Golden Demon is the ultimate Warhammer painting competition. Thousands of entries are received each year from all over the world.
Painters of all levels are invited to submit their best work to claim glory, bragging rights, coveted trophies, and a well-deserved sense of accomplishment in this pinnacle of the miniatures painting hobby.
The best-of-the-best at each competition is named the overall winner and presented with the legendary Slayer Sword – could you be the next to raise it high?
Whether you prefer to paint single miniatures of special characters or rank-and-file soldiers, impressive aircraft and vehicles, or even create sprawling and immersive dioramas, there is a category for you. Plus, there’s the Open Category, where you can let your imagination run wild, and Youngbloods for painters aged 15 and under.
This category is for any single Warhammer 40,000 miniature on an appropriately sized base – including miniatures mounted on smaller vehicles and creatures like bikes, jetbikes, and beasts. This category is open to everything from Ratlings to Terminators, Ork Warbosses, Tech-Priest Domini, and even characters like Maugan Ra, Illuminor Szeras, Daemon Princes, and Roboute Guilliman. Miniatures considered larger than these examples will be entered into the Warhammer 40,000: Large Miniature or Vehicle category.
This category is for Warhammer 40,000 squads or Kill Teams of three or more miniatures. The unit may be displayed on an appropriately sized base. This includes miniatures on foot, small vehicles, and miniatures mounted on bikes, jetbikes and beasts, provided they are organised into a unit of three or more miniatures. This includes everything from Grots to Tyranid Warriors, XV8 Crisis Battlesuits, and Aeldari Shining Spears. Squadrons of larger vehicles like tanks, Knights, or Space Marine Repulsors must be entered into the Open Competition.
This category is for any single Warhammer 40,000 vehicle or large model mounted on an appropriately sized base. This includes tanks, walkers, flyers, and monsters – everything from Falcon grav-tanks to Baneblades, Nemesis Dreadknights to Plagueburst Crawlers, Trygons to Aeldari Avatars, or Greater Daemons and named characters like the C’tan Shard of the Void Dragon, Ka’Bandha, and Szarekh, The Silent King. Models entered into this category that, for any reason, do not require a base may still be mounted on an appropriately sized base.
This category is for any single Warhammer Age of Sigmar miniature on an appropriately sized base. This includes everything from Moonclan Grots and Kharadron Overlords to Stormcast Eternals, Mawtribe Ogors, and named characters like Radukar the Beast. This also includes single miniatures mounted on smaller creatures like horses, gryph-chargers, gore-gruntas, etc. Larger miniatures, or those mounted on large monsters, must be entered into the Warhammer Age of Sigmar Large Miniature or War Machine categories.
This category is for Warhammer Age of Sigmar units or Warcry warbands of three or more miniatures. The unit may be displayed on an appropriately sized base. This includes miniatures on foot and those mounted on smaller creatures like horses, gryph-chargers, gore-gruntas, etc., provided they are organised into a unit of three or more miniatures. Examples include Skaven Stormvermin, Kruleboyz Gutrippaz, Spiterider Lancers, Putrid Blightkings, and even Mighty Skullcrushers. Units of larger miniatures, including miniatures mounted on large monsters such as Zombie Dragons or Stardrakes must be entered into the Open Competition.
This category is for any single large Warhammer Age of Sigmar miniature mounted on an appropriately sized base. This includes monsters and war machines – everything from Carnosaurs to Arkanaut Frigates, Maw-krushas, Bloodthirsters, and named characters like Archaon the Everchosen mounted on the three-headed beast Dorghar.
This category is for any single miniature or complete warband from Warhammer Underworlds mounted on an appropriately sized base. This includes any single miniatures or full warbands from all seasons of Warhammer Underworlds.
This category is for any single miniature, war machine, or unit from Warhammer: The Horus Heresy mounted on an appropriately sized base. This includes miniatures on foot and mounted – everything from Primarchs and special characters to Tactical Squads, Contemptor Dreadnought Talons, Spartan Assault Tanks, and Titans. Miniatures entered into this category that, for any reason, do not require a base may still be mounted on an appropriately sized base.
This category is for any single miniature or unit from Warhammer: The Old World mounted on an appropriately sized base. This includes miniatures both on foot and mounted – everything from Orc Boar Boyz and Kingdom of Bretonnia Paladins to Tomb Kings of Khemri High Priests on Necrolith Bone Dragons, Empire of Man Steam Tanks, and named characters on chariots, such as Settra the Imperishable. Miniatures entered into this category that, for any reason, do not require a base may still be mounted on an appropriately sized base.
This category is for any single miniature or unit from the Middle-earth™ Strategy Battle Game. These must be mounted on appropriately sized bases. This includes miniatures on foot or mounted – everything from Riders of Rohan™ and Cave Trolls to Balrogs™ and named characters like Frodo Baggins™ and Smaug™.
This category is for any single miniature or team from Blood Bowl mounted on an appropriately sized base – everything from Star Players and Referees to Big Guys or whole teams.
This category is for any single miniature or gang from Necromunda mounted on an appropriately sized base – everything from Kal Jerico and Scabs to an entire Orlock Gang with attendant Hired Guns and Hangers-on.
This category is for epic scale miniatures mounted on an appropriately sized base. This is either a single Titan or a group of one to three smaller elements, such as one to three bases of epic scale infantry, a squadron of one to three epic scale tanks, or a lance of one to three epic scale Knights.
This category is for scenic displays and duels based on the worlds of Warhammer Age of Sigmar, Warhammer 40,000, Warhammer: The Horus Heresy, Warhammer: The Old World, Middle-earth™ Strategy Battle Game, Necromunda, and Blood Bowl, mounted on an appropriately sized base. The subject of the diorama or duel should be appropriate to the background of the world in which it is set, but otherwise, there are no restrictions on the battle scene’s theme or content.
Youngbloods is exclusively open to competitors aged 12-15 years old. The Youngbloods competition is for any single miniature from the worlds of Warhammer Age of Sigmar, Warhammer 40,000, Warhammer: The Horus Heresy, Warhammer: The Old World, Middle-earth™ Strategy Battle Game, Necromunda, and Blood Bowl. The entry should be mounted on an appropriately sized base. This can be anything from a Space Marine or a Fyreslayer to a Maw-krusha or Fell Beast.
Youngbloods is a separate contest that sits alongside the main Golden Demon categories – as such, the winner of the Youngbloods competition is not eligible to compete for the Slayer Sword.
The Open Competition is for any single entry from the worlds of Warhammer Age of Sigmar, Warhammer 40,000, Warhammer: The Horus Heresy, Warhammer: The Old World, Middle-earth™ Strategy Battle Game, Necromunda, and Blood Bowl. The entry should be mounted on an appropriately sized base. This includes everything from single miniatures and vehicles to dioramas, busts, larger-scale miniatures, small armies or themed collections, and anything else not covered by the Golden Demon categories.
The Open Competition is a separate contest that sits alongside the main Golden Demon categories – as such, the winner of the Open Competition is not an eligible contender for the Slayer Sword. Additionally, the Open Competition is the only category where Games Workshop staff are eligible to enter.
Each Gold winning entry in its respective category will be judged collectively to determine which entry will be awarded the ultimate prize in miniature painting; The Slayer Sword. The winner is then awarded an actual sword. Yes, the winner is awarded with an actual sword. Yes, it’s absolutely epic.
Once you’ve picked your categories and decided which miniatures to paint, Citadel Colour has all the paints, tools, and expert advice needed to bring your vision to life. The Citadel Colour range has an incredible variety of quality paints designed specifically for miniatures. You can browse all the colours on the Citadel Colour website and app, and access loads of handy and easy-to-follow painting guides.
The Citadel Colour range has an incredible variety of quality paints designed specifically for miniatures. You can browse all the colours on the Citadel Colour website and app, and access loads of handy and easy-to-follow painting guides.
The Warhammer Community site publishes multiple daily articles packed with news and features. Get inspired by showcases of miniatures painted by fellow hobbyists, Games Workshop staff, and professional painters alike.
