Shadow Grey
Base
Search paints, armies, and guides at the same time.
Tidal Blue is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Tidal Blue equivalent is Shadow Grey (Citadel (Games Workshop)) (ΔE 0.8).
For the Tidal Blue equivalent Vallejo, Deep Sky Blue (70.844) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 4.7).
The best Tidal Blue Army Painter equivalent is Stratos Blue (Army Painter) (ΔE 6.0).
These 5 substitutes are ranked by Delta-E accuracy. Each entry includes a behaviour comment.
The closest cross-brand equivalent to Tidal Blue in the current local catalogue is Shadow Grey from Citadel (Games Workshop) (Delta-E 0.78).
Matches are computed from the local paint catalogue with Delta-E CIEDE2000. Lower values mean a closer visual match on the miniature.
Finish, opacity, flow, and bottle format are not captured by Delta-E alone. Test the substitute if the recipe relies on a specific behaviour.
Before adopting a substitute, check these points specific to this base paint:
Tidal 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 Deep Sky Blue (70.844) (Delta E 4.69).
Yes, Tidal 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.
Tidal Blue is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Tidal Blue equivalent is Shadow Grey (Citadel (Games Workshop)) (ΔE 0.8).
For the Tidal Blue equivalent Vallejo, Deep Sky Blue (70.844) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 4.7).
The best Tidal Blue Army Painter equivalent is Stratos Blue (Army Painter) (ΔE 6.0).
Tidal Blue is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Tidal Blue equivalent is Shadow Grey (Citadel (Games Workshop)) with Delta E 0.8. For a Tidal Blue equivalent Vallejo match, Deep Sky Blue (70.844) (Vallejo Model Color) with Delta E 4.7 is the closest pick. The best Tidal Blue Army Painter equivalent is Stratos Blue (Army Painter) with Delta E 6.0.
The closest Vallejo match is Deep Sky Blue (70.844) (Vallejo Model Color) with Delta E 4.7.
The best Army Painter option is Stratos Blue (Army Painter) with Delta E 6.0.
As a paint, Tidal Blue requires specific handling that affects how any substitute performs. The colour sits in the teal range.
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.