Quick Answer

To paint undead miniatures with the IONIC Malifaux Undead Flesh Vol. 1 set, start with a dark base coat, layer the sickly greens and pallid flesh tones, then use glazes for bruised shadows and finish with drybrushing for texture.

Why the IONIC Undead Flesh Palette Works

The IONIC Malifaux Undead Flesh Vol. 1 set is designed specifically for undead miniatures, offering six colors that cover pallor, bruised shadows, and sickly greens. These tones are chosen to create depth and decay without making your miniatures look flat.

Because the palette is curated for undead flesh, you can achieve convincing effects with fewer mixes, which is especially helpful if you are new to painting undead miniatures.

Step-by-Step Painting Guide

  1. Prime and Basecoat: After priming your miniature, apply a thin basecoat of the darkest flesh tone from the set. Use two thin coats to avoid obscuring details. If the basecoat looks patchy, let it dry and apply another thin layer instead of one thick coat.
  2. Layer the Sickly Greens: Mix a small amount of the sickly green with your base color and apply it to recessed areas like the eye sockets, mouth, and under the cheekbones. This creates a decayed, unhealthy undertone. Keep the green subtle—too much will make the skin look like a zombie, not a subtle undead.
  3. Build Up Pallid Flesh Highlights: Use the pallid flesh tone to highlight raised areas: cheekbones, nose, brow, and knuckles. Apply thin layers, gradually building up opacity. If the highlight looks chalky, thin the paint more and build up in smaller steps.
  4. Glaze Bruised Shadows: Mix the bruised shadow color with water or medium and glaze it into the deepest shadows: under the jaw, around the eyes, and in the creases of the skin. This adds a sickly, bruised appearance. Glaze in thin layers; a heavy glaze can stain the entire surface and ruin the contrast.
  5. Drybrush for Texture: After the glazes dry, drybrush the raised areas with a lighter version of the pallid flesh to bring back texture and definition. This also helps blend the highlights. Use a soft brush and remove most of the paint before drybrushing to avoid streaks.
  6. Finish with Details: Paint details like wounds, veins, or exposed bone with the remaining colors. For example, use the sickly green to trace veins under the skin or the unnatural flesh tones to create mottled effects. Keep details small and controlled; a fine brush helps avoid overdoing it.

Product Facts

  • IONIC Malifaux: Undead Flesh Vol. 1 Paint Set: Developed by AMMO in collaboration with Wyrd, this six-color palette combines pallor, bruised shadows, sickly greens, and unnatural flesh tones. This curated selection gives you the exact shades needed for undead skin, so you don't have to mix your own colors.

    IONIC Malifaux: Undead Flesh Vol. 1 Paint Set

    IONIC Malifaux: Undead Flesh Vol. 1 Paint Set

  • IONIC Malifaux: Undead Flesh Vol. 1 Paint Set: IONIC acrylics are self-hydrating and self-leveling, made for brush, airbrush, and drybrush. You can use the same paints for basecoating, layering, and drybrushing without worrying about consistency or brush strokes.