HGAnno Domini

GN-0000DVR/A Gundam 00 Diver Ace

A GBN custom job that hands you two swords, two Gundam looks, and a backpack that actually earns its keep.

MechaGrade Score

3.7/5

Gundam 00 Diver Ace · 1/144 · 2018

GradeHG

Scale1/144

Released2018

Runnersn/a

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The verdict

This is a genuinely fun HG that punches above its price by giving you two builds in one box.

You get the base 00 Diver and the upgraded Diver Ace configuration with the Diver Ace Unit backpack, and the swap between them is simple and satisfying rather than a gimmick tacked on for the sake of it. It is not a technical showcase, the frame is straightforward HG plastic, but the part count and accessory spread make it feel generous for a 1/144 kit at this level.

Best for: Build Divers fans and HG collectors who want a two-in-one 00-lineage kit with real posing range and a decent haul of extras

The full review

What it is

The Diver Ace is Riku Mikami's upgraded GBN avatar suit, built around the familiar 00 Gundam silhouette but reworked with the Diver Ace Unit backpack and a pair of oversized GN Diver Swords that double as GN condensers. Building it, what struck me first is that it does not feel like a reskin. The backpack unit clips on with real heft and the twin blades give the finished kit a completely different read than a stock 00 Gundam. You are getting a base 00 Diver body and the ace upgrade path in the same box, which is a nice piece of value engineering for an HG. Assembly moves fast, the parts are logically laid out, and there is a small thrill in seeing the alternate look come together from the same core frame.

The catch

The knee armor on the back of the leg is genuinely fiddly to seat correctly, and more than one builder has flagged it as the one spot where the kit fights you. Color separation leans on the included sticker sheet for some of the finer accents rather than molded plastic, which is standard for the grade but means panel definition depends on how carefully you apply them. The two included effect part colors (clear red and clear green) are a nice touch for recreating specific anime beats, but they are static accessories rather than anything that lights up or animates, so do not expect more than a display prop from them.

Who it's for

If you watched Build Divers and want Riku's signature suit, or you just like the idea of an HG that gives you a meaningful alternate configuration instead of one static pose option, this is worth the shelf space. It is also a solid pick for anyone who wants two connected looks without buying two kits. Skip it if you specifically want the plain 00 Diver or stock 00 Gundam silhouette without the sword-and-backpack additions, or if knee-area fiddliness during assembly is going to frustrate rather than intrigue you. For most Build Divers fans and casual HG builders, though, this one delivers more than its price tag suggests it should.

The build story

What the build is actually like, and the engineering worth knowing about.

Assembly is quick and logically ordered across the twelve runners, with straightforward gate placement that keeps cleanup simple. The one trouble spot builders consistently mention is the back-of-knee armor, which takes a bit of patience to click into place without stressing the joint. Everything else goes together with the kind of confidence-inspiring snap you want from an HG at this price point.

The standout here is the value math: you are not just building one Gundam, you are building a base form and an upgraded ace form from the same core frame, plus the connecting joint parts that let the Diver Ace Unit backpack and twin GN Diver Swords attach cleanly. A double-ball-jointed neck, elbows that bend well past ninety degrees, and a full-rotation waist mean the finished kit holds dynamic sword poses without looking stiff, which matters a lot for a suit whose whole identity is built around its blades.

Lore & trivia

01The Diver Ace is Riku Mikami's personal upgrade to his GN-0000DVR Gundam 00 Diver, built using feedback from his battles in GBN (Gunpla Battle Nexus Online), the virtual world at the center of Gundam Build Divers.
02The Diver Ace Unit backpack was designed with input from fellow Force member Koichi Nanase, and the twin GN Diver Swords Riku devised incorporate GN Condenser functions to boost the suit's energy efficiency.
03The kit was previously only obtainable by combining the separately sold HGBD 00 Diver kit with the HGBC Diver Ace Unit expansion before Bandai packaged both together as this single HGBD release in 2018.
04A Gold Plated Ver. of this same kit was later issued as a limited/premium variant, alongside an SD Gundam Cross Silhouette version.