HGUniversal Century

RX-80BR Black Rider

A stealth prototype with a lead-wire grapple anchor and a backpack full of spinning radomes.

MechaGrade Score

3.7/5

Black Rider · 1/144 · 2022

GradeHG

Scale1/144

Released2022

Runnersn/a

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The verdict

I like this kit more than its P-Bandai exclusive status suggests I should.

It leans on the older Pale Rider frame, so the articulation underneath is proven and good, and Bandai used the reuse as a chance to tool a genuinely fun set of new parts for the stun anchor, grenade launcher, and Steelyard backpack. It is not a showcase build, but it is a satisfying one, and the electronic-warfare gimmick on the back is the best part of owning it.

Best for: HGUC completionists and Code Fairy fans who want the Black Rider's stealth gimmicks in hand, not just Pale Rider recolored

The full review

What it is

This is a Premium Bandai HG reworking of the RX-80 Pale Rider platform into the stealth-focused Black Rider variant from Mobile Suit Gundam Battle Operation Code Fairy. Bandai kept the base frame (that means the double-jointed elbows and knees and the double ball-joint ankles carry over) and cut new molds for the parts that make this suit distinct: the stun-anchor left arm with a lead wire for the ejected anchor, a grenade launcher right arm, and the Steelyard backpack with its two radome units on a multi-axis, rotating arm mount. Building it feels like meeting an old frame wearing new gear, and the new gear is what makes the kit worth having.

The catch

It relies on marking stickers to nail the stealth-black color scheme and the THEMIS activation state, so straight builders will be applying a fair number of small decals rather than getting it from molded plastic. It carries over the Pale Rider frame's known soft spot too, wrist ball joints that loosen over time and start struggling to keep a firm grip on the heavier weapons. Expect visible mold lines around the head, shoulders, and legs that want cleanup before the black finish looks flawless. And because this was a Premium Bandai exclusive, it was never a mass-retail kit, so pricing and availability run higher than a standard HG.

Who it's for

Buy this if you already collect the Pale Rider family or the wider Code Fairy suit lineup and want the Black Rider's stealth loadout in your hands rather than just on a screen. The stun anchor and radome gimmicks are worth the build on their own. Skip it if you want a first Gunpla or a cheap weeknight build, this is a spinoff-game exclusive with secondary-market pricing and sticker work that first-timers won't enjoy. If you just want a good HGUC-era frame to pose, the base Pale Rider or a currently in-print HG will get you there for less.

What works

Double-jointed elbows and knees plus double ball-joint ankles give it a genuinely wide, stable pose range for an HG
New stun-anchor arm with a lead wire for the ejected anchor is a fun, distinct gimmick you don't get on the base Pale Rider
Steelyard backpack's rotating radomes on multi-axis arms let you angle the electronic-warfare gear instead of it sitting fixed and flat

Worth knowing

Heavy reliance on marking stickers to complete the stealth-black color scheme and THEMIS activation look
Wrist ball joints are the frame's known weak point and loosen with repeated grip changes on heavier weapons
Visible mold lines around the head, shoulders, and legs need real cleanup work before the finish looks clean

Sold? Grab it.

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The build story

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

Because this reuses the Pale Rider frame, the runner layout and gate placement will feel familiar to anyone who has built that kit, with new sprues added for the stealth-specific parts. The new parts, especially the stun anchor with its lead wire and the Steelyard's rotating dome units, need a bit more care during assembly since the multi-axis backpack joint has more moving pieces than a typical HG backpack mount.

The articulation is the clear strength here: double-jointed elbows bend close to 180 degrees for combat poses, and the double ball-joint ankles give a wide, stable lateral stance that a lot of HGs from this era don't match. Color separation is mixed, molded plastic handles the base stealth-black shell well but leans on stickers for vents, thruster detailing, and the THEMIS activation markings, so straight builders should budget time for decal work if they want the look to read correctly on the shelf.

Lore & trivia

01The RX-80BR Black Rider was the third prototype built under the Pale Rider Project and, like its siblings, is derived from the base RX-80 airframe.
02Its signature systems are the Steelyard, a set of backpack-mounted discs that give it electronic warfare capabilities, and an Active Camo system that renders the suit nearly invisible, which is why it carries no beam weapons and relies on the stun anchor and grenade launcher instead.
03It was also fitted with the THEMIS system, a simplified prototype of the HADES system seen elsewhere in the Code Fairy story.
04After its equipment trials wrapped, the Black Rider was handed to the Black Dog Team alongside the RX-80WR White Rider, and the two were frequently deployed as a pair.