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XXXG-00W0 Wing Gundam Zero EW

Katoki's iconic angel-winged redesign of Wing Gundam Zero.
Jenxi Seow Published 31 Oct 2025 Updated 31 Oct 2025
XXXG-00W0 Wing Gundam Zero EW

The XXXG-00W0 Wing Gundam Zero EW was Katoki Hajime’s iconic redesign of the XXXG-00W0 Wing Gundam Zero, featuring massive angel-like wing binders that became one of the most recognizable designs in the Gundam franchise. Appearing in Mobile Suit Gundam Wing Endless Waltz and Glory of the Losers, the Wing Zero EW was based on the Zero Frame technology developed by the five Gundam Scientists, with performance surpassing the OZ-00MS Tallgeese. The complete separation of armor and internal structure allowed Wing Zero to continue fighting after losing up to 90% of its armor.

Overview

In the Glory of the Losers manga, Wing Zero EW was developed from the wreckage of the Wing Gundam Proto Zero and upgraded with wing binders from the OZ-00MS Tallgeese Flugel. Mike Howard repaired and upgraded the Proto Zero into the Wing Zero EW, using the distinctive four-wing configuration that gave the mobile suit its iconic angel-like appearance.

The Wing Zero EW combined armament and equipment from both the TV version and the EW version, including a shield (in Glory of the Losers) and the ability to transform into Neo Bird Mode. The transformation capability was initially unusable until Howard equipped Wing Zero with its shield and used architecture backups to restore lost systems.

The mobile suit’s Zero Frame inner structure contained all necessary components completely separate from armor platings and energy conduits for weapons. This revolutionary design philosophy allowed exceptional damage resilience—Wing Zero could continue fighting after catastrophic armor loss that would disable conventional mobile suits.

Armament

Twin Buster Rifle

A double-barrel type buster rifle with more than twice the power of the buster rifle equipped by the XXXG-01W Wing Gundam. In Neo Bird Mode, it was equipped on both sides of the shield in a divided state. The weapon was directly connected to the generator, allowing rapid fire. The twin buster rifle’s devastating firepower made it capable of destroying multiple mobile suits with a single shot or penetrating heavily fortified bunkers.

Beam Sabres

Slashing equipment for close combat. Since beam sabres adopted devices made of Gundanium alloy in every part, their power, function, and durability were exceptionally improved compared to those of ordinary mobile suits. One beam saber apiece was stored within the pylons that connected the two smaller wings to the Gundam’s back, allowing quick deployment for melee combat.

Machine Cannons

Located on the shoulders, the two cannons were short-to-medium-range weapons capable of rapid fire thanks to internal drum structure. They were covered when not in use. The machine cannons provided suppressive fire and anti-mobile suit capability when the twin buster rifle was unavailable.

Shield (Glory of Losers)

Introduced in the Glory of the Losers manga, the shield was developed by Howard when he finished upgrading Wing Zero and the other Gundams for proper use in space. Like the Proto Zero’s shield, it was made of Gundanium alloy. In addition to anti-beam coating, it was equipped with wing vulcans on both sides. It became the nose in Neo Bird Mode, having excellent aerodynamic performance in the atmosphere and also functioning as a ram when charging.

Drei Zwerg (Glory of Losers)

Used in the Glory of the Losers manga, this was a powerful beam rifle-type weapon originally designed for the Proto Zero. The Drei Zwerg was a combination of three identical component rifles known as Messer Zwerg, which could be used individually. The Drei Zwerg could be combined with the twin buster rifle to enhance the latter’s firepower. A maximum of two sets of Drei Zwerg could be combined with the twin buster rifle in a form known as Drei Zwerg Buster Doppelt. At the end of the Eve Wars, Wing Zero used the Drei Zwerg Buster Doppelt to destroy the wreckage of Libra before it could crash onto Earth.

Special equipment

Wing Unit

When the Tallgeese Flugel was decommissioned, its four angelic-style wing binders were modified and repurposed onto the new Wing Zero. The two larger wings could be used as shields and protect the Gundam during atmospheric re-entry. This distinctive wing configuration became the EW version’s most iconic feature, earning it the nickname “angel Gundam” amongst fans.

Neo Bird Mode (Glory of Losers)

Featured in the Glory of the Losers manga, this transformation mode was similar in appearance to the Proto Zero’s Neo Bird Mode with the exception of its wing binders. It was initially unusable until Howard equipped Wing Zero with its shield and used architecture backups to restore lost systems. It was used multiple times during the Eve Wars, providing high-speed atmospheric flight capabilities.

ZERO System

An interface for achieving the “perfect victory,” developed to make the pilot keep up with machine performance that surpassed the Tallgeese. Since it seriously affected pilots’ physical functions and mental state, only a person with strong mental fortitude could control it. The ZERO System allowed pilots to predict enemy movements and calculate optimal combat strategies, but drove many pilots to madness through information overload.

Operational history

Glory of the Losers timeline

Following self-detonation of the Wing Gundam Proto Zero and decommissioning of the Tallgeese Flugel, Mike Howard repaired and upgraded the Proto Zero into the Wing Zero EW. Armed with the new Gundam, Zechs Merquise raced to Earth to defend the Sanc Kingdom. He was drawn into battle against Heero Yuy in the Gundam Epyon. Both pilots, under influence of the ZERO System, recognized each other immediately and duelled fiercely. Neither pilot nor machine took major damage, but after a clash, both were overcome with esoteric hallucinations caused by the ZERO System. Particularly, Zechs was troubled by what he interpreted as destroying Earth with Wing Zero. Because of this, the two pilots decided to switch Gundams, with Heero taking Wing Zero.

After White Fang’s rebellion in space began, Heero travelled with Wing Zero to OZ’s Baikal Base in Siberia to steal transportation back into space. After eliminating the base’s defence forces with ease, Heero was met by Sally Po and journeyed into space alongside her with both Wing Zero and the Gundam Heavyarms she had recovered.

Howard and his crew repaired and upgraded the five Gundams for space combat. Wing Zero received a fine-tuned shield from the upgrade process, allowing it to transform into Neo Bird Mode. With their newly repaired Gundams, the G Team alongside Lucrezia Noin sortied to face White Fang’s mobile doll army of Virgo IIs.

After clashing with Milliardo several times throughout the Eve Wars, Heero eventually emerged victorious. Wing Zero’s beam saber and machine cannons were spent and it had been disarmed of the twin buster rifle during the duel, leaving self-destruction as the only option to destroy Libra’s engine generator. Before Heero could execute this, Milliardo in the damaged Epyon appeared one last time, using the Strum und Drang Zweihänder mode to destroy the engines himself, seemingly sacrificing himself so Heero could live.

Unfortunately, a large section of Libra was still falling to Earth. Chang Wufei in the Altron Gundam burst through the wall carrying the dropped Drei Zwerg Buster Doppelt (twin buster rifle equipped with two sets of Drei Zwerg). Heero flew Wing Zero out in front of the plummeting Libra section and destroyed it with the Drei Zwerg Buster Doppelt, saving Earth.

Endless Waltz timeline

A year after the end of the Eve Wars, four of the Gundams, including Wing Zero, were collected and sent towards the Sun for disposal. When the Barton Foundation, led by Mariemaia Khushrenada, began executing the original Operation Meteor, Quatre Raberba Winner set out to retrieve the four Gundams and sent Wing Zero to rendezvous in space with Heero, following his efforts to prevent de-orbiting of Colony L3 X-18999.

After retrieving Wing Zero, Heero flew to Earth to save the kidnapped Relena Darlian. However, he was intercepted by Wufei in the Altron Gundam (who was on the side of the Mariemaia Army), and the two Gundams duelled above Earth’s orbit. During the battle, Heero didn’t fight to his fullest extent (believing the duel pointless), and Wing Zero received heavy damage from both Altron and re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. Eventually, Heero gave up the fight and caused Wing Zero to sink into the ocean, at which point Wufei came to his senses. Sometime later, Wing Zero reactivated on its own and Heero decided to complete his mission.

Wing Zero arrived in the sky at Brussels, where the other Gundams were fighting, and Heero aimed the twin buster rifle at the shield-protected presidential building where Mariemaia and her troops were hiding. Heero fired the rifle three times and succeeded in destroying the bunker shields. However, due to its already badly-damaged state, the continuous recoil of the rifle (along with enemy fire from the compound below) proved too much for Wing Zero to withstand. The Gundam started falling apart whilst firing the second shot and then exploded altogether whilst firing the third shot, though the remains of its torso crashed to the ground, allowing Heero to survive and climb out of the wreckage (although barely able to stand). After Mariemaia’s surrender, the rest of the Gundams were also destroyed, along with all other mobile suits.

Design notes

The Wing Gundam Zero EW was also referred to as “Wing Gundam Zero Custom” or “Wing Zero Custom” in early media. This was to differentiate Katoki Hajime’s redesigns for the movie/OVA from Okawara Kunio’s designs for the TV show. Later, the Endless Waltz and Glory of the Losers designs for all the Gundams were standardized by appending “EW” to the end of their names.

The angel-winged design became so iconic that it eventually replaced the TV version in most subsequent media. In the Super Robot Wars game series, the TV versions of the Gundams last appeared in Super Robot Wars Z2 Saisei-hen, after which they were replaced by the EW designs permanently.

Appearances

The XXXG-00W0 Wing Gundam Zero EW appeared in the following works:

See also

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