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A type of beam weapon that is typically portrayed as the standard close combat weapon in most of the Gundam series. A hand-held cylindrical or rectangular device that generates a long beam blade, the beam saber is the most common type of melee beam weapon, but there are other variations such as knife, naginata, polearm, axe, etc.

Compared to other melee weapons, the beam saber has high cutting power that can easily melt armor and is more compact since the beam blade is only activated when used. However, it also consumes more energy and the beam blade's light also made it highly visible.

The weapon is completely absent from the Post Disaster era. It may have been inspired by the lightsabers of the Star Wars franchise.

Universal Century[]

Beam saber contains an E-cap that releases high-energy Minovsky particles[1] that is formed into a blade shape via an I-field. The shape of the blade changes according to the shape of the I-field. Due to the repulsive force of the I-field, it is possible to block not only another beam blade but also plasma from heat-type melee weapons. The beam saber deactivates once the the E-cap runs out of energy, and recharging can occur by returning the weapon to its storage rack or via energy supplied from the hand plug connector on the palm of the mobile suit. As technology advances, the function of beam saber can be combined with a range beam weapon. For example, MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam's beam sabers also function as beam guns in waverider mode, while its beam rifle and hyper mega launcher can generate beam saber from their barrels. See here for more information.

Future Century[]

The mobile trace system can recreate weapons and items used by the fighter with beams[2], it's also possible to generate a non-offensive beam. The basic principle behind beam weaponry is never explained.

After Colony[]

Beam saber is already present on the first mobile suit of the After Colony era, the OZ-00MS Tallgeese. By creating and controlling an ionized region with a strong magnetic field generated by charged particles released from the generator, the beam saber damages the target through the ultra-high heat around the beam, and not by the beam itself. The use of Gundanium alloy in the beam saber of certain mobile suits increase the weapon's resistance, allowing for extraordinary output and making it possible to create complex beam layers that can reduce the attenuation rate of the weapon's power.[3]

After War[]

The basic principle behind beam weaponry is never explained.

Correct Century[]

Only two mobile suits are equipped with beam sabers, SYSTEM ∀-99 ∀ Gundam and G-M1F Bandit. ∀ Gundam's beam saber is plasma energy shaped into the form of a blade by an electromagnetic field[4].

Cosmic Era[]

Main article: Beam Saber (Cosmic Era)

The beam is fixed in a blade shape through the application of Mirage Colloid technology[5]. Due to certain limitations, crossing blades using beam sabers is problematic and so a shield is the preferred choice for blocking beam saber. See here for more information.

Anno Domini[]

GN beam saber functions by emitting a positron field which holds compressed GN Particles in the form of a blade[6]. In addition, the SVMS-01 Union Flag and AEU-09 AEU Enact, as well as their variants are equipped with a sonic blade that can generate a plasma sword. The plasma sword was created as a by-product of research in developing beam saber. See here for more information on GN beam saber and here for more on plasma sword.

Advanced Generation[]

Most of Vagan's mobile suits are capable of generating beam blades from beam vulcan's emitter on their palms. For the Earth Federation, the first mobile suit equipped with beam sabers is the AGE-1 Gundam AGE-1 Normal which can adjust the power output to switch between beam saber and beam dagger. The beam saber is later reproduced by Madorna Workshop for WMS-GEX1 G-Exes albeit lacking the dagger mode, and eventually mass produced.

References[]

  1. 『総解説ガンダム辞典Ver1.5』講談社、2009年8月、41-42頁、ISBN 978-4-06-375795-8
  2. HGFC 1/144 Master Gundam & Fuunsaiki model kit manual
  3. 『電撃データコレクション 新機動戦記ガンダムW 増補改訂版』アスキー・メディアワークス、2012年2月、68-71頁、ISBN 978-4-04-886314-8
  4. 『THE MEMORY OF FIRST WIND 「∀ガンダム」全記録集1』株式会社 講談社、2000年1月18日、115頁。ISBN 978-4-06-330088-8
  5. RG 1/144 MBF-P02 Gundam Astray Red Frame model kit manual
  6. 『機動戦士ガンダム00 300 YEARS LATER』講談社、2009年1月、58頁。ISBN 978-4061791657
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