In our How to Paint Everything series, we take a look at different armies of the Warhammer universe, examine their history and heraldry, and look at several different methods for painting them. Today we take a look at the Craftworld Saim-Hann. If you think “red ones go fasta” but want something more refined than filthy greenskins, then read on to learn how to paint the Wilder Riders of the Aeldari!

Who are Craftworld Saim-Hann?

Known as the Wild Host, the Aeldari of Craftworld Saim-Hann are among the most impetuous and unpredictable of the Asuryani, with a strong predilection for jetbikes and going fast. Among the first Craftworlds to abandon what would become the Eye of Terror before the Fall, they seem more care-free than many of their brethren, unburdened from the rage that consumes Biel-Tan and far less concerned with the fate of the galaxy than the seers of Ulthwe.

The culture of Saim-Hann is one of distinct clans that vie for status in a ritualistic warrior culture, with most disputes settled from the saddle of a jetbike rather than through discourse. Often seen by fellow Craftworlds as the most savage and barbaric of their kin, they are nonetheless bound by strong traditions of honor and kinship and will often ally with other Craftworlds as well as Exodites and Harlequins.

Saim-Hann Wild Host Credit: Games Workshop

Like most of the Asuryani, the rise of the Ynnari has created rifts within their society, with some pledging themselves to the newly born God of the Dead while others see Ynnead as a portent of their people’s doom. Already fiercely independent, Saim-Hann have become ever more fractured in a galaxy split by the Cicatrix Maledictum.

Where to Read More

There’s not a ton of Eldar fiction and what does exist isn’t great, but there’s a few nuggets here and there. Gav Thorpe writes most Eldar novels, but he’s a mediocre at best author. The most recent Ynnari novel, Rise of the Ynnari: Wild Rider, features Craftworld Saim-Hann heavily and provides some insights into the various clans and their rivalries and traditions. It’s not a particularly good book but it isn’t terrible.

There’s a short story called First to Hunt that was a tie-in for Deathwatch: Overkill, which focuses on a White Scar Sergeant and features the Aeldari of Saim-Hann. The White Scars aren’t really that different Saim-Hann, they’re both tribal cultures that revolve around bikes, and putting them together in a story is pretty interesting. It’s a quick read so you have little to lose.

Painting Saim-Hann

A Note on Heraldry

The primary colors for Saim-Hann are red and white, as shown on the Guardian above. Additionally, black or white is often used as a secondary color to add stripes and other linear patterns to vehicles or armour, which we’ll see in our examples below. Black stripes can be used as a way to show squad designation for Jetbikes or Vypers for example and add a fun way to break up large areas of red.