Desert Yellow: equivalents & matches

Army Painter · Warpaints Fanatic · WP3081P. The closest match in every major brand, plus highlight, shadow and complement picks, computed with the BrushForge color engine.

hex #856D45 finish matte type color family Brown

Updated 17 July 2026

Closest equivalents in other brands

ΔE2000 color distance:0-2 nearly identical2-5 close match6-10 noticeable difference10+ different color

Screen preview: paint swatches on screen are approximate: finish, lighting, night-mode filters and display calibration all change what you see. Use them to compare relative differences, then confirm with the physical paint when finish and final appearance matter.

AK Interactive

Merdc Sand (fs30277) AK11343

3rd Gen Acrylic

ΔE 0.7 · nearly identical

Flameon Caramel Brown S28

Pro Acryl Signature

ΔE 6.6 · noticeable difference

Two Thin Coats

Ranger Cloak

Wave 2

ΔE 8.1 · noticeable difference

Citadel

Catachan Flesh

Base

ΔE 8.5 · noticeable difference

Kimera Kolors

Yellow Oxide PY42

Base Set

ΔE 9.5 · noticeable difference

Similar paints

Merdc Sand (fs30277) · AK11343

AK Interactive · 3rd Gen Acrylic

Exact

Antique Gold · 85.015

Vallejo · Arte Deco

Khaki Grey · 70.880

Vallejo · Model Color

3 more similar paints, ranked live against your own collection.See them in the app →

Highlight & shadow paints

Real paints closest to the ideal first highlight and shadow for Desert Yellow, using the layering model from the BrushForge app.

Highlight · step 1 of 2

Rock Grey AK11007

AK Interactive · 3rd Gen Acrylic

The app adds a second, stronger step, a wash & glaze mode, and can pick highlights from the paints you already own. Open in the app →

Complementary paints

Opposite-hue paints that make Desert Yellow pop. Great for basing, freehand, or contrast details.

Gorgon Hide

Army Painter · Warpaints

Gelatinous Blue

Army Painter · D&D Nolzur's Marvelous Pigments

The full harmony wheel with split-complementary, triadic, analogous, and warm/cool variants lives in the app. Explore it free →

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Frequently asked questions

What is the AK Interactive equivalent of Desert Yellow?

The closest AK Interactive match for Army Painter Desert Yellow is Merdc Sand (fs30277) (AK11343, 3rd Gen Acrylic) with a ΔE2000 distance of 0.7 (nearly identical).

What color is Desert Yellow?

Desert Yellow is a standard brown miniature paint from Army Painter (Warpaints Fanatic), code WP3081P. Its screen color is approximately #856D45 with a matte finish.