Master Grade [MG]

Master Grade [MG] is where Gunpla stops holding back. Bandai debuted the line in 1995, and it's still the 1/100 scale most builders mean when they say "detailed Gundam kit." Full inner frame, opening hatches on some kits, posable pilot figures, sometimes even light-up parts. Rivals Corner carries mainline MG alongside Master Grade Extreme (MGEX), Full Mechanics (FM) and MGSD sub-lines, all under one collection. Free tracked UK shipping applies on orders over £99.

 

The Grade Every Other Grade Gets Measured Against

1995 marked Master Grade's arrival, Bandai's answer to Gunpla fans who wanted more than High Grade could give. MG runs 1/100 scale with a genuine inner frame, and three decades later it's still the benchmark most builders measure other grades against. Rivals Corner's MG range spans Wing, Unicorn, Zeta Gundam, Seed and Iron-Blooded Orphans, alongside the MGEX, Full Mechanics and MGSD sub-lines that sit inside this same collection. You're not picking one Gundam. You're picking a whole shelf's worth.

Build your first MG and the part count tells you immediately this isn't High Grade. Inner frame goes together first, then armour clicks over the skeleton piece by piece. Opening hatches, posable pilot figures and, on some kits, LED-ready light units all sit inside the box. Miss a frame step here and it's harder to backtrack than on a smaller kit. Get it right and you've got a display piece that holds a pose under its own weight, no stand required.

Which MG earns the bench first? MGEX Strike Freedom pushes the luxury end of the line, Perfect Grade-style gimmicks squeezed into MG's 1/100 scale. Full Mechanics Gundam Aerial takes the Witch from Mercury protagonist suit and strips the complexity back a half-step without losing the inner frame. MG Zeta Gundam Ver.Ka reworks a classic through Hajime Katoki's redesign lens, the exact kit style Ver Ka fans specifically search for. r/Gunpla debates MG vs RG vs FM on a near-weekly basis, so you're stepping into an argument plenty of builders already have opinions on. Stock moves fast here too, so check availability before committing to a specific mobile suit.

New to the grading system entirely? Real Grade [RG] is the natural step before MG. Chasing the absolute top of the range? Perfect Grade goes bigger still.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does MG mean in Gundam?

MG stands for Master Grade, Bandai's 1/100 scale Gunpla line introduced in 1995. It sits above Real Grade and below Perfect Grade, built around a full inner frame, higher part counts and more articulation than smaller grades allow.

Is Master Grade the hardest Gunpla to build?

Not the hardest, that's usually Perfect Grade, but MG is a genuine step up from HG or RG. Expect more parts, a proper frame-first build order, and a longer build time. Good tools and patience matter more here than on smaller kits.

What's the difference between Full Mechanics and Master Grade?

Full Mechanics (FM) builds at the same 1/100 scale as MG but simplifies the build, a half-step up from High Grade rather than a full MG-level commitment. Both include an inner frame, but FM trims part count and gimmick complexity to keep the build faster. If you want MG's mechanical look without MG's time investment, FM is the answer.

What is Master Grade Extreme (MGEX)?

MGEX sits above standard MG, built at the same 1/100 scale but with Perfect Grade-level gimmicks folded in, think LED lighting, more complex transformations, higher part counts. Bandai launched the first MGEX in 2020 for Gunpla's 40th anniversary. It costs more than a standard MG kit, but the detail jump is real, not just marketing.

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