The Strike Freedom Gundam continues to stand as a quintessential figure in the Cosmic Era storyline of the Mobile Suit Gundam series. Its enduring popularity is evidenced by a wide array of toys, model kits, and collectibles dedicated to it. Now, this legendary mobile suit is being celebrated with a new pair of model kits that offer strikingly contrasting designs.

The MGEX 1/100 Strike Freedom Gundam [TWILIGHT COATING] and the MGEX 1/100 Strike Freedom Gundam [Midnight Coating Ver.] are the latest editions in the Master Grade Extreme lineup. These models reimagine the classic Strike Freedom Gundam with distinctive color palettes: one is adorned in pure white, while the other boasts a deep, dusky black. Previously an exclusive, the dark variant adds a touch of rarity. As these kits are set to be available soon, dedicated fans have the opportunity to secure these unique iterations of the iconic mobile suit.

Bandai’s latest release, the MGEX 1/100 Strike Freedom Gundam [TWILIGHT COATING], epitomizes the Master Grade Extreme collection. These kits are renowned for their intricate designs and sophisticated engineering, offering a more detailed and layered finish than ever before. This particular model is a revamped version of the earlier MGEX 1/100 Strike Freedom Gundam kit, originally inspired by the 2004 anime Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny. The updated model features a pearlescent white outer armor and a skeletal inner frame, accentuated with frosty blue elements on certain joints. This gives the Strike Freedom an ethereal, almost celestial look, while maintaining its signature detailed craftsmanship.

Gundam SEED Goes Black & White With New Bandai Strike Freedom Model Kits

Bandai’s MGEX 1/100 Strike Freedom Gundam [TWILIGHT COATING] is perhaps the perfect manifestation of the Master Grade Extreme line, with these kits emphasizing the usual aspects of the advanced Master Grade collectibles with layered finishes and even more complex engineering. It’s actually a redux of the previous MGEX 1/100 Strike Freedom Gundam kit, with the mobile suit design in question first seen in the 2004 anime Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny. This time, however, everything from the outer armor to the skeletal inner frame is coated in pearlescent white, though there are frosty blue parts on some of the joints. As a result, the Strike Freedom gains an almost angelic aesthetic, but the kit figure itself is just as detailed as ever.

However, it’s not the only collectible version of the mobile suit in this vein that’s about to become available for purchase, with a wider array of fans soon having the chance to buy a previously Chinese-exclusive Master Grade. Instead of white, the MGEX 1/100 Strike Freedom Gundam [Midnight Coating Ver.] has a metallic black finish, with this having both a shimmering sheen and an almost matte appearance. This is achieved through three kinds of plating, with the realistic aesthetic further enhanced by etching stickers. Previously exclusive to the Chinese market in 2023, it has the same detail and Beam Rifle weapon as the white variant, giving fans a much different look at a mobile suit that’s already had several releases and iterations. The pricing for these will be as high as 66,000 yen, or around US$430. Unfortunately, while they’ll be available by December 2025, an exact release venue besides potential events at the Gundam Base stores is currently unknown.