How to Paint the D&D Nolzur's Yuan-Ti Malisons

By WizKids Store | Published: 2026-10-26

Category: How-to Guides

Learn step-by-step how to paint the D&D Nolzur's Yuan-Ti Malisons miniature, from priming to finishing scales and snake details.

Quick Answer

Paint your Yuan-Ti Malisons by focusing on layered snake scales, a contrasting skin tone, and careful drybrushing to bring out the deep cuts in the Nolzur's sculpt.

Why the Pre-Primed Surface Helps

The D&D Nolzur's Yuan-Ti Malisons come primed and ready to paint out of the box. That means you can skip the priming step and jump straight to basecoating. The deep cuts in the sculpt make drybrushing especially effective for the snake scales and armor details.

One trade-off: the factory primer can be slightly glossy in spots. A quick matte varnish or a thin layer of your own primer ensures paint adheres evenly, especially on the snake heads and tail coils.

Choosing a Color Scheme for Yuan-Ti

Yuan-Ti Malisons have humanoid upper bodies and snake lower halves. A classic approach is a warm earth tone for the human skin (like a pale tan or olive) and a contrasting green or brown for the snake scales. The Nolzur's sculpt has plenty of texture on the scales, so you can use a wash to define each row.

If you want a more poisonous look, try a bright green scale base with yellow highlights. For a swampier vibe, use dark brown scales with a green wash.

Step-by-Step Painting Guide

1. Basecoat the Human Skin: Apply a thin coat of your chosen skin tone (e.g., pale sand or olive) to the upper body, arms, and head. Use two thin coats to avoid obscuring facial details. Common mistake: applying paint too thickly hides the facial features. Keep your paint consistency like skim milk.
2. Basecoat the Snake Scales: Paint the lower body and tail with a medium green or brown. Work the brush into the scale grooves but don't worry about neatness—washes will fix it. Checkpoint: ensure the paint reaches all the recessed scale lines. Missed spots will show as white patches later.
3. Apply a Wash to Both Areas: Use a dark brown or green wash (like Agrax Earthshade or a homemade mix) over the scales and a flesh-toned wash over the human skin. Let it pool in the deep cuts. Common mistake: using too much wash can flood the face. Wick away excess with a clean brush tip.
4. Drybrush the Scales: Once the wash is dry, drybrush the snake scales with a lighter shade of the same color. The deep cuts in the Nolzur's sculpt will catch the highlight beautifully. Checkpoint: test drybrush on the underside first to see if your brush is dry enough. You want a dusty texture, not wet streaks.
5. Paint Details (Eyes, Weapons, Accessories): Paint the eyes as small slits (yellow or red), then do the weapons and any jewelry. A metallic bronze or silver works well for the yuan-ti's ceremonial gear. Common mistake: painting eyes too large makes them look cartoonish. Use the tip of a fine detail brush and steady your hands against the table.
6. Seal with Matte Varnish: Spray or brush on a matte varnish to protect the paint job and reduce shine. This also unifies the finish across different paint types. Checkpoint: let the varnish dry completely before handling. A glossy spot means you missed a matte coat—apply a second thin layer.

About This Miniature

D&D Nolzur's Marvelous Miniatures: Yuan-Ti Malisons: These miniatures come primed and ready to paint with deep cuts for easier painting. You can start painting immediately and the deep recesses make drybrushing and washing more forgiving for beginners.
D&D Nolzur's Marvelous Miniatures: Yuan-Ti Malisons