Baal Red vs Phoenix Red

How close are they?

ΔE 11.6, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Phoenix Red is a little lighter, more muted, warmer than Baal Red. They are different kinds of paint: Citadel Baal Red is a one-coat contrast-style paint and Reaper Phoenix Red is an opaque base/layer paint, so they won’t behave the same on the model even where the colour is close.

Can I use Phoenix Red instead of Baal Red?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 12). Phoenix Red is a little lighter, more muted, warmer than Baal Red. They are different kinds of paint.

Can I use Baal Red instead of Phoenix Red?

The same difference applies the other way round: Baal Red is a little darker, more saturated, cooler.

ΔE is the colour difference between our two swatch estimates: under about 6 is close, over about 15 is loose. Real paints also differ in finish, coverage and how they thin, so test before you commit.