Paint equivalent guide

Dark Sea Blue Equivalent

Dark Sea Blue is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Dark Sea Blue equivalent is Scarab Green (Army Painter) (ΔE 3.6).
For the Dark Sea Blue equivalent Vallejo, Coal Black (72.053) (Vallejo Game Color) (ΔE 3.9).
The best Dark Sea Blue Army Painter equivalent is Scarab Green (Army Painter) (ΔE 3.6).

AK Interactive lacquer #2B4149

Top 3 closest equivalents

These 3 substitutes are ranked by Delta-E accuracy. Each entry includes a behaviour comment.

1
Scarab GreenArmy Painter
ΔE 3.6moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
2
Coal Black (72.053)Vallejo Game Color
ΔE 3.9moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
3
Mechanicus Standard GreyCitadel (Games Workshop)
ΔE 4.3moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection

Best equivalents by brand

Ranked by Delta-E CIEDE2000 · All brands · Interactive
Computing Delta-E…
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Direct answer

Which equivalent should you pick for Dark Sea Blue?

The closest cross-brand equivalent to Dark Sea Blue in the current local catalogue is Scarab Green from Army Painter (Delta-E 3.65).

Method

Matches are computed from the local paint catalogue with Delta-E CIEDE2000. Lower values mean a closer visual match on the miniature.

Limits

Finish, opacity, flow, and bottle format are not captured by Delta-E alone. Test the substitute if the recipe relies on a specific behaviour.

What to check before replacing this base

Before adopting a substitute, check these points specific to this base paint:

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Frequently asked questions

Dark Sea Blue is a paint from AK Interactive. Its specific pigment load, drying behaviour, and finish set it apart from other paints in the same category, which is why a direct substitute needs to match more than just the colour value.

The closest Vallejo option is Coal Black (72.053) (Delta E 3.94).

Yes, Dark Sea Blue is currently part of the AK Interactive range. Check local stock or equivalent alternatives if the pot is hard to source.

Check Delta-E, finish type, coverage, opacity, and behaviour over your chosen primer. Run a full test with one shade and one highlight pass before applying the substitute to an entire unit.

Dark Sea Blue is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Dark Sea Blue equivalent is Scarab Green (Army Painter) (ΔE 3.6).
For the Dark Sea Blue equivalent Vallejo, Coal Black (72.053) (Vallejo Game Color) (ΔE 3.9).
The best Dark Sea Blue Army Painter equivalent is Scarab Green (Army Painter) (ΔE 3.6).

Dark Sea Blue is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.

The closest Dark Sea Blue equivalent is Scarab Green (Army Painter) with Delta E 3.6. For a Dark Sea Blue equivalent Vallejo match, Coal Black (72.053) (Vallejo Game Color) with Delta E 3.9 is the closest pick. The best Dark Sea Blue Army Painter equivalent is Scarab Green (Army Painter) with Delta E 3.6.

Dark Sea Blue Vallejo equivalent

The closest Vallejo match is Coal Black (72.053) (Vallejo Game Color) with Delta E 3.9.

Dark Sea Blue Army Painter equivalent

The best Army Painter option is Scarab Green (Army Painter) with Delta E 3.6.

Dark Sea Blue equivalent and alternative: brand comparison

As a paint, Dark Sea Blue requires specific handling that affects how any substitute performs. The colour sits in the teal range.

Brand comparison

  • Closest equivalent : Scarab Green (Army Painter) – ΔE 3.6
  • Closest Vallejo option : Coal Black (72.053) (Vallejo Game Color) – ΔE 3.9
  • Closest Army Painter option : Scarab Green (Army Painter) – ΔE 3.6

A paint substitute only becomes trustworthy once it survives the same primer, shade, and highlight sequence as the original recipe.

Looking at the surrounding palette matters because a near match can still push the finished model warmer, colder, or flatter than expected.

That combination of colour distance, finish, and recipe context is what makes a paint substitute reliable on an actual miniature.