Miniature Crafting Tip: Achieving Realistic Battle Damage
Nothing makes a tabletop battle come alive like miniatures that tell a story — and battle damage is one of the most striking ways to do that. From scorched armor to chipped shields, these small details make your models feel like veterans of countless campaigns.
Why Battle Damage Works
When you add weathering effects, you’re not just painting — you’re building history. A pristine Space Marine might look great, but a marine with scratches, burn marks, and dents instantly feels like they’ve been in the thick of combat.
Step-by-Step Method
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Paint the Base Model
Finish all your base colors, washes, and highlights before starting. Think of battle damage as the “final polish.” -
Sponge Weathering
Tear off a small piece of blister pack foam or kitchen sponge. Dip it into dark brown or black paint, dab most of it off, then lightly tap edges and flat surfaces. This creates irregular, natural-looking chips. -
Highlight the Chips
With a fine brush, add a thin line of silver or light grey paint just underneath the chip marks. This creates the illusion of light hitting the exposed metal beneath the paint. -
Add Rust and Dirt
Mix a thin orange-brown wash and apply it sparingly around damage areas. Rust looks especially convincing around rivets and joints, while dirt works best near boots and lower armor plates. - Check out our weathering supplies here -
Optional: Burn Scorching
For plasma burns or scorch marks, lightly dry brush black or dark brown around weapon muzzles or blast marks.
It’s quick, it’s effective, and it transforms your miniatures from fresh recruits into hardened warriors.
