Gundam Exia
Gundam Exia is the primary lead mobile suit featured in Mobile Suit Gundam 00. Built by the private armed organization Celestial Being, it is a 3rd Generation Gundam piloted by Gundam Meister Setsuna F. Seiei. Developed from the high-mobility frame of the 2nd Generation Gundam Astraea, Exia is specifically engineered for close-quarters combat. Beyond its standard intervention duties, the machine was secretly designed as a countermeasure against potential traitors within the organization, equipping specialized weapon systems tailored to penetrate defensive barrier fields during anti-Gundam engagements.
Overview
Gundam Exia is the primary lead mobile suit featured in Mobile Suit Gundam 00. Built by the private armed organization Celestial Being, it is a 3rd Generation Gundam piloted by Gundam Meister Setsuna F. Seiei. Developed from the high-mobility frame of the 2nd Generation Gundam Astraea, Exia is specifically engineered for close-quarters combat. Beyond its standard intervention duties, the machine was secretly designed as a countermeasure against potential traitors within the organization, equipping specialized weapon systems tailored to penetrate defensive barrier fields during anti-Gundam engagements.
Appearance
Designed by Kanetake Ebikawa with an athletic, muscular silhouette, Gundam Exia is a humanoid mobile suit whose color scheme transitioned from an unpainted gray-and-white rollout palette to a blue-accented finish. Its back mounts a conical GN Drive power unit. To achieve human-like movement, its joints offer an expansive range of motion, featuring a complex three-layered structure at the knees. Mounting points for its armaments are positioned on the rear shoulders, rear waist, side waist latches, and forearms. Its dedicated shield features a distinctly sharp, pointed tip. When activating Trans-Am mode, compressed GN particles spread across its armor, casting a vivid reddish glow over the entire body.
Abilities
Exia excels in close-range combat, utilizing exceptional maneuverability and human-like joint articulation. Its core armament is the Seven Swords system: the composite GN Sword (which folds into a rifle mode to slice heavy armor and large units), the GN Long Blade and GN Short Blade (capable of cutting 3-meter-thick E-carbon and breaching GN Fields), and four beam blades (two GN Beam Sabers and two GN Beam Daggers) with internal GN condensers suitable for throwing. Additional equipment includes forearm-mounted GN Vulcans and a strike-capable GN Shield. Upon engaging Trans-Am, all compressed GN particles are released, boosting defense, mobility, and tripling performance output.
Background
Developed under the master plan of Celestial Being founder Aeolia Schenberg, Gundam Exia was created as a 3rd Generation Mobile Suit derived from the frame of the 2nd Generation prototype Gundam Astraea. Assigned to Gundam Meister Setsuna F. Seiei, the unit led numerous armed interventions across the globe to eradicate warfare. Unknown to the world, it held a vital secondary contingency: acting as an anti-Gundam killer machine meant to stop internal traitors abusing Celestial Being tech. During the final showdown against the United Nations forces, Exia engaged the Alvaaron, using Trans-Am to slice through its defensive field. The duel culminated in a brutal clash with the GN Flag, leaving Exia heavily damaged.
Relationships
Setsuna F. Seiei serves as Exia's dedicated Gundam Meister, forming a deep bond with the machine during missions. Aeolia Schenberg, founder of Celestial Being, entrusted Exia with the hidden Trans-Am system and its role as an anti-Gundam countermeasure to rectify deviations in his grand plan. Alejandro Corner, who betrayed the organization, confronted Exia while piloting the Alvaaron, only to have his GN Field shattered by Exia's physical blades. Additionally, Exia engaged in a dramatic final duel against Graham Aker, who piloted the customized GN Flag, resulting in mutual heavy destruction. Conceptually, Exia shares direct structural lineage with its prototype predecessor, Gundam Astraea.
Trivia
Mechanical designer Kanetake Ebikawa created Exia with a muscular, athletic concept despite its slender visual impression. Early concept drafts included particle-supply cables running visible across its entire body, a single weapon capable of morphing into seven different configurations, and an upgraded Exia 1.5 concept—ideas later adapted into various side-story MSV designs. The suit has inspired distinct real-world custom designs, including a Dragons-themed custom model gifted to former baseball manager Hiromitsu Ochiai and a collaboration color scheme featuring VTuber Shirakami Fubuki. It has also received extensive merchandise releases across nearly every major plastic model kit line.
