In this video I do the popular thing: a Contrast-type paints tier list. But the real objective isn’t the tier list itself—it’s giving you a controlled, side-by-side guide so you can pick the range that actually fits your painting style. I test the big players using the same pigment (blue equivalents) to keep things fair, and I focus on the properties that matter in real hobby use: open working time, flow, texture vs smoothness, finish (satin vs matte), and how each paint behaves when you start mixing it with water. I run three main practical tests: a textured tile card to see texture pickup and drying/finish, a water-mixing test (wash, glaze, feather) to check consistency and coffee staining, and a brutal smoothness stress test on flat Space Marine shoulder pads—because there’s nowhere to hide mistakes there. My takeaways are pretty clear: if you want maximum texture, Citadel (and AK) deliver; if you want super smooth, matte results, Speedpaint and Express shine. For water work and advanced glazing, Express is the clear winner for me, while Citadel remains the king of feathering. At the end I give my subjective tier list (with the disclaimer that I helped develop Express): Citadel gets a C, Speedpaint 2.0 gets an A, Express gets an A+, and AK Quick Gen lands around a C for my personal workflow—workable, but not my preferred feel on flat panels.