RX-0[N] Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn (Final Battle Ver.)
The lion counterpart gets its green psycho frame moment, and it earns every bit of the gold trim.
MechaGrade Score
Unicorn Gundam · 1/100 · 2015
Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
This is the Banshee Norn at its most complete, and I think it is the version to own if you only get one.
The green psycho frame calls back to the actual final battle against Full Frontal's Sinanju, the gold plated horn parts and Ver.Ka style foil decals give it a finish the earlier white Banshee release never had, and it comes loaded with both Armed Armor DE and XC plus the upgraded Beam Magnum with the revolving launcher. It is built on the same proven Katoki frame every Banshee MG uses, so the engineering underneath is not new, but the dress-up here is the best the line has gotten.
Best for: UC fans who already love the Unicorn/Banshee story beat and want the Full Frontal showdown look on the shelf, not first time builders looking for their cheapest way into psycho frame kits
What it is
This kit depicts Banshee Norn the way it looked in its last real fight, matched up against the Unicorn to take down Full Frontal's Sinanju, and that context shows up everywhere in the parts. The green tinted frame under the white armor genuinely reads as psycho frame lit up rather than a random accent color, and it plays nicely against the standard Unicorn's own frame glow when you have both on a shelf together. The gold plating on the horn parts and the mane-like collar pieces (the whole Banshee design leans lion instead of unicorn, and this version pushes that harder) gives it a premium look straight out of the runners. Handling the Armed Armor DE and XC alongside the upgraded Beam Magnum in hand, I felt like this is the loadout the character deserved.
The catch
This is a Premium Bandai webshop exclusive, so pricing and availability run higher than a retail MG and you are often hunting secondary market listings or proxy services to get one. It shares its frame and articulation entirely with every other MG Banshee release (OVA, Ver.Ka, Norn), so if you already own one of those, you are paying the premium mostly for the new color and gold plating, not a mechanical upgrade. Builders have flagged the joints struggling a bit under the weight of the armor add-ons in dynamic poses, and getting the more dramatic action poses to hold takes some patience with the leg and waist joints.
Who it's for
Buy this if you already know the Unicorn Gundam story and specifically want the Full Frontal confrontation captured on your shelf, or if you collect Banshee variants and the green psycho frame colorway is the one gap you have. Skip it if you are new to MG kits or just want a Banshee for the sake of having one, since the standard white Ver.Ka release gets you the same engineering for less money and less hunting. It is also not the pick if display space or budget is tight, since the accessory loadout and premium pricing both ask for more shelf room and more cash than a base release.
The build story
What the build is actually like, and the engineering worth knowing about.
The build itself follows the well worn MG Banshee path, since this shares its runners and frame assembly with the OVA and Ver.Ka releases that have been out for years. That means the inner frame goes together the way builders already expect from this line, with the usual multi-layer polycap and frame construction that MG Unicorn-family kits are known for, and no surprises in part fit once you are working through the familiar sequence.
Where this version earns its keep is in the color separation and accessories. The green tinted frame parts mean far less painting is needed to get the final battle look molded straight in, the gold plated horn and collar pieces are a genuine step up from the plain white Banshee's stickers-and-paint approach, and having both Armed Armor DE and XC plus the upgraded Beam Magnum in the box means you are not chasing down expansion sets to get the complete final battle silhouette.
Lore & trivia
- 01The Banshee's design motif is a lion rather than a unicorn, shown through the golden mane-like collar and more elaborate head antenna, a deliberate contrast to the Unicorn Gundam's namesake horn.
- 02This Final Battle Ver. recolor reflects the climax of Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn where Banshee Norn and Unicorn Gundam fight together against Full Frontal's Sinanju, with Banagher ultimately defeating Frontal.
- 03The kit was released as a Premium Bandai webshop exclusive, distinguishing it from the more widely available original white MG Banshee and MG Banshee Norn retail releases.
- 04Armed Armor XC is the signature new equipment tied to this Norn specification, built to help an Oldtype pilot trigger the NT-D system that the original Banshee needed a Newtype for.
What other builders say
This write-up is grounded in real reviews and builder discussion, not just one opinion. A few worth reading:
More reviews
All reviews
ORX-139 Hambrabi (GQ)
A transforming prototype MS that gives an HG the kind of gimmick usually reserved for MG price tags.
XXXG-01SR2 Gundam Sandrock Custom EW
The desert Gundam's upgrade finally gets the small-scale treatment its heat shotels deserve.
ASW-G-08 Gundam Barbatos Adapt
Same battered soul, a whole new frame under the patchwork armor.