Citadel Technical Acrylic Paint: Mordant Earth

Cracked Earth, Parched Ground, Ancient Ruins

Mordant Earth is one of the most satisfying effects in the Citadel Technical range. Applied over a dark undercoat or a dried base coat, it shrinks as it cures — splitting and cracking to create the look of sun-baked earth, dried riverbeds, ancient stone floors, and desolate wastelands. The deeper you apply it, the larger and more dramatic the cracks. A thin coat produces fine hairline splits; a generous application builds into bold, chunky fissures that look like the ground itself has fractured. No sculpting skill required — the paint does the work.

The effect works best over a black or dark brown base. Once fully dry, the cracked surface can be drybrushed with lighter tones to bring out the raised edges, adding depth and a dusty, weathered quality. A coat of texture paint underneath can add further dimension before Mordant Earth goes on top. It pairs naturally with other Citadel Technical paints — combine it with Stirland Mud for mixed terrain effects, or finish the base with a few tufts and some Astrogranite for varied ground textures across a whole army.

Who It's For

Mordant Earth is a staple for anyone basing miniatures set in arid, ruined, or post-apocalyptic environments — Necron tomb worlds, Chaos-blighted wastelands, Aeldari ruins, desert battlefields, or any narrative where the ground itself feels hostile. It works equally well across game systems: a single pot will finish dozens of infantry bases, and the technique scales up effortlessly to cavalry, monsters, and terrain pieces. Beginners will appreciate how forgiving the paint is — there is no complex technique to learn, just apply, wait, and watch the cracks form. Experienced painters use it as a reliable base layer before adding grass tufts, static grass, or other scatter to create contrast between living and dead ground.