MGCosmic Era

ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam Ver.2.0 & Kira Yamato (Dramatic Combination: MG x Figure-riseBust)

The definitive Freedom, plus its pilot standing right beside it.

MechaGrade Score

4.3/5

Freedom Gundam Ver.2.0 & Kira Yamato (Dramatic Combination: MG x Figure-riseBust) · 1/100 · 2017

GradeMG

Scale1/100

Released2017

Runnersn/a

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The verdict

This is one of the best MG remakes Bandai has done, and bundling in the Figure-rise Bust Kira Yamato turns a great kit into a small display scene.

I built the Freedom expecting a nice upgrade over the 2006 original and came away with something that holds full-burst poses on its own merit, wings and all. The Kira bust is a nice bonus rather than the main event, but having pilot and machine share a shelf moment is exactly the kind of thing that makes a Gunpla display feel alive.

Best for: SEED fans who want the current best version of Freedom Gundam and like the idea of a pilot bust sharing the display base

The full review

What it is

The Ver.2.0 rework of ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam is Bandai correcting almost everything that felt dated about the original 2006 release. Proportions are tighter, the frame underneath is a proper inner skeleton instead of the old peg-and-panel approach, and the wings, rail cannons, and plasma cannons all deploy into full-burst mode without you fighting the parts. This Dramatic Combination version adds a Figure-rise Bust of Kira Yamato in the same scale, on a stand that clips to the Gundam's own display base. Building it felt like getting two small projects that pay off as one finished scene, and the Freedom alone is worth the box.

The catch

The inner frame is genuinely delicate in spots, and more than a few builders report cracked or stressed frame joints from overly enthusiastic posing, especially around the hips and shoulder blocks. There are no polycaps in the usual sense, so joints are tight for great pose retention early on but that also means less forgiveness if you twist too hard while learning the kit. The wings are heavy, and without the action base the Freedom struggles to stand in the wide-open full-burst pose. Some panel markings rely on a sticker and dry transfer sheet rather than molded color or decals, which will bother detail purists.

Who it's for

This is a strong pick for anyone who already loves Gundam SEED and wants Freedom Gundam done right, or for MG builders who enjoy fussy inner-frame kits with a real payoff in articulation. The Kira bust makes it a fun pickup for people who want a display piece with a human element, not just another mech on the shelf. If you're brand new to MG building I'd still say go for it, just be gentle with the hip and shoulder joints during your first few pose changes. Skip it only if you specifically want a big, sturdy shelf-sitter with no fragility concerns, since that's the one real tradeoff here.

The build story

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

Gate placement is mostly considerate for an MG of this generation, and the tight, polycap-free joints mean parts click together with real resistance rather than the loose peg fit older MGs are known for. That tightness is a double-edged sword during the build itself, since forcing a joint before you understand how far it wants to rotate is exactly how the reported frame cracks happen. Once you're past the frame assembly and into armor plating the pace picks up and the kit feels satisfying rather than fiddly.

The articulation is the headline. Double-jointed elbows and knees, a ball-jointed neck, a torso that can crunch and twist, and shoulders that tilt forward let you build genuine full-burst and combat poses, not just the box art stance. Weapon loadout covers the beam rifle, beam saber, and anti-beam shield, and the wing-mounted rail cannons and plasma cannons deploy for the signature full-burst silhouette. For the price band, getting an MG-quality Freedom plus a same-scale Kira bust and dual display stand in one box is a strong value proposition.

Lore & trivia

01The ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam is powered by a Neutron Jammer Canceller, which lets it run its nuclear reactor and Phase Shift armor continuously instead of relying on a battery like most Cosmic Era mobile suits of its time.
02Kira Yamato, the Freedom's pilot, previously flew the GAT-X105 Strike Gundam before receiving the Freedom from ZAFT's Junius Seven splinter faction Morgenroete/Clyne Faction engineers, including his friend Athrun's father's legacy team.
03This Ver.2.0 release replaced the original 2006 MG Freedom Gundam kit, giving the suit a proper inner frame, revised proportions, and improved full-burst wing articulation that the first version lacked.
04The Dramatic Combination packaging pairs the MG with a Figure-rise Bust of Kira Yamato on a stand designed to physically connect to the Gundam's own action base for a shared display scene.