RX-0 Unicorn Gundam 03 Phenex – MechaBay | Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn

The RX-0 Unicorn Gundam 03 Phenex was the third and final prototype full psychoframe mobile suit built by Anaheim Electronics under the banner of the Earth Federation Forces’ UC Project.

The “R” in the model code meant it was a Federation model¹ and the “X” indicated that it was an experimental mobile suit. The “0” in the model code denoted that it was part of the revolutionary RX-0 series. The “03” suffix identified it as the third unit in the series.

History

The RX-0 Unicorn Gundam 03 Phenex was the last of three RX-0 units built by Anaheim Electronics under the banner of the Earth Federation Forces’ UC Project. The Phenex was named for one of the demons from The Lesser Key of Solomon. Like its sister units, the Phenex featured a full psychoframe and the Newtype Destroyer (NT-D) System for increased performance in combat against Newtypes.

In UC 0095, the Earth Federation Forces and Anaheim Electronics conducted tests on the Phenex and RX-0 Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee when a report came in of a nearby Neo Zeon weapons test. The two Gundams were deployed in combat against the AMX-107R ReBawoo. A resonance effect between the two RX-0 units resulted in the Phenex going out of control and destroying an Earth Federation Forces ship before disappearing.

The Phenex reappeared in UC 0096 and was briefly recaptured by the Earth Federation Forces before disappearing again. In UC 0097, the Earth Federation Forces’ Shezarr unit was assigned on a secret mission labeled the Phoenix Hunt to track down and capture the Phenex. The unit encountered the Phenex in Side 4’s shoal zone, but their attack was interrupted by the arrival of Jona Basta’s RX-9/A Narrative Gundam A-Packs.

Jona joined the Phoenix Hunt to find his friend Rita, whose body had been absorbed by the Phenex. With Rita’s soul merged into the Phenex, the suit was capable of autonomous action and could move at near light speed. The Narrative Gundam was later destroyed in combat, but with the help of Rita and the Phenex, Jona was able to defeat Zoltan Akkanen’s NZ-999 II Neo Zeong. After making the II Neo Zeong vanish, the Phenex flew away from the Earth Sphere.

Long after the Universal Century had transitioned into the Regild Century, the Capital Army discovered the plans for the Phenex in the Rose of Hermes blueprints. In RC 1014, they constructed a replica of the Phenex, designated as the CAMS-RX0 Unicorn Gundam 03 Phenex type RC.

Design

The Phenex featured the same basic armaments as its sister units, including vulcan guns, the beam magnum and four beam sabers (two of which were only available in Destroy mode). The Phenex’s psychoframe had a blue glow in Destroy mode. Its gold armor colouring and wing-like appearance of the open Armed Armor DE in Destroy mode resembled the mythical phoenix.

The Phenex additionally mounted two Armed Armor DE (Defense-Extension) psychoframe weapons on its back. The expandable shields increased the Phenex’s thrust and mounted beam cannons and I-field generators. When deployed, these weapons created a distinctive wing-like silhouette that enhanced the mobile suit’s phoenix motif.

With Rita Bernal’s soul merged into the Phenex, the suit was capable of autonomous action and could move at near light speed through unknown psychoframe phenomena. This made it virtually impossible to track or capture through conventional means.

Armaments

The Phenex’s armament was similar to the base RX-0 Unicorn Gundam but enhanced with dual Armed Armor DE units that provided both offensive and defensive capabilities.

Beam magnum

The BAUVA*XBR-M-79-07G beam magnum served as the Phenex’s primary weapon, providing devastating firepower equivalent to battleship-class beam cannons. Each E-cap magazine contained 16 shots of incredible destructive power.

Vulcan guns

Twin 60 mm vulcan guns mounted in the head provided point defence against missiles and light targets while also serving as anti-personnel weapons.

Beam sabers

Four beam sabers were available—two in the forearms accessible in both modes, and two in the backpack accessible only in Destroy Mode. The beam sabers could function as both handheld weapons and tonfas when the forearm-mounted sabers were flipped over.

Armed Armor DE

The Phenex mounted two Armed Armor DE (Defense-Extension) psychoframe weapons on its back. These expandable shields increased the Phenex’s thrust power and mounted beam cannons and I-field generators for enhanced protection and offensive capability.

When deployed in Destroy mode, the Armed Armor DE units opened like wings, creating the distinctive phoenix-like silhouette that gave the mobile suit its name. The wing configuration not only provided additional thrust but also enhanced the psychological impact of the mobile suit’s appearance.

Known pilots

Rita Bernal
Jolion Day
Jona Basta

Behind the scenes

Katoki Hajime was the original mechanical designer. The name “Phenex” derives from one of the demons mentioned in The Lesser Key of Solomon, a grimoire on demonology. In the text, Phenex is described as a great marquis of Hell who appears as a phoenix.

The gold colouring and phoenix motif were designed to create a visual contrast with the other RX-0 units while maintaining the series’ overall design language. The Armed Armor DE’s wing-like deployment was specifically designed to enhance the phoenix imagery.

Appearances

External links

RX-0 Unicorn Gundam 03 Phenex on the Gundam Wiki
RX-0 Unicorn Gundam 03 Phenex (anime) on MAHQ

Federation in Japanese is renpou, hence the use of “R”. ↩