Top 5 Mobile Armors of Gundam

Mobile armors are usually a rare sight in Gundam, but when they do show up, they are sure to have a massive presence on the battlefield. In general, mobile armors are significantly larger, faster, and more heavily armed than mobile suits. That is why I consider them the mini-bosses of Gundam; entire episodes usually revolve around them, and it always takes a large amount of effort to take them down. This list is dedicated to the 5 most memorable mobile armors in all of Gundam lore. Note that while their devastating power is definitely a factor, this list does not count down the most powerful mobile armors. Also, transformable mobile suits do not count as mobile armors.


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5. NZ-333 Alpha Azieru
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The Alpha Azieru is a monstrous Newtype mobile armor and surely one of the most memorable. Though it is piloted by the insufferable Quess Paraya, the Alpha Azieru represents the pinnacle of mobile armor technology during Char's Counterattack, much like how the Nu Gundam does the same for mobile suits. The first thing one will notice is its size; it easily towers over the Nu Gundam, which is already a large mobile suit. It is also packed with powerful weapons, including funnels, beam guns, and a mega particle cannon capable of wiping out several mobile suits in a single shot. It would have sat a little better with me if it was piloted by a less infuriating individual, but it's hard to deny its place as one of more terrifying mobile weapons in the U.C. timeline.

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4. MAN-08 Elmeth
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The Elmeth is notable for several reasons, one of which is the impact it left on the Gundam franchise. Piloted by Lalah Sune, the Elmeth is one of the most instantly recognizable mobile armors, mainly due to the famous scene between Amuro, Char, and Lalah. In general, the Elmeth exhibits the very first use of wirelessly controlled Newtype weapons in the form of bits. With these bits, the Elmeth manages to cause a widespread scare by destroying mobile suits and battleships completely unseen. Even on the battlefield, the Elmeth manages to prove effective by launching all-range attacks with its numerous bits. In its accidental demise at the hands of Amuro and the Gundam, it became a symbol of the volatile dynamic between him and Char, and of the legacy of Newtype mobile armors as a whole. 

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3. AMA-X7 Shamblo
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The Shamblo stands as one of the most powerful and advanced mobile armors to appear in the U.C. timeline. It's impressive how the Zeon remnants managed to design and finance this monster, but that's another story. The Shamblo is actually an amphibious mobile armor, and it uses this ability to stealthily launch pre-emptive strikes. In all of its appearances, it manages to wreak absolute havoc, destroying everything in its path and shrugging off all manner of attacks sent its way. One of its most notable attributes is its set of Reflector bits, which reflect beam weaponry and render them useless. It is not until the Shamblo and its pilot are rendered completely defenseless that the protagonists are able to incapacitate it. Although it does not last too long, it's definitely one of the best examples of an overwhelming and dangerous mobile armor.


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2. Apsalus
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The almighty Apsalus had the potential to be one of the most devastating weapons in the U.C. universe. Its only flaw was that even after three versions, it never actually got to fulfill its purpose. It was designed to destroy the underground base Jaburo after Zeon forces had failed to do so. With the unique "Minovsky Craft System", the Apsalus was meant to elevate itself into Earth's lower orbit and fire off a powerful Mega Particle Cannon that would have easily destroyed the base. Although it fails due to the efforts of the 8th MS team, it definitely sounded brutal in theory. As a near-superweapon that the entire 8th MS Team anime revolved around, the Apsalus is unarguably one of the most prominent mobile armors in the Gundam metaverse.

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1. Dendrobium Orchis/Neue Ziel
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I've never put two entries in the same spot before, but I feel this is the most appropriate way to go. The titanic battle between Kou Uraki's Dendrobium Orchis and Anavel Gato's Neue Ziel is one of the most memorable moments in Gundam history, and it's the first and only time the hero and villain used massive mobile armors to fight their final battle. Their significance isn't their only claim to fame; the Dendrobium Orchis and Neue Ziel also happen to be some of the most impressive and powerful mobile weapons in early U.C. history. Armed with advanced I-field barriers, remote weapons, and devastating beam weapons, these two mobile armors were capable of causing some major damage. They are the trademarks of Stardust Memory, which is why I couldn't help but put them together in the number one spot.


Check out my other Gundam Top 5 lists~