Paint equivalent guide

Lilac Equivalent

LILAC is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest LILAC equivalent is Warpfiend Grey (Citadel (Games Workshop)) (ΔE 5.5).
For the LILAC equivalent Vallejo, Steel Grey (72.102) (Vallejo Game Color) (ΔE 6.4).
The best LILAC Army Painter equivalent is Deep Grey (Army Painter) (ΔE 7.7).

AK Interactive acrylic #656073

Top 3 closest equivalents

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

1
SC-16 Eclipse GreyScale75
ΔE 6.1significant colour distance -- test before committing
2
Steel Grey (72.102)Vallejo Game Color
ΔE 6.4significant colour distance -- test before committing
3
Basalt Grey (70.869)Vallejo Model Color
ΔE 8.8significant colour distance -- test before committing

Best equivalents by brand

Ranked by Delta-E CIEDE2000 · All brands · Interactive
Computing Delta-E…
Buy it now · LILAC
Compare stock and prices · LILAC
Direct answer

Which equivalent should you pick for LILAC?

The closest cross-brand equivalent to LILAC in the current local catalogue is Warpfiend Grey from Citadel (Games Workshop) (Delta-E 5.45).

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

LILAC 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 Steel Grey (72.102) (Delta E 6.39).

Yes, LILAC 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.

LILAC is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest LILAC equivalent is Warpfiend Grey (Citadel (Games Workshop)) (ΔE 5.5).
For the LILAC equivalent Vallejo, Steel Grey (72.102) (Vallejo Game Color) (ΔE 6.4).
The best LILAC Army Painter equivalent is Deep Grey (Army Painter) (ΔE 7.7).

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

The closest LILAC equivalent is Warpfiend Grey (Citadel (Games Workshop)) with Delta E 5.5. For a LILAC equivalent Vallejo match, Steel Grey (72.102) (Vallejo Game Color) with Delta E 6.4 is the closest pick. The best LILAC Army Painter equivalent is Deep Grey (Army Painter) with Delta E 7.7.

LILAC Vallejo equivalent

The closest Vallejo match is Steel Grey (72.102) (Vallejo Game Color) with Delta E 6.4.

LILAC Army Painter equivalent

The best Army Painter option is Deep Grey (Army Painter) with Delta E 7.7.

LILAC equivalent and alternative: brand comparison

As a paint, LILAC requires specific handling that affects how any substitute performs. The colour sits in the deep blue range.

Brand comparison

  • Closest equivalent : Warpfiend Grey (Citadel (Games Workshop)) – ΔE 5.5
  • Closest Vallejo option : Steel Grey (72.102) (Vallejo Game Color) – ΔE 6.4
  • Closest Army Painter option : Deep Grey (Army Painter) – ΔE 7.7

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.