Kit Review

Straight build + Stickers

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

HGBF Gundam Exia Dark Matter - Body unit only (1/2)

HGBF Gundam Exia Dark Matter - Body unit only (2/2)

Body only

HGBF Gundam Exia Dark Matter - Detail shots (1/4)

HGBF Gundam Exia Dark Matter - Detail shots (2/4)

Detail shots

You can choose between two face options: the Gundam-style face or the simple mask-style face.

HGBF Gundam Exia Dark Matter - From left to right: the Brinicle Blade, the Prominence Blade, and the Dark Matter Rifle. They'

From left to right: the Brinicle Blade, the Prominence Blade, and the Dark Matter Rifle.
They're all slight variations on the original Exia's weapons.

Includes 2 bent hands for gripping the 2 large blades.

Leftover parts.

HGBF Gundam Exia Dark Matter - Dark Matter Rifle action (1/3)

Dark Matter Rifle action

HGBF Gundam Exia Dark Matter - Double blade pose (1/3)

Double blade pose

HGBF Gundam Exia Dark Matter - Double blade action (1/3)

Double blade action

HGBF Gundam Exia Dark Matter - Dark Matter Blade action (1/3)

Dark Matter Blade action

Together with HG Exia.

The 13th kit in the Build Fighters HG lineup is the Gundam Exia Dark Matter, based on the Exia. The body makes use of one runner each from the HG Gundam Exia and the HG Gundam Exia Repair II, but the majority of the remaining runners are all new parts. On top of that, it comes bundled with the HG Dark Matter Booster, which was also released separately as a Build Custom kit. (For a review of the HG Dark Matter Booster, check out here.)

The body's framework is standard HG kit construction, but since the HG Exia was already a pretty solid HG-grade kit, the articulation and joint strength don't feel like they fall far behind HGUC standards. And since most of the parts outside the framework are new, the finished look feels quite fresh. The color scheme — a combination of red and black — gives it a weighty, imposing impression, and the large, bulky Dark Matter backpack adds even more presence to the whole thing.

For weapons, you get the Prominence Blade and the Brinicle Blade, both improved versions of the original Exia's GN Sword-type weapons, along with the Dark Matter Rifle as the ranged option. You can also detach parts from the Dark Matter backpack and use them as the Dark Matter Blade. It's got a flashy arsenal that's very much in keeping with the Build Fighters series.

In the end, while this kit started out from the concept of a customized unit, it's got enough personality to stand on its own as a kind of MSV. The weapons are flashy and the body itself has a stylish look, so striking action poses is a lot of fun^^ Either way, if you just like the style without worrying too much about the backstory, this is a solid, enjoyable HG kit worth picking up. :-)

HGBF Gundam Exia Dark Matter | 2014.3 | ¥1,800

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.