The Army Painter Speedpaint 2.0: Rigor Mortis

One Coat, Done — The Shortcut to Striking Undead Flesh

Rigor Mortis is a desaturated, corpse-pale green from The Army Painter's Speedpaint 2.0 range — a single-application paint that does the work of a base coat and shade in one pass. Brush it over a white or light grey primer, let it flow into the recesses, and watch a convincingly dead and decaying skin tone emerge without any layering or blending required. It's the kind of result that used to take several steps compressed into one deliberate stroke.

Speedpaint 2.0 builds on the original formula with improved re-activation resistance — once the paint has fully dried, subsequent coats won't lift or smear the layer beneath, which was a known frustration with first-generation speed paints. The formula still self-shades as it dries, pooling naturally into low areas to create depth while leaving higher surfaces brighter. Rigor Mortis is an obvious pick for undead armies, plague-themed forces, ghosts, spirits, zombies, or any creature whose skin should look like it stopped circulating blood some time ago — but it pulls equal weight on skin-like textures across any miniature range, not just fantasy undead.

Getting the Most Out of It

Speedpaints are at their best over a white or off-white primer — the lighter the primer, the more the colour pops and the more contrast you'll see between raised surfaces and recesses. Darker primers will mute the effect significantly. A gloss varnish coat after drying protects the paint and reduces the chance of reactivation if you plan to add further layers or washes on top. The 18ml pot is the standard retail size for The Army Painter's individual paints, offering solid coverage for a meaningful number of models before running dry.

This paint works across any miniature brand and any game system — it has no allegiance to a single army or ruleset. New hobbyists looking to finish models quickly and experienced painters who want a reliable foundation for further work will both find it useful. The colour name tells you exactly what it does, which is the highest compliment a paint can earn.

Specifications