Base Paint

Retributor Armour Equivalent

The gold standard for Warhammer gold — Retributor Armour delivers a warm, rich metallic base.
The closest Retributor Armour equivalent is Polished Gold (72.055) (Vallejo Game Color) (ΔE 7.3).
For the Retributor Armour equivalent Vallejo, Polished Gold (72.055) (Vallejo Game Color) (ΔE 7.3).
No close Army Painter equivalent found for Retributor Armour.

Citadel (Games Workshop) base #EDC169

Best equivalents by brand

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

Which equivalent should you pick for Retributor Armour?

The closest cross-brand equivalent to Retributor Armour in the current local catalogue is Polished Gold (72.055) from Vallejo Game Color (Delta-E 7.27).

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:

Armies using Retributor Armour

Need the paint card for Retributor Armour?
Usage, recipes, primer guidance, and painting context live on the dedicated paint page
View paint card →

Frequently asked questions

Retributor Armour 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 Polished Gold (72.055) (Delta E 7.27).

Yes, Retributor Armour 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.

The gold standard for Warhammer gold — Retributor Armour delivers a warm, rich metallic base.
The closest Retributor Armour equivalent is Polished Gold (72.055) (Vallejo Game Color) (ΔE 7.3).
For the Retributor Armour equivalent Vallejo, Polished Gold (72.055) (Vallejo Game Color) (ΔE 7.3).
No close Army Painter equivalent found for Retributor Armour.

The gold standard for Warhammer gold — Retributor Armour delivers a warm, rich metallic base.

The closest Retributor Armour equivalent is Polished Gold (72.055) (Vallejo Game Color) with Delta E 7.3. For a Retributor Armour equivalent Vallejo match, Polished Gold (72.055) (Vallejo Game Color) with Delta E 7.3 is the closest pick. No close Army Painter equivalent found for Retributor Armour.

Retributor Armour Vallejo equivalent

The closest Vallejo match is Polished Gold (72.055) (Vallejo Game Color) with Delta E 7.3.

Retributor Armour Army Painter equivalent

No Army Painter equivalent within an acceptable colour distance was found for Retributor Armour.

Retributor Armour equivalent and alternative: brand comparison

As a base paint, Retributor Armour requires specific handling that affects how any substitute performs. The colour sits in the warm orange range, with good coverage and semi-transparent opacity over noir ou brun primer ; spray GW Retributor Armour excellent.

Coverage and opacity

Retributor Armour is designed to cover primer evenly in one or two passes. Coverage is rated good, 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 noir ou brun primer ; spray GW Retributor Armour excellent. 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 warm orange mid-tone of Retributor Armour 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 warm orange 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 Retributor Armour are Agrax Earthshade (universal brown wash), Liberator Gold (gold highlight), Nuln Oil (primary wash) and Balthasar Gold (base colour). These supporting colours define how the base reads once the recipe is complete.

Agrax Earthshade, Liberator Gold, Nuln Oil and Balthasar Gold are common companions to this base. They were chosen in the original recipe because their coverage, drying speed, and finish layer in the same workflow without forcing extra corrections.

Brand comparison

  • Closest equivalent : Polished Gold (72.055) (Vallejo Game Color) – ΔE 7.3
  • Closest Vallejo option : Polished Gold (72.055) (Vallejo Game Color) – ΔE 7.3
  • Closest Army Painter option : no close Army Painter equivalent

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.