is an art. Painting armies can be a tactical advantage. When you’re fielding a fully painted force in Warhammer, Age of Sigmar or any tabletop wargame, your colour scheme isn’t just about theme or aesthetics — it can change how your opponent plays. The psychology of colour has been studied for decades and when applied to gaming, it can become a powerful and often overlooked weapon in your arsenal.
Let’s break down how colour choices can manipulate perception, enhance gameplay and help you win battles before the first dice even roll!
🧠 Colour Psychology: What the Science Says
We all know that colours affect mood, behaviour and decision making. Advertisers, designers and even military strategists know this and it absolutely applies to tabletop scenarios too. Here is a snapshot of how some key colours are interpreted.
- Red – Dominance, aggression, speed. Think World Eaters, Goffs or Skorne. Red puts your opponent on edge, ready for impact.
- Black – Power, fear, control. A staple for elite, deadly forces like Black Templars or Death Guard.
- White – Purity, righteousness, precision. White Scars or Seraphon can come off as clean, noble and disciplined.
- Green – Chaos, energy, instinct. Think Orks, Nurgle and Sylvaneth. Green can portray unpredictability.
- Blue – Cool intelligence, calm authority. Ultramarines or Tau. Think measured, strategic and maybe even smug.
- Yellow – Boldness, risk, unpredictability. Imperial Fists, Bad Moons — high visibility and high stakes.
⚔️ How Colour Choices Influence the Game
Perception of Threat
A force painted in angry reds and blacks might seem more aggressive and dangerous, even if it’s actually fragile or defensive. Likewise, a subtle pastel or desaturated palette might make a very punchy army look harmless – until it’s too late.
Misdirection & Focus
Want your opponent to ignore your flanking units? Paint them in dull tones that blend with the board. Want that one centrepiece monster to soak up overwatch fire? Make it pop with high-contrast colours and shiny metallics.
Mental Fatigue
A visually overwhelming army – full of clashing colours and wild detail can tire your opponent mentally over a long game. Subtle psychological pressure that adds up by turn five.
Table Presence & Intimidation
Let’s be honest, an unpainted army looks unfinished. But a unified, colour coherent force? It’s intimidating. You look like you know your stuff. That table presence can shake less confident opponents and even sway judges in narrative or tournament play.
🎨 Examples from the Tabletop Trenches
- Tournament Tacticians have been known to repaint sections of their army to match specific match-up mind games.
- Necron Players often lean into neon greens to evoke unnatural terror — but a sleek obsidian-and-gold scheme can make them feel elite instead of swarming.
- Custom Chapters: Players designing their own Space Marine chapter will often choose colours to suit their playstyle — a deep, brooding scheme for tank-heavy attrition lists, or a flashy, contrasting one for fast, aggressive shock troops.
🖌️ Building Your Army’s Battle Palette
When painting your army, ask yourself:
- What emotion should this army evoke? Fear? Nobility? Chaos?
- What role does each unit play? Support units might fade into the background, while heavy hitters deserve high contrast.
- What’s your meta? If you’re playing in tournaments, what psychological tricks might give you an edge?
⚠️ Note: This is especially relevant if you’re crafting your own colour scheme, whether you’re painting a custom Space Marine chapter, homebrew faction or narrative warband. If you’re sticking closely to official colour guides (like Games Workshop recipes for Blood Angels or Iyanden), you’ll still get a gorgeous, thematic army, but your colour choices are more about lore accuracy than psychological tactics.
Check out our article on colour theory to get started .
Final Thoughts: Every Paint Stroke Is a Tactical Move
Colour isn’t just decoration. It’s strategy. When you commit to a scheme, you’re telling a story — but you’re also shaping how opponents feel about your army. That matters. Whether you’re building a lore-rich narrative force or a ruthless tournament list, using colour psychology gives you an edge. So next time you crack open the paints, think beyond just “what looks cool.” Think: What makes my army feel unstoppable?
What’s Your Army’s Colour Strategy?
We’d love to see how you’ve used colour to gain the upper hand! Share your army pics and tag us on Instagram @anarkycreations