RG Destiny Impulse Gundam: P-Bandai Exclusive Details & Image Gallery
An exclusive collector's item for modelers seeking a superior building experience. Image via Gundam Fandom.
The ZGMF-X56S/θ Destiny Impulse Gundam is a key design within the Mobile Suit Variation (MSV) line of the Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny series. This category includes canonical designs that, while part of the timeline's technological development, did not appear in the main animation. Its release as a Premium Bandai (P-Bandai) web-shop exclusive in the prestigious Real Grade (RG) line highlights its status as a collector's item, aimed at modelers seeking superior fidelity and a premium building experience.
This kit is built upon the foundation of one of the most solid and acclaimed chassis in the modern RG line—the Impulse Gundam. However, its exclusive components, primarily the imposing "Destiny Silhouette" backpack, push that very chassis to its structural limits. This creates a display piece with strengths and weaknesses that mirror the mobile suit's own history: a brilliant and ambitious concept, yet burdened by its own complexity.
Product Information
- Price: 5,060 JPY (P-Bandai Japan, tax incl.) / US$ 61.00 (P-Bandai USA). Prices are approximate and may vary by retailer and location.
- Release Date: April 2023 (Japan)
- Rerelease Date: September 2025 (USA Reissue)
- Scale: 1/144
- Series: Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DESTINY MSV
- Line: Real Grade (RG)
- Product Type: P-Bandai Exclusive
Note: Accessing the P-Bandai Japan website may require a VPN. International buyers wishing to purchase from the Japanese store will need to use a proxy shipping service.
Kit Features
Bandai's decision to base this kit on the RG Force Impulse Gundam (2020) chassis instead of the RG Destiny Gundam (2013) was crucial. The RG Impulse is considered a pinnacle of the line's modern engineering, minimizing the use of the problematic pre-assembled "Advanced MS Joint" inner frame and resulting in a robust structure with firm joints.
The model showcases the distinctive reddish-purple and white color scheme of Unit 1. Image via P-Bandai.
The components that define this model are newly molded: the "Destiny Silhouette" backpack, the two "Telescopic Barrel" beam cannons, the wings, and the forearm sections that house the "Flash Edge" boomerangs. The backpack is not a copy of the RG Destiny's; its design is more angular, mechanical, and voluminous, reflecting its prototype nature. However, the weight of these new components compromises the chassis's stability. Notable weak points include the backpack-to-back connection, the arm joints that can sag under the weight of the "Excalibur" swords, and the hip mechanism that can slip due to the overall weight.
The imposing "Destiny Silhouette" backpack is the main component of this mobile suit. Image via P-Bandai.
The kit faithfully reproduces the distinctive color scheme and includes a sheet of original design water-slide decals, a premium feature that allows for a professional finish similar to that of a painted model.
Kit Contents
To deliver this comprehensive experience, the Real Grade kit comes with everything modelers need:
- Parts to assemble the ZGMF-X56S/θ Impulse Gundam
- "Destiny Silhouette" backpack
- 2 "Telescopic Barrel" Beam Cannons
- 2 "Excalibur" Laser Anti-ship Swords (reused from RG Sword Impulse Gundam)
- MA-BAR72 High-Energy Beam Rifle
- 2 RQM60 "Flash Edge" Beam Boomerangs
- Beam Shield
- Water-slide decals
- Interchangeable hand parts
- Additional parts from the RG Sword Impulse runners
The concept aimed to integrate short, mid, and long-range combat capabilities. Image via P-Bandai.
ZGMF-X56S/θ Destiny Impulse Gundam
The Destiny Impulse project was born from ZAFT's goal to create an ultimate mobile suit that integrated the short, mid, and long-range combat capabilities of the Sword, Force, and Blast packs into a single backpack—the "Destiny Silhouette"—eliminating the need to switch equipment.
The "Telescopic Barrel" cannons are newly molded components for this exclusive kit. Image via P-Bandai.
The concept failed for two main reasons. First, the energy consumption of the integrated arsenal drained the Impulse Gundam's battery at an unsustainable rate, drastically limiting its operational time. Second, the Impulse's frame, already complex due to its transformation system, could not withstand the physical stress and massive weight of the new backpack and its weapons. These failures led engineers to design a completely new mobile suit from the ground up: the ZGMF-X42S Destiny Gundam. This new model incorporated a "Hyper-Deuterion" energy reactor and a reinforced chassis, becoming the true successor to the concept that the Destiny Impulse could only test.
The backpack's weight compromised the stability of the original Impulse chassis. Image via P-Bandai.
The kit includes a beam rifle, shield, and interchangeable hand parts. Image via P-Bandai.
The prototype was assigned to test pilots like Mare Strode (Unit 1) and Courtney Heironimus (Unit 3), key figures in the SEED Astray side stories who evaluated the machine's capabilities.
The forearms house the newly molded "Flash Edge" beam boomerangs. Image via P-Bandai.
The "Excalibur" laser anti-ship swords were reused from the RG Sword Impulse Gundam. Image via P-Bandai.
An optional accessory allows for recreating a maximum power pose for display. Image via P-Bandai.
This P-Bandai release brings a highly anticipated MSV design to the Real Grade line. What are your thoughts on the Destiny Impulse Gundam? Let us know in the comments below!
Where to Buy
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For this specific kit: This is a Premium Bandai exclusive. You can secure the upcoming reissue directly from P-Bandai USA.
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Sources
- ＲＧ 1/144 デスティニーインパルス | バンダイ ホビーサイト. Bandai Hobby Site. (Accessed July 21, 2025)
- RG 1/144 DESTINY IMPULSE GUNDAM. Premium Bandai USA. (Accessed July 21, 2025)
- ZGMF-X56S/θ Destiny Impulse Gundam. Gundam Fandom. (Accessed July 21, 2025)
- MSV (Mobile Suit Variation). Mecha Anime HQ. (Accessed July 21, 2025)
- レビュー｜RG デスティニーインパルスガンダム. FUSMガンプラレポ. (Accessed July 21, 2025)
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