Faber-Castell Polychromos Pencils, 24 vs Castle Art Supplies Harmonious Colored Pencils

Buy the Polychromos if you want a hard, oil-based pencil that holds a fine point, resists smudging and layers cleanly for detailed, realistic work. Buy the Harmonious set if you want a large range of soft, muted wax colors for blending, shading and mixed media. The Polychromos is the more durable pencil: its 3.8mm lead is bonded to cedar wood and rated 4.9 from about 2,300 ratings, and owners praise its lightfastness and break resistance. The Castle set rates 4.8 from about 2,190 ratings and wins on range and palette, but its soft wax cores wear down faster and smudge more.

• Choose the Polychromos if you draw fine detail, layer many thin glazes, or want pencils that keep a sharp point and resist smudging.
• Choose the Harmonious set if you want 72 soft, muted shades for blending, broad shading and mixed media at a lower cost per pencil.