Paint equivalent guide

STRONG DARK BLUE AK Interactive acrylic paint equivalents (#071520)

STRONG DARK BLUE is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest STRONG DARK BLUE equivalent is Chaos Black (Citadel (Games Workshop)) (ΔE 1.9).
No close Vallejo equivalent found for STRONG DARK BLUE.
For Army Painter, the closest match to STRONG DARK BLUE is The Darkness (Army Painter) (ΔE 4.6).

AK Interactive acrylic #071520
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Top 4 closest equivalents

These 4 substitutes are ranked by Delta-E accuracy. Each entry includes a behaviour comment.

1
Chaos BlackCitadel (Games Workshop)
ΔE 1.9slight colour difference, well within acceptable range
2
Leviadon BlueCitadel (Games Workshop)
ΔE 3.8moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
3
The DarknessArmy Painter
ΔE 4.6moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
4
Galaxy BlackGreen Stuff World
ΔE 6.3significant colour distance -- test before committing

Best equivalents by brand

Ranked by Delta-E CIEDE2000 · All brands · Interactive

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Direct answer

Which equivalent should you pick for STRONG DARK BLUE?

The closest cross-brand equivalent to STRONG DARK BLUE in the current local catalogue is Chaos Black from Citadel (Games Workshop) (Delta-E 1.86).

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

STRONG DARK 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.

No reliable Vallejo match appears in the current top equivalents.

Yes, STRONG DARK 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.

STRONG DARK BLUE is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest STRONG DARK BLUE equivalent is Chaos Black (Citadel (Games Workshop)) (ΔE 1.9).
No close Vallejo equivalent found for STRONG DARK BLUE.
For Army Painter, the closest match to STRONG DARK BLUE is The Darkness (Army Painter) (ΔE 4.6).

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

The closest STRONG DARK BLUE equivalent is Chaos Black (Citadel (Games Workshop)) with Delta E 1.9. No close Vallejo equivalent found for STRONG DARK BLUE. For Army Painter, the closest match to STRONG DARK BLUE is The Darkness (Army Painter) with Delta E 4.6.

STRONG DARK BLUE Vallejo equivalent

No Vallejo equivalent within an acceptable colour distance was found for STRONG DARK BLUE.

STRONG DARK BLUE Army Painter equivalent

The best Army Painter option is The Darkness (Army Painter) with Delta E 4.6.

STRONG DARK BLUE equivalent and alternative: brand comparison

As a paint, STRONG DARK BLUE requires specific handling that affects how any substitute performs. The colour sits in the near-black range.

Brand comparison

  • Closest equivalent : Chaos Black (Citadel (Games Workshop)) – ΔE 1.9
  • Closest Vallejo option : no close Vallejo equivalent
  • Closest Army Painter option : The Darkness (Army Painter) – ΔE 4.6

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.

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