Gundam is a massive franchise but who comes out top of the pilot standings? This big list will give you the answer.
Couple of rules, no Gundam Build Fighters as that isn't a real war, more upgraded Angelic Layer. This list will also feature 25 pilots not 10; and finally this is based on pilot achievements, impact on their series and degree of difficulty in which their Mobile Suit is used. You'll see when we begin.
25. Gym Ghingham from Turn A Gundam
The manliest character you'll ever see in the Gundam franchise and one of the few built to house the Musha Gundam outside the main series. He can even use G Gundam moves.
24. Mashymre Cello from Gundam ZZ
For an early antogonist he proves to be a damn sight more likeable than those before him and considering who he hangs around with it's no surprise that he's become one of the more standout characters in ZZ.
23. Elpeo Puru 2 from Gundam ZZ
All the Puru's have a unique feel to them but more on the other two later, Elpeo Puru 2 has bigger toys to play with but not as likeable as the other Purus.
22. Mu La Flaga from Gundam Seed
Despite only flying a mobile armor he manages to live well beyond the life expectancy of other pilots in the show, he also somehow survives impossible odds, although I don't think much of his Destiny incarnation.
21. Lockon Stratos from Gundam 00
He's the leader of the Gundam Meisters and there's more than one of him as his twin brother shares the title, despite no pilot being especially noteworthy Lockon manages to standout.
20. Roux Louka from Gundam ZZ
A more than worthy replacement for the dreadful Kamille Bidan in Zeta Gundam but largely overlooked as a character, did better in the Dynasty Warriors Gundam games.
19. Shiro Amada from 08th MS Team
Being the leader of a ragtag band of pilots isn't easy, especially in what is considered the Halo Reach of Gundam. His story alongside Zeon member Aina, easily makes for one of Gundam's most grey conflicts to date.
18. Heero Yuy from Gundam Wing
I don't rate the Gundam Wing pilots highly but at least Heero acts more of a pilot than the others, mainly because the Wing Gundam doesn't feel gimicky compared to the other Gundams.
17. Domon Kasshu from G Gundam
You got to give credit to G Gundam for at least attempting to seem like a capable Gundam series but yet still remain completely bonkers with the whole Burning Finger nonsense.
16. Yazan Gable from Zeta Gundam
Yazan is despicable, sexist and has killed more named characters than anyone else in the whole of the franchise, that's why he's such a good pilot and really earns the creator tagline of kill em all.
15. Kira Yamato from Gundam Seed
While controlling some of the most impressive looking Gundam's to date, he really makes a name for himself for being able to stop himself from killing his enemies, even if it sometimes causes more pain.
14. Io Fleming from Gundam Thunderbolt
Anyone who has the soundtrack of jazz in his cockpit is worth a mention, but his heroics really earn his position on this list as even when his first Mobile Suit goes he's more than capable of getting more.
13. Ramba Ral from Gundam
The first major threat of the Gundam series and one that makes you think that there's more to Zeon than just being evil. Right up until his death he proves to be formidable as even his suicide manages to bring damage to the Gundam.
12. Dozle Zabi from Gundam
Even a Zabi has some pride and not only was Dozle an absolute beast to take down in the Big Zam, he did it while evacuating his closest family, and likely the one who created the scenario of Gundam ZZ by sending Minerva to Haman Karn.
11. Elpeo Puru from Gundam ZZ
Cyber Newtypes got such a bad rap in the franchise but Elpeo Puru actually manages to be upbeat and powerful at the same time and is one of the few that can really bring out the silly sides of other Gundam pilots in the franchise with her hilarious dialogue in Dynasty Warriors Gundam.
10. Paptimus Scirocco from Zeta Gundam
As despicable as the Titans were, Scirocco remolded them into a credible threat and right up until the end was more than enough to finish the job against Kamille Bidan.
9. Amuro Ray from Gundam
As the first ever Gundam pilot, Amuro has more than enough honors to make him a great pilot but the first Gundam hasn't aged particularly well and his achievements are far overshadowed by those after him.
8. Loran Cehack from Turn a Gundam
Probably the only Gundam Pilot to be capable of battling in a formal ball gown and ultimately get away with crossdressing through out the series.
7. Athrun Zala from Gundam Seed
In contrast to other pilots, Athrun has defeated both KIra Yamato and Shinn Asuka, also punching Shinn several times doing what everyone wanted to do for all of Destiny.
6. Zechs Marquise from Gundam Wing
Piloting the unstable Tallgeese followed by one of the most well designed Gundam's in the franchise Epyon, is no mean feat and backed up by defeating all the other Gundam pilots and forcing a draw against protagonist Heero Yuy.
5. Master Asia from G Gundam
The undefeated of the East is bonkers to watch, he doesn't use a mobile trace system is the only one to beat a mobile suit with his bare hands and even being the enemy he was never once affected by the Dark Gundam. Worthy of being Super Asia!!!
4. Marida Cruz from Gundam Unicorn
Marida's past is tragic, a surviving member of the Elpeo Puru's awakened by Glemy Toto, forced to fight her clones, sold into sex slavery and then brought into the cockpit of the Kshatriya, a Quin Mantha on steroids which was already a Qubeley on steroids and being able to pilot that to begin with is worthy of any list.
3. Char Aznable from Gundam
Char made a character type that survives to this day as every masked ace pilot shares his character DNA. He will always be the series character mascot, more so than Amuro Ray.
2. Judau Ashta from Gundam ZZ
I would overlook Judau normally; he's not much better than Kamille but at least more pleasent to watch, however he earns massive praise for survivng the Universal Century well into his old age in a crippled Double Zeta Gundam, that takes guts in a series known for killing them all.
1. Haman Karn from Gundam ZZ
But the best pilot of all is Haman Karn. She kick started events off screen in Gundam to save Minerva Zabi, played the 3rd faction in bringing the end to the Gryps 2 conflict, defeated Char Aznable, kick started the events of Double Zeta and even ended her life drawing her battle against Judau Ashta. Haman has contributed more to the Universal Century's story than any other character and went out in style, that's why she's the best pilot in Gundam history. If you want more proof, in Dynasty Warriors Gundam 2 she managed to hold her own against the pressure of both Judau Ashta and Kamile Bidan and has held her own against Gundam Epyon. Need more proof? I can go on.
