Painting NMM Gold and Silver with IONIC Malifaux Set

Quick answer

Use the IONIC Malifaux Forged in Malifaux NMM Gold & Silver Paint Set to paint convincing non-metallic metal (NMM) effects on your Malifaux miniatures, relying on controlled shadows, strong midtones, and sharp highlights instead of metallic paints.

Step-by-step NMM gold and silver painting

1. Basecoat with the darkest shadow tone: For gold, use the darkest ochre or brown; for silver, use a dark grey. Apply a thin, even coat over the entire metallic area. This establishes the deepest shadows that will define the metal's shape. Common mistake: applying too thick a basecoat, which obscures detail. Thin your paint slightly and let it dry fully.
2. Layer midtones in broad zones: Mix the base shadow with the next lighter tone (for gold, a mid-yellow; for silver, a medium grey) and apply it to the middle 50% of the surface, leaving the base tone visible in recesses. Checkpoint: The transition should be smooth but not fully blended—NMM relies on distinct value shifts to read as metal.
3. Apply the lightest midtone to raised areas: Use a pure mid-yellow for gold or a light grey for silver, painting only the raised ridges, edges, and high points. Keep the brush almost dry to avoid flooding the recesses. Common mistake: extending the midtone too far into shadows, which flattens the metallic effect. Keep it tight to the highlights.
4. Place sharp highlights with pure white or pale yellow: For silver, use pure white; for gold, mix white with a tiny amount of yellow. Apply only to the very tips of edges and corners. The contrast between the dark base and bright highlight creates the metallic illusion. Checkpoint: If the highlight looks too stark, glaze a thin layer of the lightest midtone over it to soften the edge.
5. Glaze for unified sheen (optional): Mix a drop of the lightest midtone with a medium (like glaze or matte medium) and apply a thin, transparent coat over the entire metallic area. This blends the layers and adds a subtle satin finish. Common mistake: using gloss varnish, which can make NMM look plastic. Stick to matte or satin finishes.

Product details

• IONIC Malifaux: Forged in Malifaux NMM Gold & Silver Paint Set: Developed by AMMO in collaboration with Wyrd, this 12-color palette is built for non-metallic metal, using controlled shadows, strong midtones, and sharp highlights to create convincing cold silver and warm gold finishes. You get a purpose-built color selection that removes guesswork, letting you focus on technique rather than mixing ratios.