Master Grade (MG) Gunpla: What You Get at 1/100

A Master Grade (MG) kit is Bandai’s 1/100 scale Gunpla line: larger than High Grade and Real Grade, with more parts and, on recent kits, a movable inner frame under the armor. It takes longer and costs more than an HG, so Gunpla 101 suggests building a few other kits before your first MG.

Bandai introduced Master Grade in 1995, according to Wikipedia and Gunpla 101. Wikipedia describes the line as designed to higher standards than most other models, taking longer to build and often costing more than lower grades.

What you get in a Master Grade

Wikipedia lists what recent Master Grade kits typically include: a movable inner frame that allows extensive movement and bending of joints, and small standing and seated figures of the pilot. At 1/100 the parts are larger than on a 1/144 kit, so mechanical detail is easier to see and to handle.

The build follows the same steps as any Gunpla kit, only with more of them:

1. Build the inner frame, limb by limb.
2. Add the armor panels over the frame.
3. Attach weapons, hands and accessories.
4. Apply the decals, which are usually more numerous than on an HG.

How hard is an MG?

Harder than an HG, mainly because of length. Gunpla 101 notes that the line has improved over time and that recent Master Grades are easier to make look good than older ones, but it still recommends a few builds first. Compared with Real Grade, the parts are bigger, so many builders find an MG easier on the eyes and fingers even when the part count is similar.

Wikipedia also notes that older Master Grades have been redesigned as “Ver.2.0” kits with better articulation and a full inner frame. If a suit comes in several versions, the newer one is usually the better build.

Master Grade (MG) 1/100 kits

Shop master Grade (MG) 1/100 kits→

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Ver.Ka, MGEX and MGSD

Bandai lists three related lines on its site:

The descriptions draw on Bandai’s own pages for each line and on Wikipedia. MGSD kits are not 1/100; they are covered with the other small kits in our SD Gundam guide.

What the MG range covers

Bandai’s Master Grade page filters by series, from the original Mobile Suit Gundam, Zeta Gundam and Gundam Sentinel to Gundam SEED, Gundam 00, Gundam Unicorn, Iron-Blooded Orphans and Gundam SEED Freedom. Recent and upcoming entries on that page include the MG Gundam Vidar (March 2025), MG Gundam Barbatos Lupus (November 2025) and MG Gundam Liberty Astray Red Frame (December 2026).

As with the other grades, some MG kits are limited editions sold through Bandai’s online shop or Gundam Base stores, often in clear or special colors. A general-release kit is usually easier to find.

Planning an MG build

An MG is easier when you break it into sessions. A practical plan:

• One limb per session. Build each leg or arm frame, then its armor, before moving on.
• Bag the runners you have finished with, so the table holds only what the current step needs.
• Keep leftover and optional parts in a bag; you may want them for a different pose or weapon setup later.

Is an MG right for you?

Choose a Master Grade if you have built a few High Grade kits, want a bigger model with visible mechanical detail, and are happy to spend several sessions on one build. If you want the same look on a smaller shelf, read about Real Grade. If you want the largest and most complex kits Bandai makes, read about Perfect Grade.

A finished MG deserves a clean finish: trim nub marks with sanding sticks, panel line the recesses, and add a top coat to seal the decals. For the whole ladder of grades, start at Gunpla grades explained.