Paint equivalent guide

Shadow Thorn Army Painter warpaint fanatic paint equivalents (#1D425F)

Shadow Thorn is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Shadow Thorn equivalent is FLUORESCENT BLUE (AK Interactive) (ΔE 2.4).
For Vallejo, the closest match to Shadow Thorn is Dark Sea Blue (70.898) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 6.5).
For Army Painter, the closest match to Shadow Thorn is Deep Blue (Army Painter) (ΔE 4.8).

Army Painter warpaint_fanatic #1D425F

Top 5 closest equivalents

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

1
FLUORESCENT BLUEAK Interactive
ΔE 2.4slight colour difference, well within acceptable range
2
DEEP BLUEAK Interactive
ΔE 3.2moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
3
Asurmen Blue WashCitadel (Games Workshop)
ΔE 3.8moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
4
Regal BlueCitadel (Games Workshop)
ΔE 4.2moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
5
Fenrys GreyCitadel (Games Workshop)
ΔE 4.3moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection

Best equivalents by brand

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

Which equivalent should you pick for Shadow Thorn?

The closest cross-brand equivalent to Shadow Thorn in the current local catalogue is FLUORESCENT BLUE from AK Interactive (Delta-E 2.41).

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

Shadow Thorn 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 Sea Blue (70.898) (Delta E 6.49).

Yes, Shadow Thorn 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.

Shadow Thorn is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Shadow Thorn equivalent is FLUORESCENT BLUE (AK Interactive) (ΔE 2.4).
For Vallejo, the closest match to Shadow Thorn is Dark Sea Blue (70.898) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 6.5).
For Army Painter, the closest match to Shadow Thorn is Deep Blue (Army Painter) (ΔE 4.8).

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

The closest Shadow Thorn equivalent is FLUORESCENT BLUE (AK Interactive) with Delta E 2.4. For Vallejo, the closest match to Shadow Thorn is Dark Sea Blue (70.898) (Vallejo Model Color) with Delta E 6.5. For Army Painter, the closest match to Shadow Thorn is Deep Blue (Army Painter) with Delta E 4.8.

Shadow Thorn Vallejo equivalent

The closest Vallejo match is Dark Sea Blue (70.898) (Vallejo Model Color) with Delta E 6.5.

Shadow Thorn Army Painter equivalent

The best Army Painter option is Deep Blue (Army Painter) with Delta E 4.8.

Shadow Thorn equivalent and alternative: brand comparison

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

Brand comparison

  • Closest equivalent : FLUORESCENT BLUE (AK Interactive) – ΔE 2.4
  • Closest Vallejo option : Dark Sea Blue (70.898) (Vallejo Model Color) – ΔE 6.5
  • Closest Army Painter option : Deep Blue (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.