METAL BUILD AQM/E-X02 Sword Striker [ Alternative Strike ver. ], Premium Bandai

The final equipment set from the first half of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED is now available as part of the premium METAL BUILD Alternative Strike lineup. This expansion highlights the iconic Schwert Gewehr, which features a blade extension gimmick that allows seamless switching between short and long blade modes to match dynamic action poses. The shoulder-mounted Midas Messer incorporates an original mechanism that enables natural hilt-grabbing poses, while the left-arm Panzer Eisen can recreate its claw-launching state for dramatic combat displays.

Like the Launcher Strike configuration, this set includes dedicated stand parts for suspending the Aile and Launcher Strikers, significantly expanding the display possibilities for the GAT-X105 Strike Gundam. The expansion pack’s pegs and connectors are also compatible with select Strike versions in the Gundam Astray METAL BUILD series, offering new customization options for Gundam SEED, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DESTINY, and Astray units. Additionally, joint arms are included to attach the Striker Pack to the MBF-P02 Gundam Astray Red Frame Kai (Alternative Strike Ver.) and the MBF-P03 Gundam Astray Blue Frame Second Revise (both sold separately), allowing for dual-sword configurations and expanded MSV Alternative Strike display variations. A special display base is also included, capable of supporting the Striker Pack and connecting with the opposite Alternative Strike pack system base for an even more impressive extended presentation.

The AQM/E-X02 Sword Striker is a close-range melee combat Striker Pack featured in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED. Designed to maximize hand-to-hand and anti-ship combat capability, this equipment system is primarily used with the GAT-X105 Strike Gundam. The Sword Striker is armed with the massive Schwert Gewehr anti-ship sword, the Panzer Eisen rocket anchor, and the Midas Messer beam boomerang, forming a devastating loadout optimized for high-impact melee engagements. The backpack unit integrates the Schwert Gewehr, an auxiliary battery, a close-combat support information control system, and a thermal accumulator to improve operational efficiency and combat endurance.

The Midas Messer is shoulder-mounted, while the Panzer Eisen is arm-mounted and can function as a small defensive shield. Notably, the Sword Striker deployed aboard the Archangel is a prototype variant, meaning the Schwert Gewehr’s hilt-mounted laser gun is non-functional and replaced with a beam blade emitter. Although occasionally used by Kira Yamato and Mu La Flaga, the pack was more commonly assigned to the Skygrasper No. 2, piloted by Cagalli Yula Athha or Tolle Koenig. Thanks to its weapon design, the Sword Striker is also effective in underwater combat and features the lowest energy consumption among Striker Packs, granting it superior battlefield endurance.

In Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny Astray R: Phantom Pain Report, a new “Another Trial” version of the Sword Striker is revealed for use with the GAT-X105E Strike E. This upgraded configuration removes the additional shoulder armor, mounts the Midas Messer onto a modified Panzer Eisen, and doubles the number of these weapons for enhanced offensive output. The Another Trial variant also introduces visual changes, including blue VPS armor adjustments, further distinguishing it from the original Sword Striker design.

The Metal Build Alternative Strike is a premium collector’s figure inspired by the Striker Pack system from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED. Developed under the METAL BUILD brand, this release reimagines the Striker equipment concept with enhanced proportions, refined detailing, and a heavy use of die-cast metal parts. Designed to be compatible with Strike-series units such as the GAT-X105 Strike Gundam, the Alternative Strike configuration emphasizes modular customization, allowing collectors to recreate multiple combat loadouts with high stability and mechanical realism.

True to the METAL BUILD philosophy, the Alternative Strike features sharp panel lines, premium paint applications, and electroplated joints that enhance durability and visual impact. The interchangeable Striker Packs are engineered with complex gimmicks and secure mounting mechanisms, ensuring dynamic posing without sacrificing balance. Combining anime-accurate styling with original design arrangements, the Metal Build Alternative Strike offers a high-end display piece that highlights the versatility and evolution of the Strike Gundam platform.