Top 5 One Year War HG Gunpla Kits Every Gundam Collection Needs to Include

The One Year War is where Gundam began and where fans of the series were first introduced to the iconic RX-78-02 Gundam and a host of other equally memorable mobile suits.

The machines from this era are not always the biggest, flashiest, or most overarmed designs in the franchise, but they are some of the easiest to remember because of how fundamental they are to the franchise as a whole and how, 50 years later, new series still take inspiration from their designs.

Mobile suits from the One Year War era still work well in HG form, because the scale suits the grounded military feel while giving builders enough variety to create a collection that looks like it came from an actual military campaign.

You can move from Amuro’s Gundam to Char’s Zaku, from desert and jungle ground combat and through to Zeon’s stranger prototype weapons, while still feeling like everything belongs to the same conflict.

This ranking focuses on HG kits for mobile suits that featured during the One Year War, with the final order based on build enjoyment, accessories, articulation, story importance, collection presence, and how well each kit captures its part of the Universal Century.

5. HGUC 1/144 Gyan (Revive Ver.)

HGUC Gyan earns a place because it gives the One Year War one of its most unusual rival machines in a clean modern High Grade form.

Piloted by M’Quve in Mobile Suit Gundam, the Gyan has always stood apart from the Zaku, Gouf, Dom, and Gelgoog because it looks more like a medieval knight rather than a piece of military machinery.

The HGUC REVIVE kit understands that appeal, with slimmer proportions, strong articulation, a dedicated shield, and a clear beam saber that lets the finished model lean into fencing-style poses rather than ordinary rifle-and-shield stances.

That makes it a fun change of pace in a One Year War collection, especially when placed near the more military-looking Federation and Zeon machines.

The Gyan is not as central to the war as the RX-78, Char’s Zaku, or the ground-combat suits from The 08th MS Team, which is why it sits at number five rather than higher.

Even so, its personality is hard to ignore because very few One Year War mobile suits look this theatrical while still feeling connected to the original series.

The kit also benefits from being a newer HGUC take on an older mobile suit, so builders get a classic machine without having to deal with the rougher feel of a much older High Grade kit.

It is simple, sharp, and extremely easy to pose in ways that show why M’Quve’s suit still has a strange charm decades later.

For builders who want a One Year War HG kit that adds variety and a very different kind of Zeon presence to a collection, HGUC Gyan is a strong pick.

4. HGUC 1/144 RX-79[G]Ez-8 Gundam Ez8

Gundam Ez8 earns its spot because The 08th MS Team gives the One Year War a dirtier, more grounded feeling than the original series, and this kit captures that mood extremely well.

The Ez8 is not the clean, heroic Gundam arriving on the battlefield as a symbol of Federation power, as it feels practical and shaped by frontline survival, which makes it one of the most interesting Gundam-type mobile suits from the entire conflict.

The HGUC kit gives builders the beam rifle, 100mm machine gun, shield, and removable parachute pack, making it much more display-friendly than a basic standing model.

The broader chest, altered head, shield placement, and utilitarian equipment all help separate it from the standard RX-78-02 image, giving the kit its own clear personality even though it remains instantly recognizable as a Gundam-type machine.

It also pairs beautifully with other 08th MS Team kits, especially Gundam Ground Type, GM Ground Type, and Gouf Custom.

That makes it a particularly useful choice for builders who want a One Year War collection that goes beyond the most famous Amuro and Char machines.

The kit does not have the same polished modern feel as the newest HG releases, but it still delivers the right look, enough equipment, and a strong connection to one of Gundam’s most beloved side stories.

For builders who want a One Year War HG with a battlefield-worn Gundam identity, HGUC Gundam Ez8 is one of the easiest recommendations.

3. HGUC 1/144 Gouf Custom

HGUC Gouf Custom is one of the best antagonist-side HG kits from the One Year War because it turns a single mobile suit into a complete scene.

First appearing in The 08th MS Team, the Gouf Custom is remembered because it feels dangerous in a more personal way than many Zeon machines.

It is the machine tied to one of the most memorable tactical battles in Gundam animation, and the HGUC kit gives that reputation the physical presence it deserves.

The gatling shield is the obvious highlight, giving the suit a heavy forward-facing weapon setup that immediately makes it look different from a standard Gouf or Zaku.

The heat rod, heat saber, shield equipment, and bulky blue armor all help the kit feel like a close-range threat that can still dominate a wider battlefield.

What makes Gouf Custom so effective in a collection is that it looks like the natural evolution of earlier Zeonic mobile suits like the Zaku II.

There is nothing clean or ceremonial about it, because the whole mobile suit feels like an intimidating machine built for combat.

The HGUC release is not brand new, but it has aged well because the base machine is so strong and the weapon loadout gives it immediate display impact.

It also brings useful variety to a One Year War lineup, sitting between regular Zeon grunt suits and the larger, stranger late-war machines.

For builders who want a One Year War HG kit with grit and firepower, HGUC Gouf Custom absolutely deserves a top three spot.

2. HGUC 1/144 Char’s Zaku II

Char’s Zaku II is one of the most essential One Year War mobile suits ever made, and the 2020 HGUC kit gives it the approachable modern version it needed.

Before the later Gelgoog, Zeong, Sazabi, or Nightingale, Char’s red Zaku was the mobile suit that made the Red Comet feel terrifying from the start.

The suit itself is simple compared to many later Gundam machines, but that is exactly why it works so well in HG form.

The commander antenna, red coloring, mono-eye, Zaku Machine Gun, Heat Hawk, bazooka options, and clean Zeon proportions all make the finished kit instantly recognizable without needing extra spectacle.

It is the kind of kit that proves a great Gunpla collection does not only need rare prototypes or heavily armed Gundams.

Sometimes it needs a simple machine that made the enemy ace feel faster, sharper, and more dangerous than every other pilot on the field.

The 2020 HGUC release also gives builders a much better everyday version of Char’s Zaku than the older kit, with stronger articulation and a more modern build feel while still keeping the classic anime look intact.

That balance is important because Char’s Zaku should feel direct, iconic, and ready to stand opposite the Gundam as the suit that started one of the franchise’s most famous rivalries.

For builders who want a One Year War HG that feels historically important, easy to recognize, and essential to almost any Universal Century collection, HGUC Char’s Zaku II is one of the strongest choices available.

1. HGGTO 1/144 RX-78-02 Gundam (Gundam The Origin Ver.)

HG RX-78-02 Gundam from Gundam The Origin takes the number one spot because it gives the One Year War’s most important mobile suit one of its strongest High Grade interpretations.

The RX-78-02 is the machine that everything else in this era has to orbit around, and this version makes the classic Gundam feel detailed, flexible, and satisfying without leaving HG territory.

What makes the kit so strong is that it gives builders more than one way to enjoy the Gundam.

The early and middle forms let the suit shift between asymmetrical test-machine features and a more familiar balanced appearance, which adds real value to a build that could have been another straightforward RX-78 release.

The shoulder magnum, vulcan arrangement, forearm gatling option, moving calf verniers, movable toe parts, shield, rifles, beam sabers, and other equipment give the kit a much busier and more mechanical feel than many simpler RX-78 High Grades.

That extra detail is important because it makes the Gundam feel like a machine being refined during wartime rather than just a static icon.

It still has the heroic RX-78-02 shape, but the added equipment and part choices make it feel more connected to the wider One Year War setting.

The kit also works as the centrepiece of almost any 1/144 One Year War collection, because it can stand naturally beside Char’s Zaku II, mass-produced Zakus, GMs, Doms, Goufs, and ground-combat machines without feeling out of place.

It may not be the simplest RX-78-02 option for a brand-new builder, but it is one of the most rewarding for anyone who wants a detailed HG version of the original Gundam that started the franchise.

For builders who want the best overall HG Gunpla kit connected to the One Year War, HG RX-78-02 Gundam is the strongest pick.

An honorable mention should go to HGUC 1/144 Z’Gok Commander Type (Char’s Custom), because Char’s attack on Jaburo remains one of the most iconic scenes in Mobile Suit Gundam and the amphibious suit brings a very different shape to a One Year War collection.

HGUC 1/144 Gelgoog/Gelgoog Cannon is also worth remembering, especially for builders who want one of Zeon’s important late-war mass-production machines represented in HG form.

HGUC 1/144 GM deserves credit too, because the One Year War needs Federation grunt suits to feel complete, even if the older kit is much simpler than the flashier choices on this list.

HGUC 1/144 Guncannon (Revive Ver.) is another strong option for anyone building out the White Base team, while HG 1/144 Zaku II C-6/R6 from The Origin remains one of the best picks for builders who want a highly detailed mass-production Zaku.

In our view, HG RX-78-02 Gundam, HGUC Char’s Zaku II, HGUC Gouf Custom, HGUC Gundam Ez8, and HGUC Gyan represent the strongest overall HG Gunpla kits for mobile suits featured during the One Year War.

Together, they show why this era still matters so much to Gunpla builders, moving from the original Gundam and Char’s famous red Zaku to gritty ground-war machines, memorable Zeon rivals, and the kind of classic mobile suit variety that can anchor an entire Universal Century collection.

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