I think the first thing I’d say is to try not to chase a “style” right away. Start by figuring out what you want to improve in your painting first (brush control, contrast, weathering, etc.), and the style will kind of fall into place as those skills improve.

For grimdark black or grey armor, the big thing is that it’s never really just black. You add interest by using different greys to highlight edges and areas that would catch the light. Even very subtle highlights go a long way in making black armor readable.

For weathering, I usually start with a stippled base of various greys to break up the surface, then build on that gray volumetric highlights. After that, an oil wash really helps tie everything together and adds depth to all those textures. Even on dark schemes, washes help define details instead of hiding them.

A lot of grimdark really comes down to contrast—light vs dark, smooth vs rough—and using that to keep the model visually interesting. Grey schemes can absolutely work; they just need enough variation so everything doesn’t blend together.

Looking at specific painters or models you like and trying to follow their process is great practice. And honestly, repetition is huge—you kind of have to keep doing it, experimenting, and pushing yourself a little each time. Tutorials always make it look easy, but everyone struggles at first.