Base Paint

Lupercal Green Equivalent

A very dark blue-green base — Lupercal Green is the shadow colour for Sons of Horus armour.
The closest Lupercal Green equivalent is ARCHAIC/OLD TURQUOISE (AK Interactive) (ΔE 4.0).
For the Lupercal Green equivalent Vallejo, Black Green (70.980) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 7.0).
The best Lupercal Green Army Painter equivalent is Scarab Green (Army Painter) (ΔE 7.8).

Citadel (Games Workshop) base #002C2B

Top 3 closest equivalents

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

1
ARCHAIC/OLD TURQUOISEAK Interactive
ΔE 4.0moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
2
OCEAN BLUEAK Interactive
ΔE 5.9moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
3
IJN D1 Deep Green BlackAK Interactive
ΔE 6.1significant colour distance -- test before committing

Best equivalents by brand

Ranked by Delta-E CIEDE2000 · All brands · Interactive
Computing Delta-E…
Buy it now · Lupercal Green
Compare stock and prices · Lupercal Green
Direct answer

Which equivalent should you pick for Lupercal Green?

The closest cross-brand equivalent to Lupercal Green in the current local catalogue is ARCHAIC/OLD TURQUOISE from AK Interactive (Delta-E 4.04).

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

Lupercal Green is a base paint from Citadel (Games Workshop). 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 Black Green (70.980) (Delta E 6.98).

Yes, Lupercal Green is currently part of the Citadel (Games Workshop) 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.

A very dark blue-green base — Lupercal Green is the shadow colour for Sons of Horus armour.
The closest Lupercal Green equivalent is ARCHAIC/OLD TURQUOISE (AK Interactive) (ΔE 4.0).
For the Lupercal Green equivalent Vallejo, Black Green (70.980) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 7.0).
The best Lupercal Green Army Painter equivalent is Scarab Green (Army Painter) (ΔE 7.8).

A very dark blue-green base — Lupercal Green is the shadow colour for Sons of Horus armour.

The closest Lupercal Green equivalent is ARCHAIC/OLD TURQUOISE (AK Interactive) with Delta E 4.0. For a Lupercal Green equivalent Vallejo match, Black Green (70.980) (Vallejo Model Color) with Delta E 7.0 is the closest pick. The best Lupercal Green Army Painter equivalent is Scarab Green (Army Painter) with Delta E 7.8.

Lupercal Green Vallejo equivalent

The closest Vallejo match is Black Green (70.980) (Vallejo Model Color) with Delta E 7.0.

Lupercal Green Army Painter equivalent

The best Army Painter option is Scarab Green (Army Painter) with Delta E 7.8.

Lupercal Green equivalent and alternative: brand comparison

As a base paint, Lupercal Green requires specific handling that affects how any substitute performs. The colour sits in the near-black range, with reliable coverage and stable opacity over the primer already used in your recipe.

Coverage and opacity

Lupercal Green is designed to cover primer evenly in one or two passes. Coverage is rated reliable, so a substitute that falls below this threshold will require extra coats to block the undercolour. Test the replacement over the same primer — a base that shifts tone with each coat can alter the entire highlight stack.

Primer and application

This base paint performs best over the primer already used in your recipe. A substitute that behaves well over a light primer may struggle over black or grey, especially if its opacity is lower. Apply two thin coats, letting each dry fully before the next.

Layer compatibility

The near-black mid-tone of Lupercal Green anchors the layers above it. A replacement that dries glossier or rougher will change how shade and layer paints adhere.

Saturation and colour drift

Base paints carry more pigment than other types, so even a near-black substitute with a close Delta-E can read warmer or cooler once shaded. Run a complete test: prime, base, shade, and highlight before committing.

Companion palette

The most useful partners for Lupercal Green are matching washes, mid-tones, and highlights. These supporting colours define how the base reads once the recipe is complete.

Brand comparison

  • Closest equivalent : ARCHAIC/OLD TURQUOISE (AK Interactive) – ΔE 4.0
  • Closest Vallejo option : Black Green (70.980) (Vallejo Model Color) – ΔE 7.0
  • Closest Army Painter option : Scarab Green (Army Painter) – ΔE 7.8

A base 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 base paint substitute reliable on an actual miniature.

That combination of colour distance, finish, and recipe context is what makes a substitute reliable on an actual miniature.

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 too, because a near match can still push the finished model warmer, colder, flatter, or glossier than expected.

That is why the page keeps the recommendation anchored to painting workflow instead of treating Delta-E alone as the final decision.

A useful equivalent page should also reduce buying mistakes: the closer colour is not always the safer option if the bottle dries glossier, covers faster, or behaves differently on large armour panels.