Showcase: Slaves to Darkness Urkhan, the Dark Warden (inc. painting guide)

In this post I’m presenting Urkhan, the Dark Warden. This Chaos Lord was recently released as a commemorative miniature for Warhammer Day 2025, and I grabbed him to test the new True Metallic Metal paints from Vallejo on his armour. More pictures and a detailed painting guide can be found here.

Urkhan, the Dark Warden

Urkhan the Dark Warden was this year’s Warhammer Day miniature for 2025, as part of the Commemorative Series. Unfortunately it sold out pretty quickly, but I managed to secure one just in time. Chaos Warriors, along with Space Marines, are one of the most iconic Warhammer concepts, and I’ve always wanted to paint one. Urkhan came at just the right time, as I was also looking for a test model with lots of armour and metallic details.

For all the metal I used exclusively the new Vallejo True Metallic Metal paints to try them out for my review video. Check it out to see how I painted Urkhan’s armour:

Colour scheme: Warm vs cold contrast

The theme for my colour scheme on Urkhan is a contrast between warm and cold. The brown-bronze armour, the cape and the skin are rather warm, and I added a brooding red glow effect on the eye(s) and runes. The steel is cold and I opted for cool grey tones for the base, with a snow effect created with two layers of Valhallan Blizzard.

To be honest, the painting process dragged on a bit. The armour and other metallic details were a joy to paint with the Vallejo True Metallic Metal paints. But the cape and fur were more tricky, I had to experiment a bit to get them right. This meant I had to completely repaint the cloak because I wasn’t happy with the first version of the blending. Towards the end, though, the fun took over again when I got to paint the wicked head sculpt.

My painting guide for Urkhan, the Dark Warden

A complete list with all the paint recipes can be found here:

How to paint the metallics

Dark bronze armour
Basecoat: Vallejo True Metallic Metal Rusty Metal Base
Wash: VTMM Rusty Metal Shade thinned 1:1 with Xpress Color Medium
Layer: VTMM Rusty Metal Airbrush, then blend into VTMM Rusty Metal Light
Edge highlight: VTMM Rusty Metal Light
Dot highlight: VTMM Rusty Metal Light mixed with VTMM Sterling Silver Light

Blackened steel
Basecoat: VTMM Obsidian Black Base
Wash: VTMM Obsidian Black Shade thinned 1:1 with Xpress Color Medium
Drybrush: VTMM Obsidian Black Light
Drybrush: VTMM Sterling Silver Base

Sword steel
Basecoat: VTMM Obsidian Black Light
Glaze/blend for shading: thinned VTMM Obsidian Black Base
Edge highlight: VTMM Sterling Silver Base

Chains & silver details
Basecoat: VTMM Sterling Silver Base
Wash: VTMM Sterling Silver Shade
Highlight: VTMM Sterling Silver Light

Golden trims
Basecoat: VTMM Arcane Gold Light
Shade: VTMM Arcane Copper Shade thinned 1:1 with Xpress Color Medium
Highlight: VTMM Arcane Gold Light mixed with VTMM Sterling Silver Light

Red metallic details
Basecoat: VTMM Forged Red Base
Wash: VTMM Forged Red Shade
Layer: VTMM Forged Red Base
Highlight: VTMM Ruby Red Light

Painting the other details

Cape
Basecoat: P3 Jack Bone
Blend/glaze for shading: Two Thin Coats Temple Stone
Blend/glaze for shading: TTC Sandstone
Weathering: Sponge stipple the edges with Pro Acryl Brown Wash, then repeat with thinned TTC Ancient Forest
Soft edge highlight: P3 Jack Bone mixed with P3 Drake Grey

Dark fur collar
Basecoat: start with TTC Ashen Grey in the centre, then blend into TTC Eidolon Grey and TTC Rodent Grey towards the edges
Wash: PA Black Wash, give the centre a second coat
Layer: TTC Eidolon Grey (centre), TTC Eidolon Grey (middle), TTC Rodent Grey mixed with Vallejo Game Color Stonewall Grey (edges)
Highlight: TTC Eidolon Grey (centre), TTC Rodent Grey mixed with Vallejo Game Color Stonewall Grey (centre), VGC Stonewall Grey (edges)
Dot highlight: VGC Stonewall Grey (centre), VGC Stonewall Grey mixed with AK Silver Grey (middle), AK Silver Grey (edges)

Fur hide
Basecoat: TTC Dwarven Skin
Wash: PA Flesh Wash
Layer: TTC Dwarven Skin
Highlight: TTC Dwarven Skin mixed with PA Tan Flesh

Rotten flesh
Basecoat: VGC Neutral Grey
Wash: Dreadful Visage
Layer: VGC Neutral Grey
Highlight: VGC Neutral Grey mixed with VGC Stonewall Grey
Highlight: VGC Stonewall Grey
Blood effect: glaze with a thinned mix of Blood Angel Red and Rhinox Hide

Skulls
Basecoat: TTC Griffon Claw
Wash: PA Brown Wash thinned 1:1 with Contrast Medium
Layer: TTC Griffon Claw
Layer: TTC Griffon Claw mixed with TTC Ivory Tusk
Highlight: TTC Ivory Tusk

Black straps
Basecoat: TT Combat Shadowling Grey
Wash: Nuln Oil
Highlight: TCo Admirality Grey
Highlight: Vallejo Model Color Light Grey

Tainted face
Basecoat: TTC Bard Skin
Wash: Targor Rageshade
Layer: TTC Bard Skin
Soft layers/highlight: add more and VGC Warm Grey until you end up with pure VGC Warm Grey for the most pronounced features like the nose and ears

Purple topknot
Basecoat: TTC Royal Cloak
Wash: Nuln Oil
Highlight: Warpaints Fanatic Elder Flower
Highlight: WPF Forbidden Fruit

Red glow effect
Glaze: thinned Blood Angels Red
Glaze: thinned TCo Blood Rites
Paint into recesses: Ionic Light Red
Paint into recesses: Ionic Light Red mixed with VGC Dead White
Highlight edges with: Ionic Light Red

Base
Basecoat: WPF Deep Grey (sandy texture), TCo Admirality Grey (rocks)
Wash: 1:1 mix of WPF Strong Tone Wash and WPF Dark Tone Wash
Selective wash: AK Wargame Enamel Liquid Pigment Chaos Dirt
Drybrush: TCo Admirality Grey
Drybrush: VMC Light Grey (concentrate on rocks)
Drybrush: VGC Ghost Grey (rocks only)
Snow effect: Valhallan Blizzard (build up in two coats)

Give me your feedback

Have you tested the new True Metallic Metal paints from Vallejo yet? I really enjoyed them, check out my review here. And I’ve finally got a Chaos Warrior in the collection.

How do you like my colour scheme? Do you also collect Slaves to Darkness or Warriors of Chaos? Feel free to post your models and colour schemes on our friendly hobby Discord server. Thanks a lot, and happy hobbying!