The Army Painter Challenge at LVO
The first-ever cross-system army painting competition returned in spectacular fashion at the Autumn 2025 Las Vegas Open (LVO), the largest wargaming tournament in the world. We proudly introduced The Army Painter Challenge to a global audience, uniting painters and hobbyists from all corners of the miniature painting community.
At its core, The Army Painter Challenge is a celebration of the artistry and passion behind army painting. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a hobby newcomer, painting armies brings together creativity, storytelling, and dedication—qualities that deserve recognition. With our high-performance ranges like Warpaints Air, Fanatic, and Speedpaint already fueling the creations of elite miniature painters, we saw an opportunity to bridge the competitive and artistic sides of the hobby in a spirit of friendly competition and camaraderie.
Army painting deserves the spotlight, at every level, and this competition aims to elevate the art form to new heights of creativity and inspiration.
Our very own Caleb from our Event Team was on hand to judge the armies and he was in for a treat with all of the beautiful submissions. For full rules and guidelines, check out our announcement article here.
Fantasy Skirmish
Caleb: "Kristan Larson’s entry 'Wrath of Sotek' was awesome. I loved the different dinosaurs and the character they brought to the overall unit."
Fantasy Army
Caleb: "The Fantasy Army category was hard fought with some great entries! Cory Patton's city for “Cities of Sigmar” was epic.. so much story and so many things to look at. You could spend hours. Greg's Bog Boys were amazing as well, but they got narrowly beat out by Sean Smacker's Dwarfs.. the display board, the incredible level of painting, and story took it."
Sci-Fi Skirmish
Caleb: "I absolutely loved the variety in Sci-fi Skirmish. Jason Ellis’ Ravenor Kill Team checked all the boxes for me. Very well painted, conversions galore, and the story—who doesn’t dig a Ravenor and his boys!"
Sci-Fi Army
Caleb: "With LVO’s focus on Warhammer 40K, this is the coup de grace of army categories. There were so many great entries and the hobby skills on display were awe inspiring. Ian Rosenthaler’s Cinder Host was just that good. The display board, the fire, The conversions, the fire, the painting, and, oh, did I mention the fire? I really enjoyed this entry.
All three of these entries showcased all the hobby elements, not just painting, and all would be winners at any event they went to."
Best in Show
Caleb: "Best of Show was just a step above everyone else. Tyson Koch knocked it out of the park with his Hordes 'Grymkin' entry. The display board was a movie scene put down in 4D. Yeah, I felt like I could smell the ogres, but the display board with the tasteful use of LED lighting, painting and texturing really brought you into the story.
The models were painted at a high level and the conversions were so well done I needed a Hordes expert to point them out to me."
Thank You For Making It Happen
The success of The Army Painter Challenge wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of our community and partners. A heartfelt thank you goes out to:
- The army painters who submitted their stunning creations and shared their talents.
- The team at Frontline Gaming (LVO) for giving us the platform to host this amazing event.
- Our friends at Best Coast Pairings, who developed a custom app for scoring and judging entries.
We couldn’t have done it without you!
The Future of The Army Painter Challenge
While the details of the next event are still taking shape, one thing is certain: The Army Painter Challenge will return—bigger, better, and more inspiring than ever before. We’re exploring opportunities to host additional events, expand categories, and reach even more army painters around the world.
Until then, keep those brushes moving and share your masterpieces using #TheArmyPainterChallenge. Your work could be the inspiration for the next generation of army painters!
See All The Amazing Entries at the Links Below
