Color-wise this is a muted, very dark black leaning neutral. For highlights, the next step up in the Citadel range is Athonian Camoshade. Nuln Oil is a little less common: the closest same-finish match, Monument Pro Acryl Transparent Black, reaches 95 percent, and 1 other brand carries a strong same-finish alternative. Expect a close but not identical result from a swap, so check it on the model before committing a whole unit.
Nuln Oil equivalents, brand by brand
No brand clones Nuln Oil outright, but 1 range comes close enough to swap. The best candidate from each catalog:
- Closest Monument Pro Acryl equivalent: Monument Pro Acryl Transparent Black, the same color for practical purposes (delta E 1.0).
- The Army Painter's closest color: The Army Painter Grim Black, a near match with visible drift up close (delta E 2.7).
- Nearest in the AK Interactive catalog: AK Interactive Smoke Black, a usable stand-in rather than a twin (delta E 6.3).
- Best Humbrol option: Humbrol Gloss Black, close enough that batch variation matters more (delta E 1.1), but it is an opaque acrylic so treat it as a color reference, not a swap.
- From Scale75: Scale75 Black, a swap nobody spots at arm's length (delta E 1.7), but it is an opaque acrylic so treat it as a color reference, not a swap.
- Green Stuff World's closest color: Green Stuff World Black Stallion, a near match with visible drift up close (delta E 2.7), but it is an opaque acrylic so treat it as a color reference, not a swap.
We checked the Lab numbers for a hidden catch and there is none: lightness and temperature both line up, so this swap is as safe as they come.
How to read the score
90+Close
80sUsable
<70Mix
Monument Pro Acryl
Transparent Black
Payne's Grey Wash
Black Wash
Brown Grey Wash
Brown Wash
Petroleum Brown Wash
Transparent Brown
Brush-On Black
Coal Black
Satin Black
Matte Black Primer
Dark Green Brown
Dark Burgundy
Black Green
Dark Navy Blue
Dark Sea Ben
Dark Neutral Grey
The Army Painter
AK Interactive
Humbrol
Scale75
Green Stuff World
Revell
Tamiya
Vallejo
P3 Paints
About this color
Color profile
Highlight and shade ladder
Match difficulty
Found in 1 other brand with a same-finish match.
Where painters use it
Frequently asked
What is the closest equivalent to Citadel Nuln Oil?
The closest same-finish match is Monument Pro Acryl Transparent Black at 95% color similarity.
Is there a The Army Painter equivalent of Nuln Oil?
Yes. The closest The Army Painter option is Grim Black at 86%, a same-finish match.
What is Nuln Oil used for?
Nuln Oil is a wash that flows into recesses and pools in shadow. Common uses: all over grime shade; deepen recesses and panel lines.
What do I highlight and shade Nuln Oil with?
The next step up for highlighting Nuln Oil is Athonian Camoshade in the Citadel range. Nothing sits directly below it in the same lane, so reach for a wash to shade.