Best Blue Paints for Ultramarines: Citadel, Vallejo, Army Painter & Alternatives

Ultramarines blue: one colour, several levels

Four levels make a blue armour readable: the shadow in the recesses, the main blue on the surface, the highlight on the raised volumes, and a lighter or blue-grey tone on the edges. Roles matter more than brands: the same pot can be a base for one painter and a shadow for another, depending on the undercoat and the rest of the palette.

A blue that is very close in HEX or ΔE can behave very differently depending on opacity, translucency, saturation, finish, formulation, undercoat and application method. That is why this guide does not crown “the best blue”: it says which blue to use for which role.

• ShadowKantor BlueCitadel · Base · #02134E
• BaseMacragge BlueCitadel · Base · #0F3D7C
• HighlightCalgar BlueCitadel · Layer · #2A497F
• EdgeFenrisian GreyCitadel · Layer · #6D94B3

These four swatches come from the ChromaStack catalogue: they show the progression, not an official recipe. The HEX values are those of the digital swatches, not measurements taken on a model.

Dark blue: shadows, depth and grimdark variants

Kantor Blue (L* 9.2) is the deepest blue in the Citadel catalogue: almost black, it suits recesses, very dark first coats and armour for night fighting. Night Lords Blue (L* 17.9) is one step lighter and cooler, useful as a dark base or as a transition towards the main blue. Both are opaque Base paints that go on in thin coats. For a very dark armour in a single coat, Talassar Blue (Contrast) sits in the same dark range, but needs a light undercoat. In the recesses, Drakenhof Nightshade remains the classic blue wash — apply it sparingly.

Among other brands, Night Lords Blue is ΔE 2.5 from both Scale75 SC-54 Navy Blue and Army Painter Imperial Navy, and ΔE 3.0 from Vallejo Model Color Dark Prussian Blue (70.899): three credible shadow options. Army Painter Dark Sky plays the same role (ΔE 3.9). Kantor Blue, on the other hand, has no close substitute: its closest option, VMC Prussian Blue (70.965), stays ΔE 7.2 away, a visible gap.

For a more realistic or grimdark palette, The Fang (L* 37.4) and Russ Grey (L* 45.6) desaturate the armour towards a flatter steel blue; the dark palette below details that approach.

Main blue: the dominant armour colour

Macragge Blue (opaque Base, L* 26.4) is the reference main blue: saturated and clean, it covers in one or two thin coats and works well as the base of a whole armour. Ultramarines Blue (Contrast, L* 27.0) covers the same ground in a translucent version, applied in one generous coat over a light undercoat. The two swatches are close (ΔE 3.5), but one is opaque and the other is not: same colour, two techniques.

To replace Macragge Blue, Army Painter Ultramarine Blue is the closest opaque option among the ranges compared here (ΔE 3.2; the catalogue flags its HEX as approximate). AK Deep Blue (ΔE 3.8) and Army Painter Regal Blue (ΔE 5.2, more saturated) complete the list. Two close options worth understanding: Talassar Blue (ΔE 2.3) and Army Painter Warpaint Blue (Speedpaint, ΔE 3.6) are very close on the swatch but translucent — great for the same colour role, not for the same technique.

Light blue: highlights and exposed volumes

Calgar Blue (opaque Layer, L* 31.3) is the reference highlight for Macragge Blue. Note that ΔE 4.1 separates the two pots — a highlight is a different tone, not a duplicate of the base. Altdorf Guard Blue (L* 32.1) plays the same role with a more saturated, slightly violet-leaning tone. Caledor Sky (L* 42.1) brings a cleaner blue for the mid-highlight, and Hoeth Blue (L* 49.6) goes one step further for broad raised volumes. These tones go on the raised areas, never in the recesses.

Several blues from other brands are very close: Army Painter Ultramarine Blue is ΔE 2.3 from Calgar Blue and ΔE 2.6 from Altdorf Guard Blue; VMC Flat Blue (70.962) is ΔE 4.7 from Calgar Blue and 4.1 from Altdorf Guard Blue. For Caledor Sky, the catalogue measures Army Painter Stratos Blue (ΔE 2.4) and VMC Ultramarine Blue (70.839) at ΔE 2.6. For Hoeth Blue, Army Painter Wolf Grey is the closest (ΔE 1.9).

Very light blue and blue-grey: the edges

Fenrisian Grey (L* 59.6) is the classic blue-grey edge tone: lighter than Hoeth Blue, it marks the edges without turning into a dirty grey. Blue Horror (L* 72.7) goes further and should be used in small touches, only on the most exposed edges. These tones sit far from Macragge Blue (ΔE 31.4 for Fenrisian Grey): that is expected, their role is not to replace the base but to make it read from a distance.

For a more realistic or grimdark look, The Fang (L* 37.4) and Russ Grey (L* 45.6) lean towards desaturated steel blue. The measured alternatives: VGC Wolf Grey (72.047) at ΔE 3.7 from Fenrisian Grey, Army Painter Runic Cobalt (ΔE 4.1) and VMC Sky Blue (70.961) (ΔE 5.1); for Blue Horror, Army Painter Frost Blue (ΔE 3.1), then Scale75 SC-05 Artic Blue (ΔE 6.4); for The Fang, Army Painter Thunderous Blue (ΔE 5.5); for Russ Grey, VGC Stormy Blue (72.018) (ΔE 6.7) and Scale75 SC-06 Bering Blue (ΔE 6.9).

Contrast and Speedpaint: painting a blue armour fast

Contrast (Citadel) and Speedpaint (Army Painter) are translucent paints designed to be applied in one generous coat over a light undercoat. They darken naturally in the recesses and let the undercoat brighten the raised areas. The result is fast and readable across an army, but less controllable than an opaque paint on large flat surfaces.

For Ultramarines armour, Ultramarines Blue (Contrast) is the direct one-coat reference; Talassar Blue goes darker; Space Wolves Grey gives a desaturated blue-grey look. For Army Painter, Warpaint Blue (Speedpaint 2.0) is ΔE 3.6 from Macragge Blue. The undercoat drives much of the result: Corax White for a neutral, bright finish, Grey Seer for a neutral light grey, Wraithbone for a slightly warmer one. For the classic opaque method, Macragge Blue Spray (ΔE 0.35 from Macragge Blue) works as a matching undercoat.

Once fully dry, a targeted opaque highlight brings definition back without repainting the whole model: Calgar Blue then Hoeth Blue on the volumes, or a light drybrush of Army Painter Wolf Grey. The limit stays the same: on a large flat surface a translucent paint is hard to correct, and opaque acrylic remains safer for centrepiece models.

Blue paints for Ultramarines: comparison table

The HEX values below come from the digital swatches in the ChromaStack catalogue: they help place a tone, not measure it on a model. For washes (Shade), the swatch represents the liquid colour, not the applied result: this is why no HEX is shown for Drakenhof Nightshade. The alternatives are indicative and take the role into account as much as the colour.

For Army Painter references, the catalogue flags an approximate HEX; this is notably the case for Ultramarine Blue, used here as an alternative for the main blue.

Classic Ultramarines palette (ChromaStack suggestion)

A five-step progression, meant as a suggested working method:

1. Undercoat: black, or Macragge Blue Spray (ΔE 0.35 from the base) to start directly in blue.
2. Base: Macragge Blue in thin coats.
3. Optional shadow: Drakenhof Nightshade in the recesses, sparingly.
4. Highlight: Calgar Blue on the raised volumes.
5. Edges: Fenrisian Grey in a thin line, possibly in two passes.

This is not an official Games Workshop recipe: it is a ChromaStack palette suggestion built on roles and catalogue data.

Dark / grimdark blue palette

For a darker, less saturated and more contrasty armour:

1. Black undercoat: Abaddon Black or a black spray.
2. Base: Night Lords Blue in thin coats, or Kantor Blue to go darker.
3. Shadows: Drakenhof Nightshade in the recesses, or heavily thinned Nuln Oil to desaturate further.
4. Highlight: The Fang on the raised volumes.
5. Edges: Russ Grey, then a touch of Fenrisian Grey on the most exposed edges.

Brand swaps: Army Painter Imperial Navy or Scale75 SC-54 Navy Blue (ΔE 2.5 from Night Lords Blue) for the base, Army Painter Thunderous Blue (ΔE 5.5 from The Fang) for the highlight.

High-brightness blue palette

For a saturated, highly readable result:

1. Light undercoat: Corax White or Grey Seer.
2. Base: Macragge Blue, or Ultramarines Blue (Contrast) in one coat for speed.
3. Broad highlight: Altdorf Guard Blue on the volumes.
4. Light highlight: Hoeth Blue on the most exposed raised areas.
5. Edges: Blue Horror in a thin line, possibly after a pass of Fenrisian Grey.

Avoid a pure white final edge: on a blue armour it reads as a washed-out grey and breaks the tone.

Fast palette: Contrast / Speedpaint

Using mostly a translucent paint:

1. Light undercoat: Corax White (or Grey Seer, or Wraithbone for a slightly warmer result).
2. One generous coat of Ultramarines Blue (Contrast), or Talassar Blue for a darker look.
3. Once fully dry, a targeted opaque highlight: Calgar Blue on the volumes, then Fenrisian Grey on the edges (or a light drybrush of Army Painter Wolf Grey).

Brand swap: Army Painter Warpaint Blue (Speedpaint 2.0, ΔE 3.6 from Macragge Blue) instead of the Contrast; Space Wolves Grey (Contrast) for a desaturated look. Honest limitation: on large flat surfaces a translucent paint gives you less control and is hard to correct; opaque acrylic remains safer for centrepiece models.

Citadel, Vallejo, Army Painter, AK: same colour, same role, same paint type?

Three different questions hide behind “which paint replaces this one?”. Same colour: the swatches are close. Same role: the paint can take the other's place in the progression. Same paint type: the paint behaves the same way (opaque, translucent, wash, spray). A replacement that ticks all three boxes is the real deal.

Real examples: Army Painter Ultramarine Blue replaces Macragge Blue on all three counts (ΔE 3.2, opaque base; HEX flagged as approximate in the catalogue). AK Deep Blue (ΔE 3.8) is a second opaque option. Conversely, Talassar Blue (ΔE 2.3) and Army Painter Warpaint Blue (ΔE 3.6) tick “same colour” and “same role” but not “same type”: they are translucent paints, not technical replacements for an opaque one. Blue Tone (wash) and Drakenhof Nightshade share the role without sharing the liquid colour. VGC Wolf Grey (72.047) at ΔE 3.7 from Fenrisian Grey) is a credible opaque replacement for edges.

A few brand-level notes, based on the ChromaStack catalogue today: Citadel (392 paints) offers a very readable Base / Layer / Shade / Contrast system for blue; Vallejo (Model Color 171 paints, Game Color 78) relies on dropper bottles and often flat blues; Army Painter (316 paints) combines opaque Warpaints and translucent Speedpaints, handy for armies; AK Interactive (487 paints) offers understated blues such as Deep Blue; Scale75 (120 paints) covers deep shadows (SC-54) and light blues (SC-05, SC-06) in a matt finish.

ChromaStack and Delta-E: picking a close colour without ignoring behaviour

ChromaStack compares catalogue swatches and calculates a CIEDE2000 ΔE between two references. The lower the ΔE, the closer the two colours look on screen. Equivalent pages show the closest matches across every brand, and the comparator lets you start from a paint you already own.

A few examples measured in this guide: Army Painter Ultramarine Blue is ΔE 3.2 from Macragge Blue and ΔE 2.3 from Calgar Blue; Scale75 SC-54 Navy Blue is 2.5 from Night Lords Blue; Macragge Blue Spray is 0.35 from Macragge Blue. Conversely, Kantor Blue has no close substitute: VMC Prussian Blue stays at ΔE 7.2, a visible gap. The most instructive case is Talassar Blue against Macragge Blue: ΔE 2.3, yet one is translucent and the other opaque — great for the same colour role, not for the same technique.

A low ΔE therefore does not guarantee the same opacity, finish, coverage or formulation. ChromaStack treats ΔE < 3 as a strong colour proximity in the catalogue data; the actual result can vary with the paint, the undercoat and the application. For a broader comparison, the paint conversion guide explains how to convert between brands, and the equivalents index lets you browse every available page.

The HEX values shown in this guide come from the catalogue's digital swatches: they are tone references, not physical measurements. For Shades, the swatch represents the liquid colour, not the applied result. A test on a model or a spare sprue remains the only reliable check.

Ultramarines and other blue armies

The Ultramarines are the running example of this guide, but the same progression works for any blue Space Marines armour. The Crimson Fists, for instance, use a darker blue than the classic Ultramarines blue: a base close to Night Lords Blue and more restrained edges work well. The method stays the same: shadow, base, highlight, edges.

This guide is part of the army painting guides: other chapters and factions are covered there with the same role-based approach.