Paint equivalent guide

Crystal Blue Equivalent

Crystal Blue is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Crystal Blue equivalent is Enchanted Blue (Citadel (Games Workshop)) (ΔE 2.4).
For the Crystal Blue equivalent Vallejo, Medium Blue (70.963) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 2.8).
The best Crystal Blue Army Painter equivalent is Electric Blue (Army Painter) (ΔE 6.3).

Army Painter warpaint_fanatic #006DBF

Top 5 closest equivalents

These 5 substitutes are ranked by Delta-E accuracy. Each entry includes a behaviour comment.

1
Enchanted BlueCitadel (Games Workshop)
ΔE 2.4slight colour difference, well within acceptable range
2
Ultramarines Blue FoundationCitadel (Games Workshop)
ΔE 2.7slight colour difference, well within acceptable range
3
Medium Blue (70.963)Vallejo Model Color
ΔE 2.8slight colour difference, well within acceptable range
4
Deep Sky Blue (70.844)Vallejo Model Color
ΔE 3.7moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
5
Teclis BlueCitadel (Games Workshop)
ΔE 4.2moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection

Best equivalents by brand

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

Which equivalent should you pick for Crystal Blue?

The closest cross-brand equivalent to Crystal Blue in the current local catalogue is Enchanted Blue from Citadel (Games Workshop) (Delta-E 2.38).

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

Crystal Blue is a paint from Army Painter. 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 Medium Blue (70.963) (Delta E 2.83).

Yes, Crystal Blue is currently part of the Army Painter 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.

Crystal Blue is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Crystal Blue equivalent is Enchanted Blue (Citadel (Games Workshop)) (ΔE 2.4).
For the Crystal Blue equivalent Vallejo, Medium Blue (70.963) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 2.8).
The best Crystal Blue Army Painter equivalent is Electric Blue (Army Painter) (ΔE 6.3).

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

The closest Crystal Blue equivalent is Enchanted Blue (Citadel (Games Workshop)) with Delta E 2.4. For a Crystal Blue equivalent Vallejo match, Medium Blue (70.963) (Vallejo Model Color) with Delta E 2.8 is the closest pick. The best Crystal Blue Army Painter equivalent is Electric Blue (Army Painter) with Delta E 6.3.

Crystal Blue Vallejo equivalent

The closest Vallejo match is Medium Blue (70.963) (Vallejo Model Color) with Delta E 2.8.

Crystal Blue Army Painter equivalent

The best Army Painter option is Electric Blue (Army Painter) with Delta E 6.3.

Crystal Blue equivalent and alternative: brand comparison

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

Brand comparison

  • Closest equivalent : Enchanted Blue (Citadel (Games Workshop)) – ΔE 2.4
  • Closest Vallejo option : Medium Blue (70.963) (Vallejo Model Color) – ΔE 2.8
  • Closest Army Painter option : Electric Blue (Army Painter) – ΔE 6.3

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.