# Best Metallic Paints for Miniatures: Silver, Gold and Beyond Source: https://minipaintlab.com/best/best-metallic-paints-minis Updated: 2026-10-02 Publisher: Mini Paint Lab. Our score is an editorial rating out of 10 (fit 35%, features 25%, build 20%, value 20%), not a customer rating. Method: https://minipaintlab.com/how-we-research#our-score Metallic paints for miniatures use mica or aluminum flakes suspended in acrylic medium to recreate steel, gold, bronze, and copper on swords, armor, and vehicle trim. They are essential for tabletop miniature painters, since almost every fantasy or sci-fi model carries some metal, and cheap metallics with coarse flakes can ruin an otherwise clean paint job. When comparing options, look at flake size first, because finer particles give smoother, more realistic results at small scale. Also check coverage over black and dark primers, how well the paint thins without separating, and the range of tones from bright chrome to warm brass. True metallics differ from colorshift and non-metallic-metal approaches, so match the line to your painting style. ## Picks ### 1. The Army Painter Warpaints Fanatic Metallics Paint Set, 10 x 18 mL Acrylic Metallic Paints Our score: 8.6/10 (Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10) Army Painter Warpaints Fanatic Metallics set, 10 bottles of 18ml acrylic metallic paints in the brand's newest formula. Pros: - 10 metallic tones cover bright steel, dark iron, gold and bronze - Fanatic formula is designed for smoother coverage than older metallics - Bottles match other Fanatic sets, keeping a hobby rack consistent Cons: - Larger metallic range may be more than a casual painter will use - Metallics still need shading and highlighting for a finished look Details: https://minipaintlab.com/product/B0CVH377VG ### 2. Vallejo Game Color Range Metallic Colors Set | 8 Bottles x 18 ml Our score: 8.4/10 (Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10) Vallejo Game Color Metallic set of 8 bottles in 18ml, core silvers, golds and bronzes for tabletop armor and weapons. Pros: - Mix of silver, gold and bronze tones covers most metal details - Game Color line is tuned for fantasy and sci-fi miniatures - Dropper bottles keep metallic flakes easier to mix and dispense Cons: - Metallic pigment settles, so bottles need firm shaking each session - Not as smooth as dedicated Metal Color for display-level finishes Details: https://minipaintlab.com/product/B00ULKTT2O ### 3. Vallejo Model Color Effects Metallic Colors Set | 8 Bottles x 18 ml Our score: 8.0/10 (Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10) Vallejo Model Color Effects Metallic set, 8 bottles of 18ml metal paints for historical kits, vehicles and minis. Pros: - Includes a range of metal tones suited to weathered historical gear - Model Color finish mixes well with Vallejo's other acrylic ranges - Dropper bottles let you blend custom metals like dark iron Cons: - Effects colors are more niche than basic silver and gold sets - Brushed finish is less bright than lacquer-based metal paints Details: https://minipaintlab.com/product/B005D82OLM ### 4. Games Workshop Citadel Base Retributor Armour Base Paint Our score: 7.7/10 (Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10) Citadel Base Retributor Armour, a warm opaque gold base paint used for Custodes, Sisters trim and ornate armor. Pros: - Rich warm gold covers well over dark primer in a coat or two - Official Citadel color, so many army painting guides call for it - Pairs naturally with Reikland Fleshshade or Agrax for shading Cons: - Single gold only, so bright highlights need a separate layer paint - Pot-style lid can dry out faster than a dropper bottle Details: https://minipaintlab.com/product/B011ENAAU6 ### 5. Vallejo Metal Color Steel 32 ml Our score: 7.6/10 (Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 8/10) Vallejo Metal Color Steel in a 32ml bottle, an ultra-fine metallic formula mainly meant for airbrushing realistic steel. Pros: - Very fine pigment gives a smooth, realistic polished steel look - Larger 32ml bottle covers vehicles and big batches of weapons - Ideal when airbrushing tanks, mechs or aircraft parts Cons: - Formula is thin and delicate, so brushed coats can look patchy - Rubs off with handling unless protected by a suitable varnish Details: https://minipaintlab.com/product/B012A93HZS ### 6. The Army Painter, Speedpaint Metallics Set 2.0, 10 x 18 ml Our score: 7.6/10 (Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10) The Army Painter Speedpaint Metallics Set 2.0 holds ten 18ml one-coat metallic paints in gold, silver, bronze and other metal tones, plus a basecoat brush and a painting guide. Pros: - One-coat formula is designed to lay down metallic color and shine over primer in a single generous layer - Ten 18ml bottles cover gold, silver, bronze and more, each with two stainless steel mixing balls inside - Includes a basecoat brush and a painting guide, so the set works as a starting point for metals Cons: - Speedpaint metallics are a one-coat product, a different method from layering regular metallic acrylics - Costs more than the smaller metallic sets in this guide, which is a lot if you only need gold and silver Details: https://minipaintlab.com/product/B0BWNLP725 ### 7. The Army Painter, Air Triads Most-Wanted Metallics, 6 x 18 ml, airbrush Our score: 7.2/10 (Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10) The Army Painter Air Triads Most-Wanted Metallics is a set of six 18ml pre-thinned metallic paints for airbrush use, grouped as matched shadow, midtone and highlight colors. Pros: - Six pre-thinned metallics are formulated to spray straight from the bottle with no extra thinning - Triad grouping gives matched shadow, midtone and highlight tones for quick metal gradients - A low-cost way to add metallics to an airbrush setup compared with the 10-bottle sets in this guide Cons: - Made for airbrushing, so brush painters are better served by the regular metallic sets listed here - Six bottles cover fewer metal tones than an 8 or 10 color metallic set Details: https://minipaintlab.com/product/B0FGXH6VVJ As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.