MGUniversal Century

MS-06K ZAKU CANNON [Z GUNDAM VER]

A proven Zaku II Ver 2.0 frame wearing a bigger gun and a fresh coat of paint, and it earns both.

MechaGrade Score

4.1/5

Zaku II · 1/100 · 2023

GradeMG

Scale1/100

Released2023

Runnersn/a

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The verdict

This is the MG Zaku II Ver 2.0 doing what that frame does best, just with a 180mm cannon strapped to its back.

I went in expecting a simple recolor and came out with a kit that actually justifies its own release, because the cannon backpack and the extra waist ordnance change how the finished figure reads on the shelf. It is not reinventing anything, but it takes a genuinely excellent chassis and gives it a reason to exist as its own kit rather than a paint job.

Best for: MG builders who already like the Zaku II Ver 2.0 line and want the support-gunner variant with real shelf presence

The full review

What it is

This kit is the Zaku II Ver 2.0 internal frame carrying the Zaku Cannon's signature 180mm backpack gun, and it is a genuinely fun build. Assembly goes together with almost no fuss, the base plastic detail is strong enough to pop with a bit of panel lining, and Bandai clearly built in options here, you get normal and rabbit-ear head variants plus two pilot figures. Popping the cannon off the backpack and swapping in the rocket launchers on the waist changes the whole silhouette, and that flexibility is what sold me on it being more than a Zaku II with different colors.

The catch

The frame under this kit is the same Ver 2.0 chassis that has been out for well over a decade, and long-term owners of that mold report the shoulder ball joints and shield/spike connectors loosening with repeated posing, so do not expect the articulation to stay tack-sharp forever. Markings rely on a mix of water transfer decals and stickers rather than molded color, so getting the finished look Bandai shows on the box takes some decal work. It is also a Gundam Base Limited release, meaning secondary market pricing runs above a standard MG once first-run stock dries up.

Who it's for

Buy this if you already respect the MG Zaku II Ver 2.0 as an engineering platform and want the more visually interesting cannon-support loadout, or if you collect Zaku variants and want one with real backpack hardware instead of just a rifle. Skip it if you specifically want the tightest, newest joints MG can offer, or if hunting down a limited release and doing decal work is more hassle than you want. For anyone building a Zeon support-line display next to a standard Zaku II, this is the more interesting of the two to actually pose.

The build story

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

Assembly is smooth and low-frustration for an MG. Gate placement is clean, cleanup is minimal, and the base plastic already carries enough surface detail that even an out-of-box build looks purposeful before any panel lining goes on. Builders consistently describe it as a stress-free MG, which matters given how fiddly some kits in this grade can get.

The standout is the modular backpack. The cannon detaches from a properly detailed mounting point rather than just plugging into a flat socket, and the rocket launchers and their magazines pull off the waist independently, so you can build the gunner loadout or strip it back toward a standard Zaku silhouette. Combined with the double weapon set and the head/pilot options, the part count justifies the price band even before you factor in the limited-run collectibility.

Lore & trivia

01The Zaku Cannon originated from Zeon's MS-06J-12 program, an anti-aircraft project that was redirected toward mid-range fire support after the Earth Federation fielded the RX-77-2 Guncannon.
02It carries a 360 degree camera eye for improved target acquisition and beefed-up leg thrusters to manage the recoil and added mass of its 180mm backpack cannon.
03The design was later revisited and refined for Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn, where Zeon remnant forces still fielded Zaku Cannon units decades after the One Year War.
04This MG release uses the same core frame as the MG MS-06J Zaku II Ver 2.0, first released for the classic Zaku II line, reworked here with a Zeta Gundam-era color scheme as a Gundam Base Limited item.