Gundam Card Game Freedom Ascension [GD05] is built around one of the franchise’s most enduring ideas: the connection between Pilot and Mobile Suit. That theme shapes nearly every major chase element in the game’s first-anniversary booster release, from new Link Rare pairings to premium SP cards and the largest LR++ lineup the Gundam Card Game has featured so far.
Released on July 24, 2026, Freedom Ascension booster packs contain 12 cards each. The set reaches across multiple eras of Gundam history, mixing long-awaited debuts with fan-favorite characters, memorable machines, and a number of premium parallel treatments aimed squarely at collectors.
Strike Freedom Gundam and Nu Gundam stand out as headline additions, but GD05 is not limited to a couple of marquee names. The checklist branches into Mobile Fighter G Gundam, Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz, and Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack, while also expanding support for other series and character lines already familiar to players and collectors.
What makes Freedom Ascension important
As a first-anniversary release, Freedom Ascension does more than just add cards to the playable pool. It is designed as a celebration set, with multiple layers of rarity and presentation intended to appeal to different kinds of collectors.
Some collectors will chase by series, targeting cards from SEED Destiny, Endless Waltz, or Char’s Counterattack. Others will focus on specific Pilots such as Kira Yamato, Amuro Ray, Char Aznable, Domon Kasshu, or Heero Yuy. Another segment of the hobby will be drawn to artist-driven cards and alternate treatments rather than franchise loyalty alone.
That multi-lane appeal is one of the set’s strengths. Freedom Ascension gives players usable new material, but it also gives collectors several distinct ways to build a pursuit list without feeling locked into a single chase tier.
Major debuts and featured series
The biggest talking points in GD05 start with Mobile Suits that many fans expected to see sooner rather than later. Strike Freedom Gundam from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny and Nu Gundam from Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack both make high-profile appearances here, immediately becoming focal points of the set.
Freedom Ascension also places special emphasis on three featured corners of the Gundam universe:
- Mobile Fighter G Gundam
- Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack
That range gives the checklist a broad feel. Collectors can jump from Domon Kasshu and Master Gundam to Heero Yuy and Wing Gundam Zero (EW), then over to Amuro Ray, Char Aznable, Sazabi, and Nu Gundam without the release feeling fragmented.
New rarities and top chase tiers
Link Rare cards
Freedom Ascension introduces Link Rare cards, a new rarity that spotlights connected Units and Pilots through special parallel versions. In a Gundam product, that concept fits naturally. The machines matter, but their identity is inseparable from the characters who pilot them.
Examples from the checklist include Waldfeld’s Murasame, Strike Rouge (Ootori), Haow Gundam, Quess’s Jagd Doga, Gundam Sandrock Custom (EW), and Force Impulse Gundam in Link Rare form. The result is a chase lane built around relationships rather than just raw power or brand-name Mobile Suits.
Five LR++ cards
The set’s top-end rarity is especially notable because GD05 includes five LR++ cards, the highest count yet for a Gundam Card Game release. These are:
- GD05-002 Strike Freedom Gundam LR ++
- GD05-017 Nu Gundam LR ++
- GD05-033 Master Gundam LR ++
- GD05-049 Sazabi LR ++
- GD05-067 Wing Gundam Zero (EW) LR ++
Those five names also give a clean snapshot of the set’s anniversary strategy. Rather than concentrating everything around a single series, Freedom Ascension spreads its top chase across several major Gundam pillars.
SP Pilot cards and anniversary EX Resources
Eight Pilot cards receive SP versions, extending the premium lineup beyond Units. The SP Pilot group includes Amuro Ray, Suletta Mercury, Heero Yuy, Full Frontal, Char Aznable, Kira Yamato, Setsuna F. Seiei, and Marida Cruz.
Alongside them is a separate run of first-anniversary SP Card EX Resources featuring prominent characters such as Sayla Mass, Kamille Bidan, Gigi Andalucia, Rain Mikamura, Relena Darlian, Lacus Clyne, Miorine Rembran, and the Amate/Nyaan/Shuji grouping. These are likely to attract collectors who prioritize character art and commemorative content over standard deck-building utility.
Artist appeal adds another layer
Freedom Ascension also gets a boost from contributors known for work beyond this game. Naochika Morishita handles Strike Freedom Gundam (GD05-002), bringing a style Gundam fans will recognize from years of model kit illustration. That background matters because collectors often respond strongly to artists who can make mechanical subjects feel massive, dynamic, and battle-worn.
Shinji Kanda contributes to the LR+ parallel of Master Asia (GD05-089), giving the set another strong point of crossover appeal for card-art followers. Akira Komayama also appears in the release through the alternate-art treatment for Mutual Attraction (GD05-106). For some collectors, GD05 will be as much an art chase as a character or rarity chase.
Checklist highlights by rarity and category
The full checklist is extensive, but several clusters stand out right away for collectors sorting cards by rarity and theme.
SP Pilot cards
- ST01-010 Amuro Ray C SP
- ST01-011 Suletta Mercury C SP
- ST02-010 Heero Yuy C SP
- ST03-010 Full Frontal C SP
- ST03-011 Char Aznable C SP
- ST04-010 Kira Yamato C SP
- ST07-009 Setsuna F. Seiei C SP
- GD01-093 Marida Cruz R SP
LR and LR+ headliners
- GD05-001 V2 Gundam LR, LR+
- GD05-002 Strike Freedom Gundam LR, LR+, LR++
- GD05-017 Nu Gundam LR, LR+, LR++
- GD05-018 Gundam Calibarn LR, LR+
- GD05-033 Master Gundam LR, LR+, LR++
- GD05-034 Gaia Gundam LR, LR+
- GD05-049 Sazabi LR, LR+, LR++
- GD05-050 Gundam Exia Repair LR, LR+
- GD05-051 Gundam Barbatos Lupus Rex LR, LR+
- GD05-066 Shining Gundam LR, LR+
- GD05-067 Wing Gundam Zero (EW) LR, LR+, LR++
- GD05-089 Master Asia LR, LR+
Link Rare cards listed on the checklist
- GD05-003 Waldfeld’s Murasame LKR Link Rare
- GD05-005 Strike Rouge (Ootori) LKR Link Rare
- GD05-025 Demi Barding LKU Link Rare
- GD05-029 Kayra’s Re-GZ LKC Link Rare
- GD05-036 Haow Gundam LKR Link Rare
- GD05-041 Gaia Gundam (MA Mode) LKU Link Rare
- GD05-048 Gundam Kyrios (Flight Mode) LKC Link Rare
- GD05-053 Quess’s Jagd Doga LKR Link Rare
- GD05-059 Gundam Barbatos Lupus LKU Link Rare
- GD05-064 Force Impulse Gundam LKC Link Rare
- GD05-071 Gundam Sandrock Custom (EW) LKR Link Rare
- GD05-079 Gundam Heavyarms Custom (EW) LKC Link Rare
Detailed Freedom Ascension GD05 checklist
Units and Mobile Suits
- GD05-001 V2 Gundam
- GD05-002 Strike Freedom Gundam
- GD05-003 Waldfeld’s Murasame
- GD05-004 Akatsuki (Oowashi)
- GD05-005 Strike Rouge (Ootori)
- GD05-006 Hashmal
- GD05-007 Asshimar
- GD05-008 Dijeh
- GD05-009 Gun Blaster
- GD05-010 Kira’s Strike Rouge
- GD05-011 Calamity Gundam & Raider Gundam
- GD05-012 Forbidden Gundam
- GD05-013 Gun EZ
- GD05-014 Javelin
- GD05-015 M1 Astray Shrike
- GD05-016 Murasame
- GD05-017 Nu Gundam
- GD05-018 Gundam Calibarn
- GD05-019 Re-GZ
- GD05-020 Nu Gundam
- GD05-021 Gundam AGE-2 Double Bullet
- GD05-022 Gundam Schwarzette
- GD05-023 Re-GZ BWS
- GD05-024 Gundam AGE-2 Normal (SP Ver.)
- GD05-025 Demi Barding
- GD05-026 Gundam Aerial Rebuild
- GD05-027 Jegan
- GD05-028 Kayra’s Jegan
- GD05-029 Kayra’s Re-GZ
- GD05-030 Michaelis
- GD05-031 Guel’s Dilanza
- GD05-032 Desultor
- GD05-033 Master Gundam
- GD05-034 Gaia Gundam
- GD05-035 Dragon Gundam
- GD05-036 Haow Gundam
- GD05-037 Destroy Gundam
- GD05-038 Gundam Throne Eins (GN High Mega Launcher)
- GD05-039 Chaos Gundam
- GD05-040 Abyss Gundam
- GD05-041 Gaia Gundam (MA Mode)
- GD05-042 Shining Gundam
- GD05-043 Neros Gundam
- GD05-044 Gundam Rose
- GD05-045 Chaos Gundam (MA Mode)
- GD05-046 Abyss Gundam (MA Mode)
- GD05-047 Exass
- GD05-048 Gundam Kyrios (Flight Mode)
- GD05-049 Sazabi
- GD05-050 Gundam Exia Repair
- GD05-051 Gundam Barbatos Lupus Rex
- GD05-052 Sazabi
- GD05-053 Quess’s Jagd Doga
- GD05-054 Alpha Azieru
- GD05-055 Destiny Gundam
- GD05-056 Rezin’s Geara Doga
- GD05-057 Gyunei’s Jagd Doga
- GD05-058 Shiden Custom (Ryusei-Go)
- GD05-059 Gundam Barbatos Lupus
- GD05-060 Gundam Flauros (Ryusei-Go)
- GD05-061 Geara Doga
- GD05-062 Hobby Hizack
- GD05-063 Gyunei’s Jagd Doga
- GD05-064 Force Impulse Gundam
- GD05-065 Landman Rodi
- GD05-066 Shining Gundam
- GD05-067 Wing Gundam Zero (EW)
- GD05-068 Shining Gundam (Super Mode)
- GD05-069 Gundam Maxter
- GD05-070 Tallgeese III
- GD05-071 Gundam Sandrock Custom (EW)
- GD05-072 Rising Gundam
- GD05-073 Altron Gundam (EW)
- GD05-074 Noin’s Taurus
- GD05-075 Royal Gundam
- GD05-076 Bolt Gundam
- GD05-077 Leo
- GD05-078 Gundam Deathscythe Hell (EW)
- GD05-079 Gundam Heavyarms Custom (EW)
- GD05-080 Gavane’s Borjarnon
Pilot cards
- GD05-081 Kira Yamato
- GD05-082 Andrew Waldfeld
- GD05-083 Cagalli Yula Athha
- GD05-084 Odelo Henrik
- GD05-085 Amuro Ray
- GD05-086 Kayra Su
- GD05-087 Lauda Neill
- GD05-088 Prospera Mercury
- GD05-089 Master Asia
- GD05-090 Stellar Loussier
- GD05-091 Sting Oakley
- GD05-092 Auel Neider
- GD05-093 Char Aznable
- GD05-094 Quess Paraya
- GD05-095 Gyunei Guss
- GD05-096 Chad Chadan
- GD05-097 Domon Kasshu
- GD05-098 Heero Yuy
- GD05-099 Trowa Barton
- GD05-100 Quatre Raberba Winner
- GD05-101 Gavane Goonny
Commands, events and support cards
- GD05-102 Wings of Light
- GD05-103 Not with Scattershot!
- GD05-104 At the Risk of One’s Life
- GD05-105 Exclusively Defense-Oriented Policy
- GD05-106 Mutual Attraction
- GD05-107 Interwoven Blessings
- GD05-108 Overcoming Hardships
- GD05-109 Felsi’s Plea
- GD05-110 Darkness Finger
- GD05-111 Airframe Seizure
- GD05-112 Hoka Kyoten Juzetsujin
- GD05-113 Rose Screamer
- GD05-114 Widespread Annihilation
- GD05-115 Newtype Labs Director
- GD05-116 Veteran’s Pride
- GD05-117 Become a Shield
- GD05-118 Incendiary Spark
- GD05-119 A Wind Against Fires
- GD05-120 Shining Finger
- GD05-121 Cyclone Punch
- GD05-122 Graviton Hammer
- GD05-123 Archangel
- GD05-124 White Ark
- GD05-125 Ra Cailum
- GD05-126 Quiet Zero
- GD05-127 Girty Lue
- GD05-128 Gundam Fight
- GD05-129 Axis
- GD05-130 Presidential Office
- T-026 Gundnode
- T-027 Pluma
EX Resource SP cards
- EXR-004 EX Resource C SP (Sayla Mass)
- EXR-005 EX Resource C SP (Kamille Bidan)
- EXR-006 EX Resource C SP (Gigi Andalucia)
- EXR-007 EX Resource C SP (Rain Mikamura)
- EXR-008 EX Resource C SP (Relena Darlian)
- EXR-009 EX Resource C SP (Lacus Clyne)
- EXR-010 EX Resource C SP (Miorine Rembran)
- EXR-011 EX Resource C SP (Amate/Nyaan/Shuji)
Cards likely to draw the most attention
For early collector interest, the center of gravity should sit with Strike Freedom Gundam, Nu Gundam, Sazabi, Master Gundam, and Wing Gundam Zero (EW), especially in LR++, LR+, and Link Rare-adjacent conversations. Kira Yamato, Amuro Ray, Char Aznable, Domon Kasshu, and Heero Yuy also give the Pilot side of the checklist strong chase power.
Collectors who enjoy pairing-driven cards may zero in on Waldfeld’s Murasame, Strike Rouge (Ootori), Quess’s Jagd Doga, Gundam Sandrock Custom (EW), and Gundam Heavyarms Custom (EW) in Link Rare form. Those cards are likely to resonate because they capture a distinct relationship angle rather than simply presenting a standalone unit.
The EX Resource SP lineup could also become a sleeper target within the release. Anniversary-themed character cards often appeal to a wider audience than strictly competitive pieces, especially when they feature recognizable names from different Gundam eras.
Release format at a glance
- Set: Gundam Card Game Freedom Ascension [GD05]
- Release date: July 24, 2026
- Pack format: 12 cards per booster pack
- Major new element: Link Rare cards
- Top rarity note: Five LR++ cards, the most in a Gundam Card Game set to date
- Anniversary content: SP Pilot cards and SP Card EX Resources
Between the new rarity structure, the strong cross-series selection, and the focus on meaningful Pilot and Mobile Suit connections, Freedom Ascension stands as one of the more collector-oriented Gundam Card Game releases to date, with enough checklist depth for character chasers, art collectors, and rarity hunters alike.
Photo Gallery
