Method
This summary is built from the local usage notes, structured paint detail data, and the same Delta-E matching system used across ChromaStack.
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| Brand | Colour | Delta E | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citadel (Games Workshop) | Baal Red Wash | 0.84 | Excellent |
| 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 |
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.
This paint is typically used for:
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.
Consider the following when working with this paint:
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.
For best results with Word Bearers Red on Warhammer and other miniature projects:
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.
Choosing the right Word Bearers Red equivalent ensures consistent results across your painting workflow. Use this page as a paint conversion chart to compare the Vallejo equivalent, the Army Painter equivalent, and other close options before committing to a full army.
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.
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.
This summary is built from the local usage notes, structured paint detail data, and the same Delta-E matching system used across ChromaStack.
Do not force the basecoat into an NMM-style finish. It behaves much better in a standard layered workflow.