The most common reason people leave their D&D miniatures unpainted is not lack of interest. It is the setup. The brushes, the water cup, the palette, the primers, the cleanup. When painting feels like a project, it does not happen.
Army Painter’s Speedpaint Markers are designed to remove that friction entirely. Uncap. Shake. Paint. No other equipment required. Whether that is enough to actually get your minis painted is what this article is here to answer.
What Are Speedpaint Markers?
The Speedpaint Markers are acrylic paint pens loaded with Army Painter’s Speedpaint 2.0 formula — the same one-coat contrast-style paint used in their bottled Speedpaint range. Each marker holds 6ml of paint, features a Felt-Tech replaceable tip, and has a metal mixing ball inside so the pigment stays properly combined.
The key thing that makes Speedpaint work is how it behaves when applied. Like Citadel Contrast or Vallejo Xpress, it flows into recesses on its own, creating natural shading without any technique. You apply it and it does the work. In marker form, that means you get the shading effect of a contrast paint with the convenience of a pen. No brush loading, no diluting, no palette.
They require a white or light primer to work as intended. The translucent formula needs a bright base to produce vibrant results. Over dark primer, the colors come out muddy. If you are not sure which primer to use, our guide to the best spray primers for D&D minis covers the options.
What’s in the Starter Set
The 10-marker Starter Set includes nine Speedpaint 2.0 colors and one Speedpaint Metallic, along with a tube of replacement tips. The colors are:
Grim Black
Armor, dark cloaks, shadow areas on any surface.
Gravelord Grey
Stone, plate armor, undead skin, rubble bases.
Pallid Bone
Skeletons, parchment, undead, teeth, aged ivory.
Orc Skin
Green skin for goblins, orcs, and lizardfolk.
Blood Red
Robes, cloaks, dragon accents, wounds, and magical effects.
Fire Giant Orange
Fire effects, warm skin tones, lava bases, tiefling variations.
Zealot Yellow
Gold accents, blonde hair, fire highlights, sunlit surfaces.
Hardened Leather
Belts, straps, scabbards, boots, and all the brown-toned equipment D&D minis are covered in.
Magic Blue
Cloaks, magical effects, water features, arcane lighting.
Polished Silver (Metallic)
Weapons, armor trim, chainmail, any bare metal.
That is a solid D&D palette in one box. Not comprehensive, but enough to get a full adventuring party to a painted tabletop standard.
How to Use Them
The process is simple. Prime your mini white, let it dry, then give the marker a thorough shake. Press the tip down on a spare surface until paint flows through, then start painting. The Speedpaint formula flows into recesses as it dries, creating automatic shading.
The tips are replaceable, which matters. Felt tips fray over time, especially on textured resin or rough plastic. Having spares included in the starter set is a practical detail that cheaper marker brands skip.
One technique worth knowing: if you apply a second coat before the first is fully dry, the colors can lift or streak. Let each coat dry completely before adding more. The Speedpaint formula dries faster than a regular wash, so this is usually a short wait rather than a long one.
What They Do Well
For beginners, the speed and accessibility are real. There is no setup time and no cleanup. You can open the set, pick up a mini, and have color on it within two minutes. For D&D players who want painted minis at the table without committing to the hobby full-time, that is genuinely useful.
The color quality is good. The Speedpaint 2.0 formula delivers vibrant saturation and the shading effect is consistent. Coverage on mid-sized areas is clean and streak-free when applied correctly.
The markers also work as a complement to traditional brush painting. You can rough in large areas with a marker and detail with a brush, or use them for fast touch-ups and basing work. Reviewers have noted they are particularly good for armor panels, fabric areas, and bases.
Because the tips are removable, you can also refill depleted markers with bottled Speedpaint, which is a useful long-term cost option.
What They Don’t Do Well
Fine detail work is not possible with a felt tip. If your mini has a detailed face, small gemstones, or intricate inscription work, a brush is the only tool for the job. The markers are for coverage, not precision.
Large flat surfaces can also be problematic. Speedpaint needs surface texture to flow and pool naturally. On completely smooth areas like cloaks with no folds or flat shield faces, it can dry unevenly. Most D&D minis have enough surface texture that this is rarely a serious issue, but it is worth knowing.
The price is higher than the bottled equivalent. Each 6ml marker costs roughly the same as an 18ml bottle of Speedpaint, so you are paying a premium for the no-brush format. For painters who are comfortable with a brush, the markers are an expensive convenience. For complete beginners who would otherwise not paint at all, the premium is more justifiable.
Are They Worth It for D&D Painters?
For the specific case of a D&D player who wants painted minis at the table but has no interest in learning to paint: yes. The Speedpaint Markers lower the barrier to entry as far as it can reasonably go. White primer, shake, paint. That is the entire workflow.
For anyone with a little painting experience already: the markers are a useful additional tool rather than a replacement for brushes. They are fast for base coating and batch painting, and the travel-friendly format is genuinely convenient.
The 10-color starter set covers enough of a D&D palette to get real mileage out of immediately. Skin tones, armor, leather, metal, magic effects — the selection was clearly put together with tabletop use in mind.
The Mega Set: What’s Coming
A 60-marker Mega Set is on pre-order now and ships August 15, 2026. It includes 50 Speedpaint 2.0 colors and 10 metallics — the full range in marker form. If the starter set proves the format works for your painting style, the Mega Set is the natural next step. Pre-orders are open through the Army Painter website and hobby retailers.
Where to Buy
The Speedpaint Markers Starter Set is available on Amazon. It includes all 10 markers plus a tube of replacement tips.
Army Painter Speedpaint Markers Starter Set on Amazon
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