Evangelion Unit-00
The first Evangelion prototype, piloted by Rei Ayanami.
Evangelion Unit-00 was the first of the Evangelion units created by NERV in the Evangelion franchise. It was a prototype—a test platform for the technology that would later be refined in Unit-01 and Unit-02. Despite its limitations, Unit-00 served as a critical proof of concept and was piloted by Rei Ayanami throughout the series.
Design
Original configuration
In its original configuration, Unit-00 was a squat, unstable-looking machine. Its armour was predominantly orange, with a single cyclopean eye and a simplified facial structure. It lacked the refinement of later units and was prone to berserker episodes—most notably during its activation test, when it went out of control and injured Rei.
The original Unit-00 was powered by an internal battery with limited operational time and required an umbilical cable for extended operations. Its armour was less sophisticated than that of later units, and its synchronisation ratio with Rei was lower than the ratios achieved by Unit-01 and Unit-02.
Rebuilt configuration
After Unit-00 was destroyed in battle against the Angel Ramiel, it was rebuilt in a new configuration. The rebuilt Unit-00 featured blue armour, a more refined facial structure, and improved synchronisation capabilities. It was closer in performance to the later units, though still not their equal.
The rebuilt Unit-00 retained the ability to mount the same armaments as its predecessor and was equipped with improved defensive systems.
Armaments
Unit-00’s primary weapons were:
- Progressive Knife — A high-frequency vibration blade capable of cutting through Angel armour. It was Unit-00’s standard melee weapon, stored in a shoulder pylon.
- Pallet Rifle — A standard-issue automatic firearm used in several early engagements. Effective against smaller Angels but insufficient against heavily armoured targets.
- Shield — A large physical shield used for defensive operations. During Operation Yashima, Unit-00 wielded an experimental heat shield to protect Unit-01 from Ramiel’s particle beam.
Operational history
Activation test incident
During Unit-00’s activation test, the unit went berserk and attacked Rei Ayanami inside the test chamber. The incident was covered up, but it left Rei hospitalised and raised questions about the stability of the Evangelion design. Gendo Ikari dismissed the incident as a failure of the test protocol rather than a design flaw. The unit was damaged — but not destroyed — and was subsequently repaired.
Battle against Ramiel
Unit-00’s first major combat deployment was against the Angel Ramiel. Ramiel’s particle beam was devastatingly effective, and Unit-00 was severely damaged whilst attempting to close the distance. The unit was not destroyed, but the damage was extensive enough to require a full rebuild. Rei survived the engagement.
Rebuilt configuration
After the Ramiel battle, Unit-00 was rebuilt with a new configuration featuring blue armour instead of its original orange, a more refined facial structure, and improved synchronisation capabilities. The rebuilt Unit-00 was closer in performance to the later units, though still not their equal. It was equipped with improved defensive systems and retained the ability to mount the same armaments as its predecessor.
Operation Yashima
In Operation Yashima, the rebuilt Unit-00 played a crucial defensive role. Whilst Unit-01, piloted by Shinji Ikari, wielded the positron rifle to deliver the killing shot, Unit-00 provided cover with an experimental heat shield, protecting Unit-01 from Ramiel’s return fire. The operation succeeded — Ramiel was destroyed — but Unit-00’s shield was heavily damaged in the process.
Battle against Armisael
In its final battle, Unit-00 was engaged by the Angel Armisael, which attempted to merge with the unit and its pilot. To prevent the Angel from breaching NERV’s defences and reaching Terminal Dogma, Rei Ayanami made the ultimate sacrifice: she reversed Unit-00’s AT Field and self-destructed the unit, destroying Armisael in the process. Rei II died in the explosion. The unit was completely destroyed, and Rei III was activated shortly afterwards to replace her.
Legacy
Unit-00’s destruction marked a turning point in the series. It demonstrated that the Evangelion units were not invincible, and it foreshadowed the escalating cost of the war against the Angels. The loss of Unit-00 also forced NERV to rely more heavily on Unit-01 and Unit-02, increasing the burden on Shinji and Asuka.
See also
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