Miniatures
Gundam Assemble Miniatures: Complete Guide to Bandai's Tactical Game
Everything about Gundam Assemble miniatures, from 5cm scale models to starter sets, painting, and tactical hex-based gameplay.
Bandai officially launched Gundam Assemble in October 2026 as a competitive tabletop miniatures game featuring Gunpla-style mobile suits. These Gundam Assemble miniatures differ from traditional Gunpla by serving as functional game pieces with matching cards that define their combat capabilities, merging traditional model building with tactical hex-based gameplay.
What Are Gundam Assemble Miniatures?
Gundam Assemble miniatures are 5 cm (approximately 2 inches) scale plastic model kits designed specifically for tactical tabletop combat. The Bandai Spirits Hobby Division produces these miniatures through the same manufacturing pipeline that has handled Gunpla for decades. Every unit finishes at the same 5 cm scale regardless of which Mobile Suit it represents, creating consistent gameplay while maintaining detailed sculpts.
The miniatures ship unpainted and unassembled exactly like standard Gunpla kits. Players snap or glue parts together and paint them before gameplay. Unlike display-focused Gunpla that can reach substantial sizes in Master Grade or Perfect Grade lines, Gundam Assemble miniatures prioritize uniform scale for competitive play. Each miniature functions as a game piece with corresponding unit cards listing stats, weapons, and abilities.
Gundam Assemble Miniatures Product Lineup
Starter Set 01
Starter Set 01 (ST01) launched at $35 MSRP and serves as the format’s complete entry point. The box contains everything two players need for their first match:
- 6 miniatures spanning multiple Gundam eras
- 6 unit cards
- 18 tactics cards
- Set of 10-sided dice
- Hex-gridded game map
- Game tokens
- Cardboard terrain pieces
- Handbook and quick reference sheet
The six included mobile suits are:
- RX-78-2 Gundam (Universal Century)
- Char’s Zaku II (Universal Century)
- Wing Gundam Zero EW (Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz)
- Gundam Mepphyon (Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz)
- Gundam Vidar (Iron-Blooded Orphans)
- Barbatos Lupus Rex (Iron-Blooded Orphans)
This cross-era selection deliberately creates matchups between suits that never appeared together in the source anime. The set includes two teaching scenarios designed to introduce core mechanics before players build custom squads.
Expansion Packs
Expansion packs released at $40 each add three miniatures from specific Gundam series along with nine tactics cards and game tokens. These packs require an existing starter set, as they don’t include dice, boards, or terrain.
Expansion Pack 01 focuses on Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn with:
- Unicorn Gundam
- Delta Plus
- Additional Unicorn-era unit
Expansion Pack 02 draws from Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury with:
- Gundam Aerial
- Gundam Pharact
- Gundam Darilbalde
The Witch from Mercury suits specialize in long-range engagement and introduce token-based mechanics not present in the starter set. These units finished airing in 2023, making them the most recent source series in the October 2026 launch wave.
Deluxe Set 01
Deluxe Set 01 (DX01) retails at $100 and scales gameplay up to five-on-five battles. Originally scheduled for October 2026, several retailers pushed the release to November. The set contains:
- 13 miniatures total
- Full unit card set
- Complete tactics card collection
- Game tokens
- 2 scenario objective cards
- 2 separate game maps
- Cardboard terrain objects
- Dedicated 10-sided dice set
- Handbook and 2 quick reference sheets
The headline scenario recreates the Battle of A Baoa Qu from the original Mobile Suit Gundam, featuring two battleship-class units facing off. The set reuses the Witch from Mercury suits (Aerial, Darilbalde, Pharact) but places them in a Universal Century scenario, demonstrating the game’s cross-timeline format.
Assembly and Painting Gundam Assemble Miniatures
Build Process
Gundam Assemble miniatures arrive on plastic runners requiring cutting and assembly. Early reviews noted that the Zaku II splits into six pieces during assembly, with reviewers wishing arms detached separately for easier sub-assembly painting. The kits use standard Gunpla construction methods that require:
- Cutting parts from runners
- Cleaning mold lines (sanding sticks recommended over hobby knives)
- Snapping or gluing pieces together
- Painting to personal preference
No pre-built options exist at any price tier. Bandai sells a dedicated paint pack (NERO 1 accessory bundle) for players starting without hobby experience.
Paint Products
GUNDAM ASSEMBLE Colors are brush-on paints formulated specifically for miniature painting. Available in Base and Shade colors, these paints target first-time painters and family painting sessions.
Mr.Brush BS Series brushes feature synthetic bristles sized for detail work and small-scale models. The brushes offer tip integrity and spring suitable for the effects required on 5 cm miniatures.
Quality Observations
Goonhammer’s hands-on with card game pack-in miniatures highlighted the Tallgeese as the standout sculpt across the range. A detailed review of the TP07B Zaku II noted heavy-duty plastic with chunky runners priced below comparable Games Workshop miniatures, though fine sculpted details weren’t as crisp. Real mold lines appeared along the Zaku’s legs requiring cleanup before painting.
The consistent theme across coverage emphasized that cleanup and painting constitute genuinely rewarding hobby work. Gunpla veterans feel at home with the build process despite the smaller scale requiring adjustment.
Gameplay Mechanics with Gundam Assemble Miniatures
The Timeline System
Gundam Assemble uses a Timeline (TL) system rather than alternating turns. The Timeline track features 10 spaces representing rounds within each Phase. Players place Timeline tokens on this track based on each unit’s starting Timeline value.
Units progress forward on the Timeline as they take actions. A simple Advance movement costs different Timeline than attacking with a heavy weapon. When a unit’s Timeline token reaches later positions, that unit waits longer before acting again. Games consist of two Phases of 10 rounds each.
Squad Building
Most scenarios require squads of three or five units. Players select any units across the Gundam franchise with one restriction: no duplicate unit card numbers unless the unit is Mass Produced. Beginner guides recommend:
- One unit creating threat that forces opponent reactions
- One unit maintaining formation and positioning control
- One unit providing flexible options to cover mistakes or support plays
Because each squad contains only three to five units rather than dozens, every model carries significant tactical weight. Losing one unit represents a major swing compared to larger-scale wargames.
Combat Resolution
Attacks use 10-sided dice (D10s) instead of the hobby-standard six-sided dice. Each weapon lists:
- Timeline cost
- Effective range
- Strength value (number of attack dice)
By default, rolls of 4 or higher score hits. Rolls of 9 or 10 are critical hits regardless of modifiers. Elevation affects accuracy: attacking uphill grants -1 Accuracy while attacking downhill grants +1 Accuracy.
Special terrain types modify combat:
- Water: -1 Accuracy for attackers and targets in water (cumulative)
- Debris fields: -1 Accuracy similar to water
- Minovsky Particles: -2 Accuracy for non-adjacent attacks
Unit Cards and Abilities
Each miniature has a corresponding unit card showing:
| Card Element | Information Provided |
|---|---|
| Name & Title | Unit designation and signature title |
| Timeline Value | Starting position on Timeline track |
| Hit Points | Damage capacity before defeat |
| Victory Points | Points opponent earns when defeating this unit |
| Traits | Pilot, faction, and characteristics |
| Weapons | Available attacks with stats |
| Abilities | Special powers and effects |
Unit abilities fall into categories: Command abilities (used during activation), Response abilities (triggered by specific situations), Attack abilities (unique weapon attacks), Ongoing abilities (always active), and Setup abilities (resolved before game start).
Gundam Assemble Miniatures vs Traditional Gunpla
Scale Differences
Traditional Gunpla kits range from High Grade (1/144 scale) to Perfect Grade (1/60 scale) with varying finished sizes. Master Grade and Perfect Grade kits can tower over display shelves. Gundam Assemble miniatures finish at uniform 5 cm height regardless of source unit size.
The Gamer’s launch coverage argued this scale reduction misses Gunpla’s traditional appeal built on physical presence and spectacle. The criticism centered on shrinking flagship suits to 2-inch pieces for tournament uniformity rather than maintaining the imposing scale Gunpla collectors expect.
Purpose and Function
Standard Gunpla serves as display pieces and hobby projects. Gundam Assemble miniatures function as game pieces requiring matching unit cards. The miniatures must maintain uniform scale for balanced competitive play on hex-gridded boards.
Assembly and painting techniques remain similar, but Gundam Assemble prioritizes gameplay functionality over display scale. Players can display painted miniatures between matches or use them exclusively for tabletop battles.
Community Reception and Competitive Play
Early Reviews
Reviews landed cautiously positive but divided. Favorable points included:
- D10 dice instead of standard D6
- Minimal terrain investment (hex board and included cardboard pieces)
- $35 starter price undercutting comparable miniature wargames
- Balance between competitive squad building and narrative scenarios
Critical observations noted:
- Plastic quality below premium Games Workshop miniatures
- Mold lines requiring cleanup work
- Philosophical disagreement about prioritizing tactical uniformity over scale spectacle
Goonhammer stated they would buy more of the line if Bandai maintained reliable retail stock. Game 3’s value review identified the low barrier to entry as the format’s biggest selling point for players not yet committed to full wargame purchases.
Organized Play Structure
Bandai launched an official event management platform called Bandai Tabletop Games alongside the brand. The platform centralizes:
- Event discovery
- Tournament registration
- Match record tracking
- Organizer support tools
Learn-to-play preview events rolled out at official retail stores nationwide starting September 2026, weeks before retail launch. The game secured tournament floor presence at Las Vegas Open 2026, placing Gundam Assemble on the same competitive circuit as established wargames within months of debut.
Video content including dedicated quick-play guides circulated among hobby creators months before launch. A recurring YouTube series titled “Community Events Beginner’s Guide” documented local play nights since mid-2026.
Release Schedule and Future Products
Bandai committed to a release cadence resembling trading card games rather than typical model lines. Reporting from mid-2026 detailed six products landing across January, February, and March 2027:
- Four $40 expansion packs
- One $170 deluxe set (Deluxe Set 03)
- One $55 scenario pack (the format’s first dedicated scenario product)
More than 30 total items are planned worldwide within the first year. The scenario pack announcement signals Bandai treats scenario design as its own product category separate from new miniature releases.
The Gundam card game crossover predates the standalone miniatures game by over a year. The first Gundam Assemble miniatures shipped in 2025 inside card game starter decks, allowing players to build and paint skirmish-scale suits before the tabletop game had a confirmed release window.
Frequently Asked Questions
What scale are Gundam Assemble miniatures? All Gundam Assemble miniatures finish at approximately 5 cm (2 inches) tall regardless of source mobile suit, maintaining uniform scale for competitive hex-based gameplay.
Do Gundam Assemble miniatures come pre-painted? No. All miniatures ship unpainted and unassembled on plastic runners. Players must cut, clean, assemble, and paint miniatures before use. Bandai sells dedicated paint packs for beginners.
Can I use regular Gunpla kits to play Gundam Assemble? No. Gundam Assemble requires the specific 5 cm miniatures designed for the game. Regular Gunpla kits use different scales and lack the matching unit cards needed for gameplay.
How many miniatures do I need to start playing? Starter Set 01 includes six miniatures (three per player) for complete three-on-three matches. Most scenarios require squads of three or five units per player.
What’s the difference between Gundam Assemble miniatures and the Gundam card game miniatures? Early Gundam Assemble miniatures shipped as pack-in bonuses inside card game starter decks starting in 2025. The standalone miniatures game launched October 2026 with expanded product lines designed specifically for tabletop combat rather than card game accessories.
How long does it take to assemble and paint Gundam Assemble miniatures? Early reviews indicate cleanup and painting constitute genuinely rewarding hobby work. A squad can realistically progress from sealed box to finished tabletop army in a single weekend rather than becoming a season-long painting project, though time varies based on painting detail and experience.