HGGundam Build Divers Re:RISE

Tertium Arms

A backpack, a rifle, and a pair of shields that turn a good Gundam into a bigger one.

MechaGrade Score

3.4/5

Tertium Arms · 1/144 · 2020

GradeHG

Scale1/144

Released2020

Runnersn/a

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The verdict

This is an expansion set doing exactly what an expansion set should do, and I respect it for not pretending to be more.

The Tertium Arms only exists to bolt onto the base HGBD:R Gundam Tertium, so judge it as an accessory, not a standalone mobile suit, and it holds up fine. The backpack has real presence, the rifle's stow gimmick is a nice touch, and the shields combine into one big slab that changes the whole read of the figure. It just needs the base kit sitting next to it before any of that means anything.

Best for: Build Divers Re:RISE fans who already own the base Gundam Tertium and want the Advanced Tertium loadout

The full review

What it is

The Tertium Arms is the weapons and armor pack that turns the standard HGBD:R Gundam Tertium into its Advanced Tertium form, the space combat setup Masaki Shido's Gunpla gets after he shakes off Alus's brainwashing and drops the demonic Seltsam Arm look. In the box you get a large backpack, a long rifle with a mechanism that folds it into a stored position, two shields that can be joined into a single combined shield, and a handful of HG-scale general purpose joint parts to mount everything. Clipping the backpack on and watching the whole silhouette bulk out is genuinely satisfying, it is the best part of the set by a wide margin.

The catch

This kit does not stand on its own. You need the base Gundam Tertium to make any of it click into place, so treat the price as an add-on tax, not a full kit's worth of content. The shields lean on plain white stickers rather than molded color, which is the one spot builders consistently flag as a letdown given how much surface area they cover. The rifle's grip is on the small side, and more than one builder has noted the hand has to twist the weapon slightly left to hold it properly instead of sitting square. Part count is modest since this is armor and accessories, not a figure, so do not expect a long, meaty build session.

Who it's for

Buy this if you already have the Gundam Tertium on your shelf and want the bulkier, more finished Advanced Tertium look, or if you are chasing a complete Build Divers Re:RISE lineup and want the option to combine it later with the Zelttherm Arms. Skip it if you do not own the base kit, since this set has nothing to offer without it, and skip it too if you are shopping for a build session with real part count and engineering to sink time into. This is a quick accessory build for completionists and Advanced Tertium fans, not a weekend project.

The build story

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

Assembly is quick since this is an accessory set rather than a full figure. The backpack frame goes together in a handful of steps and the joint parts are the same general purpose HG connectors Bandai uses across the Build Divers line, so fit against the base Tertium's back is solid and doesn't wobble once seated.

The standout engineering is the rifle's stored-position fold, which lets the long gun collapse down for a cleaner mounted look on the backpack instead of just clipping on at full length. The combinable shields are the other bit of real thought here, letting you display either two separate shields or one merged slab depending on the pose you're going for.

Lore & trivia

01Tertium is Latin for the third, referencing that this is the third major configuration of Masaki Shido's Gunpla in the series
02The Advanced Tertium form and its Tertium Arms come after Masaki is freed from Alus's brainwashing, replacing the demonic Gundam Seltsam configuration he was forced into
03The kit was released in September 2020 as part of the HGBD:R line for Gundam Build Divers Re:RISE
04The Tertium Arms can be combined with the separately sold HGBD:R Zelttherm Arms for further customization