Across all of Mobile Suit Gundam's many timelines, the standards of giant robot beauty vary. From the more conventional and realistic designs of the Universal Century to the weirder configurations of the hot-blooded Future Century, Gundams came in all sizes, shapes, and forms.

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Beauty standards are subjective, and the same is true for giant robots whose fights can decide the fate of their universe. That being said, it's easy for both veteran Gundam fans and newcomers to agree that certain mobile suits are some of best in the long-running franchise and across all mecha anime.

Updated on May 5, 2023 by Angelo Delos Trinos: The Gundam is one of the most iconic and versatile giant robots ever designed for an anime. Every time the Gundam franchise had to adapt to the anime landscape's changing trends, the titular Gundams got impressive redesigns. We've updated this list to include more recent Gundams that kept the franchise tradition strong by improving on their already amazing predecessors.

15 Gundam Aerial (Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury)

Gundam Aerial enters the dueling arena in The Witch from Mercury

One of the reasons that The Witch from Mercury clicked as fast as it did with viewers was because of Gundam Aerial. This new Gundam traded its predecessors’ bulky frame for a smoother build, but it still retained core stylistic choices. Aerial looked “friendlier” than previous Gundams, but it was still not one to be messed with.

Aerial’s design perfectly embodied The Witch from Mercury’s themes of deciding whether a Gundam was nothing but a deadly war machine, or if it could be something more. Aerial probably has an even more impressive form that fans will only see during the anime’s climax.

14 Gundam Barbatos 3rd Form (Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans)

Gundam Barbatos 3rd Form prepares to strike in Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans

The third version of Iron-Blooded Orphans' main Gundam ditched the angular designs for a rounded shape. Designed to look like a demon, Barbatos also had claws, feral hooves, and a spaded tail. A few but significant traces of gold accented the standard Gundam color palette of red, white, and blue.

Just like its namesake, Barbatos looked like the Grand Duke of Hell, right down to its "crown" and the jagged red metal that extends from its face to resemble a royal beard. All in all, these features created a true “White Devil.” Barbatos was one of the most menacing yet magnificent Gundams of the entire franchise.

13 RX-78-2 Gundam (Mobile Suit Gundam)

The RX-78-2 Gundam flies into battle in Mobile Suit Gundam

The RX-78-2 Gundam is the Gundam that started it all. Not only was it Mobile Suit Gundam's flagship mech, but it was also the one that birthed the real robot trend. The RX-78-2 may not be a catchy name, and it may look a bit outdated, but it stood the test of time to be the blueprint for all Gundams and other real robots.

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The RX-78-2's colors and instantly iconic look helped sell many toys since its inception, helping make Gundam a household name. There isn't much that can be said about the RX-78-2 that hasn't been said already, other than the fact that even those with little to no knowledge of anime could recognize it.

12 RX-79 [G] Gundam Ground Type (Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team)

A Gundam Ground Type prepares for an ambush in The 08th MS Team

Usually, the Gundam is a special mobile suit that only the main characters can pilot. Conversely, the '90s staple The 08th MS Team demystified the Gundams by turning them into mass-produced tanks. Case in point, the Gundam Ground Types. These were fairly common on the battlefield and lacked any fancy trappings.

Ironically, these Gundams became popular precisely because of how mundane they were. The Gundam Ground Type was the Gundam at its most battle-hardened and dirtiest. Despite being glorified military vehicles, the Gundam Ground Types perfectly embodied Gundam’s roots in war fiction in ways that flashier mobile suits couldn’t.

11 MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam (Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam)

The Zeta Gundam fires a missile barrage in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam

Zeta Gundam is Mobile Suit Gundam's impressive sequel. The titular Zeta Gundam did a great job of embodying a darker tone, since it was literally edgier than the original RX-78-2. It could also transform into a fighter jet, which was a cool upgrade to the Gundams.

The bulkier and heavily-armed Zeta Gundam really looked like it was built for war, and it proved itself many times in combat. Even though it wasn’t the RX-78-2’s direct successor, the Zeta Gundam was an improvement over the original.

10 Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee (Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn)

Gundam Banshee activates Destroy Mode in Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn

Gundam Unnicorn's Banshee took a departure from the usual color pattern of most Gundams because it received damage while fighting in space. The Banshee is mostly clad in black with only a few streaks of gold along its collar, which are meant to represent a lion's mane. Additionally, Banshee's horns resemble a golden mohawk.

While already an intimidating beast, the dark and imposing Banshee also has a "Destroy Mode" that adorns it in golden outlines. This mode makes the already terrifying Banshee become one of the scariest Gundams in the series' long history. To no one's surprise, Banshee became an instant favorite among fans.

9 FA-78 Full Armor Gundam Thunderbolt Ver. (Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt)

The FA-78 as seen in its docking bay in Gundam Thunderbolt: December Sky

Gundam Thunderbolt's FA-78 is basically the refutation to the adage “a good offense is a good defense." Fitted with enough body armor to make it a walking shield, the FA-78 can also wield four separate buffers simultaneously thanks to the two sub arms on its backpack.

Despite its bulk, the FA-78 is surprisingly mobile due to the thrusters built along its legs and back. It also has several rockets, beam sabers, and other armaments on its body. The FA-78 is basically a flying fortress, and it's also one of the best-designed defensive Gundams in the entire franchise.

8 Strike Noir Gundam (Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73: Stargazer)

Strike Noir walks through a city's ruins in Gundam SEED Stargazer

Gundam SEED Stargazer's Strike Noir lives up to its name by being a mostly black Gundam with only hints of other colors. While Strike Noir's design is sleek, what really separates it from the rest is its preference for wielding dual pistols (M8F-SB1 "Shorty" Beam Rifles) in combat like a classic gunslinger.

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Each pistol is strong enough to destroy a mobile suit with one shot. This makes the Strike Noir not only an effective threat, but also a stylish one. Gundams are all about putting style over substance, but there's still a bit of practically to their designs. Strike Noir's ignorance of this motif makes it both unique and badass.

7 Heavyarms Custom (Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz)

Heavyarms Custom draws its miniguns in Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz

Gundams tend to balance their firearms and melee capabilities, but Gundam Wing's Heavyarms Custom bucked tradition by having nothing but guns. Heavyarms Custom was built and designed for the sole purpose of carrying tons of firepower and firing an endless volley of bullets, and it fulfilled this purpose in every way.

Heavyarms Custom already looked badass in Gundam Wing, but it received a sleeker upgrade and even more guns in Endless Waltz. Despite being a walking armory made precisely for artillery warfare, Heavyarms Custom's new color scheme and design made it stand above the franchise's many gun-slinging Gundams.

6 Gundam Deathscythe (Mobile Suit Gundam Wing)

Gundam Deathscythe bears its shield in Gundam Wing

The simple truth is that Gundam Wing has some of Gundam’s best-designed Gundams of all time. One of the best is the Gundam Deathscythe, which lives up to its name by wielding a giant scythe and looking like the Grim Reaper. The Deathscythe also perfectly captured everything that made Gundam Wing fun and iconic.

Since the ‘90s, fans have praised and mocked Gundam Wing for being edgy. The dark yet cool Deathscythe captured the very specific mood of its anime and the era it aired in. Additionally, the original Deathscythe's simplicity puts it above its cool but somewhat over-designed upgrade, Deathscythe Hell.

5 God Gundam (Mobile Fighter G Gundam)

God Gundam strikes a pose in Gundam Build Divers Battlogue

The underrated Mobile Fighter G Gundam has some of the wackiest mechs in history. From cowboy Gundams to windmill Gundams, there was no shortage of mechs that made viewers do a double-take. While G Gundam is famous for its eccentric designs, it did a good job of adhering to tradition for its focal Gundam.

Piloted by Domon Kasshu, God Gundam (or Burning Gundam to Toonami viewers) was G Gundam's ultimate mech. Modeled after a samurai in full armor, God Gundam shared a familiar color scheme with previous Gundams. However, its unique design and advanced full body control system let it fight like a martial artist.

4 System-∀99 ∀ Gundam (Turn A Gundam)

The Turn A Gundam enters a fighting stance in Turn A Gundam

Turn A Gundam’s ∀ Gundam is one of Gundam’s most peculiar and distinct Gundams not because of its reality-warping abilities, but because of its mustache. As ridiculous as this may look to some, the ∀ Gundam is actually well-designed because no other Gundam could fit in the anachronistic yet futuristic Correct Century.

The ∀ Gundam is a uniquely regal giant robot that echoes military ceremonies more than combat. Still, when it activates its Moonlight Butterfly capabilities, the ∀ Gundam becomes an ominously destructive yet alluring sight. The ∀ Gundam is one of the only Gundams that could be truly described as mystical.

3 Strike Freedom Gundam (Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny)

The Strike Freedom unleashes its true power in Gundam SEED

The Strike Freedom is the updated version of Gundam SEED's focal Freedom Gundam. Besides being one of the most visually beautiful Gundams in the franchise, it's notably one of the few things about Kira Yamato and the incredibly polarizing SEED Destiny that viewers actually liked.

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There's nothing subtle about the Strike Freedom, and there's nothing wrong with that. The Strike Freedom looks like an angel of war whenever it unfurls it wings, which fits Kira's messianic depiction in the anime. Most Gundams look like fierce weapons of war, but the Strike Freedom is the rare ones that's just godlike.

2 Wing Gundam Zero (Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz)

The Wing Gundam Zero unfolds its wings in Gunam Wing: Endless Waltz

There's a good reason why most fans who grew up watching anime on Toonami loved Gundam Wing. Besides its incredible storyline, intense action sequences, and the perfect time slot right after school, it also featured many of the best-designed mobile suits in the franchise.

The epitome of this impressive streak would be the Wing Gundam Zero from the Christmas movie finale, Endless Waltz. Similar in color but not in design to the original Wing Gundam, this Gundam sported a glorious pair of wings that spread wide along its back. This made it quite the angelic head-turner for kids in the '90s.

1 V Gundam/Nu Gundam (Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack)

The v Gundam enters the battlefield in Char's Counterattack

As the successor to the original Gundam from the popular Mobile Suit Gundam, the v Gundam from the finale movie Char's Counterattack is an improvement in almost every way. Designed by Amuro Ray to be versatile and durable, it also contained powerful Fin Funnels for attack or defense.

Ray also designed it to look incredibly good. Doing away with all the reds and yellows from the RX-78-2's design, the v Gundam now had highlights sparingly along its mostly blue and white frame. This gave the v Gundam a more unified color palette that made sure that it looked just as good as it fought.

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