Paint equivalent guide

Caliban Green

Citadel (Games Workshop) base #003D15
#003D15

Looking for an alternative to Caliban Green (Citadel (Games Workshop))? Whether you want a cheaper option, a dropper-bottle format, or simply a paint that's in stock — this page ranks every equivalent by Delta-E CIEDE2000 colorimetric accuracy, the international standard for colour difference measurement.

Best equivalents by brand

Ranked by Delta-E CIEDE2000 · All brands · Interactive
ΔE < 3 — Direct substitution
ΔE 3-6 — Acceptable
ΔE > 6 — Noticeable difference
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Computing Delta-E…

💡 Save 30-40% vs Citadel

Vallejo and Army Painter offer professional-quality paints at significantly lower cost. Use the equivalent above to find the exact shade.

How Delta-E works

Delta-E CIEDE2000 is the international standard for measuring colour differences, used in printing, textile and industrial colour matching. ChromaStack applies it to miniature paints — converting each hex colour to the LAB colour space and calculating perceptual distance. A ΔE below 3 means the difference is imperceptible on a painted miniature. A ΔE above 10 means the colours are clearly different and substitution is not recommended.

Armies using Caliban Green

Caliban Green — Full paint card
Techniques · Triads · Compatible armies
View full card →

Frequently asked questions

The closest Vallejo equivalent is shown in the comparison table above, ranked by Delta-E CIEDE2000. A ΔE below 3 means the difference is quasi-imperceptible on a finished miniature. Both Vallejo Model Color and Vallejo Game Color ranges are covered.

Yes — Vallejo (17ml dropper bottle, ~€2.90) and Army Painter (~€3.50) are typically 50-57% cheaper than Citadel (12ml pot, ~€4.80) while offering comparable quality. The price-per-ml is significantly lower, especially for Vallejo (€0.17/ml vs €0.40/ml for Citadel).

Caliban Green (base) is a base coat — it works as an excellent primer layer for Contrast paints when applied over a suitable primer.

Delta-E CIEDE2000 is the international colour science standard. ChromaStack converts each paint's hex colour to the CIELAB perceptual colour space and measures the Euclidean distance. ΔE <1 = invisible difference · ΔE 1-3 = subtle · ΔE 3-6 = acceptable substitution · ΔE >10 = not recommended. Note that paint finish (matte/satin/gloss) is not factored in.

Caliban Green is one of Citadel (Games Workshop)'s most recognisable paints: a deep green base that appears across many Warhammer schemes. A deep green base paint from Citadel (Games Workshop)'s Base range. It appears frequently in Dark Angels, Salamanders, Sautekh Dynasty and Nihilakh Dynasty colour schemes. If you are looking for a reliable Caliban Green equivalent, the comparison table above gives you the closest matches ranked by Delta-E.

How to use Caliban Green

Caliban Green offers excellent coverage, which makes it useful for broad armour panels and repeatable base layers.

For the cleanest finish, thin it slightly: légère.

It behaves best over noir primer pour saturation maximale before the first coat.

Typical workflows include basecoating and layering.

Avoid using it for NMM effects and drybrushing_as_base.

When to use this colour

Caliban Green is a strong fit for Dark Angels, Salamanders, Sautekh Dynasty and Nihilakh Dynasty and similar colour recipes.

It pairs naturally with Biel-Tan Green (Shade vert), Warboss Green (Highlight / Highlight), Moot Green (Highlight / Highlight) and Agrax Earthshade (Shade brun universel).

Caliban Green equivalents

If you want a Caliban Green equivalent to save money, switch bottle format, or find a better-stocked range, compare the Delta-E scores above. A lower score means a closer colour match on the finished miniature.

Always test substitutes when finish, opacity, or flow matter to your recipe.

Tips from experienced painters

Frequently asked questions

Use the Delta-E table above to compare the closest Vallejo, Army Painter, and other cross-brand alternatives.

Work in thin coats, follow the usage notes on the page, and adapt the primer and thinning to your project.