Gundam Assemble Base Size: Complete Guide to Miniature Scale and Dimensions

Gundam Assemble base size is standardized at approximately 5 cm (roughly 2 inches) tall across every miniature in Bandai’s competitive tabletop game launched in October 2026. This consistent scale represents a dramatic shift from traditional Gunpla model kits, shrinking iconic mobile suits down to skirmish-sized game pieces designed for tactical hex-grid combat rather than display shelf spectacle.

The uniform 5 cm scale applies to every unit in the system, from the RX-78-2 Gundam in Starter Set 01 to the Witch from Mercury suits in Expansion Pack 02. Bandai deliberately chose this size to create a functional tabletop game where every mobile suit occupies the same footprint on the hex board, regardless of which anime series it originally appeared in or how large the suit would be in lore.

Understanding the 5 cm Miniature Scale

Every unit in Gundam Assemble finishes at about 5 cm or roughly 2 inches tall once assembled. This represents a jarring contrast for anyone used to Bandai’s Master Grade or Perfect Grade Gunpla kits, some of which are large enough to loom over a display shelf. The Gamer’s launch coverage made that contrast the center of its critique, arguing that Gunpla’s appeal has traditionally been built on scale and physical presence, and that shrinking flagship suits down to skirmish size for competitive play trades that spectacle away entirely.

The kits still ship unpainted and unassembled exactly like standard Gunpla, so players are expected to snap or glue the parts together and paint them before ever playing a match. There’s no pre-built option anywhere in the line at any price tier. Bandai even sells a dedicated paint pack Nero 1 accessory bundle alongside the minis for players starting from zero hobby experience.

Goonhammer’s early hands-on with a batch of card game pack-in miniatures covering roughly a dozen models across just a few sets singled out the Tallgeese as the standout sculpt of the whole range. A later, more critical review of the TP07B Zaku II release found the plastic itself heavy-duty with chunky runners noticeably cheaper than comparable Games Workshop miniatures, though not quite as crisp in the finer sculpted detail. That same Zaku splits into six pieces during assembly, and reviewers wished the arms detached separately to make sub-assembly painting easier before final construction.

Hex Grid System and Base Footprint

Gundam Assemble runs on a hex-gridded board with two players or two teams, each fielding a squad of mobile suits and taking turns acting within a structure the rulebook calls the timeline. The hex grid provides the foundation for all movement, range calculation, and line of sight determination in the game.

A simple move the rulebook calls advancing lets a unit shift up to three hexes, while a heavier action costs more timeline and delays that unit’s next turn accordingly. The timeline itself is divided into 10 rounds, and once those 10 rounds finish, the game’s first phase ends and a second phase begins, giving every match a built-in two-act structure.

Combat ranges are measured across the hex grid, and any ability that cares about range also requires line of sight to the target. A player can’t snipe an enemy suit through a wall of terrain or another mobile suit standing directly in the way just because the numbers on the card would otherwise line up favorably.

Early hands-on coverage repeatedly praised how little terrain investment the game demands compared to bigger tabletop war games. A hex board and a modest handful of cardboard terrain pieces, all included in the starter box itself at no extra cost, is enough to run a genuinely complete match. This is one of the most commonly cited reasons early reviewers considered Gundam Assemble noticeably more approachable than the established war games it keeps getting compared against.

Product Line Size Consistency

The standardized Gundam Assemble base size remains consistent across every product released in the October 2026 launch wave and planned follow-up releases. This uniformity is essential for competitive play and squad building across multiple sets.

Starter Set 01

Starter Set 01 launched at a $35 MSRP with six miniatures: RX-78-2, Char’s Zaku, Wing Gundam Zero EW, Gundam Mepphyon, Gundam Vidar, and Barbatos Lupus Rex. All six suits finish at the same 5 cm scale despite representing different eras of the franchise. The set includes six matching unit cards, 18 tactics cards, a set of 10-sided dice, a game map, game tokens, cardboard terrain pieces, a handbook, and a quick reference sheet.

Expansion Packs

Expansion Pack 01 released around October 31, 2026 at a $40 price point, pulling mobile suits from Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn. The pack includes three miniatures: the Unicorn Gundam, the Delta Plus, and a third unit. All three miniatures arrive unpainted and unassembled at the same 5 cm scale.

Expansion Pack 02 released in the same October to November 2026 window, bringing in Gundam Aerial, Gundam Pharact, and Gundam Darilbalde from Mobile Suit Gundam The Witch from Mercury. As with the rest of the line, all three miniatures finish at roughly the same 5 cm scale as everything else in the system, ship unpainted, and require full assembly before they can hit the table.

Deluxe Set 01

Deluxe Set 01 is the premium entry in the launch lineup at a $100 price point, containing 13 miniatures in total. It reuses the Witch from Mercury cast plus additional units, all supplied unpainted and unassembled at the standard 5 cm scale. The set includes a full set of unit cards, tactics cards, game tokens, two scenario objective cards, two separate game maps, cardboard terrain objects, 10-sided dice, a handbook, and two quick reference rule sheets.

Assembly and Painting Considerations

The consistent thread across nearly every piece of early coverage is that cleanup and painting here is genuinely rewarding hobby work in its own right, and that Gunpla veterans in particular will feel instantly at home with the build process even once the drastically smaller scale takes some adjusting to.

A review of the TP07B Zaku II release flagged real mold lines along the legs, recommending sanding sticks over a standard hobby knife for cleanup. The Zaku splits into six pieces during assembly. The smaller 5 cm scale means finer detail work requires more precision during both cleanup and painting compared to larger Gunpla kits.

Early card game pack-in miniatures that shipped in 2025 included a simple trio: the TP S-01 Gundam, TP S-02 Guncannon, and TP S-03 Guntank. Later starter decks included miniatures like a Tallgeese, a Leo armed with a rifle, and a second Leo armed with a beam cannon. These minis could be snapped together, painted, and then placed directly on token cards during a match.

Squad Size and Tactical Implications

The format’s baseline is a minimum of three units per side, rather than the dozens common in bigger miniature games. Starter Set 01 is built as a full three-on-three skirmish box, while Deluxe Set 01 scales up to a five-on-five battle.

Every single model in a Gundam Assemble squad carries real tactical weight. Losing one unit is a far bigger swing than losing one model out of 30 ever would be in a larger scale war game. That smaller footprint is framed as the format’s core beginner hook: fewer models to learn, fewer models to paint before a game is even playable, and a squad that can realistically go from sealed box to finished tabletop army in a single weekend rather than becoming a season-long painting project.

Beginner guides distill squad construction down to a simple framework: pick one unit that creates threat and forces an opponent to react, one unit that helps keep your formation and positioning under control, and one unit that gives flexible options to cover mistakes or support a play already in motion elsewhere on the board.

Scale Comparison Table

Product Type	Gundam Assemble	Master Grade Gunpla	Perfect Grade Gunpla
Height	~5 cm (2 in)	~18-30 cm	~30-45 cm
Purpose	Tactical gameplay	Display model	Premium display
Assembly time	Single session	Several hours	Full weekend+
Price point	$35-100+ per set	$30-60 per kit	$100-300+ per kit

Cross-Series Compatibility

The standardized 5 cm scale enables Bandai’s core pitch: squad-based combat using mobile suits pulled from across the entire Gundam franchise rather than one series. A classic Universal Century Zaku can end up fighting a suit from a show that aired decades later, all on the same hex board at the same scale.

The six suits in Starter Set 01 deliberately span eras: the original RX-78-2 Gundam from the Universal Century’s One Year War sits alongside Wing Gundam Zero EW from Endless Waltz and Gundam Vidar from Iron-Blooded Orphans. That spread means a box aimed squarely at total beginners is by its own design already staging a crossover battle between suits that never shared a screen in the original anime.

Release Schedule and Future Compatibility

More than 30 total items are planned worldwide within the first year. Reporting from mid-2026 detailed six further products landing across January, February, and March 2027 alone, including four more $40 expansion packs, a $170 deluxe set 03, and the format’s first-ever $55 scenario pack.

The company has committed to a release cadence that looks closer to a trading card game than a typical model line. Every new release maintains the same 5 cm base size, ensuring that miniatures from different waves remain fully compatible for squad building and organized play.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the exact Gundam Assemble base size?

Every miniature in Gundam Assemble measures approximately 5 cm or roughly 2 inches tall once assembled. This scale is consistent across all product lines, from starter sets to expansion packs to deluxe sets.

How does the 5 cm scale compare to regular Gunpla?

Gundam Assemble miniatures are significantly smaller than traditional Gunpla. Master Grade kits typically stand 18-30 cm tall, while Perfect Grade kits can reach 30-45 cm or larger. The 5 cm scale prioritizes uniform gameplay over display presence.

Are different product sets compatible on the same board?

Yes. The standardized 5 cm scale ensures full compatibility across all Gundam Assemble products. Units from Starter Set 01, Expansion Pack 01, Expansion Pack 02, and Deluxe Set 01 all work together on the same hex grid.

Do the miniatures come pre-assembled at this size?

No. Like standard Gunpla, all Gundam Assemble miniatures ship unpainted and unassembled. Players are expected to snap or glue the parts together and paint them before playing. Bandai sells a dedicated Nero 1 paint pack accessory bundle for beginners.

How many miniatures fit on the game board?

Starter Set 01 supports three-on-three battles (six miniatures total), while Deluxe Set 01 scales up to five-on-five battles (10 miniatures total). The hex grid and included terrain accommodate both squad sizes.

Will future releases maintain the same base size?

Based on Bandai’s product announcements through early 2027, all planned releases maintain the 5 cm standard. This consistency is essential for organized play and competitive balance across the expanding product line.