A good base is the cheapest upgrade any miniature can get. Ten minutes of sand, paint and a tuft turns a model standing on bare black plastic into one standing somewhere: a shell-torn battlefield, a jungle, a frozen wasteland. We stock everything for basing miniatures and terrain, from texture paints to static grass.
Basing materials explained
- Texture paints and pastes: paint-on ground with the grit already mixed in. The quickest, cleanest way to base a whole army.
- Sand, grit and rocks: glue down with PVA for the classic look, then paint and drybrush. Cork and larger rocks add height and drama.
- Tufts: ready-made clumps of grass, flowers and alien growth that peel off and stick on. Instant life, no skill required.
- Static grass and flock: loose fibres for meadows and lawns. Static grass stands upright for a more realistic finish.
- Basing bits: skulls, rubble, razorwire and debris for a bit of storytelling.
Where to start
For a first army, a texture paint or sand, one drybrush colour and a couple of tuft types will give you smart, consistent bases. Match the ground to your army's world: grey rubble for urban 40k, brown earth and green tufts for fantasy, snow for the frozen north. Paint the base rim black or brown for a clean edge.
Our picks
- Army Painter Battlefields Basing Set: core materials, basing glue and a technique guide in one box.
- Army Painter Brown Battleground: classic earthy ground cover.
- Army Painter Battlefield Razorwire: instant grimdark.
- Gamers Grass Alien Fire tufts: flame-orange growth for alien worlds.
Need the bases themselves? See miniature bases, browse the full tufts range, or try our basing finder to match a scheme to your army. Our painting tips for beginners cover basing as the finishing touch.
