The second leg of Golden Demon 2025 is nearly here – in fact, it’s happening this weekend at SPIEL Essen.
The standard of competition at AdeptiCon was extremely high, and we’re anticipating another tough task for our judges as incredible painters from all around the world descend on Germany.
But what if you can’t attend in-person? Never fear, we’ll have the results right here on Warhammer Community! Obviously, we can’t announce the winners here before they are announced in the hall, but check back at around 5pm Central European Time (that’s 4pm in the UK, midday in New York, 8am in Los Angeles) and we’ll be showing off all the beautifully painted miniatures.
We’ll also be showing off the finalists in the weeks after the event, so there’ll be even more inspiring miniatures to feast your eyes on.
Of course, the best-of-the-best painter at Essen will also be awarded the Slayer Sword. Who knows what will take the crown this year: An insanely good Ushoran? A perfectly rendered Fulgrim? Something totally left-field like a Halfling Blood Bowl team? Maybe even something we haven’t figured out a pun for yet.
For many of us, Golden Demon is an inspiring time where the masterworks of the world's best miniature painters drive us to break out the paints, accidentally dip our brush into a fresh cup of coffee, and get painting our own models. After all, even the top painters have to start somewhere, and practice makes perfect!
And to whet your appetite and give you a little more encouragement ahead of the weekend, here’s a stroll down memory lane of the Slayer Sword winners from the last few years.
2022 – AdeptiCon and Warhammer World
The legendary painting competition returned after a short hiatus, and the Slayer Sword winner took a few people by surprise – a humble Skink by Gavin Garza. So much rich detail, vivid contrast, and laser-sharp highlighting had been fit into a tiny canvas that judges were quoted as saying it was “literally perfect”
From the smallest inhabitants of the Mortal Realms to one of the largest, Chris Clayton stunned everyone who had come to Golden Demon at Warhammer World with a titanic duel between a Kraken Eater Mega-gargant and an unlucky Kharibdyss. Thanks to a herculean conversion task, rendered gorgeously and finished off with a daring resin pour to represent the stormy seas, Chris rightfully lifted the Slayer Sword.
2023 – AdeptiCon and Warhammer Fest
In the first leg of 2023, Neil Hollis took the Slayer Sword with his rendition of Master Lazarus. Vivid non-metallic metal elements, sumptuously painted power armour, and a dazzling red cloak complete with freehand elements were all complemented by a restrained base. In an interview after the win, Neil said “... come for the experience, not the awards. Come to meet people, talk to people, ask for feedback and get better.” We couldn’t agree more.
Golden Demon at Warhammer Fest was a hotly contested event, and Warhammer Community was there to witness the endless snaking queue of visitors poring over the cabinets, and painters and gamers alike chatting about their favourite miniatures and techniques. Albert Moreto Font took the Slayer Sword for his King of the Lumineth, an immaculately painted miniature that was also an homage to decades of Warhammer history, which Albert explained was made by mixing dozens of pieces from kits old and new to create something that was unequivocally Warhammer. Fun fact – at the time of winning this was Albert’s second Slayer Sword, and he first entered the Youngbloods category in 2001!
2024 – AdeptiCon and Essen
Another year, and another mindblowing Slayer Sword winner. Alexadre Dos Santos’ diorama of Cado Ezechiar pushed the narrative angle with an entry that imagined Cado reflected in a body of water, his vampire body invisible and joined by a spectral figure casting an eerie glow on the surroundings.
The second leg of 2024 saw Dave Perryman lift the Slayer Sword for his jaw-dropping Trugg the Troggoth King. A large miniature covered with details and textures is always a daunting task, and Dave explained that he spent hundreds of hours rendering it all equally, adding in extra areas of texture for more impact. He noted after the event that the resin pour on the base was particularly nerve wracking, and that he reached out to members of the wider painting community for advice on how to approach it – some of whom he was able to meet at Golden Demon itself.
2025 – AdeptiCon and Essen
Earlier this year Borja Calvo Bertrán de Lis won the Slayer Sword at AdeptiCon for a painterly rendering of Iridan the Witness. Borja was still painting his entry in the hotel the night before entering – proof that you can never spend too long on your miniature, especially when it’s covered in dozens of individual feathers to paint. In his post-win interview, Borja mentioned that one of his favourite parts of the event was being with friends and other painters, and rooting for them to win in their respective categories.
Golden Demon Essen has yet to happen, but who will be the winner this year? Whether it’s a single immaculate figure, or a high concept diorama, we’re sure the result will be awe-inspiring.
Make sure you check back in with us on Sunday to see the winners!
And if you’ve been inspired by Golden Demon to pick up a brush and get painting again, let us know what you’re working on on our Facebook and Instagram pages
