ListArios Gundam Kits: What to Buy in 2026 (Gundam 00)
Arios is one of those Gundam 00 second-season designs that people get quietly obsessed with. It is Allelujah Haptism's suit, the successor to the Kyrios, and its whole identity is the transformation, folding down from mobile suit into a fast jet-style flight mode and combining with the GN Archer. That green and white color scheme and the twin GN beam sabers give it a sleeker, faster feel than a lot of the 00 lineup, and second-season fans tend to rank it near the top.
The kit situation is the honest sticking point. Arios only ever got High Grade releases from the original Gundam 00 line around 2009, the standard HG00 Arios and the more loaded Arios GNHW/M with its missile pods. There is no Real Grade, no Master Grade, and no modern reissue with updated engineering. The old HG kits still surface at hobby retailers and get occasional restocks, so they are buildable, but you are working with fifteen-year-old tooling, sticker-heavy color separation, and a transformation gimmick that was ambitious for its day but feels dated next to a current HG.
So where does that leave a Gundam 00 fan who wants a great build today? The truth is our 00 review coverage right now centers on the suit that started it all, Exia, and the Exia kits happen to span nearly every grade, from a snap-together Entry Grade up to a Perfect Grade with real LED wiring. If you want a 00 kit you will genuinely enjoy building this month, here is where I would point you, with an honest note that these are Exia rather than Arios itself.
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1. GN-001 Gundam Exia (RG)
If you want the best Gundam 00 build experience you can actually get without hunting old stock, the RG Exia is it. Real Grade's Advanced MS Joint gives this 1/144 kit articulation the old HG Arios can only dream of, the swords and GN condensers look great, and the inner frame peeking through the armor sells the 00 aesthetic perfectly. It is not Arios, and I will not pretend it is, but it is the same series, the same design language, and a far better modern kit than anything Arios ever received. This is my top pick for a 00 fan today.
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22. GN-001 Gundam Exia (PG)
For the fan who wants the definitive Gundam 00 centerpiece, the Perfect Grade Exia is the biggest and most detailed 00 kit in the catalog. The 1/60 frame has working LED lighting in the GN drive and condensers, the shoulder range lets you pull off real two-sword poses, and it has the kind of presence that makes it the standout on any shelf. It is a long, involved build and it takes real space, so it makes more sense as a second or third project than a first kit, but if you love the show it is worth the commitment.
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33. GN-001 Gundam Exia (EG)
If the old HG Arios market has you hesitating and you just want to get a Gundam 00 kit built tonight, the Entry Grade Exia is the low-risk way in. It snaps together by hand with no tools and no cement, the color separation is handled without stickers, and you end up with a poseable little Exia in under an hour. The proportions and articulation are simplified compared to the RG, so treat it as a fun, cheap taste of the series rather than a display centerpiece, but for a first 00 build it is hard to beat the value.
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Arios never moved past an old High Grade, so if you want a modern Gundam 00 build the RG Exia is the pick, the PG Exia is the definitive shelf piece, and the EG Exia is the easy first kit while you decide whether to hunt down the vintage Arios.
Common questions
Is there an RG or MG Arios Gundam?
No. Arios has only ever been released as High Grade kits from the original Gundam 00 line, the standard HG00 Arios and the Arios GNHW/M variant. There is no Real Grade, Master Grade, or Perfect Grade Arios as of 2026.
Can you still buy the HG Arios Gundam?
Often, yes, but it takes a little looking. The 2009 HG00 Arios and the GNHW/M version are older kits that go in and out of stock at hobby retailers and get occasional restocks. Expect fifteen-year-old engineering and heavier sticker use than a modern HG.
Do you have an Arios Gundam review?
Not yet. Our Gundam 00 coverage currently focuses on Exia and its Repair variants, which span Entry Grade up to Perfect Grade. Check the full kit list for everything we carry from the series.
What is the best Gundam 00 kit to build right now?
For most people the RG Exia, since it delivers modern Real Grade articulation and detail in the same series and art style. If you want the definitive display piece, the PG Exia is the one to chase.