Gunpla comes in a handful of grades, and picking the right one makes the difference between a first build you love and one that ends up back in the box. Here's how the grades stack up, in plain English.

Prices are our live shelf prices, checked August 2026. Bandai has lifted prices twice since this guide was first written, so if you read an older version, this is the current picture.

Entry Grade (EG)

Price Range: $15 – $25

Entry Grade is the simplest way in. No glue, no paint, and you don't even need tools, the parts twist straight off the runner. Everything comes pre-coloured.

Most EG kits stand about 11 cm tall and cover favourites like the RX-78-2, Strike Gundam and Strike Rouge. If you've never built a kit before, or you're buying for a kid, this is the safe bet.

A great one to start with: the EG RX-78-2 Gundam, the original Gundam at pocket-money price.

High Grade (HG)

Price Range: $18 – $97, with most kits sitting between $20 and $50

High Grade is where most builders live, and it's my honest answer when someone asks where to start. 1/144 scale, easy on the wallet, straightforward to build, and the biggest range of suits of any grade by a long way.

Modern HGs are sharp. Better engineering than the older releases, good articulation, and some even carry partial inner frames. When you're ready to try panel lining or a first paint job, an HG is the kit to practise on. If it doesn't go to plan, you're not out much.

A great one to start with: the HGUC RX-78-2 Gundam (Revive), the classic suit with modern engineering.

Real Grade (RG)

Price Range: $40 – $148, with most kits between $40 and $70

Real Grade started in 2010 for Gundam's 30th anniversary. The idea: Master Grade detail squeezed into the smaller 1/144 scale. You get a fully mobile inner frame, armour that shifts as the suit moves, and surface detail that looks superb on the shelf.

The honest trade-off is that the parts are small and the builds are fiddly. RG rewards a steady hand and a bit of patience. If it's your very first kit, I'd point you at an HG or two first, then come back.

A favourite right now: the RG Strike Freedom Gundam, all that engineering, wings and all.

Master Grade (MG)

Price Range: $40 – $250

Master Grade is the 1/100 scale step up. Around 18 cm tall, built around a full inner skeleton with the armour layered over the top. That frame is what makes them: solid, poseable, and satisfying to put together.

The parts count is higher and the builds take longer, which is exactly why people love them. A great second or third kit once you've got a feel for how these things go together.

A great one to start with: the MG RX-78-2 Gundam Ver 2.0, the definitive take on the original.

Super Deformed (SD) & Cross Silhouette (SDCS)

Price Range: $11 – $46 (the premium MGSD line reaches about $85)

SD kits are the fun end of the shelf. Big heads, chibi proportions, simple builds. You can pop the parts off the runner by hand, and stickers do most of the detail work.

They don't have the articulation or fine detail of the bigger grades, and they're not trying to. Quick, cheerful builds that kids handle easily, and plenty of adults collect them too. Some kits include a couple of eye options to change the character's expression.

A fun one right now: the SDCS Mighty Strike Freedom Gundam, the star of Gundam SEED FREEDOM in chibi form.

The Lines In Between: RE/100, Full Mechanics and MGEX

Since this guide was first written, a few lines that sit between or above the classic grades deserve a mention.

RE/100 and Full Mechanics ($50 – $110) give you MG-sized 1/100 kits without the full inner frame. Bigger suits, simpler builds, friendlier prices. If you love the presence of an MG but not the parts count, this is your lane. The Full Mechanics Gundam Aerial ($73.99) is a good example of the breed.

MGEX (Master Grade Extreme) sits above even the MG line. It's Bandai's showcase for their best engineering, and only three kits have ever carried the badge: the MGEX Unicorn Gundam Ver.Ka ($450.99), the MGEX Strike Freedom Gundam ($279.99), and the newly announced Mighty Strike Freedom coming in March 2027. These sell out fast. If a page shows out of stock, hit the notify button and we'll let you know the moment more lands.

Perfect Grade (PG)

Price Range: $140 (older kits) up to about $490, with most modern releases above $300

Perfect Grade is the top of the mountain. 1/60 scale, a serious parts count, and detail down to individual moving fingers. These are long, involved builds, and that's the point.

They're not a starting point, and I won't pretend otherwise. But for an experienced builder who wants a project to sink weeks into, nothing else in the range compares. Many PG kits can also take LED lighting sets, sold separately, if you want the eyes and frame to light up.

The one everyone asks about: the PG RX-0 Unicorn Gundam. PG kits come and go from stock in waves, so if the page says sold out, the notify button is your friend.

Wrapping Things Up

The quick version: start at HG, or EG if you want the simplest possible build. Step up to MG when you're ready for a bigger project. Treat RG as the detail-lover's 1/144, and save PG and MGEX for when you know you love the hobby. SD is for fun at any age.

Still not sure? Send me a message and tell me who it's for, I'm happy to point you at the right kit.

Happy building!

Cheers,
Cam