The closest equivalent to a specific Citadel paint depends on which brand you already own, since no single brand wins every match. Below are the strongest cross-brand equivalents for four of the most looked-up Citadel colors, pulled straight from the converter matching data, with the caveat that a match is a starting point for the model, not a guaranteed identical pot.
Mephiston Red equivalent
Mephiston Red is Citadel's deep true red base color, and its closest matches sit in Army Painter and Pro Acryl before Vallejo.
| Brand | Closest match | Similarity |
|---|---|---|
| Army Painter | True Blood | 86 percent |
| Pro Acryl | Bold Pyrrole Red | 91 percent |
| Two Thin Coats | Sanguine Scarlet | 91 percent |
| Vallejo | Carmine Red | 79 percent |
If you already paint in Army Painter, True Blood is close enough to use directly for most tabletop standards. Vallejo owners get a workable but slightly cooler match in Carmine Red, so expect to warm it with a touch of orange if you are matching an existing Mephiston Red army.
Rakarth Flesh equivalent
Rakarth Flesh is Citadel's pale grey-tan base, commonly used for bone, stone, and pale skin. The strongest matches land in Army Painter's grey family.
| Brand | Closest match | Similarity |
|---|---|---|
| Army Painter | Gargoyle Grey | 83 percent |
| Army Painter | Grey Castle | 83 percent |
| Vallejo | Deck Tan | 77 percent |
Both Army Painter options are close enough to swap without adjustment for bone and stone work. The Vallejo match runs slightly warmer, which reads fine for stone but can look a shade too tan next to a true grey scheme.
Mournfang Brown equivalent
Mournfang Brown is a dark red-brown, and the best matches come from Pro Acryl.
| Brand | Closest match | Similarity |
|---|---|---|
| Pro Acryl | Burnt Sienna | 88 percent |
| AK Interactive | RAL 8013 Rotbraun | 87 percent |
| Green Stuff World | Redwood Brown | 87 percent |
| Vallejo | Gory Red | 73 percent |
Vallejo does not have a strong direct match for this one. If Vallejo is your only brand, treat Gory Red as a mixing base and darken it with a touch of black or brown wash rather than using it straight from the pot.
Reikland Fleshshade equivalent
Reikland Fleshshade is Citadel's warm brown wash, used constantly for skin and wood. Pro Acryl again leads the match list.
| Brand | Closest match | Similarity |
|---|---|---|
| Pro Acryl | Dark Golden Brown | 95 percent |
| AK Interactive | Hull Red | 92 percent |
| Vallejo | Gorgon Brown | 82 percent |
Pro Acryl's Dark Golden Brown is close enough that painters switching brands for washes specifically often keep this one pairing even if they stay on Citadel for everything else.
Reading these numbers correctly
A similarity in the low nineties or higher reads as the same color at arm's length. Numbers in the high seventies to low eighties are close family matches, useful for most tabletop purposes but visible as a slight shift side by side. Below that, treat the match as a mixing starting point. For the full explanation of how these percentages are calculated, see how paint conversion actually works.
FAQ
What is the closest Vallejo paint to Mephiston Red?
Vallejo Carmine Red, at roughly 79 percent similarity, the closest same-brand-family match available in Vallejo's core range.
Is there an exact match for Rakarth Flesh in another brand?
No single brand carries an exact hex match, but Army Painter Gargoyle Grey and Grey Castle both sit close enough to use without adjustment for most painters.
Why does Mournfang Brown not have a strong Vallejo equivalent?
The two ranges were mixed independently and Vallejo's red-brown family runs warmer and more saturated than Mournfang Brown. Pro Acryl and AK Interactive happen to land closer on the color math.
Can I use these equivalents for washes and shades interchangeably?
Wash behavior depends on medium thickness as much as pigment, so treat a wash match as a starting point and test it over your actual primer before committing to a full army.