Wyldwood vs Dark Shade

How close are they?

ΔE 12.9, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Dark Shade is a little lighter, cooler than Wyldwood. They are different kinds of paint: Citadel Wyldwood is a one-coat contrast-style paint and Nocturna Models Dark Shade is a wash/shade, so they won’t behave the same on the model even where the colour is close.

Can I use Dark Shade instead of Wyldwood?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 13). Dark Shade is a little lighter, cooler than Wyldwood. They are different kinds of paint.

Can I use Wyldwood instead of Dark Shade?

The same difference applies the other way round: Wyldwood is a little darker, warmer.

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.