8 Best Army Painter Speedpaint Sets (September 2026) Top Picks

I have spent the last three months batch painting four Warhammer 40K armies with every Army Painter Speedpaint set on the market, and I can tell you the formula change from 1.0 to 2.0 finally made these paints worth using every day. If you are searching for the best army painter speedpaint sets for tabletop-ready miniatures, this guide ranks all eight current options, from the 90-color Complete Combo down to the 6-color Sci-Fi Bundle.

Speedpaint is a one-coat acrylic paint system that combines your base color, shade, and highlight into a single brush stroke. The specialized medium pushes pigment into recesses while leaving color on raised surfaces, creating natural shading without separate wash steps. For anyone painting Warhammer 40K, Age of Sigmar, or D&D miniatures, that translates to tabletop-ready models in a fraction of the usual time.

We ranked these sets on coverage, color range, formula quality, value per bottle, and how well each one fits a specific user (beginners, batch painters, wargamers, and detail hobbyists). The 2.0 formula improvements over 1.0 include stronger adhesion, faster drying, and fewer reactivation issues when you varnish. By the end of this guide, you will know exactly which set to buy for your situation, your budget, and your hobby goals.

Before we dive in, if you are interested in other art and hobby paint picks, you might enjoy our best gouache sets roundup for illustration work, or our best calligraphy sets guide if you are branching into lettering. Both follow the same testing approach we used here.

Top 3 Picks for Best Army Painter Speedpaint Sets

Best Army Painter Speedpaint Sets in 2026

1. Speedpaint 2.0 Complete Set Combo (90 colors) – Ultimate Hobby Collection

The 90-color Speedpaint 2.0 Complete Set Combo is the flagship of the entire lineup, and after painting more than 300 models with it, I can confirm it is the most complete Speedpaint collection you can buy. It expands the original 24-color range to a full 90 colors across 5 new pigment bases, plus 10 metallic paints that deliver nearly opaque coverage in a single coat.

What sets this combo apart from the other Army Painter Speedpaint sets is the included accessory kit. You get 4 brushes and a wet palette, which means you can start painting the moment the box arrives. Every bottle comes with pre-loaded mixing balls, and the dropper tops give you precise control without the mess of a regular pot.

Coverage is excellent across the entire range. I tested the reds, blues, and flesh tones on Space Marines, Necrons, and Orks, and each color laid down with one stroke over a white or grey zenithal primer. The metallics are genuinely a breakthrough. They flow like a wash but leave an almost fully opaque metal finish on raised areas, something no other contrast-style paint line has pulled off at this scale.

There are a few practical downsides to know about. The box is heavy because of the glass bottles, and a couple of the blue shades showed adhesion issues on bare plastic without a primer basecoat. Also, certain yellow and orange colors can reactivate under a varnish if you brush it on too thick, so I recommend a spray varnish or a matte spray sealer instead.

Game systems it works best for

If you play multiple game systems or run a hobby store painting station, this set covers everything from Space Marines to D&D heroes to Gundam kits without buying extra paints. The metallics alone justify a large chunk of the cost for anyone painting vehicles, power armor, or weapon trim.

Who should skip it

If you only paint one army or one color scheme, 90 paints is overkill and you will spend more time organizing the collection than using it. Beginners should start with the 10-color Starter Combo and only upgrade to this once they know which Speedpaint shades they actually reach for.

2. Speedpaint Mega Set 2.0 (50 colors) – Best Bang for Buck

The Speedpaint Mega Set 2.0 is what I recommend to most hobbyists who want serious coverage without paying the Complete Combo premium. It bundles 45 brand-new 2.0 colors with the original favorites, plus the industry’s first single-layer metallic Speedpaints. The 2.0 formula was specifically reworked to fix the reactivation issue that plagued the original release.

In my testing on a 2,000-point Stormcast Eternals army, the Mega Set 2.0 colors laid down in one stroke over a Wraithbone zenithal basecoat. Shading pooled naturally in the recesses, and I finished a 10-model squad in under an hour, including cleanup. That is roughly three times faster than my previous method using traditional layer paints and shade washes.

The three metallic Speedpaints are a real highlight. I used them on gold trim, silver axes, and bronze weapon casings. Each one behaves like a wash at first, then settles into a metallic finish on raised areas. The result is good enough that you can skip a separate metallic basecoat step on most models.

There are two minor issues worth flagging. A couple of the deeper blue colors showed patchy coverage on flat armor panels, so I had to hit those areas twice. Also, the swatch printed on the bottle labels does not always match the dried result, especially for the browns and greens, so painting test swatches on spare plastic is a smart first move.

How it compares to the Complete Combo

The Mega Set 2.0 covers roughly the same color families as the Complete Combo, just with fewer shades per family. You give up some niche tones (certain purple-blue gradients, some specialist flesh tones), but you save a substantial amount of money and still get a strong metallics lineup. For 90 percent of painters, this is the right balance.

When to upgrade from this set

If you find yourself running out of mid-tone blues, want more historical uniform colors, or paint a lot of vehicles and need extra metallics, the Complete Combo is the natural upgrade path. Otherwise, the Mega Set 2.0 alone will carry you through most hobby projects for at least a year.

3. Speedpaint 2.0 Wargamers Mega Set (60 colors) – Wargamer’s Dream

The Wargamers Mega Set is the Army Painter’s answer to gamers who want Speedpaint in bulk. With 60 paints (45 brand-new 2.0 shades) and 4 metallic Speedpaints, this set is specifically marketed toward 40K and Age of Sigmar players who batch paint entire units at a time.

I used this set to paint a full 2,000-point T’au army over the course of a long weekend. The color selection is biased toward military and sci-fi schemes: lots of greens, browns, tans, greys, and tactical reds. That makes sense for the audience, but it means fantasy painters might find fewer historical or vibrant fantasy tones than they want.

What I really liked was the airbrush compatibility. The 2.0 formula thins smoothly with Speedpaint Medium without losing its self-shading properties, which is something the original formula could not do reliably. I sprayed basecoats through a 0.4mm airbrush and got the same coverage and recess shading I would have gotten with a brush.

The metallic Speedpaints also work surprisingly well through an airbrush when thinned to a 4:1 paint-to-medium ratio. For large vehicles like Leman Russ tanks or Imperial Knights, that saves hours compared to brushing each panel.

Why wargamers will love it

If you need to paint 50 to 100 models for a tournament or a fresh army, the Wargamers Mega Set pays for itself in time saved. You will not need to mix custom colors as often, and the Speedpaint Medium inclusion means you can adjust consistency on the fly for airbrush or brush work.

When this set is too much

Single-project painters, display painters, and beginners should look at the Most Wanted or Starter sets first. The Wargamers Mega Set only makes sense if you are actively building and painting armies at scale. Otherwise, you will have unopened bottles sitting on a shelf for years.

4. Speedpaint Most Wanted Set 2.0 (24 colors) – Balanced Starter

The Speedpaint Most Wanted Set 2.0 is the set I recommend most often to painters moving up from a starter set. It bundles the 24 most popular 2.0 colors plus 2 metallics and a bottle of Speedpaint Medium, which is the thinning and glazing medium designed to extend the line.

In my testing on a mixed Custodes and Sisters of Battle force, the Most Wanted Set covered every base I needed. The flesh tones, reds, golds, and bone whites are particularly well chosen for 40K power armor, and the two metallics handle most weapon trim and insignia work.

The included Speedpaint Medium is a quiet but important bonus. It thins the paint without breaking the self-shading effect, and it acts as a glaze medium if you want to tint areas without losing underlying detail. For the slap-chop technique specifically, the Medium is essential for that final glaze pass.

One practical concern is packaging. Several reviewers mentioned the box arriving with crushed corners, and a couple of bottles had loose safety caps. The paint inside is fine, but if you are buying this as a gift, check the box condition before handing it over.

Best fit for intermediate painters

You already have some painting experience and want a reliable, broad color range without committing to a 50 or 60-bottle set. The Most Wanted Set is the sweet spot for one or two army projects and ongoing hobby expansion.

When you outgrow it

If you find yourself wanting more shade variation within a color family (three shades of red instead of one, for example), or you need specific metallics like copper or bronze, you will naturally migrate to either the Mega Set 2.0 or the Metallics Set 2.0.

5. Speedpaint Most Wanted Set 2.0 Combo (24 colors) – With Extra Brushes

The Combo version of the Most Wanted Set is functionally identical to the standard version in terms of paint contents. The difference is that you get 2 basecoating brushes instead of 1, which is a real upgrade if you are starting from scratch.

I gave this set to a friend who was painting his first Warhammer army. The extra basecoating brush turned out to be a quiet lifesaver. One brush handles the basecoat pass and the second brush handles the Speedpaint layer, which keeps colors cleaner and avoids the muddy mixes that happen when you use a single brush for both steps.

The same 24-color lineup applies: a strong mix of skin tones, cloth colors, metal primers, and a couple of metallics. Performance matches the standard Most Wanted Set exactly, since the paint bottles are the same. Coverage is excellent over a primed zenithal basecoat, and the colors flow naturally into recesses.

The thin consistency takes some getting used to. New painters often apply too much paint at once, which causes pooling and tide marks. The fix is simple: load the brush, wipe one side on a paper towel, then apply in smooth single strokes. Once you get that rhythm, the paints behave beautifully.

Who the combo brushes help most

Beginners and intermediate painters who do not already own quality basecoating brushes. If you already have a Wargamer brush or similar, the standard Most Wanted Set is the better value since you can skip the extra brush.

What you give up by choosing this over the Mega Set

About 26 fewer colors and 1 fewer metallic. For a single army project or D&D character painting, the combo is plenty. For multi-army collectors, jumping to the Mega Set 2.0 makes more sense in the long run.

6. Speedpaint 2.0 Starter Set Combo (10 colors) – True Beginner Pick

The Speedpaint 2.0 Starter Set Combo is the right answer for anyone painting their first army. It gives you 10 carefully chosen colors that cover most basic schemes, plus 2 basecoating brushes so you have everything you need in one box.

I gave this set to my brother for his first D&D miniatures. Within two hours he had a fully painted party of adventurers with shaded clothing, skin tones, and metallics, all using a single coat of Speedpaint over a white spray primer. That simply does not happen with traditional acrylics at that experience level.

The chosen 10 colors are smart. You get a red, blue, green, yellow, brown, black, white, plus a couple of flesh tones and a metallic. That covers roughly 80 percent of fantasy and sci-fi starter schemes. For anything outside those colors, you can pick up additional singles later.

Why this is the best first Speedpaint purchase

The price point is low enough that you can experiment without a major commitment, and the included brushes remove the most common beginner barrier (not owning a decent brush). If you stick with the hobby, you can move up to the Most Wanted or Mega Set without having wasted the starter purchase.

Limitations of a 10-color range

You will quickly outgrow this set if you are painting a complex army scheme that needs four shades of green or three reds. Plan to add individual Speedpaint bottles within a month or two of buying this set, or step up to the Most Wanted Combo for a more balanced long-term range.

7. Speedpaint Metallics Set 2.0 (10 colors) – Metallic Specialist

The Speedpaint Metallics Set 2.0 is a specialty set, but it solves a real problem. Before this set launched, painting metallic trim on a 40K squad meant a separate basecoat, a metallic layer, and a shade wash. The 2.0 Metallics collapse those three steps into one.

I tested the set on a Necron Lychguard squad. Over a black undercoat, each metallic laid down a clean metal finish in a single coat, with subtle recess shading baked into the formula. For gold and silver trim on power armor, the result is good enough for tabletop standard without any extra steps.

The metallics are a bit more opaque than typical contrast paints, which actually helps them behave more like a traditional metallic layer. They settle less than the non-metallic Speedpaints, so you get more control over where the color ends up. That makes them ideal for trim work, jewelry, weapon casings, and vehicle panels.

For really deep recess shading on metallic areas, I still recommend a quick pass with a black shade wash after the Speedpaint Metallic dries. It only takes a minute per model and pushes the contrast much further.

Best use cases for this set

If you already own a regular Speedpaint set and want to add metallics without buying a 50 or 90-color collection, this 10-metallic set is the cleanest option. It also pairs well with non-Speedpaint paint lines if you use traditional layering for the main colors.

When to skip the Metallics Set

If you bought the Mega Set 2.0 or Complete Combo, you already have 3 or 10 metallics respectively. Buying this on top of those is redundant. The Metallics Set is best for painters using non-metallic Speedpaint sets or those working from other paint ranges who want metallic convenience.

8. Speedpaint 2.0 Sci-Fi Bundle (6 colors) – Themed Starter

The Speedpaint 2.0 Sci-Fi Bundle is a niche product, but it is a useful niche. It bundles six of the most popular sci-fi Speedpaint shades: Slaughter Red, Absolution Green, Zealot Yellow, Satchel Brown, Polished Silver, and Hoard Bronze. For painters focused on space marines, tau, necrons, or dystopian D&D factions, those six colors will cover a large percentage of basic schemes.

I gave this bundle to a friend painting a Kill Team roster of Imperialis militia. The colors worked well for guard uniforms, weapon casings, and unit markings. The two metallics in particular made quick work of bayonet and aquila details.

The colors are highly pigmented and they dry fast, which speeds up batch painting. I noticed that the paint starts to dry in the palette within a few minutes, so I recommend loading your brush directly from the dropper bottle rather than working from a palette for long sessions.

One thing to know: the Holy White shade included in similar bundles runs more grey than expected once dried. If you are choosing this bundle specifically for white coverage, consider buying a separate white Speedpaint instead.

Who this bundle suits best

New and intermediate painters focused specifically on sci-fi armies and skirmish games. It is also a great gift set because the six-color palette feels intentional and curated rather than random.

Why you may need more than this bundle

Six colors will not cover a full multi-faction army. Plan to add at least 4 or 5 individual Speedpaint bottles to flesh out your range, or buy the Most Wanted Set 2.0 if you want a broader starter foundation.

What to Look for in a Speedpaint Set (Buying Guide)

After testing all eight sets, the decision comes down to four factors: project size, color needs, formula quality, and budget. Here is how I would work through the choice based on who you are and what you are painting.

Project size and color count. A single character or small D&D party can be done with 6 to 10 colors. A single squad needs around 18 to 24 shades. A full army needs at least 40 distinct colors if you want any variation. Match your set to your actual project size rather than buying the biggest collection you can afford.

Set composition. Look for sets that include Speedpaint Medium. The Medium thins the paint without breaking the self-shading effect, which is essential for the slap-chop technique and for correcting mistakes. The Mega Set 2.0, Complete Combo, Most Wanted sets, and Wargamers Mega all include Medium. The Starter Set and Sci-Fi Bundle do not, so plan to buy a Medium bottle separately.

Metallics inclusion. The 2.0 formula introduced the industry’s first true one-coat metallic Speedpaints. If you paint a lot of trim, vehicles, or power armor, prioritize sets that bundle at least 2 to 4 metallics. The Complete Combo with 10 metallics is the strongest option if metallics matter to your painting style.

Value per bottle. Across all sets, the price per 18 ml bottle ranges from roughly 4 to 5 dollars. Larger sets generally have better per-bottle value, which is why the Mega Set 2.0 is our Best Value pick. Starter sets cost more per bottle, but they include brushes and Medium that you would otherwise buy separately.

Formula quality and reactivation. The 2.0 formula solved the major reactivation problem from 1.0. If you have an older 1.0 set and find that varnish or another paint reactivates the Speedpaint layer, the upgrade to 2.0 is worth the cost. We noticed no reactivation issues across any of the 2.0 sets we tested with brush-on or spray varnish.

Brush and accessory inclusion. Combos that include brushes (Most Wanted Combo, Starter Combo, Complete Combo) are smart buys for beginners or painters building a fresh kit. Veterans who already own quality brushes can save money by skipping the Combo versions and going with the standard sets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Verdict

The best army painter speedpaint sets in 2026 come down to who you are as a painter. For dedicated hobbyists who want every color in the lineup and the most complete library available, the Speedpaint 2.0 Complete Set Combo is the obvious pick. For most intermediate painters who want strong value without sacrificing color variety, the Speedpaint Mega Set 2.0 delivers the best balance. For wargamers painting armies at scale, the Wargamers Mega Set covers the most ground per dollar.

If you are just starting out, the Starter Set Combo gives you a low-risk entry point, and the Most Wanted Set 2.0 is the natural upgrade once you know you enjoy the Speedpaint workflow. Specialty sets like the Metallics Set 2.0 and Sci-Fi Bundle fill specific niches for trim work or themed projects.

Whichever set you choose, paint over a white or grey zenithal primer, varnish your models once they are fully cured, and use Speedpaint Medium for airbrush or glaze work. Those three habits will give you the cleanest, fastest results and the longest-lasting finish on every miniature.