Gunpla Grades Explained: EG, HG, RG, MG and PG
Most Gundam model kits (Gunpla) from Bandai carry one of five grades on the box: EG, HG, RG, MG or PG. A few lines sit outside them, such as Full Mechanics, which we cover further down. The grade tells you how big the finished model is, how many parts it has and how long it takes to build. It does not tell you which kit is better. A good High Grade is more fun than a Master Grade you never finish.
All of them are snap-fit. The plastic comes in its final colours, the parts press together without glue, and you do not need to paint anything. Paint and markers are optional extras.
We wrote this for builders buying Gundam model kits in Pakistan, where you usually choose from a listing rather than a shelf, so it also says what each grade looks like out of the box.
The grades at a glance
| Grade | Scale | Build time (roughly) | Inner frame | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Grade (EG) | 1/144 | About 1 hour | No | A first kit, or a gift for someone new |
| High Grade (HG) | 1/144 | 2 to 4 hours | Rarely | Most builders, and the widest choice of suits |
| Real Grade (RG) | 1/144 | 6 to 12 hours | Yes | Maximum detail on a small shelf |
| Master Grade (MG) | 1/100 | 10 to 20+ hours | Yes | Builders who want a centrepiece |
| Perfect Grade (PG) | 1/60 | 30+ hours | Yes | A long project and a lot of shelf space |
Build times depend on the kit and on you. Treat them as a guide, not a promise.
Entry Grade (EG)
Entry Grade is Bandai's starting point. The parts are designed so that many of them can be twisted off the runner by hand, the instructions are short, and the finished model still poses well and looks like the suit on screen. It is 1/144, the same size as a High Grade, so it sits on a shelf next to one.
Pick EG if this is your first Gunpla, you are buying for a younger builder, or you want a relaxed one-evening build.
High Grade (HG)
High Grade is the backbone of Gunpla and the grade most people collect. It covers the widest range of mobile suits, and new anime series almost always get their kits as HG first. At 1/144 a finished HG stands around 13 cm tall for a standard-sized suit.
You will see letters after the HG. They tell you which timeline the suit comes from:
- HGUC (Universal Century): the original Mobile Suit Gundam timeline, including Zeta, ZZ, Char's Counterattack, Unicorn and Hathaway.
- HGCE (Cosmic Era): Gundam SEED and SEED Freedom, including Freedom, Justice and their successors.
- HGAC (After Colony): Gundam Wing.
- HG on its own, or with the series logo beside it: newer series such as The Witch from Mercury, Iron-Blooded Orphans and GQuuuuuuX.
Pick HG if you have built one kit before, or if you simply want the suit you love at a sensible size and price.
Real Grade (RG)
Real Grade packs Master Grade detail into a 1/144 kit. Under the armour sits a posable inner frame, and the surface is broken up with small parts and panel lines. The result is a kit the same size as an HG with far more detail.
The trade-off is small parts. RGs take patience, sharp nippers and good light, and some older RGs are more fragile when posing. They are a great second or third kit, not a first one.
Pick RG if you enjoy detail work and want an impressive model that does not need a large shelf.
Master Grade (MG)
Master Grade moves up to 1/100 scale, so a finished model stands around 18 cm tall for a standard suit. It has a full inner frame, moving mechanical details and waterslide or sticker decals. It is the grade many builders consider the most satisfying all-rounder once they have a few kits behind them.
Ver.Ka kits are Master Grades redesigned by mechanical designer Hajime Katoki. They carry extra surface detail and a large decal sheet, and are among the most detailed MGs you can build.
Pick MG if you want a model that becomes the centrepiece of a shelf, and you are happy to spend a weekend or two on it.
Perfect Grade (PG)
Perfect Grade is Bandai's top line: 1/60 scale, hundreds of parts, a complete inner frame and features such as opening hatches and optional lighting. A finished PG is a serious display piece.
We do not stock Perfect Grade kits at the moment. If there is one you want, send us a product request.
Other lines you will see in our shop
- Full Mechanics: 1/100 scale without a full inner frame. You get MG size with a simpler, quicker build. Our Full Mechanics Gundam Aerial is an example.
- 30 Minutes Missions (30MM): Bandai's own original robot designs, built to be quick to build and customised with swappable parts. See our 30MM collection.
- Option Parts Sets and Action Bases: add-on weapons and display stands that fit many kits. They are in Hobby Supplies.
Which grade should I build first?
Never built a model kit? Entry Grade. Built anything before, or the suit you want only exists as an HG? High Grade. Want more detail at the same size? Real Grade. Want a bigger model and a longer build? Master Grade.
Whichever you pick, choose a suit you like. You finish the kit you are excited about.
Tools that help
You can build an Entry Grade with your hands alone. For every other grade, a few tools make the result much cleaner:
- Nippers cut parts off the runner cleanly. Thin-blade nippers such as the Wave HG Thin Blade Nippers leave smaller marks.
- A panel line marker darkens the grooves in the armour and makes any kit look more detailed. The Gundam Marker Extra Thin panel liner is made for this.
- A display stand such as an Action Base lets you pose flying suits and keeps the model off a dusty shelf.
Buying Gunpla in Pakistan from The GEAR Store
Every Gunpla kit we sell is official Bandai. Popular kits sell out, and most sold-out Gundam kits offer a Notify me when available form on their product page, so you hear when they are back. New and upcoming kits are listed in Pre-orders, where you can reserve one before it arrives.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between HG and RG?
Both are 1/144 scale, so they are the same size. An RG has an inner frame and many more parts, which gives more detail and takes longer to build. An HG is simpler, quicker and usually sturdier to pose.
What is the difference between RG and MG?
They have similar detail and both have an inner frame, but an MG is 1/100 scale, so it is noticeably larger. Larger parts are also easier to handle than an RG's small ones.
Do I need glue or paint to build Gunpla?
No. Bandai kits snap together and the plastic is already coloured. Paint and markers are optional.
What tools do I need to build my first Gunpla?
For an Entry Grade, none. For a High Grade or above, a pair of nippers is the one tool worth buying. A panel line marker is the next most useful.
What does 1/144 mean?
The model is 1/144 the size of the mobile suit in the story. HG, RG and EG kits are 1/144, MG is 1/100 and PG is 1/60.
What does Ver.Ka mean?
A version of a Master Grade kit redesigned by Hajime Katoki, with extra detail and decals.
Where can I buy Gundam model kits in Pakistan?
The GEAR Store stocks official Bandai Gunpla and ships across Pakistan. The Gundam collection lists what is in stock now, and Pre-orders the kits you can reserve before they arrive.
Ready to build?
Every Gundam kit in the shop is graded, so you can filter by the grade you have just chosen. The wider model kit range has Pokémon, One Piece and Figure-rise Standard too.