Paint equivalent guide

Dark Emerald Equivalent

Dark Emerald is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Dark Emerald equivalent is SC-87 Decayed Metal (Scale75) (ΔE 14.8).
No close Vallejo equivalent found for Dark Emerald.
The best Dark Emerald Army Painter equivalent is Tainted Gold (Army Painter) (ΔE 12.3).

Army Painter warpaint_fanatic_metallic #415129

Top 3 closest equivalents

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

1
SC-87 Decayed MetalScale75
ΔE 14.8significant colour distance -- test before committing
2
Tin BitzCitadel (Games Workshop)
ΔE 19.2significant colour distance -- test before committing
3
Necro GoldScale75
ΔE 19.5significant colour distance -- test before committing

Best equivalents by brand

Ranked by Delta-E CIEDE2000 · All brands · Interactive
Computing Delta-E…
Buy it now · Dark Emerald
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Direct answer

Which equivalent should you pick for Dark Emerald?

The closest cross-brand equivalent to Dark Emerald in the current local catalogue is SC-87 Decayed Metal from Scale75 (Delta-E 14.77).

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 Emerald 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.

No reliable Vallejo match appears in the current top equivalents.

Yes, Dark Emerald 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.

Dark Emerald is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Dark Emerald equivalent is SC-87 Decayed Metal (Scale75) (ΔE 14.8).
No close Vallejo equivalent found for Dark Emerald.
The best Dark Emerald Army Painter equivalent is Tainted Gold (Army Painter) (ΔE 12.3).

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

The closest Dark Emerald equivalent is SC-87 Decayed Metal (Scale75) with Delta E 14.8. No close Vallejo equivalent found for Dark Emerald. The best Dark Emerald Army Painter equivalent is Tainted Gold (Army Painter) with Delta E 12.3.

Dark Emerald Vallejo equivalent

No Vallejo equivalent within an acceptable colour distance was found for Dark Emerald.

Dark Emerald Army Painter equivalent

The best Army Painter option is Tainted Gold (Army Painter) with Delta E 12.3.

Dark Emerald equivalent and alternative: brand comparison

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

Brand comparison

  • Closest equivalent : SC-87 Decayed Metal (Scale75) – ΔE 14.8
  • Closest Vallejo option : no close Vallejo equivalent
  • Closest Army Painter option : Tainted Gold (Army Painter) – ΔE 12.3

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.