Citadel (Games Workshop) · Base

Word Bearers Red Citadel (Games Workshop) base paint card (#620104)

Citadel (Games Workshop) Base #620104
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8 alternatives
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WINE RED · AK Interactive · ΔE 2.99

Khorne Red · Citadel (Games Workshop) · ΔE 1.06

Equivalents by Brand
Brand Colour Delta E Match
Citadel (Games Workshop) Khorne Red 1.06 Excellent
Citadel (Games Workshop) Doombull Brown 2.58 Good
AK Interactive WINE RED 2.99 Good
Army Painter Vampire Red 4.39 Good
Vallejo Model Color Hull Red (70.985) 4.86 Good
Scale75 Burgundy 5.59 Acceptable
Citadel (Games Workshop) Mournfang Brown 6.00 Acceptable
Vallejo Model Color Burnt Red (70.814) 6.05 Acceptable
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Word Bearers Red paint guide

Word Bearers Red Paint: Colour, Type & Equivalents

A dark, muted red with a matte finish — Word Bearers Red is the authoritative base for the hated Word Bearers.
The closest Word Bearers Red equivalent is WINE RED (AK Interactive) (ΔE 3.0).

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

Quick Equivalents

  • Closest equivalent: WINE RED (AK Interactive) – ΔE 3.0
  • Vallejo equivalent: Hull Red (70.985) (Vallejo Model Color) – ΔE 4.9
  • Army Painter equivalent: Vampire Red (Army Painter) – ΔE 4.4

How to Use Word Bearers Red

This paint is typically used for:

  • Base coat
  • Layering

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: light 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 Word Bearers Red 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 Word Bearers Red 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.

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💡 Tip

Use Word Bearers Red as your main base colour and build it up with thin, controlled coats. It has excellent coverage. It works best over a black primer. Thin it lightly. Good companion colours include Carroburg Crimson, Druchii Violet, Mephiston Red and Nuln Oil.

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

✅ Techniques
Base coat Layering
Direct answer
How should you use Word Bearers Red on miniatures?

Use Word Bearers Red as your main base colour and build it up with thin, controlled coats. It has excellent coverage. It works best over a black primer. Thin it lightly. Good companion colours include Carroburg Crimson, Druchii Violet, Mephiston Red and Nuln Oil.

  • Citadel (Games Workshop) · Base
  • Base · #620104
  • Best for Base coat, Layering
  • Pairs well with Carroburg Crimson, Druchii Violet, Mephiston Red

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.