Mighty Strike Freedom Wins Fan-Voted Best Gundam of All Time Tournament

Over the last two weeks, IGN held a fan-voted tournament to determine what you think is the best Gundam in the nearly 50-year history of the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise. We’ve counted up the votes, and one champion has officially been crowned: Mighty Strike Freedom.

Introduced in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom, Mighty Strike Freedom is a combo of the Strike Freedom Gundam Type II and the Proud Defender support craft. The Proud Defender acts as the unit’s backpack, has offensive and defensive capabilities, and allows use of the Disruptor beam cannon and Futsunomitama sword.

It came into being when the Strike Freedom II piloted by Kira Yamato was on the verge of defeat. It was saved just in the nick of time, and Lacus Clyne arrived shortly after with the Proud Defender. The Strike Freedom II docked with the support craft, creating the Mighty Strike Freedom. The upgraded Gundam then repelled the enemy attack, launched a counterattack, and helped put an end to the Foundation Conflict.

We held this tournament in part to celebrate the release of Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe, which just came out in U.S. theaters today. It’s the second chapter of the Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway trilogy and follows the anti-government group MAFTY, led by protagonist Hathaway Noa, in its revolution seeking to overthrow the Earth Federation. Hathaway will have to grapple with questions like when revolutionaries become terrorists, when justice becomes extremism, and when war is worth the trauma it leaves in its wake. And as always, it features some epic mobile suit battles.

Congrats to Mighty Strike Freedom on the win, and thank you to everyone who voted. For all the latest coverage of the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise, stick to IGN.