Paint equivalent guide

Nato Black (3Rd Gen) Equivalent

NATO Black (3rd Gen) is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest NATO Black (3rd Gen) equivalent is Black Legion (Citadel (Games Workshop)) (ΔE 1.7).
For the NATO Black (3rd Gen) equivalent Vallejo, Black (70.950) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 4.4).
The best NATO Black (3rd Gen) Army Painter equivalent is Brigandine Brown (Army Painter) (ΔE 8.3).

AK Interactive acrylic #282828

Best equivalents by brand

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Direct answer

Which equivalent should you pick for NATO Black (3rd Gen)?

The closest cross-brand equivalent to NATO Black (3rd Gen) in the current local catalogue is Black Legion from Citadel (Games Workshop) (Delta-E 1.73).

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

NATO Black (3rd Gen) 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 Black (70.950) (Delta E 4.40).

Yes, NATO Black (3rd Gen) 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.

NATO Black (3rd Gen) is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest NATO Black (3rd Gen) equivalent is Black Legion (Citadel (Games Workshop)) (ΔE 1.7).
For the NATO Black (3rd Gen) equivalent Vallejo, Black (70.950) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 4.4).
The best NATO Black (3rd Gen) Army Painter equivalent is Brigandine Brown (Army Painter) (ΔE 8.3).

NATO Black (3rd Gen) is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.

The closest NATO Black (3rd Gen) equivalent is Black Legion (Citadel (Games Workshop)) with Delta E 1.7. For a NATO Black (3rd Gen) equivalent Vallejo match, Black (70.950) (Vallejo Model Color) with Delta E 4.4 is the closest pick. The best NATO Black (3rd Gen) Army Painter equivalent is Brigandine Brown (Army Painter) with Delta E 8.3.

NATO Black (3rd Gen) Vallejo equivalent

The closest Vallejo match is Black (70.950) (Vallejo Model Color) with Delta E 4.4.

NATO Black (3rd Gen) Army Painter equivalent

The best Army Painter option is Brigandine Brown (Army Painter) with Delta E 8.3.

NATO Black (3rd Gen) equivalent and alternative: brand comparison

As a paint, NATO Black (3rd Gen) requires specific handling that affects how any substitute performs. The colour sits in the near-black range.

Brand comparison

  • Closest equivalent : Black Legion (Citadel (Games Workshop)) – ΔE 1.7
  • Closest Vallejo option : Black (70.950) (Vallejo Model Color) – ΔE 4.4
  • Closest Army Painter option : Brigandine Brown (Army Painter) – ΔE 8.3

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.