Tidal Wave is a mid-tone vivid blue with a cool undertone. For modelling, drop to Royal Robes in the recesses and step up to Pastel Indigo on the edges, both The Army Painter paints. This color is somewhat distinctive: 1 brand offers a strong same-finish match, Citadel Talassar Blue closest at 84 percent. Cross-brand swaps are adjust-on-model territory here, useful as a starting point rather than an exact replacement.
Tidal Wave equivalents in other ranges
Tidal Wave is awkward to replace. Treat the matches below as starting points for a mix rather than straight swaps.
Closest Citadel equivalent: Citadel Talassar Blue, a near match with visible drift up close (delta E 3.2).
Best Tamiya option: Tamiya Clear Blue, a usable stand-in rather than a twin (delta E 4.5).
From Vallejo: Vallejo Fluorescent Blue, indistinguishable once dry (delta E 1.0), but it is an opaque acrylic so treat it as a color reference, not a swap.
The Two Thin Coats pick: Two Thin Coats Relic Blue, close, with a hint of drift side by side (delta E 2.0), but it is an opaque acrylic so treat it as a color reference, not a swap.
The honest caveat: Citadel Talassar Blue dries slightly more saturated than Tidal Wave, so expect recess shading and edge highlights to shift with it.
How to read the score
90+Close
80sUsable
<70Mix
Citadel
Tamiya
Vallejo
Two Thin Coats
Scale75
Monument Pro Acryl
Humbrol
Green Stuff World
Revell
About this color
Color profile
Highlight and shade ladder
Pairs well with
Try any paint in the scheme toolMatch difficulty
Found in 1 other brand with a same-finish match.
Where painters use it
Frequently asked
What is the closest equivalent to The Army Painter Tidal Wave?
The closest same-finish match is Citadel Talassar Blue at 84% color similarity.
Is Tidal Wave a one-coat paint?
Tidal Wave is a contrast paint, made to basecoat and shade in a single pass over a light primer. One coat drops color into the recesses and leaves the raised areas brighter; a second coat deepens the tone if you want it richer.
What do I highlight and shade Tidal Wave with?
Highlight Tidal Wave toward Pastel Indigo and shade it down into Royal Robes, both The Army Painter paints in the same finish family.