How to Paint The Harbinger of Decay | Duncan Rhodes | Warhammer

The Harbinger of Decay is arguably one of the best and most characterful miniatures for Warhammer (Age of Sigmar) that Games Workshop has produced in quite sometime. It just oozes atmosphere and captures the character and traits of Nurgle perfectly! In this full and in-depth miniature painting tutorial, we show you how to paint your Harbinger of Decay from start to finish along with some awesome and gross effects that can be applied to a wide range of Nurgle-type miniatures.
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Paints used:
Zandri Dust Spray (Citadel)
Ushabti Bone (Citadel)
Archaic Sepia Wash (TTC)
Necrosis Green Wash (TTC)
Vampire Fang (TTC)
Castellan Green (Citadel)
Deathworld Forest (Citadel)
Incubi Darkness (Citadel)
Mornfang Brown (Citadel)
Boar Hide (TTC)
Death Reaper (TTC)
Sir coats Silver (TTC)
Spartan Bronze (TTC)
Scorched Earth (TTC)
Dragon Fang (TTC)
Elven Skin (TTC)
Battle Mud wash (TTC)
Wasteland Brown (TTC)
Temple Stone (TTC)
Loren Forest (Citadel)
Elysian Green (Citadel)
Ogryn Camo (Citadel)
Sybarite Green (Citadel)
Vampire Fang (TTC)
Fur Cloak (TTC)
Dungeon Stone Grey (TTC)
Carcharadon Grey (TTC)
Mythril Blade (TTC)
Sycorax Bronze (Citadel)
Flayed One Flesh (Citadel)
Sword Hilt Burgandy (TTC)
Carroburg Crimson (Citadel)
Lahmian Medium (Citadel)
Glistening Gums (TTC)
Dark Sun Yellow (TTC)
Skulker Yellow (TTC)
Volupus Pink (Citadel)
Khorne Red (Citadel)
Demon Red (TTC)
Orange Flare (TTC)
Nurgle’s Rot (Citadel)
Dirty Down Rust (Dirty Down)
Skrag Brown (Citadel)
Nihilahk Oxide (Citadel)
Dustbowl (TTC)
Kabalite Green (Citadel)
#warhammer
#nurgle
#duncanrhodes

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Thanks for watching everyone. We hope you enjoyed this video and if you have any great techniques for painting Nurglesque type miniatures, please let us know in the comments below!

[@fybso3057]

How often do you paint the minis before filming? I can imagine you'd need some practice with a huge model like this to get it perfect and coordinated with the steps

[@bee-beargaming]

I did enjoy the video

[@teabreath4703]

Hey Duncan! Your video's "How To Paint Blightkings" and "How To Paint Maggoth Lord" back during your GW days set the foundation for my entire paiting style with nurgle. I'll tag you on instagram on something I'm working on that's involves alot of what you taught and some stuff I've figured out along the way. looking forward to getting on with my Harbinger too!! Thanks for the help!

[@nakenmil]

This model represents a style I wish we'd see for more Nurgle miniatures. Don't get me wrong, I really like the comedic, gross-out, bloated look that many Nurgle models have, but god damn, I do wish we'd see more like these creepy, decaying, withering models. Almost necromancer-adjacent, with plague-victims wasting and famished, shambling on, etc.

[@jt6581]

100% YES. I would love some death knight style or heavy armored looks more than the bloating fat.

[@jakea3950]

I enjoy painting skin so the bloated is totally why i choose nurgle over say warriors of chaos. However, yeah, heroes like this are top tier and a great addition.

[@delaceylehane7758]

Though I agree, I’m a 40k an imperial guard player (and black legion), and I still think team nurgle have the best miniatures by a stretch, in both Sigmar and 40k. Just can’t bring myself to play such a gross-out army, but their designs have always been top tier.

[@JohnnyTightIips]

The old Nurgle lord on daemonic mount was a favourite of mine for years, and this model elevates everything about that, wow. Great painting Duncan!

[@bojoggs-ik8tq]

I prefer the rotten antlers of thee old one.

[@sexyseb15]

@@bojoggs-ik8tq there's a third head option with the antlers, as far as I know

[@EvAurich]

@@sexyseb15yes, but it is still different from the one with the mail face cover

[@terraneaux]

This mini reminds me of Frank Frazetta's Death Dealer. Great energy, and great taste Duncan!

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Exactly what Rog said when we saw it and insisted we paint it 👍

[@1IGG]

Same.

[@leekielblock7950]

My first thought as well.

[@tonyennis1787]

It's clearly an, um, homage.

[@terraneaux]

@@tonyennis1787 real talk making an homage to Frazetta is a good thing. He was the man.

[@williamcederberg9860]

Upon seeing that this video was uploaded, I audably yelled out "YES". I am very excited.

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

That's awesome! Glad to hear 👍 In fact, I wondered what that sound was...🤔

[@jonnysnaphappy]

It never fails to amaze me how Ducan can take what is ostensibly a really complex and daunting model, and distill it down to some really easy to follow and achieve steps - really glad I'm a DRPA member!

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Awesome, that's exactly what we aim to do 😀 Thank you

[@chairmanofthebored6860]

By far my favorite model that GW have put out in a long time. Great paint job as always, Duncan.

[@richardarndt4291]

Looks very frank Franzetta. Glad to see that look is still around.

[@superanimeniac]

I missed the days of watching your videos, getting inspiration for my own painting, and just vegging out. Thanks again, Duncan!

[@kennethmacgregor-Gregorach]

It's truly a beautiful update of the Jes Goodwin classic. You've done a stunning job of it, but then what else would you do...

[@crawbag0311]

The model, and your painting gives me strong Evil Dead vibes! Love it.

[@max16]

what i have found you can do with DD rust is water it down like 50 50 and use it as a wash.. as the alcohol in it drys out it really sinks into the recesses and creates a killer deep rust affect with a nice glace rust over the rest. doing it in this method on the chain mail will make it look awsome.

[@TheAnchorite]

Amazing paint job, I absolutely adore this model - would love to hear any further thoughts on this (and other models) on a podcast someday?

[@bs_videos1213]

Epic work as always. Really wow, I'm baffled

[@Ghilliedude3]

Very nice guide, I don't think I'll ever hear the words horse flesh this much in one hour again.

[@misterballista]

Nurgle is one of GW's best ranges, lots of great models. Great job, as usual. How about tackling a bust one day?

[@zephy9867]

fantastic video! loved the painting and the educational elements but god damn the music! LOVE LOVE

[@jorgenpinoy1724]

This is absolutely beautiful!! Real artwork. I’m going to use some of that for my Grimdark painting.. thank you so much 😊🤟🤟

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

You’re welcome 😊We hope it helps out

[@jorgenpinoy1724]

@@DuncanRhodesDRPA it does, I hope one time you wil paint a real Grimdark model, that would be fantastic 😬

[@Andrew-el8xi]

Duncan is the best out there.

[@YohanPlaine]

Definitely the coolest !

[@toxicronin]

Dammmm what a sick one awesome painted

[@Thorn16]

AoS has been constantly putting out amazing models lately!

[@TTTadej]

Awesome mini, and the paint job as well. Duncan mentioning golden demon makes me wonder if he ever entered, would win for sure :)

[@danielbear9183]

Great model, great video, great presenter, great channel.

[@matthewmalovich64]

Local stores are starting to carry two thin coats! It’s been really exciting! Keep it up!

[@fabianrodrigo3615]

Brutal video!❤. La verdad que todos los vídeos que puedas hacer sobre teoría del color serán de gran ayuda 😊

[@bldos5362]

Awesome! thanks

[@thedisabledwelshman9266]

absolutely brilliant bud.

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Thanks

[@goforitpainting]

Professional as always.

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

ahhh...thanks😊

[@MisterTingles]

SO GOOD!

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Thanks 😀

[@raymondbarnell9123]

well done!

[@ArnoldJudasRimmer..]

Awesome mini! This one ripe for the 'John Blache' treatment... Awesome video as ever Duncan 😏👏👏

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Glad you enjoyed it! And you are right, this done in John's style would be amazing!

[@thedisabledwelshman9266]

i love the names of these paints.

[@Cronix1011]

I had the model it was based off of when I was a child (well, teenager). I'm tempted to buy it even through I don't play AOE. Great video, as always!

[@MaskedRiderChris]

Someone already beat me to it, but someone at Gee Dubs is definitely a Frazetta fan, for sure! If the Death Dealer served Nurgle, of course. Looks great!

[@benpelikan7348]

Fantastic! 🙂

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@user-lh7mj4ur6x]

We need new maggotkin of nurgle ~!!!! Love you man~!

[@emmetriley22]

Probably my favourite AOS Nurgle model so far, hopefully they release it as standalone soon

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

It's amazing and one of my favourite AoS models so far and it's such a joy to paint 😀

[@rapfpopapf]

it is already listed as standalone in the webstore, but not yet available

[@sexyseb15]

@@rapfpopapf It came out 2 Weeks ago, but was sold out straight away

[@Onkel_Ranger]

Very nice! Still waiting for Bayards Revenge tho.

[@lewisconklin7252]

Cool

[@AndrewPeverells]

Absolutely amazing work, thank you so much! ❤ Question for you mr Duncan: could you suggest a way to give subtle green-ish or blue-ish glows to golden blades? I'm really trying to up my painting on some Horus Heresy thousand sons and I want to give some character to all those gold details, but I don't know how to achieve it!

[@OllieFreeman83]

@DuncanRhodesDRPA thanks for the video, following it through and enjoying it. One thing to note is that you use Kabalite Green as the first of the layers on the armour, but you missed it off the list of colours used.

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Thanks, we'll add it to the list

[@chunkylover48]

I'd love to paint one if I could get one.

[@bozeal100]

1000% epic

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Thanks, glad you like it

[@margaretwood152]

Don't *forget,* Kiddies: _"TWO......THIN..... _*_BLØÅT§!!!!"_*

[@SWATDRUMMUH]

I honestly wouldn't mind a reimagining of the 4 Horsemen for AoS; this is already a perfect model for Plague/Pestilence! A Khornate Warlord on a steed is already perfect for War, though I'm unsure of what Famine and Death would be in the Warhammer Fantasy universe... Maybe not god aligned?

[@freakmean16]

Looks a lot like the Frazetta's Deathdealer!!!

[@bigpoppa1234]

Can you find that old Archaeon on a Horse model, that's my favourite GW model ever (even as someone who never played fantasy except some bloodbowl & mordheim).

[@davidsmyth447]

I'd love to be able to buy it

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Soon apparently, on the 11th November I believe

[@januskar57]

Awesome paintjob - could've emphasized that Horse Flesh a bit more though.. Also - any plans to add a Castellan green equivalent to the TTC range? I use Castellan Green as the main base coat for my army but it's not the best paint for large quantities and it's very hard to find a color match in other ranges

[@shawnseaman142]

Will you do a paint tutorial for The Free Guild Cavalier Marshal?

[@johnnyreid7931]

Was cooking dinner while you painted boils. So yeah...thanks for that. 😂

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Sorry lol 🤣🤣🤣

[@hansthebeast9740]

I can picture that guy riding through the mist.

[@andersolsson1659]

Great work as always! 👍 Got to ask though, wasn´t it hard getting to the underside as you had it stuck to the base?

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Not at all, it wasn't difficult

[@jakea3950]

Lovely duncs! Is your paint brand hutting Australia? Also cam we have a daughters of khaine model in the future? Keep on painting sir!

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you , DRPA . 🐺 Loupis Canis .

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Our pleasure! 🐺🐺🐺

[@loupiscanis9449]

@@DuncanRhodesDRPA No , My pleasure ,your hard work , Thank you . 🐺 Loupis Canis .

[@lwo7736]

Hi Duncan, I saw in a previous video you had a syringe for super glue, any chance you could let us know where you got it from?

[@peternolan7606]

So a GW model that takes its entire inspiration from Frank Frazetta’s iconic Death Dealer is a homage but not an infringement of copy right, nice to see GW’s double standards are still up to scratch.

[@MrZauberelefant]

Not to defend GW here, but transferring something to an entirely different medium should count as an original effort. It's not a straight rip-off

[@peternolan7606]

Yes I would agree but unfortunately legal experts in copyright would disagree, it stems from is this an original piece or a copy of an original I.e. you have created that piece and claimed it as your own but really you have just adapted another’s intellectual property to your own and so infringed the original creators rights over their created image. Also failing to credit the original artist for the inspiration is also classed as an intellectual theft as you are denying that you copied their world which they can not. If GW had made full and significant changes to the model then they could claim it as theirs. When looking at it you can clearly tell where it came from so if GW actually put a bit of effort into making an actual iconic model then fine but in this case no the similarities are just too obvious it’s not original to GW and they should acknowledge that.

[@max16]

i wonder if that is the same tile since back in the day. or if its been replaced :P should frame it at this point if its the original like a youtube play button. haha

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Its still the same one lol

[@AzureKite619]

So would it be better to work on this in sub-assemblies? Or as the finished model?

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Either could work. It just depends what you are more comfortable with

[@bakauf4300]

I can imagine the original name for this mini was going to be "Plague Dealer",until legal came along and said "No, I don't think so". 🤣 Grandfather would be proud of your rendition. 👍

[@esaedvik]

I've literally never seen anyone use nearly 50 paints on a mini...wow.

[@TravelMuseAgency]

Frank Frazetta "Death Dealer" copy

[@Hedonite]

Bog daddy approved

[@keithwinqvist7382]

And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

[@robertjensen1438]

Why did the horseman Pestilence, take his horse to the vet? Because it was disease ridden.

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@WarhammerWings]

Argh!!!

[@SkyneT800X]

Duncan Rhodes is The Witcher

[@SWATDRUMMUH]

Do i hear bells in the distance?

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

I hope not! lol

[@Kyleology]

Everyone sounds like they're on valium.

[@iandavies2298]

How can I get my hands on this model without buying the big ol box?

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

It's coming out as a single miniature soon www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/harbinger-of-decay-2023 Ours is from the big box.

[@christianschroder4694]

Please Paint the glottkin ❤

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Mmmm...we did one many years ago for GW. I wonder if it's still on their page?

[@christianschroder4694]

@@DuncanRhodesDRPA I couldn't find anything on the GW site. I know you have a lot of projects. I would be interested to see how the master himself would paint a glottkin. Duncan Rhodes is the boss ❤️💪

[@nickdavis5420]

Hmmm four horsemen of chaos

[@secretlook9218]

u should apply for a job at games workshop mebbe u could paint for them and make tutorials with some more practice i think u could become pretty good:)

[@secretlook9218]

this just way too brown

[@tonyennis1787]

Frank Frazetta would be proud.

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

He sure would.

[@frankdoyle3716]

Frank Frazetta's Death Dealer.....

[@Falpastymonster]

Complicated painting job, but Duncan was...disgustingly resilient....despite it being a slightly...rash...decision. But you can clearly see he was...buzzing...after paining this model.......OK I will see myself out.

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Nice lol...I see what you did there *cough*

[@AquamentusZero]

I would have used a glowing sulphur yellowfor the horses eyes. Or a bright, glowy, venomous green.

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

That sounds really cool and a great idea

[@5chr4pn3ll]

I feel like a lot of these colours just blend together and become uninteresting. That drool is invisible basically, the skull bone is the same colour as the skin of the horse, the mane and the cloth looks the same. I get that it's following the box art but the box art is kinda lacking.

[@tofiszczak]

* online only.... :(((

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Not available in stores or trade accounts?

[@tofiszczak]

@@DuncanRhodesDRPA seems so. My friendly store (or any i know) wasnt able to place order for it. The same for Grimhold. Check it yourself ;)

[@docbp87]

This is the best because it harkens back to when Warhammer art was amazing, not dull Adobe smear tool bullshit. This could be straight out of an Adrian Smith piece for 6th Ed. Hordes of Chaos. This aesthetic was the peak IMO, and going back to it is what Warhammer needs, across the board. The World of Warcraft cute neon anime whatever the fuck was a mistake. This goes for artwork and sculpts. The over-soft reused CAD element stuff has got to stop. Go back to the super sharp sculpt style you see in the early Horus Heresy Primarch sculpts (or most metal minis from 20 years ago).

[@Maikelodeon89]

Breath mofo, breath!

[@echoechoecho7142]

Nice model and killer paint job as usual, but I just can't follow your Guides anymore. I started out with Army painter paints, but switched to Citadel since thats what everyone was using for guides , so I could color match correctly and be using what most people were. I just cannot afford to buy a third brand of paints in TTC. I've loved this channel a long time, I wish you the best in your paint business, but as for guides, I guess Im done following your teaching.

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

We understand, but remember, it's not necessarily about the paints, its about the colours and the techniques. We do provide a useful paint conversion guide on your website so you can follow along and still use Citadel (www.duncanrhodes.com/ttc-paints/) or you can use this useful page a Member created (gerinfact.github.io/ttc_citadel/). I hope this helps.

[@WhiteWolfe101]

Sooooo GW rips off someone's art and calls it theirs

[@user-rs4ip1dh4g]

Yes it’s like the Frank Frazeta painting but idea has been used and modified a ton of times since it came out in paintings and models etc, they’ve put their own take on it here and it works well I think. Think Frank would be ok with it don’t you think?

[@WhiteWolfe101]

@user-rs4ip1dh4g yes but instead of kick a dead horse keep being original

[@fl00d69]

Sweet jesus how many different colours?? 😂 Amazing work though!

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

A lot lol.