Phase Shift armor

Phase Shift armor
Usage
Designer	Earth Alliance
Manufacturer	Earth Alliance Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty Orb Union Three Ships Alliance Terminal Morgenröte Inc. Librarian Works
Operator	Earth Alliance OMNI Enforcer Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty Le Creuset Team Orb Union Three Ships Alliance Terminal Librarian Works
Technical Specifications
Functional Purpose	Armor protection against physical attacks
Power-plant	Mobile Suit's Powerplant
First seen	January 25, 71 C.E.
Real World
Appearances*
Television	SEED: #2 - Episode #50 GSD: #1 - Episode #39

Phase Shift armor (フェイズシフト装甲, Feizushifutosōkō^?) is a technology introduced in the anime Mobile Suit Gundam SEED.

Technical Informations

Phase Shift, or "PS" armor, is an armor system that uses electricity to reduce the damage from all forms of physical attacks although in most practicalities, PS armor makes a mobile suit virtually immune to solid body impact attacks. The manufacturing of PS armor can only be achieved under microgravity. When PS armor powers up, a hissing sound can be heard and the grey surface of the mobile suit's armor is overlaid in color, which appears to be alterable by entering different values in the Armor Voltage section of the OS. Once powered up, the PS armor requires a steady flow of energy to maintain although power consumption spikes momentarily whenever the mobile suit is hit.

ZAFT commander Andrew Waltfeld, after watching the GAT-X105 Strike Gundam fight, calculated that the Strike can take approximately 76 hits from projectiles before the energy usage drains the battery. This example illustrates that even solid ballistic weapons can eventually overpower Phase Shift Armor. Most beam weapons are able to overpower PS Armor faster than ballistic weapons. However, should a power failure occur, caused by either prolonged use or the use of high energy beam weapons, which will further drain the mobile suit's battery, the PS armor will power down, leaving the mobile suit vulnerable to even the simplest physical attack. Phase Shift armor is also able to protect the unit from great heat, thus making atmospheric entry possible. Currently, the upper limit of Phase Shift armor is unknown.

Phase Shift can also be used on the inner frame parts of mobile suits, as seen with the ZGMF-X20A Strike Freedom Gundam, ZGMF-X19A ∞ Justice Gundam, and the ZGMF-X42S Destiny Gundam. Such usage of the Phase Shift not only makes the the inner frame more durable, but also grants better flexibility. These Phase-shifted inner frame parts can glow when they are used to discharge excess residual energy from within the body.

Limitations

Because PS armor draws energy off of a mobile suit, the suits so equipped must have a means of replenishing that energy, or risk power depletion. During the war, the existence of Neutron Jammers limited mobile suits and mobile armors to operate on an energy battery (some mobile suits were equipped with various turbine engines to extend their operating time, but almost none had truly unlimited operational ability). Due to the limited amount of energy within each battery, only a certain amount of power is ever allocated to the PS armor system. This limitation prevents the armor from being able to nullify higher forms of energy such as beam weapons. Because of this, most Phase Shift-armored mobile suits carry a shield with some sort of defensive measures against beam weaponry, such as anti-beam coating or a laminated armor surface. It is also possible to overwhelm the PS armor by hitting it with a high volume of projectiles, as seen with the NOG-M1A1 Shi-ve.A's VIG-M70C Close-in Needle Projection System.

Nuclear power could give a PS armored mobile suit theoretically unlimited operating time, though a nuclear-powered suit could still experience Phase Shift depletion from sufficiently persistent attacks overwhelming the mobile suit's systems. However, during the First Alliance-PLANT War, the widespread use of N-Jammers made this impossible without the use of Neutron Jammer Cancellers; afterward, the Junius Treaty outlawed nuclear-powered mobile suits. Only a few nuclear-powered mobile suits were made in any event, including the YMF-X000A Dreadnought Gundam, ZGMF-X09A Justice Gundam, ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam, ZGMF-X11A Regenerate Gundam, ZGMF-X12A Testament Gundam, ZGMF-X13A Providence Gundam, and the ZGMF-X999A ZAKU Mass Production Trial Type. Each of these units incorporated an N-Jammer Canceller in their design, negating the effects of the N-Jammers in the field. With the tremendous amount of energy made available through the use of nuclear power, even greater amounts of energy could now be allocated to PS armor. ZAFT's superweapon GENESIS allocated so much power to its PS armor that it was able to nullify direct energy beam attacks from the Eternal and Kusanagi, including the Kusanagi's "Lohengrin" Positron Blaster Cannons.

Orb also improved the PS armor with their own technology and installed it on the MBF-02 Strike Rouge. This minor improvement allowed the Strike Rouge to configure attributes of its PS armor, such as changing its power usage and strength as well as the colors. However, this must be done outside of combat.

History

The theory behind Phase Shift armor was first established by Dr. Maurice Gale, a professor at the Heliopolis industrial college. The technology was still being researched by the Advanced Space Dynamic corporation when it was adopted by the G Project. Its development, led by Lieutenant Murrue Ramius, was completed at the Atlantic Federation Heaven Island Technology Lab. All five units of the first phase GAT-X series were equipped with Phase Shift armor. ZAFT acquired the technology when they attacked Heliopolis and stole four of the five units. Several months later, ZAFT developed a series of nuclear-powered mobile suits equipped with Phase Shift armor. The Orb Union also acquired Phase Shift technology when the EA battleship, the Archangel, was docked in Orb and provided them the technology in exchange for repairs.

Over time several different versions of PS armor were developed, which are more energy efficient than the original version. The Earth Alliance created Trans-Phase armor during the First Alliance-PLANT War, and ZAFT developed Variable Phase Shift armor during the interim between the first and second wars. As a result, the original Phase Shift armor saw little use. However, some mobile suits, such as the ZGMF-X20A Strike Freedom Gundam had PS armor materials incorporated in its internal frame and joints, providing the mobile suit with enhanced strength and near human flexibility. Additionally, excess residual energy within the body can be discharged through the joints' glowing effects.

Gallery

Strike Gundam with inactive PS armor

GENESIS with active PS armor

Notes & Trivia

• The concept of the Phase Shift armor is the inverse of Universal Century's I-field generator, which defends against beam weaponry but has no effect against physical attack.
• The Phase Shift armor is similar to the Luna Titanium Alloy (Gundarium Alloy) from the Universal Century that can withstand strong physical attacks from the Zeon mobile suits, such as the Zaku's 120mm and 90mm shells and even the Dom's 360mm Bazooka.
• Whether or not the color of Phase Shift armor is related to its toughness is unclear. It was stated that the Testament Gundam's VPS armor shifts to red during close combat for increased armor strength. However, the Strike Rouge's red PS armor was said to be roughly on par with the Strike's in terms of durability, and only differ in terms of power efficiency. There have also been examples which suggest that PS armor's color was purely decorative, such as Andrew Waltfield changing Gaia Gundam's VPS armor to match his personal color, or Kira Yamato deploying the Strike Rouge with the Strike's PS armor settings before receiving the Strike Freedom.
• The fact that all the Gundams are gray prior to the activation of PS armor could be a reference to the fact that the RX-78 Gundam was originally supposed to be gray and white, not white, blue, and red.

Game-specific

• In Super Robot Wars Alpha 3 and Super Robot Wars J, the Phase Shift armor was implemented awkwardly - while Beam weapons still harmed them, a lot of attacks were either greatly reduced in damage or outright negated despite being energy-based, such as Mazinger-Z's Breast Fire and Getter Robo G's Getter Beam, both energy attacks but not actually Gundam-type beam weaponry. Even some Gundam-type beam weapons, such as ν Gundam's Fin Funnels and Freedom Gundam's HiMAT Full Burst are still affected by Phase Shift armors, since they are not marked as "Beam Weapons" in the game's system. This was fixed in subsequent SRW instalments.
• In Super Robot Wars series, Phase Shift armor reduces non-beam and non-energy damage by 1500, while the VPS reduces non-beam and non-energy damage by 2000. Both of them consume 10 energy when used. Trans-phase armor reduces non-beam and non-energy by 1500 but only costs 5 energy per use.
• In Gundam Assault Survive, Phase Shift and Trans Phase Armor become available as purchasable MS accessories aside from being innate features of specific CE MS. The unit will display a second shield meter when it is equipped. Like the regular shield, it depletes when taking physical damage, but recharges over time. The charge rate depends on how much the unit is tuned.
• In Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Battle Destiny, Phase Shift and its latter variants act as a separate shield that protects against physical attacks. When the meter is empty, Phase Shift Down status will occur and the MS' colors fade, but the unit will remain fully operational. As per official settings, there is no color change during PS Down for MS with Trans Phase armor.
  • In the case of the nuclear-powered MS however, the meter constantly regenerates and even if it goes empty, they will only temporarily be affected by physical attacks but PS Down will never occur as it will continue to recharge.
• In Gundam Battle Assault 3 Featuring Gundam SEED, Phase Shift armor works in a completely different way. Instead of only reducing melee and impact damage, it actually protects from energy based long range attacks.
• In SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online, Phase Shift armor reduces physical projectile damage by 75%. However, physical melee damage isn't dealt with.
• In Dynasty Warriors Gundam Reborn, Phase Shift and its Trans-Phase variant acts as a Burst mode that prevents flinching from attacks. However, this Burst is only available to the Aegis, Buster, Blitz, Providence, Forbidden, Raider and Calamity, respectively.

Appearances

Television Series

• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
  • PHASE-02, Its Name: Gundam
    • First Appearance
  • PHASE-03, Collapsing Land
  • PHASE-04, Silent Run
  • PHASE-05, Phase Shift Down
  • PHASE-06, The Vanishing Gundam
  • PHASE-07, The Scar of Space
  • PHASE-08, The Songstress of The Enemy Forces
  • PHASE-09, The Fading Light
  • PHASE-10, Crossroads
  • PHASE-11, The Awakening Sword
  • PHASE-12, Flay's Decision
    • Flashback(s) Only
  • PHASE-13, Stars Falling in Space
  • PHASE-15, The Respective Solitudes
    • Flashback(s) Only
  • PHASE-16, Burning Sandstorm
  • PHASE-17, Cagalli Returns
    • Flashback(s) Only
  • PHASE-20, On a Calm Day
    • In Flashback(s)
  • PHASE-21, Beyond the Clouds of Sand
  • PHASE-22, The Sea Dyed Red
  • PHASE-23, Fateful Encounter
  • PHASE-24, War for Two
  • PHASE-25, The Land of Peace
  • PHASE-27, Endless Rondo
    • Flashback(s) Only
  • PHASE-28, Kira
  • PHASE-29, The Turning Point
  • PHASE-30, Flashing Blades
  • PHASE-31, Grieving Skies
  • PHASE-32, In the Promised Land
    • Flashback(s) Only
  • PHASE-33, Gathering Darkness
  • PHASE-34, Seen and Unseen
  • PHASE-35, The Descending Sword
  • PHASE-36, In the Name of Justice
  • PHASE-37, Divine Thunder
  • PHASE-38, Decisive Fire
  • PHASE-39, Athrun
  • PHASE-40, Into the Dawn Skies
  • PHASE-41, Trembling World
  • PHASE-42, Lacus Strikes
  • PHASE-43, What Stands in the Way
  • PHASE-44, Spiral of Encounters
  • PHASE-45, The Opening Door
  • PHASE-46, A Place for the Soul
  • PHASE-47, The Nightmare Reborn
  • PHASE-48, Day of Wrath
  • PHASE-49, The Final Light
  • PHASE-49, The Final Light
  • PHASE-50, To a Future that Never Ends
• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny
  • PHASE-01, Angry Eyes
    • Flashback(s) Only
  • PHASE-13, Resurrected Wings
  • PHASE-14, Flight to Tomorrow
  • PHASE-15, Return to the Battlefield
  • PHASE-22, Sword of the Blue Skies
  • PHASE-24, Differing Views
  • PHASE-26, The Promise
  • PHASE-27, Unfulfilled Feelings
  • PHASE-28, Survivors and Sacrifices
  • PHASE-32, Stella
  • PHASE-39, Kira of the Skies

OVAs and ONAs

• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED After-Phase Between the Stars
  • Flashback(s) Only

Movies

• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom

Manga

• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Astray
  • Chapter 2, Showdown! Astray vs Astray
    • Flashback(s) Only
• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED X Astray
  • Chapter 1, Parts-X12: The New G
    • Flashback(s) Only
• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny Astray
  • Chapter 0.5, SCOOP.00: Prologue
    • Flashback(s) Only
• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED MSV: The Blooming of Housenka on the Battlefield