Looking for an alternative to Nuln Oil (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.
Vallejo and Army Painter offer professional-quality paints at significantly lower cost. Use the equivalent above to find the exact shade.
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.
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).
Nuln Oil (shade) is a wash — it works on top of Contrast paints to deepen recesses.
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.
Nuln Oil is one of Citadel (Games Workshop)'s most recognisable paints: a neutral grey shade / wash that appears across many Warhammer schemes. A neutral grey shade / wash paint from Citadel (Games Workshop)'s Shade range. It appears frequently in Ultramarines, Blood Angels, Dark Angels and Space Wolves colour schemes. If you are looking for a reliable Nuln Oil equivalent, the comparison table above gives you the closest matches ranked by Delta-E.
Nuln Oil offers low coverage, which makes it useful for broad armour panels and repeatable base layers.
For the cleanest finish, thin it slightly: ne pas diluer — déjà très fluide.
It behaves best over tout metallic ou surface peinte before the first coat.
Typical workflows include washing and recess_shading.
Avoid using it for base_coat and large_flat_surface_flood.
Nuln Oil is a strong fit for Ultramarines, Blood Angels, Dark Angels and Space Wolves and similar colour recipes.
It pairs naturally with Leadbelcher (Métal de base), Runefang Steel (Highlight métal), Abaddon Black (Noir de référence) and Administratum Grey (Highlight / Highlight).
If you want a Nuln Oil 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.
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.