Citadel (Games Workshop) · Base

Corvus Black Citadel (Games Workshop) base paint card (#171314)

Citadel (Games Workshop) Base #171314
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8 alternatives
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Black Stallion · Green Stuff World · ΔE 2.85

Black 6RP · AK Interactive · ΔE 2.21

Equivalents by Brand
Brand Colour Delta E Match
Green Stuff World Black Stallion 2.85 Good
Scale75 SC-01 Scalecolor Black 3.34 Good
Vallejo Model Color Black (70.950) 3.34 Good
Vallejo Model Color Glossy Black (70.861) 3.34 Good
Vallejo Game Color Black (72.051) 3.34 Good
Citadel (Games Workshop) Abaddon Black 4.65 Good
AK Interactive BLACK 5.35 Acceptable
Army Painter Matt Black 4.65 Good
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Corvus Black paint guide

Corvus Black Paint: Colour, Type & Equivalents

As a standard basecoat paint, this colour is formulated for opaque coverage over primer in one to two controlled passes. Near-black tones create deep shadows, weapon bodies, and armour undercoats across every miniature project.
The closest Corvus Black equivalent is Black Stallion (Green Stuff World) (ΔE 2.9).

Corvus Black is a base from Citadel (Games Workshop), commonly used for armour plates, cloth, and trim work.

Quick Equivalents

  • Closest equivalent: Black Stallion (Green Stuff World) – ΔE 2.9
  • Vallejo equivalent: Black (72.051) (Vallejo Game Color) – ΔE 3.3
  • Army Painter equivalent: Matt Black (Army Painter) – ΔE 4.7

How to Use Corvus Black

This paint is typically used for:

  • Base coat
  • Lining

Apply it over a suitable primer and build layers gradually. Coverage sits around strong, so two thin coats usually give a more stable finish than one heavy pass, especially over a dark primer.

Paint Behavior and Tips

Consider the following when working with this paint:

  • Coverage: strong — affects how many coats are needed over primer
  • Dilution: minimal thinning — keeping the right ratio maintains flow and prevents brushmarks
  • Interaction with washes and highlights: always run a highlight pass to verify the tone does not shift after drying

A good equivalent should remain stable after shading and highlighting. Test this alternative on the same primer and in the same recipe before switching a whole unit.

Miniature Painting Tips

For best results with Corvus Black on Warhammer and other miniature projects:

  • Use the same primer across the project to keep tonal consistency
  • Test on a spare part before applying to a full unit
  • Compare after shading and highlights, not just the base coat

Even small differences can become visible on a finished miniature. This match may behave differently on textured surfaces like cloth, fur, and metal trim once the full recipe is applied.

Conclusion

Choosing the right Corvus Black equivalent or substitute keeps your scheme consistent from the test model to the full army. Use this comparison to weigh the closest Vallejo, Army Painter, and other cross-brand options before repainting a whole squad.

A useful paint guide should connect colour accuracy, handling, and recipe context in one place.

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💡 Tip

Use Corvus Black as your main base colour and build it up with thin, controlled coats. It has excellent coverage. It works best over most primers. Thin it barely at all. Good companion colours include Administratum Grey, Nuln Oil, Eshin Grey and Dawnstone.

Do not force the basecoat into an NMM-style finish. It behaves much better in a standard layered workflow.

✅ Techniques
Base coat Lining
Direct answer
How should you use Corvus Black on miniatures?

Use Corvus Black as your main base colour and build it up with thin, controlled coats. It has excellent coverage. It works best over most primers. Thin it barely at all. Good companion colours include Administratum Grey, Nuln Oil, Eshin Grey and Dawnstone.

  • Citadel (Games Workshop) · Base
  • Base · #171314
  • Best for Base coat, Lining
  • Pairs well with Administratum Grey, Nuln Oil, Eshin Grey

Method

This summary is built from the local usage notes, structured paint detail data, and the same Delta-E matching system used across ChromaStack.

Limits

Do not force the basecoat into an NMM-style finish. It behaves much better in a standard layered workflow.