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MSN-04 Sazabi

Prototype Newtype-use mobile suit developed by Anaheim Electronics for Char Aznable.
Jenxi Seow Published 15 Jun 2025 Updated 15 Jun 2025
MSN-04 Sazabi

The MSN-04 Sazabi was a prototype Newtype-use mobile suit developed by Anaheim Electronics for Neo Zeon leader Char Aznable during the Second Neo Zeon War in UC 0093.

The “M” in the model code indicated it was a mobile suit, the “S” denoted it was a Zeon model, and the “N” specified it was for Newtype use. The “04” in the model code indicated it was the fourth design in this particular line.

History

After Char Aznable returned as the leader of his own Neo Zeon faction in U.C. 0093, he ordered his engineers to create a new mobile suit which would fit his piloting skills and Newtype powers. The result was the MSN-04 Sazabi, which was later built by the Luna-based contractor Anaheim Electronics. The mobile suit was commissioned specifically to match Char’s exceptional piloting abilities and Newtype powers.

The Sazabi was used by Char to personally lead the Neo Zeon forces in the battle against the Earth Federation’s Londo Bell Task Force and especially against his old archrival Amuro Ray and his RX-93 ν Gundam, which was also equipped with a Psycho-Frame system. The Sazabi served as Char’s command mobile suit during Neo Zeon’s strategy of accelerating asteroids and dropping them on Earth to create a nuclear winter.

In one of the earlier asteroid drops, Char would use his MSN-04 Sazabi to battle Amuro Ray in his RGZ-91 Re-GZ, however, the Re-GZ was not able to keep up with the more powerful Sazabi and was nearly destroyed. The Sazabi’s superior performance demonstrated the effectiveness of its advanced design against older mobile suits.

The mobile suit’s final engagement came during the battle over Axis. As Neo Zeon was trying to drop the asteroid Axis, the two would duel again in equal machines. The battle would carry them across, and through Axis in a battle reminiscent of their final duel in the One Year War. Although Char was an excellent pilot he was ultimately defeated by Amuro who severely damaged the Sazabi and captured Char’s escape pod.

The wreckage of the Sazabi would remain on the outer surface of Axis for years. Later, Anaheim Electronics used data from the Sazabi and the ν Gundam as a basis for the MSN-06S Sinanju Stein, which later give rise to the MSN-06S Sinanju and RX-0 Unicorn Gundam.

Design

With an overall height of 25.6 meters, the Sazabi is much bigger than most standard mobile suits, but thanks to the use of lightweight armor materials and a great number of thrusters it is much faster and maneuverable than other suits. The mobile suit was designed to be large to accommodate its head-mounted cockpit configuration.

The Sazabi was one of the first mobile suits to incorporate Psycho-Frame technology. This state-of-the-art development utilizes the recently invented Psycommu interface, allowing the pilot to communicate with the Mobile Suit using their brainwaves. The Sazabi featured a Psychoframe-encased cockpit, allowing Char to maneuver the Mobile Suit as if it was an extension of his own body.

It was Yoshiyuki Tomino’s instruction to put the Sazabi’s cockpit in the head. In order to match the size of its head, the Sazabi was set to be a large sized mobile suit. As a result, the ν Gundam was set to be another large mobile suit such that its size is on par with the Sazabi. The unusual head-mounted cockpit configuration set the Sazabi apart from most other mobile suits of its era.

The Sazabi was constructed from lightweight Gundarium alloy armour, which provided excellent protection whilst maintaining mobility. The mobile suit had a Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor with an output rated at 3,960 kW and rocket thrusters producing 133,000 kg total thrust.

Armaments

The Sazabi’s standard weapons were a scattering mega particle cannon for long-range attacks, beam sabers for melee combat, and six funnels for all-range attacks.

Scattering mega particle cannon

The Sazabi mounts a scattering mega particle cannon in its waist and it is connected directly to the generator. The mega particle cannon has a power rating of 8.8 MW, and the beam emitted is an unusually wide beam that can destroy multiple mobile suits in a single shot. This fixed armament gave the Sazabi devastating firepower against multiple targets.

Beam shot rifle

The beam shot rifle is a hand-carried ranged beam weapon that was designed to be used by the Sazabi. The rifle served as the mobile suit’s primary ranged weapon and was notably larger than most other beam rifles of the era. It is noticeably larger than most other beam rifles, is powered by a rechargeable energy cap, and has a power rating of 10.2 MW.

Beam sabers

The Sazabi is equipped with a pair of beam sabers, one stored in each forearm for quick deployment in combat. The beam sabers serve as one of two close combat weaponry of the Sazabi and is a beam of plasma contained by an I-field that can cut through any metal alloy. The beam sabers were stored in recharge racks in the forearms, allowing for rapid deployment in close combat situations.

Beam tomahawk

Stored on the back of the shield, the beam tomahawk is the Sazabi’s most powerful melee weapon and mounts two beam emitters. Taking advantage of the flexibility of the I-field and its ability to shape plasma, the beam tomahawk can either emit a pair of beam axe blades or combine its output to form a single large beam saber. This versatile weapon could adapt to different combat situations as required.

Shield

The Sazabi is equipped with a shield on its left forearm. The shield mounts three small missiles that can heavily damage a mobile suit, but not a battleship. The shield also holds the storage rack for the Sazabi’s beam tomahawk. The shield served both defensive and offensive purposes with its integrated weaponry.

Funnels

One of the Sazabi’s powerful weapons is its Newtype-use remote weaponry - Funnels. The Sazabi stores six funnels in its backpack-mounted storage pods, each with a power rating of 10.6 MW. Although the Funnels themselves are the same as the ones used in MSN-03 Jagd Doga, Sazabi’s Funnel Rack can recharge the Funnels, unlike the ones found on Jagd Doga, which are just regular racks.

Thanks to Char’s Newtype abilities, the MSN-04 Sazabi could utilize six funnels stored on the backpack. These weapons are manipulated remotely with the pilot’s thoughts, each featuring a powerful beam cannon. The funnels allowed the Sazabi to engage multiple targets simultaneously and attack from unexpected angles.

Known pilots

Behind the scenes

The “Zanac” / “The Nac”, alongside other mobile suits in the movie, was originally designed by mechanical designer Mamoru Nagano, who designed the Hyaku Shiki and worked on Heavy Metal L-Gaim and The Five Star Stories. However, he was taken off the job and eventually Yutaka Izubuchi took his place to finish the Sazabi and other mobile suits.

Yutaka Izubuchi was the final mechanical designer of the Sazabi. During the planning stage of the movie, the Sazabi was originally named “Zanac” or “The Nac” (ザ・ナック in Japanese). Due to trademark issues, this name was never used and “Sazabi” was then chosen.

The Sazabi has become one of the most iconic non-Gundam mobile suits in the Universal Century timeline. Its distinctive red colouring and imposing design have made it a favourite amongst fans and modellers alike.

Gunpla

The Sazabi has been released in multiple Gunpla versions across different grades:

  • High Grade Universal Century (HGUC) 1/144 MSN-04 Sazabi
  • Master Grade (MG) 1/100 MSN-04 Sazabi (2000)
  • Master Grade (MG) 1/100 MSN-04 Sazabi Ver.Ka (2013)
  • Real Grade (RG) 1/144 MSN-04 Sazabi (2018)

Appearances

See also