Paint equivalent guide

Imperial Navy Equivalent

Imperial Navy is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Imperial Navy equivalent is Night Lords Blue (Citadel (Games Workshop)) (ΔE 2.5).
For the Imperial Navy equivalent Vallejo, Dark Prussian Blue (70.899) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 3.6).
The best Imperial Navy Army Painter equivalent is Dark Sky (Army Painter) (ΔE 4.8).

Army Painter warpaint_fanatic #003261

Top 5 closest equivalents

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

1
Night Lords BlueCitadel (Games Workshop)
ΔE 2.5slight colour difference, well within acceptable range
2
Prussian GreenGreen Stuff World
ΔE 3.1moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
3
SC-54 Navy BlueScale75
ΔE 3.3moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
4
Dark Prussian Blue (70.899)Vallejo Model Color
ΔE 3.6moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
5
Regal BlueCitadel (Games Workshop)
ΔE 4.5moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection

Best equivalents by brand

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Direct answer

Which equivalent should you pick for Imperial Navy?

The closest cross-brand equivalent to Imperial Navy in the current local catalogue is Night Lords Blue from Citadel (Games Workshop) (Delta-E 2.54).

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

Imperial Navy 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 Dark Prussian Blue (70.899) (Delta E 3.57).

Yes, Imperial Navy 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.

Imperial Navy is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Imperial Navy equivalent is Night Lords Blue (Citadel (Games Workshop)) (ΔE 2.5).
For the Imperial Navy equivalent Vallejo, Dark Prussian Blue (70.899) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 3.6).
The best Imperial Navy Army Painter equivalent is Dark Sky (Army Painter) (ΔE 4.8).

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

The closest Imperial Navy equivalent is Night Lords Blue (Citadel (Games Workshop)) with Delta E 2.5. For a Imperial Navy equivalent Vallejo match, Dark Prussian Blue (70.899) (Vallejo Model Color) with Delta E 3.6 is the closest pick. The best Imperial Navy Army Painter equivalent is Dark Sky (Army Painter) with Delta E 4.8.

Imperial Navy Vallejo equivalent

The closest Vallejo match is Dark Prussian Blue (70.899) (Vallejo Model Color) with Delta E 3.6.

Imperial Navy Army Painter equivalent

The best Army Painter option is Dark Sky (Army Painter) with Delta E 4.8.

Imperial Navy equivalent and alternative: brand comparison

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

Brand comparison

  • Closest equivalent : Night Lords Blue (Citadel (Games Workshop)) – ΔE 2.5
  • Closest Vallejo option : Dark Prussian Blue (70.899) (Vallejo Model Color) – ΔE 3.6
  • Closest Army Painter option : Dark Sky (Army Painter) – ΔE 4.8

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.