Master Grade (MG 1/100)

Master Grade (MG) is a line of Gunpla kits that debuted in 1995 as part of the Gundam 15th Anniversary project.

Master Grade kits differ from other 1/100 scale Gunpla, with their level of detail, articulation, and proportions being second only to the Perfect Grade line. A majority of MG kits feature a skeletal inner frame with working hydraulics, some also accommodate Gunpla LED Units for light-up gimmicks. To give viewers a perspective of the Mobile Suit’s size, many MG kits come with 1/100 scale figurines of the pilots or key characters of their respective series. In addition, some kits include 1/20 scale character figures.

Beginning in 2002, veteran mecha designer Hajime Katoki began redesigning various Mobile Suits and releasing them in the Master Grade line under the label of “Ver.Ka” (Version Katoki). Some of the Ver.Ka kits were produced as a result of annual fan votes. In addition, many Mobile Suits from the Universal Century and Cosmic Era timelines have received redesigns under the monikers “Ver.1.5”, “Ver.2.0”, “Ver.3.0”, and “Ver.RM”.

In 2020, Bandai created a new sub-line Master Grade Extreme (MGEX), which features “Extreme Points”, additional gimmicks that exaggerate key points of the featured Gundam using custom lighting units, a completely gold washed inner frame or other methods to strongly highlight the uniqueness of the Gundam. The sub-line also has its own Ver.Ka kits, with the first in the line being a Ver Ka.

Master Grade 1995-2024

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Master Grade “Ver. Ka” 2002-2024

Beginning in 2002, veteran mecha designer Hajime Katoki began redesigning various Mobile Suits and releasing them in the Master Grade line under the label of “Ver.Ka” (Version Katoki). Some of the Ver.Ka kits were produced as a result of annual fan votes.

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Master Grade Extreme 2020-2022

On June 2020, news of Bandai registering a new trademark called Master Grade Extreme (MGEX) surfaced. Later on, it was officially announced to be a new sub-line as part of the Gunpla 40th Anniversary celebration. The marketing states that kits in this line will have “Extreme Points” which will apparently vary between releases. The sub-line has its own “Ver. Ka” kits. Released in September 2020, the first kit was the MGEX RX-0 Unicorn Gundam (Ver. Ka).

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Following the reorganization of Bandai Namco Group, box covers of reissue and future release of kits from September 2018 onward feature a blue Bandai logo instead of the original red logo.