How to Paint and Weather Scenic Bases for Wargaming Miniatures

A well-painted base transforms a miniature. It grounds the figure in its environment, reinforces your army's visual identity, and — when done well — tells a story before a single dice is rolled. This guide covers the core techniques for painting and weathering scenic resin bases, from primer to final highlight, using the Admiral Apocalypse range as our reference point.

Why Scenic Bases Matter

Scenic bases do the heavy lifting of world-building on the tabletop. A miniature on a plain black base looks unfinished; the same figure on a detailed scenic base looks like it belongs to a coherent, considered force. Consistent basing across your army creates a visual unity that elevates the whole collection.

What You'll Need

• Scenic resin bases (we'll be using Admiral Apocalypse Bases)
• Water-based primer (spray or brush-on)
• Acrylic paints in your chosen palette
• A selection of brushes — flat for drybrushing, fine for detail
• Washes or contrast-style paints
• Pigment powders (optional, for advanced weathering)
• Varnish — matte for bases, satin or gloss for specific effects

Step 1 — Clean and Prime

Resin bases may have a light release agent residue from casting. Wash in warm soapy water, rinse thoroughly, and allow to dry completely before priming. Apply a thin, even coat of water-based primer — black for a darker, grittier result; grey for a more neutral starting point. Avoid thick coats that fill fine surface detail.

Step 2 — Basecoat

Apply your main colour across the entire base. For rubble and stone, dark grey or brown works well. For industrial or sci-fi themes, dark metal tones or deep ochres set the right mood. Don't worry about perfection at this stage — you're establishing the foundation, not the finish.

Step 3 — Wash

Apply a dark wash (black or brown) over the entire base and allow it to flow into recesses. This deepens shadows and immediately adds depth to the sculpted detail. Allow to dry fully before moving on.

Step 4 — Drybrush

Drybrushing is the single most effective technique for bringing out raised detail on scenic bases. Load a flat brush with paint, wipe most of it off on a paper towel until the brush is almost dry, then drag it lightly across the surface. The paint catches raised edges and textures, creating a natural highlight. Work through two or three progressively lighter shades — mid-tone, highlight, and a final edge highlight — for a convincing result.

Step 5 — Detail Work

Pick out specific elements — metal debris, bone fragments, vegetation, or other scenic details — with targeted colour. Keep these colours consistent across your army's bases for visual cohesion. A fine brush and steady hand are all you need; these details don't need to be perfect, just distinct.

Step 6 — Weathering

Weathering is where bases go from good to great. Options include:

• Rust streaks — thin orange-brown paint applied with a fine brush, dragged downward from metal elements
• Mud and grime — stipple dark brown around the base edges and lower surfaces
• Dust and ash — dry pigment powders in pale grey or buff, brushed on and fixed with a matte varnish
• Chipping — stipple dark grey or black over painted surfaces with a torn sponge for a worn, battle-damaged look

Use restraint. A little weathering reads as character; too much reads as chaos.

Step 7 — Varnish and Finish

Seal the base with a matte varnish to protect your work and kill any unwanted shine. If you've added gloss effects (standing water, wet mud), apply those after the matte coat using a gloss medium targeted to those specific areas only.

Consistency Across Your Army

The most important rule of basing is consistency. Decide on your palette, your technique, and your level of weathering before you start — then apply it uniformly across every base in your force. The cumulative effect on the tabletop is striking.

Browse the full Admiral Apocalypse Bases and Admiral Apocalypse Basing Bits collections at MTG Terrain & Scenery.