While enough reviews of paint starter sets exist, I figured to do something a little different and list a few of my favorites for folks looking to get into the hobby. You can go on youtube and find lots of paint reviews of the big GW sets, but I think for the sake of this blog I'll list my three favorite starter sets for folks, why I like them, and the ups and downs of each one(there is no 'perfect' one I think.) I haven't used every single paint in every single line(and I think even painters who have come close probably don't remember every single paint in every single line), but I've used and own paints from all the companies on this list.
After studying a lot of sets and thinking over what a new painter needs, I see what criteria of mine each one hits. I look at these as if they are for someone who wants to try mini painting and see how they like it, or know they wanna get into it, and are looking for a set to get them grounded. This is not an exhaustive list by any means, though the number of starter sets could be higher!
The criteria I look for isn't much:
-Can they get started RIGHT out of the box? (Only one passed this.)
-If not, what else do they need to buy?
-Availability of the sets(you can always order online, of course, but I'm thinking in-store, like someone could go in and see them.)
Only a few questions, really. So let's get started! (I'll be listing a price range since I usually end up seeing stuff within a 5 to 10 euro range depending on what store you're getting it from.)
Honorable Mention: Vallejo Game Color Basic Set(45-50e)
This one's down on the list since it *only* contains paint. No brushes, tools, minis, primers or anything; just paint. But you do get sixteen bottles of quality paint, of a variety of colors, and they're 18ml bottles, as well. If you're someone that has, say, a hobby brush lying around and a 3D printer/access to a 3D printer(preferably one that makes good-quality smooth prints), then you may find this one to your taste since you really do get a wide variety of colors here. You even get 3 metallics in the box! But, again, since you do need a supply of your own other things to get started here, I have it as an honorable mention; also, Vallejo is occasionally more difficult to get in some areas than others and you may need to grab this online.
3. Warhammer 40k Introductory Set(50-60e):
This big box has a very solid array of things to get people started painting, and even playing the game if they want! It has sixteen minis(some Space Marines and some Tyranids), five paints(black, wraithbone, blue, purple, and gold), a starter brush, a set of clippers for the minis(which are push-fit), as well as a playing mat, dice, a rulebook and a ruler, all for about 55e. If you're someone looking to get into the hobby in general, as well as the gaming part, this will additionally give you a taste of wargaming. It ranks third, though, for me, since it does have its limitations. It's big, winning points I think are the inclusion of the clippers(getting a tool is nice), and the fact it's got the most minis available in a starter set, at a whopping sixteen, as mentioned(and these have both humanoid and bugs, to give starting painters a couple different things to paint.) And it's Games Workshop, so they're pretty widely available.
If you aren't into the specific games-like, if you wanna paint for TTRPGs, or just a different wargame, the rules additions and all of that stuff might just be extra stuff you don't need. Also, there are limited colors in these, though you do get a bit of a variety(color, metals, Agrax Earthshade which is pretty legendary in painting circles, and even a technical paint for your bases.) Finally, you need to assemble these, thankfully they are press-fit, so glue is not necessary(you might find even snap-fit or press-fit minis need some glue, but if you're just starting out, you might be okay.) Finally, no primer is included, so you'll need to grab that, too(rattlecan, air, brush-on-you can brush on air primer, btw.) But for the price, you get a *lot* here-lots of models to play with, and you get a set of clippers for future models, to boot! It is, finally, the most expensive of the bunch. 55 to 60e(depends where you grab it from) starts to become a little more of an investment, especially when only five paints are involved. And you do need to buy primer(a small bottle of brush-on primer can be less than a fiver, though.) Finally-one personal little annoyance-I prefer dropper bottles over Citadel's paint pots, but I think for a beginner it's more about getting paints and getting into the hobby.
(As a side note, there is also an Age of Sigmar introductory set, but it lacks both primer AND clippers, so you'd need to go buy both. It's otherwise set up similarly. I'm not sure why they left the clippers out...but if you'd rather get into a fantasy skirmish game, it might be worth looking at.)
2. Army Painter's Gamemaster: Adventure Starter Role-Playing Paint Set(Around 50e)
This one is packed with stuff. 15 bottles at 18ml each of the Warpaints Fanatic range(these also come with mixing balls in each bottle, which is awesome), at a variety of colors. In addition to ten colors(black, white, gray, blue, green, yellow, red, brown, a light skin tone and an orange), there's two metallics, a wash, a blood effect paint and a brush-on primer. There's also a brush in the box, and five free snap-fit minis. All of this runs you about 50 bucks, and even though the characters have names and little blurbs, they're very system-agnostic and you can pop them into any fantasy game that has elves, humans, dwarves, tieflings(or the Pathfinder equivalent), and so on. You could keep them on hand for whenever you tabletop game and someone needs an 'approximate' model or whatnot! It doesn't have the beasty-models like above, but five minis is nice. (There are two other sets, but they only have one mini each.)
One thing I really love about this box(and the next) is the inclusion of a brush-on primer. Primers are a necessity, and it's rare that they are included in starter sets. I really wish more boxes would come with it! (Specifically, a brush-on. While you can get inexpensive rattlecan primers from hardware stores, not everyone is in a situation where they can just rattle-prime minis. You need outdoors areas for those.) Army Painter is also generally quite widely available, at least that I've seen. I've never had trouble finding their products in stores.
The downside here is that the models are unassembled(also snap-fit, at least), and has no tool, so you are going to need some way to detach the models, and thus this will also need another purchase if you don't have some sort of clippers around the house/something to clean up the mold lines with. But besides that, it has a whole lot for the value here. Instead of having to buy the primer(since it comes with brush-on primer), that cash could go to buying a set of sprue clippers. At 50, it's the second-place cost wise, but I think because you get fifteen bottles total, along with the five minis, it becomes a more pleasing deal, hence its spot on the list(along with being pretty system-agnostic-these could work for any fantasy game.) But unless you have some wire cutters or something around(not ideal, but usable in a pinch if you absolutely have to), be prepared to shell out about an extra 10, so in the end it could run you about the same as the first option.
I will say as an aside for both 3 and 2, at least the tools/primer you need to buy will end up coming in handy for later stuff, and if you want to get further into the hobby, you'll be getting them anyway.
1. Army Painter Fanatic Starter Set(30-35e):
This one's my personal favorite. I mean, it's in the number 1 spot. It comes with a fully assembled mini, a brush, and 11 bottles of paint, including a brush-on primer. Paints are basic; 2 metallics, a wash, and 7 colors-black, white, blue, green, brown, yellow, and red. The little tray the paints come in can even be used as a palette! All you need is a cup of water and a paper towel and you can paint. The price is about perfect for a birthday gift or some such thing, as well. It's simple, but it has absolutely everything to paint your first mini; you don't need to buy tools or primer, you don't need to assemble anything, and there's a solid array of color choices, even if they're basic.
That's the only little downside to this one. It's got a more solid color array than the 40k set above(all your primaries are present and some neutrals), but it is more limited than the Gamemaster set(I'd personally like to see purple and orange make an appearance.) But, hey, color mixing is a thing, we learned it back in the day, after all! (Some colors mix differently depending on pigments used, which is the only reason why I'd like to see the orange and purple show up.) I will say that perhaps having a more 'core' set of colors may actually be better in ways for a starting painter, though. Less choice paralysis. And its price point is legit in the realm of a 'pick-up', where the other two, leaning into the 50+ range, are very reasonable for what you get, but still a little more out of the 'pick-up' range. Also; this does only have one mini. But-I don't think that's bad for an introductory set. It is mostly just to give people a taste of the hobby, and at the price point, it's much less of a 'buy-in' feeling. Try it to see if you like it!
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So yeah. Just a basic little rundown here. And I am just one painter of many-there are tons out there way more experienced than me(I've only been doing this for real for what, four months now?) that may have different opinions, but overall this is mine.
I think if you had me put together my Perfect Set, it would be right in the range of the Starter set above, with an orange, a purple, and a light flesh tone added to what colors are there(Leather Brown makes for a good dark skin tone-it's very close to the Onyx Skin color they have, and mixing that + a light one and you can basically get a very wide range). I might add a second(pre-assembled, of course) mini, as well-perhaps something like an orc, goblin, lizardman, or something of that nature to counter the knight. I just remember the old Ral Partha goblins being a ton of fun to put green acrylics on, so I'd like to include one of those too(and of course, keep the brush and brush-on primer.) If you could keep this thing around the 40 range with the additions(very possible, given the price of the Gamemaster's set above), it'd be even cooler and still in that 'pick-up' range, I think? (Oh yeah, and I do prefer bottles over the Citadel pots, so whoever made this set, bottles, please.)
Hope someone here finds something useful!
